Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 184 / Thursday, September 23, 2010 / Proposed Rules 57885 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

September 15, 2010. 

Robert D. Breneman, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–23841 Filed 9–22–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2010–0856; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–NM–117–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Model 737–600, –700, –700C, 

–800, and –900 Series Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Model 737–600, –700, –700C, –800, and 

–900 series airplanes. This proposed AD 

would require inspecting for part 

numbers of the operational program 

software of the flight control computers, 

and doing corrective actions if 

necessary. This proposed AD results 

from reports of erroneous undetected 

output from a single radio altimeter 

channel, which resulted in premature 

autothrottle retard during approach. We 

are proposing this AD to detect and 

correct erroneous output from a radio 

altimeter channel, which could result in 

premature autothrottle landing flare 

retard and the loss of automatic speed 

control, and consequent loss of control 

of the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 8, 2010. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed 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. You 

may review copies of the referenced 

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. 

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 proposed AD, the 

regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for the Docket Office 

(telephone 800–647–5527) is in the 

ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Richard Reed, Aerospace Engineer, 

Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM– 

130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 

Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 

Renton, Washington 98057–3356; 

telephone (425) 917–6431; fax (425) 

917–6590. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposed AD. Send your comments 

to an address listed under the 

ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2010–0856; Directorate Identifier 

2010–NM–117–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD because of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this proposed AD. 

Discussion 

We have received reports of a number 

of instances in service, of erroneous 

undetected output from a single radio 

altimeter channel, which resulted in 

premature autothrottle retard during 

approach. This condition can lead to 

premature autothrottle landing flare 

retard and the loss of automatic speed 

control, and consequent loss of control 

of the airplane. 

Relevant Service Information 

We have reviewed Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 737–22A1211, dated 

April 13, 2010, which describes 

procedures for inspecting to determine 

the operational program software part 

numbers of the flight control computers, 

and installing new software if necessary. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of This Proposed AD 

We are proposing this AD because we 

evaluated all relevant information and 

determined the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop in other products of these same 

type designs. This proposed AD would 

require accomplishing the actions 

specified in the service information 

described previously. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 207 airplanes of U.S. 

registry. We also estimate that it would 

take about 1 work-hour per product to 

comply with the inspection of this 

proposed AD. The average labor rate is 

$85 per work-hour. Based on these 

figures, we estimate the cost of the 

inspection of this proposed AD to the 

U.S. operators to be $17,595, or $85 per 

product. 

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 determined that this proposed AD 

would not have federalism implications 


wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with PROPOSALS_PART 1
57886 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 184 / Thursday, September 23, 2010 / Proposed Rules 

under Executive Order 13132. This 

proposed AD would 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 this proposed regulation: 

1. Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

2. Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under the 

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. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 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: 

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA– 

2010–0856; Directorate Identifier 2010–NM– 

117–AD. 

Comments Due Date 

(a) We must receive comments by 

November 8, 2010. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to The Boeing 

Company Model 737–600, –700, –700C, 

–800, and –900 series airplanes, certificated 

in any category; as identified in Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 737–22A1211, dated April 

13, 2010. 

Subject 

(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 22: Auto Flight. 

Unsafe Condition 

(e) This AD results from reports of 

erroneous undetected output from a single 

radio altimeter channel, which resulted in 

premature autothrottle retard during 

approach. The Federal Aviation 

Administration is issuing this AD to detect 

and correct erroneous output from a radio 

altimeter channel, which could result in 

premature autothrottle landing flare retard 

and the loss of automatic speed control, and 

consequent loss of control of the airplane. 

Compliance 

(f) 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 for Parts 

(g) Within 3 months after the effective date 

of this AD, inspect to determine the part 

number of operational program software 

(OPS) of the flight control computers. For any 

OPS having a part number identified in Table 

1 of the Accomplishment Instructions of 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737–22A1211, 

dated April 13, 2010, before further flight, 

install new software, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 737–22A1211, dated April 

13, 2010. For any OPS having a part number 

identified in Table 2 of the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

737–22A1211, dated April 13, 2010, no 

further action is required by this paragraph. 

Special Flight Permit 

(h) Special flight permits, as described in 

Section 21.197 and Section 21.199 of the 

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 

and 21.199), are not allowed. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(i)(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: 

Richard Reed, Aerospace Engineer, Systems 

and Equipment Branch, ANM–130S, FAA, 

Seattle ACO, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 

Renton, Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 917–6431; fax (425) 917–6590. 

Information may be e-mailed to: 9-ANMSeattle-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. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

September 10, 2010. 

Jeffrey E. Duven, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–23857 Filed 9–22–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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