Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 227 / Friday, November 27, 2009 / Rules and Regulations 62231 

Related Information 

(i) Contact Kevin Dickert, Aerospace 

Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 

Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 

01803; e-mail: kevin.dickert@faa.gov; 

telephone (781) 238–7117, fax (781) 238– 

7199, for more information about this AD. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(j) You must use Pratt & Whitney Service 

Bulletin No. 5866, Revision 2, dated October 

20, 1998, to perform the optional terminating 

action in this AD. The Director of the Federal 

Register approved the incorporation by 

reference of this service bulletin in 

accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. Contact Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main 

St., East Hartford, CT 06108; telephone (860) 

565–8770; fax (860) 565–4503, for a copy of 

this service information. You may review 

copies at the FAA, New England Region, 12 

New England Executive Park, Burlington, 

MA; 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/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on 

November 9, 2009. 

Peter A. White, 

Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–27518 Filed 11–25–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2009–0411; Directorate 

Identifier 2008–NM–190–AD; Amendment 

39–16095; AD 2009–24–07] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing 737– 

600, –700, –700C, and –800 Series 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Boeing Model 737–600, –700, –700C, 

and –800 series airplanes. This AD 

requires repetitive lubrications of the 

right and left main landing gear (MLG) 

forward trunnion pins. This AD also 

requires an inspection for discrepancies 

of the transition radius of the MLG 

forward trunnion pins, and corrective 

actions if necessary. For certain 

airplanes, this AD also requires 

repetitive detailed inspections for 

discrepancies (including finish damage, 

corrosion, pitting, and base metal 

scratches) of the transition radius of the 

left and right MLG trunnion pins, and 

corrective action if necessary. Replacing 

or overhauling the trunnion pins 

terminates the actions required by this 

AD. This AD results from a report that 

the protective finishes on the forward 

trunnion pins for the left and right MLG 

might have been damaged during final 

assembly. We are issuing this AD to 

prevent stress corrosion cracking of the 

forward trunnion pins, which could 

result in fracture of the pins and 

consequent collapse of the MLG. 

DATES: This AD is effective January 4, 

2010. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in the AD 

as of January 4, 2010. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, 

MC 2H–65, Seattle, Washington 98124– 

2207; telephone 206–544–5000, 

extension 1; fax 206–766–5680; e-mail 

me.boecom@boeing.com; Internet 

https://www.myboeingfleet.com. 

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: 

Nancy Marsh, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, 

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 917–6440; 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, and –800 series airplanes. That 

NPRM was published in the Federal 

Register on May 5, 2009 (74 FR 20661). 

That NPRM proposed to require 

repetitive lubrications of the right and 

left main landing gear (MLG) forward 

trunnion pins. That NPRM also 

proposed to require an inspection for 

discrepancies of the transition radius of 

the MLG forward trunnion pins, and 

corrective actions if necessary. For 

certain airplanes, that NPRM also 

proposed to require repetitive detailed 

inspections for discrepancies (including 

finish damage, corrosion, pitting, and 

base metal scratches) of the transition 

radius of the left and right MLG 

trunnion pins, and corrective action if 

necessary. Replacing or overhauling the 

trunnion pins would terminate the 

actions proposed by that NPRM. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. We 

considered the comments received from 

the commenters. 

Support for the NPRM 

Boeing and Alaska Airlines support 

the NPRM. 

Request To Change Reference to 

Terminating Action in Paragraph (h) of 

the Final Rule 

Air Transport Association (ATA), on 

behalf of its member AirTran, states that 

paragraph (h) of the NPRM should refer 

to paragraph (j) of the NPRM instead of 

paragraph (i) of the NPRM as the 

optional terminating action. 

We agree that paragraph (h) of the 

NPRM should reference paragraph (j) of 

the NPRM. We have changed this final 

rule accordingly. 

Request To Clarify Service Information 

ATA, on behalf of its member 

AirTran, states that Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin 737–32– 

1402, dated August 6, 2008 (the source 

of service information cited in the 

NPRM), contains two errors. AirTran 

notes a discrepancy between the part 

number cited in the materials section of 

the service bulletin and the Work 

Instructions. AirTran states that the 

section titled ‘‘Parts and Materials 

Supplied by the Operator’’ of the service 

bulletin identifies BMS3–26 as 

‘‘grease—aircraft general purpose.’’ 

However, AirTran notes that BMS3–26 

is a corrosion-inhibiting compound, and 

the work instructions for the lubrication 

requirement identify Boeing 

specification BMS3–33 for the grease. In 

addition, the materials section of the 

service bulletin identifies 

MS20995NC32 (corrosion-resistant 

steel). AirTran requests that we provide 

clarification regarding the correct safety 

wire to be used for the trunnion pin 

installation to ensure consistent fleet 

compliance. 


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62232 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 227 / Friday, November 27, 2009 / Rules and Regulations 

We agree that the information on page 

23 of Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 737–32–1402, dated August 6, 

2008, under the heading ‘‘Parts and 

Materials Supplied by the Operator’’ 

contains errors. However, this section of 

the service bulletin is not mandated by 

the AD; therefore, no change to the AD 

is necessary. We have requested that 

Boeing issue an information notice to 

clarify the intent of the service bulletin. 

We have not changed the AD in this 

regard. 

Request To Not Require the Use of 

Ultrachromate 300 

Continental Airlines notes that Part 3 

of the Accomplishment Instructions of 

Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 737–32–1402, dated August 6, 

2008, specifies the use of Ultrachromate 

300. Continental Airlines states that this 

chemical is a known carcinogen that 

requires special handling precautions 

and states that using this chemical is 

better suited in a landing gear shop 

environment where adequate safety 

precautions are in place. Furthermore, 

Continental Airlines states there is a risk 

that using Ultrachromate 300 could 

contaminate the surrounding landing 

gear structures. The commenter requests 

that we revise the NPRM to require 

applying primer and paint with 

repetitive lubrications as sufficient 

protection against corrosion. The 

commenter notes that it has overhauled 

64 landing gear sets on Boeing Model 

737–700 and –800 series airplanes, and 

has not received any reports of 

corrosion findings on the transition 

radius of the forward trunnion pins. 

We disagree that applying primer and 

paint in combination with repetitive 

lubrications provides sufficient 

protection against corrosion for all 

affected airplanes. Ultrachromate 300 or 

equivalent is used to ensure that the 

primer adheres properly. We agree that 

appropriate precautions should be taken 

when handling Ultrachromate 300. The 

procedure for using Ultrachromate 300 

was developed with operator input 

during an all-operator meeting held in 

Seattle on November 6, 2007. We have 

not changed this AD in this regard. 

Operators who wish to use an 

alternative procedure may request 

approval of an AMOC following the 

procedures outlined in paragraph (k) of 

this AD. 

Request To Extend Compliance Time 

Continental Airlines notes that Boeing 

currently has no forward trunnion pins 

in stock, and the lead time for this part 

is 175 days. Continental Airlines states 

that it is concerned that the 

unavailability of parts could severely 

impact its ability to perform the 

inspection within the proposed time 

limits. 

We infer that Continental Airlines is 

requesting that we extend the 

compliance time. We do not agree to 

extend the compliance time. In 

developing an appropriate compliance 

time for this action, we considered the 

urgency associated with the subject 

unsafe condition, the availability of 

required parts, and the practical aspect 

of accomplishing the required 

modification within a period of time 

that corresponds to the normal 

scheduled maintenance for most 

affected operators. According to the 

manufacturer, an ample number of 

required parts will be available to 

modify the U.S. fleet within the 

proposed compliance time. We have not 

changed this AD in this regard. 

However, according to the provisions of 

paragraph (k) of the final rule, we may 

approve requests to adjust the 

compliance time if the request includes 

data that prove that the new compliance 

time would provide an acceptable level 

of safety. 

Request To Clarify Magnification 

Requirements 

ATA, on behalf of its member 

AirTran, also states that Part I, step 5, 

of the Work Instructions of Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 737– 

32–1402, dated August 6, 2008, allows 

for a range of magnification from 

unaided to up to 10X magnification. 

AirTran questions the reason for 

specifying a range of the magnification 

and requests that we change the NPRM 

to require a specific level of 

magnification to ensure consistent fleet 

compliance. 

We do not agree to limit the choice 

provided by the service bulletin. We 

have determined that using any of the 

magnification levels specified in the 

service bulletin provides an adequate 

level of safety. We have not changed the 

final rule in this regard. 

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 change described previously. 

We also determined that this change 

will not increase the economic burden 

on any operator or increase the scope of 

the AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 100 

airplanes of U.S. registry. The following 

table provides the estimated costs for 

U.S. operators to comply with this AD. 

TABLE—ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Work 

hours 

Average 

labor rate 

per hour 

Parts Cost per product 

Number of 

U.S.- 

registered 

airplanes 

Fleet cost 

Repetitive lubrication ... 1 $80 $0 $80 ................................................ 100 $8,000. 

Inspections .................. 8 80 0 $640 per inspection cycle ............. 100 $64,000 per inspection cycle. 

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 


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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 227 / Friday, November 27, 2009 / Rules and Regulations 62233 

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 

■ Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as 

follows: 

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS 

DIRECTIVES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

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

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new AD: 

2009–24–07 Boeing: Amendment 39–16095. 

Docket No. FAA–2009–0411; Directorate 

Identifier 2008–NM–190–AD. 

Effective Date 

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective January 4, 2010. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 737– 

600, –700, –700C, and –800 series airplanes, 

certificated in any category; as identified in 

Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 

737–32–1402, dated August 6, 2008. 

Subject 

(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 32: Landing gear. 

Unsafe Condition 

(e) This AD results from a report indicating 

that the protective finishes on the main 

landing gear (MLG) forward trunnion pins 

might have been damaged during final 

assembly. We are issuing this AD to prevent 

stress corrosion cracking of the forward 

trunnion pins, which could result in fracture 

of the pins and consequent collapse of the 

MLG. 

Compliance 

(f) Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

Lubrication 

(g) Within 30 days after the effective date 

of this AD: Lubricate the left and right MLG 

forward trunnion pins in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 737–32– 

1402, dated August 6, 2008. Repeat the 

lubrication at intervals not to exceed 30 days 

until all applicable requirements of 

paragraph (h) of this AD have been 

accomplished. 

Inspection and Corrective Actions 

(h) Within 60 months after the date of 

issuance of the original airworthiness 

certificate or date of issuance of the original 

export certificate of airworthiness, or within 

6 months after the effective date of this AD, 

whichever occurs later: Except as provided 

by paragraph (j) of this AD, do a detailed 

inspection for discrepancies (including finish 

damage, corrosion, pitting, and base metal 

scratches) of the transition radius of the left 

and right MLG trunnion pins, in accordance 

with the Accomplishment Instructions of 

Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 

737–32–1402, dated August 6, 2008. Except 

as provided by paragraph (j) of this AD, at the 

times specified in paragraph 1.E., 

‘‘Compliance,’’ of the service bulletin, do all 

applicable repetitive inspections and 

corrective actions, in accordance with the 

service bulletin. Accomplishing the detailed 

inspections (initial and repetitive) and all 

applicable corrective actions specified in this 

paragraph terminates the repetitive 

lubrication requirements of paragraph (g) of 

this AD. 

No Report Required 

(i) Although Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 737–32–1402, dated August 

6, 2008, specifies to send inspection reports 

to the manufacturer, this AD does not 

include that requirement. 

Optional Terminating Action 

(j) Overhauling or replacing a trunnion pin 

in accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 737–32–1402, dated August 

6, 2008, ends the repetitive lubrication 

requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD, and 

the actions required by paragraph (h) of this 

AD, for that pin. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(k)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft 

Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the 

authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 

requested using the procedures found in 14 

CFR 39.19. Send information to Attn: Nancy 

Marsh, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe 

Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, Seattle ACO, 1601 

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 

98057–3356; telephone (425) 917–6440; fax 

(425) 917–6590. Or, e-mail information to 9- 

ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov. 

(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 principal maintenance inspector 

(PMI) or principal avionics inspector (PAI), 

as appropriate, or lacking a principal 

inspector, your local Flight Standards District 

Office. The AMOC approval letter must 

specifically reference this AD. 

(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable 

level of safety may be used for any repair 

required by this AD, if it is approved by an 

Authorized Representative for the Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes Delegation Option 

Authorization Organization who has been 

authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to 

make those findings. For a repair method to 

be approved, the repair must meet the 

certification basis of the airplane and the 

approval must specifically refer to this AD. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(l) You must use Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 737–32–1402, dated August 

6, 2008, to do the actions required by this 

AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. If you 

accomplish the optional terminating action 

specified in this AD, you must use Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 737–32– 

1402, dated August 6, 2008, to do those 

actions, 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, Attention: Data & Services 

Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H–65, 

Seattle, Washington 98124–2207; telephone 

206–544–5000, extension 1; fax 206–766– 

5680; e-mail me.boecom@boeing.com; 

Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. 

(3) You may review copies of the service 

information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

425–227–1221 or 425–227–1152. 

(4) You may also review copies of the 

service information that is incorporated by 

reference 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. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

November 12, 2009. 

Stephen P. Boyd, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–28171 Filed 11–25–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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