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

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 86 (Friday, May 2, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24149-24151]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9310]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-28355; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-062-AD; 
Amendment 39-15495; AD 2008-09-14]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800 and -900 series airplanes. This 
AD requires inspecting ground blocks GD261 and GD264 for corrosion, 
measuring the electrical bond resistance between the ground blocks and 
the airplane structure, separating the ground wires for the fuel boost 
pump circuit between ground blocks GD261 and GD264, and doing 
corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from a report of 
random flashes of the six fuel pump low pressure lights and 
intermittent operation of the fuel boost pumps. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent the simultaneous malfunction of all six fuel boost pumps, 
which could cause the engines to operate on suction feed and 
potentially flame out.

DATES: This AD is effective June 6, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 6, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The address for the 
Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is the Document Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

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: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an airworthiness directive (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 June 6, 
2007 (72 FR 31202). That NPRM proposed to require inspecting ground 
blocks GD261 and GD264 for corrosion, measuring the electrical bond 
resistance between the ground blocks and the airplane structure, 
separating the ground wires for the fuel boost pump circuit between 
ground blocks GD261 and GD264, and doing corrective actions if 
necessary.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We have considered the comments received.

Support for the NPRM

    AirTran Airways supports the NPRM.

Request to Incorporate Revised Service Bulletin

    The NPRM referred to Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-
28-1257, dated February 26, 2007, as the appropriate source of service 
information for the proposed requirements. Boeing requests that we 
revise the NPRM to refer to Revision 1 of the service bulletin, which 
Boeing issued after we issued the NPRM.
    We have reviewed the revised service bulletin. In Revision 1, dated 
November 28, 2007, Boeing removed certain annunciator checks, updated 
temperature control operational test instructions, and removed certain 
wire separation requirements. Revision 1 provides no substantive 
changes or additional work. We agree to revise the final rule to 
require Revision 1, and to provide credit for the original version.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
the AD with the changes described previously. We also determined that 
these changes will not increase the economic burden on any operator or 
increase the scope of the AD.

[[Page 24150]]

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 1,871 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for 
U.S. operators to comply with this AD.

                                                                     Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                        Number of U.S.-
                             Work hours                               Average labor        Parts           Cost per        registered       Fleet cost
                                                                      rate per hour                        airplane        airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..................................................................             $80             None              $80              702          $56,160
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    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.
    You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of 
compliance in the AD Docket.

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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2008-09-14 Boeing: Amendment 39-15495. Docket No. FAA-2007-28355; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-062-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective June 6, 2008.

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 737-28-1257, 
Revision 1, dated November 28, 2007.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report of random flashes of the six 
fuel pump low pressure lights and intermittent operation of the fuel 
boost pumps. We are issuing this AD to prevent the simultaneous 
malfunction of all six fuel boost pumps, which could cause the 
engines to operate on suction feed and potentially flame out.

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.

Inspection

    (f) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD: Do a 
general visual inspection of ground blocks GD261 and GD264 for 
corrosion, measure the electrical bond resistance, and separate the 
ground wires for the fuel boost pump circuit between ground blocks 
GD261 and GD264. Do these actions in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 737-28-1257, Revision 1, dated November 28, 2007. Do 
applicable corrective actions before further flight in accordance 
with the service bulletin.

Credit for Actions in Accordance With Previous Service Information

    (g) Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-28-
1257, dated February 26, 2007, are acceptable for compliance with 
the corresponding requirements 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) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-
28-1257, Revision 1, dated November 28, 2007, to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 
98124-2207.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information 
incorporated by reference at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington; or at the 
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information 
on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or 
go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.


[[Page 24151]]


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 18, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-9310 Filed 5-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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