Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-300, -400, -500, -600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 146 (Monday, July 31, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43037-43039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12099]



[[Page 43037]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19245; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-108-AD; 
Amendment 39-14699; AD 2006-15-18]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-300, -400, -500, -600, 
-700, -700C, -800, and -900 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Boeing Model 737-300, -400, -500, -600, -700, -700C, -800, and 
-900 series airplanes. This AD requires modifying the wiring for the 
master dim and test system. For certain airplanes, this AD also 
requires related concurrent actions as necessary. This AD results from 
a report that the master dim and test system circuit does not have 
wiring separation of the test ground signal for redundant equipment in 
the flight compartment. We are issuing this AD to prevent a single 
fault failure in flight from simulating a test condition and showing 
test patterns instead of the selected radio frequencies on the 
communications panels, which could inhibit communication between the 
flightcrew and the control tower, affecting the continued safe flight 
of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective September 5, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of September 5, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
    Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207, for service information identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Binh Tran, Aerospace Engineer, Systems 
and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone 
(425) 917-6485; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov 
or in person at the Docket Management Facility office between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket 
Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the 
plaza level of the Nassif Building at the street address stated in the 
ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain 
Boeing Model 737-300, -400, -500, -600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 
series airplanes. That supplemental NPRM was published in the Federal 
Register on May 26, 2006 (71 FR 30346). That supplemental NPRM proposed 
to require modifying the wiring for the master dim and test system. For 
certain airplanes, the supplemental NPRM also proposed to require 
related concurrent actions as necessary.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the single comment received. 
The commenter, Boeing, supports the supplemental NPRM.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD as proposed in the supplemental NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 2,868 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This AD will affect about 1,181 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. 
operators to comply with this AD.

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Average
        Boeing Service Bulletin          Work   labor rate            Parts            Cost per     Fleet cost
                                         hours   per hour                              airplane
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
737-33-1132, Revision 2...............      14         $80  Nominal.................      $1,120      $1,322,720
737-33-1133, Revision 3...............       3          80  Nominal.................         240         283,440
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                       Estimated Concurrent Service Bulletin Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                       Number of
                                                             Average                                                     U.S.-
     Boeing Service  Bulletin             Work hours       labor rate          Parts            Cost per airplane     registered         Fleet cost
                                                            per hour                                                   airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
737-26A1083, Revision 1...........  185..................         $80  Between $30,000 and    Between $44,800 and               1  Between $44,800 and
                                                                        $36,400.               $51,200.                             $51,200.
737-33-1121, Revision 1...........  Between 5 and 6......         $80  Between $200 and $340  Between $600 and $820            83  Between $49,800 and
                                                                                                                                    $68,060.
737-77-1022, Revision 1...........  72...................         $80  No charge............  $5,760...............             4  $23,040.
737-77-1023, Revision 1...........  Between 1 and 3......         $80  Nominal..............  Between $80 and $240.            26  Between $2,080 and
                                                                                                                                    $6,240.
737-23-1102.......................  77...................         $80  $22,164..............  $28,324..............             0  No fleet cost unless
                                                                                                                                    an affected airplane
                                                                                                                                    is imported and
                                                                                                                                    placed on the U.S.
                                                                                                                                    register.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 43038]]

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a 
substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between 
the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866;
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    (3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES 
section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2006-15-18 Boeing: Amendment 39-14699. FAA-2004-19245; Directorate 
Identifier 2004-NM-108-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective September 5, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 737-300, -400, and -500 
series airplanes identified in Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 737-33-1132, Revision 2, dated September 8, 2005; and Model 
737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes identified in 
Boeing Service Bulletin 737-33-1133, Revision 3, dated September 8, 
2005; certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report that the master dim and test 
system circuit does not have wiring separation of the test ground 
signal for redundant equipment in the flight compartment. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent a single fault failure in flight from 
simulating a test condition and showing test patterns instead of the 
selected radio frequencies on the communications panels, which could 
inhibit communication between the flightcrew and the control tower, 
affecting the continued safe flight of the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Modification

    (f) Within 48 months after the effective date of this AD: Modify 
the wiring for the master dim test system in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 737-33-1132, Revision 2, dated September 8, 2005 (for Model 
737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes); and Boeing Service 
Bulletin 737-33-1133, Revision 3, dated September 8, 2005 (for Model 
737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes); as 
applicable.

Actions Required To Be Accomplished Prior to or Concurrently With 
Paragraph (f) of This AD

    (g) Prior to or concurrently with accomplishment of paragraph 
(f) of this AD, do the actions specified in Table 1 of this AD, as 
applicable.

                   Table 1.--Prior/Concurrent Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Accomplish all       According to the
            For--              actions associated      Accomplishment
                                     with--           Instructions of--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group 57 airplanes            Installing an engine  Boeing Service
 identified in Boeing          instrument system     Bulletin 737-77-
 Special Attention Service     (EIS) and             1022, Revision 1,
 Bulletin 737-33-1132,                               dated October 26,
 Revision 2, dated September                         1989.
 8, 2005.
                              Modifying the         Boeing Service
                               advisory system for   Bulletin 737-77-
                               the EIS.              1023, Revision 1,
                                                     dated November 9,
                                                     1989.
Group 37 and 46 airplanes     Installing wiring     Boeing Service
 identified in Boeing          for the test system   Bulletin 737-33-
 Service Bulletin 737-33-      for the audio         1121, Revision 1,
 1133, Revision 3, dated       control panel lamp.   dated December 19,
 September 8, 2005.                                  2002.
Group 2 airplanes identified  Installing splice     Boeing Service
 in Boeing Service Bulletin    SP896.                Bulletin 737-
 737-33-1121, Revision 1,                            26A1083, Revision
 dated December 19, 2002.                            1, dated November
                                                     15, 2001.
Group 39 airplanes            Installing a smoke    Boeing Service
 identified in Boeing          detection and fire    Bulletin 737-
 Service Bulletin 737-33-      extinguishing         26A1083, Revision
 1133, Revision 3, dated       system in the cargo   1, dated November
 September 8, 2005.            compartment.          15, 2001.
Group 59 airplanes            Replacing the very    Boeing Service
 identified in Boeing          high frequency        Bulletin 737-23-
 Special Attention Service     (VHF) and high        1102, dated June 3,
 Bulletin 737-33-1132,         frequency (HF)        1999.
 Revision 2, dated September   communications
 8, 2005.                      panels with radio
                               control panels.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 43039]]

Actions Accomplished per Previous Issue of Service Bulletins

    (h) Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with the service bulletins identified in Table 2 of this 
AD are considered acceptable for compliance with the corresponding 
actions specified in this AD.

                                 Table 2.--Previous Issues of Service Bulletins
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Service Bulletin                     Revision level                           Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin  Original....................  December 19, 2002.
 737-33-1133.
Boeing Service Bulletin 737-33-1133......  Revision 1..................  April 17, 2003.
Boeing Service Bulletin 737-33-1133......  Revision 2..................  December 4, 2003.
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin  Original....................  March 20, 2003.
 737-33-1132.
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin  Revision 1..................  March 4, 2004.
 737-33-1132.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use the service information identified in Table 3 
of this AD to perform the actions that are required by this AD, 
unless the AD specifies otherwise.

                                  Table 3.--Material Incorporated by Reference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Service Bulletin                     Revision level                           Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boeing Service Bulletin 737-23-1102......  Original....................  June 3, 1999.
Boeing Service Bulletin 737-26A1083......  1...........................  November 15, 2001.
Boeing Service Bulletin 737-33-1121......  1...........................  December 19, 2002.
Boeing Service Bulletin 737-33-1133......  3...........................  September 8, 2005.
Boeing Service Bulletin 737-77-1022......  1...........................  October 26, 1989.
Boeing Service Bulletin 737-77-1023......  1...........................  November 9, 1989.
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin  2...........................  September 8, 2005.
 737-33-1132.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Boeing Service Bulletin 737-77-1022, Revision 1, dated October 
26, 1989, contains the following effective pages:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Revision level
            Page No.                 shown on page    Date shown on page
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1, 3, 5-7, 10, 17, 28-55........  Revision 1........  Oct. 26, 1989.
2, 4, 8, 9, 11-16, 18-27........  Original..........  June 15, 1989.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation 
by reference of these documents in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) 
and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 
3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207, for a copy of this service 
information. You may review copies at the Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC; on the Internet 
at http://dms.dot.gov; or at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at the NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 20, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-12099 Filed 7-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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