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

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 16 (Thursday, January 25, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3359-3361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-898]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24691; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-051-AD; 
Amendment 39-14901; AD 2007-02-14]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series 
airplanes. This AD requires testing the electrical resistance of the 
bond between the bulkhead fitting for the fuel feed line and the front 
spar of the left and right wings, inspecting an adjacent bonding jumper 
to make sure it is installed correctly, and performing corrective and 
other specified actions as applicable. This AD results from fuel system 
reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent arcing or sparking in the fuel tank in the event of a lightning 
strike, which could result in an uncontrolled fire or explosion.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 1, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of March 1, 
2007.

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 the service information identified in this 
AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Pegors, Aerospace Engineer,

[[Page 3360]]

Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone 
(425) 917-6504; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the airworthiness directive (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 notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain Boeing Model 
737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. That NPRM was 
published in the Federal Register on May 5, 2006 (71 FR 26423). That 
NPRM proposed to require testing the electrical resistance of the bond 
between the bulkhead fitting for the fuel feed line and the front spar 
of the left and right wings, inspecting an adjacent bonding jumper to 
make sure it is installed correctly, and performing corrective and 
other specified actions as applicable.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.

Request To Cite Revised Service Information

    AirTran Airways (AirTran) supports the NPRM. AirTran asks that if 
the NPRM is changed to refer to Revision 1 of Boeing Special Attention 
Service Bulletin 737-28-1225 (which was being drafted when the comment 
was submitted), credit be given for accomplishing the inspection and 
modification in accordance with the original issue of the service 
bulletin. The NPRM referred to Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 737-28-1225, dated January 12, 2006, as the source of service 
information for accomplishing the specified actions.
    Boeing asks that paragraphs (c) and (f) of the NPRM be changed to 
reference Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-28-1225, 
Revision 1, dated October 30, 2006. Boeing notes that Revision 1 
corrects the illustrations that show the routing of the bonding 
jumpers, as well as the illustration views that show the locations of 
the electrical bond resistance equipment probes. (At the time this 
comment was submitted, Revision 1 was not yet issued.) Boeing adds that 
its request is to eliminate the need for an alternative method of 
compliance (AMOC) request. Boeing also states that credit should be 
given for accomplishing the actions in accordance with the original 
issue.
    We agree with these requests. We have reviewed Revision 1 of the 
referenced service bulletin, which specifies that no more work is 
necessary on airplanes changed as shown in the original issue of the 
service bulletin; the changes in Revision 1 are mainly editorial. 
Therefore, we have changed paragraph (f) of the AD to add Boeing 
Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-28-1225, Revision 1, dated 
October 30, 2006, as the source of service information for 
accomplishing the requirements in that paragraph, and we have added a 
new paragraph (g) to the AD to give credit for the actions done before 
the effective date of this AD in accordance with Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 737-28-1225, dated January 12, 2006. We have 
also changed the applicability in paragraph (c) of the AD to reference 
Revision 1.

Request To Correct Certain Grammar

    Boeing also asks that we correct the grammar specified in paragraph 
(f) of the NPRM by deleting the language ``by doing all of the actions 
specified.'' We agree and have changed the specified language.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously. 
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the 
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 1,541 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 591 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The required actions take about 4 work hours per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators is $189,120, or $320 per 
airplane.

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

[[Page 3361]]

by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2007-02-14 Boeing: Amendment 39-14901. Docket No. FAA-2006-24691; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-051-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective March 1, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, 
and -900 series airplanes, certificated in any category; as 
identified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-28-1225, 
Revision 1, dated October 30, 2006.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the 
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent arcing or sparking 
in the fuel tank in the event of a lightning strike, which could 
result in an uncontrolled fire or explosion.

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.

Test, Inspection, and Corrective and Other Specified Actions

    (f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, test 
the electrical resistance of the bond between the bulkhead fitting 
for the fuel feed line and the wing front spar on the left and right 
wings, do a general visual inspection of adjacent bonding jumpers to 
make sure they are installed correctly, and do all applicable 
corrective and other specified actions. Do all the actions in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 737-28-1225, Revision 1, dated October 
30, 2006. All applicable corrective actions and other specified 
actions must be done before further flight after the electrical 
resistance test.

Credit for Actions Accomplished Previously

    (g) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-28-
1225, dated January 12, 2006; are considered acceptable for 
compliance with the actions required by paragraph (f) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
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

    (i) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-
28-1225, Revision 1, dated October 30, 2006, to perform the actions 
that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of this document 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 January 11, 2007.
Kevin M. Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-898 Filed 1-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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