Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 5, 2011 / Proposed Rules 61643 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 

Branch, ANM–116, FAA, has the authority to 

approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 

request to your principal inspector or local 

Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the International Branch, send it to ATTN: 

Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind 

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057– 

3356; telephone (425) 227–1405; fax (425) 

227–1149. Information may be e-mailed to: 9- 

ANM-116-AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. 

Before using any approved AMOC, notify 

your appropriate principal inspector, or 

lacking a principal inspector, the manager of 

the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. The AMOC 

approval letter must specifically reference 

this AD. 

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement 

in this AD to obtain corrective actions from 

a manufacturer or other source, use these 

actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective 

actions are considered FAA-approved if they 

are approved by the State of Design Authority 

(or their delegated agent). You are required 

to assure the product is airworthy before it 

is returned to service. 

Related Information 

(i) Refer to MCAI EASA Airworthiness 

Directive 2011–0034, dated March 2, 2011; 

and Airbus Service Bulletin A320–57–1152, 

dated June 14, 2010; for related information. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

September 22, 2011. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–25569 Filed 10–4–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–0996; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–068–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Model 737–600, –700, –700C, 

–800, –900, and –900ER 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 the 

products listed above. This proposed 

AD would require replacement of the 

thumbnail fairing edge seals on both 

sides of the engines with Nitronic 60 

stainless steel alloy seals. This proposed 

AD was prompted by reports of 

excessive in-service wear damage of the 

thumbnail fairing edge seal and the fan 

cowl panel rub strip and fan cowl skin 

assembly. We are proposing this AD to 

prevent failure of the fire seal, which 

could allow a fire in the fan 

compartment to spread beyond the 

firewall and reach the flammable fluid 

leakage zones, resulting in an 

uncontrolled fire. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 21, 

2011. 

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: Deliver to Mail 

address above 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 

(phone: 800–647–5527) is in the 

ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Chris Parker, Aerospace Engineer, 

Propulsion Branch, ANM–140S, FAA, 

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office 

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

Washington 98057–3356; phone: 425– 

917–6496; fax: 425–917–6590; e-mail: 

chris.r.parker@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposal. Send your comments to 

an address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– 

2011–0996; Directorate Identifier 2011– 

NM–068–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 received reports of repetitive 

occurrences of excessive in-service wear 

damage of the thumbnail fairing edge 

seal and of the fan cowl panel rub strip 

and fan cowl skin assembly. Identical 

abrasion damage was also reported at 

the location where the thumbnail fairing 

edge seal rests against the top surface of 

the hinge beam forward firewall. This 

condition, if not corrected, could result 

in failure of the fire seal, which could 

allow a fire in the fan compartment to 

spread beyond the firewall and reach 

the flammable fluid leakage zones, 

resulting in an uncontrolled fire. 

Relevant Service Information 

We reviewed Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin 737–54– 

1046, dated February 16, 2011. That 

service bulletin describes procedures for 

replacing the thumbnail fairing edge 

seals on both the left side and the right 

side of both engine 1 and engine 2 with 

new Nitronic 60 stainless steel alloy 

seals. 

FAA’s Determination and Proposed AD 

Requirements 

We are proposing this AD because we 

evaluated all the 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. 


jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
61644 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 5, 2011 / Proposed Rules 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 989 airplanes of U.S. registry. We 

estimate the following costs to comply 

with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Replace thumbnail faring edge 

seals.

6 work-hours × $85 per hour = $510 ..................................... $2,032 $2,542 $2,514,038 

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 

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), 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, and 

(4) 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. 

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 airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA– 

2011–0996; Directorate Identifier 2011– 

NM–068–AD. 

Comments Due Date 

(a) We must receive comments by 

November 21, 2011. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to The Boeing 

Company Model 737–600, –700, –700C, 

–800, –900, and –900ER series airplanes, 

certificated in any category, as identified in 

Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 

737–54–1046, dated February 16, 2011. 

Subject 

(d) Joint Aircraft System Component 

(JASC)/Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 54: Nacelles/Pylons. 

Unsafe Condition 

(e) This AD was prompted by reports of 

excessive in-service wear damage of the 

thumbnail fairing edge seal and the fan cowl 

panel rub strip and fan cowl skin assembly. 

We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of 

the fire seal, which could allow a fire in the 

fan compartment to spread beyond the 

firewall and reach the flammable fluid 

leakage zones, resulting in an uncontrolled 

fire. 

Compliance 

(f) Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

Replacement of the Thumbnail Fairing Edge 

Seals 

(g) Within 60 months after the effective 

date of this AD, replace the thumbnail fairing 

edge seals, on both the left side and the right 

side of engine 1 and engine 2, with new 

Nitronic 60 stainless steel alloy seals, in 

accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 737–54–1046, dated 

February 16, 2011. 

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 using the procedures found in 14 

CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 

send your request to your principal inspector 

or local Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 

attention of the person identified in the 

Related Information section of this AD. 

Information may be e-mailed to: 9-ANMSeattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

Related Information 

(i) For more information about this AD, 

contact Chris Parker, Aerospace Engineer, 

Propulsion Branch, ANM–140S, FAA, Seattle 

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind 

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057– 

3356; phone: 425–917–6496; fax: 425–917– 

6590; e-mail: chris.r.parker@faa.gov. 

(j) 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. You may review 

copies of the referenced service information 

at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356. For information on 

the availability of this material at the FAA, 

call 425–227–1221. 


jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 5, 2011 / Proposed Rules 61645 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

September 22, 2011. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–25579 Filed 10–4–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–0997; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–043–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model 

A330–200 Series Airplanes; Model 

A330–300 Series Airplanes; Model 

A340–200 Series Airplanes; and Model 

A340–300 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 the 

products listed above. This proposed 

AD results from mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI) 

originated by an aviation authority of 

another country to identify and correct 

an unsafe condition on an aviation 

product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 

condition as: 

During fatigue testing of the MLG [main 

landing gear], three failures of the retraction 

bracket occurred before the calculated life 

limitation. Further analysis has confirmed 

that those failures were due to fatigue 

initiated by fretting between the bush and lug 

bore. 

The failure of the retraction bracket, if not 

detected, could lead to a MLG extension with 

no damping resulting in MLG structural 

damage. 

* * * * * 

The proposed AD would require 

actions that are intended to address the 

unsafe condition described in the MCAI. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 21, 

2011. 

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, between 

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

Friday, except Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Airbus SAS— 

Airworthiness Office—EAL, 1 Rond 

Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac 

Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 

96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; e-mail 

airworthiness.A330–A340@airbus.com; 

Internet http://www.airbus.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 Operations office 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 Operations 

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: 

Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 227–1138; fax (425) 227–1149. 

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–2011–0997; Directorate Identifier 

2011–NM–043–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 based on 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 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, has issued EASA 

Airworthiness Directive 2010–0205, 

dated October 8, 2010 (referred to after 

this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe 

condition for the specified products. 

The MCAI states: 

During fatigue testing of the MLG [main 

landing gear], three failures of the retraction 

bracket occurred before the calculated life 

limitation. Further analysis has confirmed 

that those failures were due to fatigue 

initiated by fretting between the bush and lug 

bore. 

The failure of the retraction bracket, if not 

detected, could lead to a MLG extension with 

no damping resulting in MLG structural 

damage. 

Airbus carried out an investigation, 

demonstrating that the life limit of retraction 

brackets must be reduced to 19,800 Landings 

(LDG), which is below the life limit stated in 

the following A330 and A340 Airbus ALS 

Part 4 revisions: 

—Airbus A330 ALS Part 4 revision 02 

approved by EASA on 16 December 2009. 

—Airbus A340 ALS Part 4 revision 01 

approved by EASA on 15 December 2009. 

In order to maintain the structural integrity 

of the aeroplane, this [EASA] AD requires the 

replacement of these MLG retraction brackets 

before the accumulation of 19,800 total LDG. 

You may obtain further information 

by examining the MCAI in the AD 

docket. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of This Proposed AD 

This product has been approved by 

the aviation authority of another 

country, and is approved for operation 

in the United States. Pursuant to our 

bilateral agreement with the State of 

Design Authority, we have been notified 

of the unsafe condition described in the 

MCAI and service information 

referenced above. We are proposing this 

AD because we evaluated all pertinent 

information and determined an unsafe 

condition exists and is likely to exist or 

develop on other products of the same 

type design. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

MCAI or Service Information 

We have reviewed the MCAI and 

related service information and, in 

general, agree with their substance. But 

we might have found it necessary to use 

different words from those in the MCAI 

to ensure the AD is clear for U.S. 

operators and is enforceable. In making 

these changes, we do not intend to differ 

substantively from the information 

provided in the MCAI and related 

service information. 


jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS