Document ID: FAA-2007-28384-0011
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, - 800, and -900 Series Airplanes
Posted Date: 2008-05-08T04:00Z

[Federal Register: May 8, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 90)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 25986-25990]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08my08-8]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-28384; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-165-AD; 
Amendment 39-15516; AD 2008-10-10]
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 revising the Airworthiness Limitations (AWLs) section 
of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness by incorporating new 
limitations for fuel tank systems to satisfy Special Federal Aviation 
Regulation No. 88 requirements. This AD also requires the initial 
inspection of a certain repetitive AWL inspection to phase in that 
inspection, and repair if necessary. This AD results from a design 
review of the fuel tank systems. We are issuing this AD to prevent the 
potential for ignition sources inside fuel tanks caused by latent 
failures, alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions, which, in 
combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank 
explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective June 12, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 12, 
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: Samuel Spitzer, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone 
(425) 917-6510; 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 July 6, 
2007 (72 FR 36920). That NPRM proposed to require revising the 
Airworthiness Limitations (AWLs) section of the Instructions for 
Continued Airworthiness (ICA) by incorporating new limitations for fuel 
tank systems to satisfy Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 88 
requirements. That NPRM also proposed to require the initial inspection 
of a certain repetitive AWL inspection to phase in that inspection, and 
repair if necessary.

Actions Since NPRM Was Issued

    Since we issued the NPRM, Boeing has issued Temporary Revision (TR) 
09-020, dated March 2008. Boeing TR 09-020 is published as Section 9 of 
the Boeing 737-600/700/800/900 Maintenance Planning Data (MPD) 
Document, D626A001-CMR, Revision March 2008 (hereafter referred to as 
``Revision March 2008 of the MPD''). The NPRM referred to Revision 
March 2006 of the MPD as the appropriate source of service information 
for accomplishing the proposed actions. Revision March 2008 of the MPD, 
among other actions, includes the following changes:
     Removes the repetitive task interval of 36,000 flight 
cycles from AWLs No. 28-AWL-01 and No. 28-AWL-03.
     Revises the task description for AWL No. 28-AWL-01 to 
harmonize it with AWL No. 28-AWL-02 by removing references to certain 
station numbers.
     Revises AWL No. 28-AWL-03 to reflect the new maximum loop 
resistance values associated with the lightning protection of the 
unpressurized fuel quantity indicating system (FQIS) wire bundle 
installations.
    Accordingly, we have revised paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this 
AD to refer to Revision March 2008 of the MPD. We also have added a new 
paragraph (j) to this AD specifying that actions done before the 
effective date of this AD in accordance with Revisions March 2006 
through February 2008 of the MPD are acceptable for compliance with the 
corresponding requirements of paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD. (In 
Revision March 2007 of the MPD, Boeing revised the document title to 
``737-600/700/800/900.'')
    We also have removed reference to 36,000 total flight cycles from 
paragraph (h)(1) of this AD and revised the initial threshold for 
accomplishing AWL No. 28-AWL-03 to within 120 months since the date of 
issuance of the original standard airworthiness certificate or the date 
of issuance of the original export certificate of airworthiness.
    Since publication of Revision March 2006 of the MPD, Boeing has 
revised the contents of certain subsections of the MPD. Information 
pertaining to the fuel system AWLs has been removed from Subsection D, 
``AIRWORTHINESS

[[Page 25987]]

LIMITATIONS--SYSTEMS'' and placed into a new Subsection E, 
``AIRWORTHINESS LIMITATIONS--FUEL SYSTEMS.'' The subsequent subsections 
of the MPD were reidentified accordingly. Therefore, we have revised 
paragraphs (g)(1), (g)(2), and (g)(3) of this AD to refer to 
Subsections E, F, and G, respectively.
    Operators should note that we have revised paragraph (g) of this AD 
to require incorporating only AWLs No. 28-AWL-01 through No. 28-AWL-22 
inclusive. AWL No. 28-AWL-23 was added in Revision May 2006 of the MPD, 
and AWL No. 28-AWL-24 was added in Revision October 2006 of the MPD. 
However, as an optional action, operators may incorporate those two 
AWLs as specified in paragraph (g) of this AD.
    Operators should also note that we have issued a separate NPRM 
(Docket No. FAA-2007-28661) that, in part, proposes to incorporate AWLs 
No. 28-AWL-19 and No. 28-AWL-23 into the AWLs section of the ICA. That 
NPRM was published in the Federal Register on July 10, 2007 (72 FR 
37479).
    We have also issued AD 2008-06-03, amendment 39-15415 (73 FR 13081, 
March 12, 2008) that, in part, requires revising the AWLs section of 
the ICA to incorporate AWLs No. 28-AWL-21, No. 28-AWL-22, and No. 28-
AWL-24. Therefore, we have added a new paragraph (k) to this AD 
specifying that incorporating AWLs No. 28-AWL-21, No. 28-AWL-22, and 
No. 28-AWL-24 in accordance with paragraph (g) of this AD terminates 
the action required by paragraph (h)(1) of AD 2008-06-03.

Other Changes Made to This AD

    For standardization purposes, we have revised this AD in the 
following ways:
     We have added a new paragraph (i) to this AD to specify 
that no alternative inspections, inspection intervals, or critical 
design configuration control limitations (CDCCLs) may be used unless 
they are part of a later approved revision of Revision March 2008 of 
the MPD, or unless they are approved as an alternative method of 
compliance (AMOC). Inclusion of this paragraph in the AD is intended to 
ensure that the AD-mandated airworthiness limitations changes are 
treated the same as the airworthiness limitations issued with the 
original type certificate.
     We have revised Note 2 of this AD to clarify that an 
operator must request approval for an AMOC if the operator cannot 
accomplish the required inspections because an airplane has been 
previously modified, altered, or repaired in the areas addressed by the 
required inspections.
     We have revised paragraph (h) of this AD to specify that 
accomplishing AWL No. 28-AWL-03 as part of an FAA-approved maintenance 
program before the applicable compliance time constitutes compliance 
with the applicable requirements of that paragraph.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We considered the comments received from the six commenters.

Request To Revise the Loop Resistance Values for AWL No. 28-AWL-03

    Boeing and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) state that the loop 
resistance values for AWL No. 28-AWL-03 specified in Revision March 
2006 of the MPD are going to be revised, since those values are 
relevant for production airplanes. The commenters also state that the 
revised values will be more representative of the expected values for 
in-service airplanes. Boeing points out that, according to paragraph 
(h) of the NPRM, the revised values should be able to be used in 
accordance with a later revision of the MPD if the revision is approved 
by the Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA.
    We agree that operators may use the revised loop resistance values 
for AWL No. 28-AWL-03 in accordance with Revision March 2008 of the 
MPD. As stated previously, we have revised this AD accordingly.

Request To Extend the Task Intervals for Certain AWL Inspections

    KLM, on behalf of several operators, requests that we review a 45-
page proposal to align certain airworthiness limitation item (ALI) 
intervals with the applicable maintenance significant item (MSI) and 
enhanced zonal analysis procedure (EZAP) intervals for Model 737, 747, 
757, 767, and 777 airplanes. The recommendations in that proposal 
ensure that the ALI intervals align with the maintenance schedules of 
the operators. Among other changes, the proposal recommends extending 
certain AWL inspection intervals from 10 years/36,000 flight cycles to 
12 years for Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series 
airplanes.
    The Air Transport Association (ATA), on behalf of its member Delta 
Airlines (DAL), notes an inconsistency between the inspection interval 
specified in Revision March 2006 of the MPD and the compliance 
threshold specified in paragraph (h)(1) of the NPRM. Paragraph (h)(1) 
of the NPRM specifies accomplishing the initial inspection prior to the 
accumulation of 36,000 total flight hours, or 120 months since the date 
of issuance of the original standard airworthiness certificate or the 
date of issuance of the original export certificate of airworthiness, 
whichever occurs first. DAL requests that we revise the compliance 
threshold to 36,000 ``total flight cycles.''
    We disagree with KLM's request to extend certain AWL inspection 
intervals to 12 years. However, as stated previously, we have deleted 
the 36,000-total-flight-hour parameter from paragraph (h)(1) of this AD 
to correspond with the task interval for AWL No. 28-AWL-03 as specified 
in Revision March 2008 of the MPD. In developing an appropriate 
compliance time for this action, we considered the urgency associated 
with the subject unsafe condition and the practical aspect of 
accomplishing the required actions within a period of time that 
corresponds to the normal scheduled maintenance for most affected 
operators. However, according to the provisions of paragraph (l) of 
this AD, we might 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 Require the Incorporation of AWL No. 28-AWL-24

    The ATA, on behalf of its member Delta Airlines (DAL), notes that 
AD 2008-06-03 requires a revision to the AWLs section of the 
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate AWLs No. 28-
AWL-21, No. 28-AWL-22, and No. 28-AWL-24. DAL states that AD 2008-06-03 
appears to duplicate the proposed requirements of the NPRM, and that it 
is more appropriate to have this AD require the incorporation of AWLs 
No. 28-AWL-21, No. 28-AWL-22, and No. 28-AWL-24.
    We infer that the commenters request that we delete paragraph 
(h)(1) from AD 2008-06-03, and revise this AD to require incorporating 
AWL No. 28-AWL-24 into the AWLs section of the Instructions for 
Continued Airworthiness. (This AD requires the incorporation of AWLs 
No. 28-AWL-01 through No 28-AWL-22 and specifies that AWL No. 28-AWL-24 
may be incorporated as an optional action.) We do not agree to revise 
this AD or AD 2008-06-03. Revision March 2008 of the MPD contains an 
applicability column that identifies the airplane configuration to 
which the AWL applies. That AWL is required only for airplanes that 
have that configuration. If

[[Page 25988]]

the applicability column identifies a service bulletin, then the 
operator would not need to adhere to the AWL until the airplane is 
modified in accordance with that service bulletin. There is no penalty 
for incorporating the AWL before accomplishing the actions specified in 
the service bulletin, and doing so actually reduces the paperwork 
burden for the FAA and the operators by incorporating subsections E, F, 
and G in their entirety.
    Also, it is necessary to have AD 2008-06-03 require the 
incorporation of AWLs No 28-AWL-21, No. 28-AWL-22, and No. 28-AWL-24, 
since those AWLs are tied to the design change required by paragraph 
(g) of AD 2008-06-03. If an operator were to comply with AD 2008-06-03 
before complying with this AD and did not revise its MPD concurrently 
with accomplishing the design change, then the operations checks 
required by those AWLs would not be performed at the proper time.
    However, we do not intend for operators to incorporate AWLs No. 28-
AWL-21 and No. 28-AWL-22 into the AWLs section of the Instructions for 
Continued Airworthiness twice by two separate airworthiness directives. 
As stated previously, we have added a new paragraph (k) to this AD 
specifying that incorporating AWLs No. 28-AWL-21, No. 28-AWL-22, and 
No. 28-AWL-24 in accordance with paragraph (g) of this AD terminates 
the action required by paragraph (h)(1) of AD 2008-06-03.

Request To Issue Separate Airworthiness Directives

    The ATA, on behalf of its member American Airlines (AAL), requests 
that we delete the initial inspection and repair specified in paragraph 
(h) of the NPRM and address those actions with a separate airworthiness 
directive. AAL states that the different actions and compliance times 
proposed in paragraphs (g) and (h) of the NPRM create confusion and 
difficulty in tracking compliance. AAL also states that it will not be 
able to say it is fully compliant with the requirements of the NPRM by 
December 16, 2008, because it will still be in the process of 
completing the initial inspection and repair specified in paragraph (h) 
of the NPRM.
    AirTran Airways states that it is unclear as to why AWL No. 28-AWL-
03 is given special consideration in paragraph (h) of the NPRM. AirTran 
Airways also states that, although it is not affected by the compliance 
time specified in paragraph (h)(2) of the NPRM, it assumes that there 
are other operators who will be affected by it due to the age of the 
fleet. AirTran Airways, therefore, requests that we substantiate why 
the NPRM contains a more restrictive requirement for AWL No. 28-AWL-03.
    We disagree with issuing a separate airworthiness directive to 
address the requirements of the paragraph (h) of this AD. Some 
airplanes might have already passed the age when the initial inspection 
required by AWL No. 28-AWL-03 should have been accomplished. The intent 
of paragraph (h) of this AD is to phase in that inspection for those 
airplanes. Further, paragraph (h)(2) of this AD provides a 24-month 
grace period for an airplane that has already exceeded the compliance 
threshold specified in paragraph (h)(1) of this AD. No change to this 
AD is necessary in this regard.

Request To Revise Appendix 1

    Boeing requests that we revise Appendix 1 of the NPRM to add an 
additional ATA section for AWL No. 28-AWL-02 and for AWL No. 28-AWL-17. 
The ATA, on behalf of its member DAL, requests that we revise Appendix 
1 of the NPRM as follows: (1) add the task title for AWLs No. 28-AWL-
08, No. 28-AWL-12, No. 28-AWL-13, and No. 28-AWL-22 based on the 
information found in the MPD, (2) add the ``ALI/CDCCL'' designation, 
airplane maintenance manual (AMM) reference, and task title for AWL No. 
28-AWL-20 based on the information in the MPD, and (3) delete any 
duplicate sources of service information and reference a single source 
document that provides the task instructions necessary to comply with 
the AWLs.
    We disagree with revising the AMM references, since we have deleted 
Appendix 1 from this AD. The purpose of Appendix 1 was to assist 
operators in identifying the AMM tasks that could affect compliance 
with a CDCCL. However, we have also received several similar comments 
regarding the appendices in other NPRMs that address the same unsafe 
condition on other Boeing airplanes. Those comments indicate that 
including non-required information in those NPRMs has caused confusion. 
Further, Revision March 2008 of the MPD contains most of the updated 
information that is listed in Appendix 1 of the NPRM. Therefore, we 
have removed Appendix 1 from this AD.

Request To Revise Note 2

    Boeing requests that we revise Note 2 of the NPRM to clarify the 
need for an AMOC. Boeing states that the current wording is difficult 
to follow, and that the note is meant to inform operators that an AMOC 
to the required MPD AWLs might be required if an operator has 
previously modified, altered, or repaired the areas addressed by the 
limitations. Boeing requests that we revise Note 2 as follows:
     Add the words ``according to paragraph (g)'' at the end of 
the first sentence.
     Replace the words ``revision to'' with ``deviation from'' 
in the last sentence.
     Delete the words ``(g) or'' and ``as applicable'' from the 
last sentence.
    As stated previously, we have clarified the language in Note 2 of 
this AD for standardization with other similar ADs. The language the 
commenter requests that we change does not appear in the revised note. 
Therefore, no additional change to this AD is necessary in this regard.

Request To Extend the Grace Period for AWL No. 28-AWL-03

    KLM expects to have problems accomplishing the initial inspection 
of AWL No. 28-AWL-03 within the 24-month grace period. The commenter 
states that if it does the check and does not reach the specified 
values, then tank entry outside of heavy maintenance would be 
necessary. The commenter also states that it would be helpful to plan 
to do this inspection during an overhaul.
    We infer that KLM requests that we extend the grace period for AWL 
No. 28-AWL-03 in paragraph (h)(2) of this AD to allow accomplishing the 
initial inspection during a regularly scheduled ``D'' check (about 6 
years). We disagree with extending the grace period to 6 years. In 
developing an appropriate compliance time for this action, we 
considered the safety implications, the rate of lightning strikes in 
the fleet, and the average age of the fleet. In consideration of these 
items, we have determined that an initial compliance time of 120 months 
(as discussed previously) with a grace period of 24 months will ensure 
an acceptable level of safety. We have not changed the grace period for 
AWL No. 28-AWL-03 in this regard.

Request To Revise the Estimated Costs Table

    The ATA, on behalf of its member DAL, states that it disagrees with 
the cost estimate for accomplishing the inspection provided in the 
``Estimated Costs'' table of the NPRM because it does not include the 
time required for accomplishing the additional repetitive inspections. 
DAL also states that it will take much more than eight hours to 
accomplish the initial inspection.
    We infer the commenters request that we revise the ``Estimated 
Cost'' table in this AD to reflect the cost of

[[Page 25989]]

accomplishing the repetitive inspections. We do not agree because the 
repetitive inspections are not directly required by this AD. This AD 
only requires the change to the maintenance program via a revision to 
the MPD, and the initial accomplishment of AWL No. 28-AWL-03. Section 
91.403(c) of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 91.403(c)) 
requires the repetitive inspections once the maintenance program is 
changed. Although DAL states the initial inspection takes more than 8 
hours, it has not provided an estimate. Therefore, we have not changed 
this AD 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 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.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 1,960 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs, at 
an average labor rate of $80 per work hour, for U.S. operators to 
comply with this AD.

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Number of
                                                                     Cost per          U.S.-
            Action               Work hours          Parts           airplane       registered      Fleet cost
                                                                                     airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AWLs revision................               8  None.............            $640             682        $436,480
Inspection...................               8  None.............             640             682         436,480
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

2008-10-10 Boeing: Amendment 39-15516. Docket No. FAA-2007-28384; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-165-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective June 12, 
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, with an 
original standard airworthiness certificate or original export 
certificate of airworthiness issued before March 31, 2006.

    Note 1: Airplanes with an original standard airworthiness 
certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued 
on or after March 31, 2006, must already be in compliance with the 
airworthiness limitations specified in this AD because those 
limitations were applicable as part of the airworthiness 
certification of those airplanes.

    Note 2: This AD requires revisions to certain operator 
maintenance documents to include new inspections. Compliance with 
these inspections is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes 
that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the 
areas addressed by these inspections, the operator may not be able 
to accomplish the inspections described in the revisions. In this 
situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must 
request approval for an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) 
according to paragraph (l) of this AD. The request should include a 
description of changes to the required inspections that will ensure 
the continued operational safety of the airplane.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a design review of the fuel tank 
systems. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential for 
ignition sources inside fuel tanks caused by latent failures, 
alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions, which, in combination 
with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion 
and consequent loss of the airplane.

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.

Service Information Reference

    (f) The term ``Revision March 2008 of the MPD,'' as used in this 
AD, means Boeing Temporary Revision (TR) 09-020, dated March 2008. 
Boeing TR 09-020 is published as Section 9 of the Boeing 737-600/
700/800/900 Maintenance Planning Data (MPD) Document, D626A001-CMR, 
Revision March 2008.

[[Page 25990]]

Revision to Airworthiness Limitations (AWLs) Section

    (g) Before December 16, 2008, revise the AWLs section of the 
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) by incorporating into 
the MPD the information in the subsections specified in paragraphs 
(g)(1), (g)(2), and (g)(3) of this AD; except that the initial 
inspection required by paragraph (h) of this AD must be done at the 
applicable compliance time specified in that paragraph. 
Accomplishing the revision in accordance with a later revision of 
the MPD is an acceptable method of compliance if the revision is 
approved by the Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), FAA.
    (1) Subsection E, ``AIRWORTHINESS LIMITATIONS--FUEL SYSTEMS,'' 
of Revision March 2008 of the MPD.
    (2) Subsection F, ``PAGE FORMAT: FUEL SYSTEM AIRWORTHINESS 
LIMITATIONS,'' of Revision March 2008 of the MPD.
    (3) Subsection G, ``AIRWORTHINESS LIMITATIONS--FUEL SYSTEM 
AWLs,'' AWLs No. 28-AWL-01 through No. 28-AWL-22 inclusive, of 
Revision March 2008 of the MPD. As an optional action, AWLs No. 28-
AWL-23 and No. 28-AWL-24, as identified in Subsection G of Revision 
March 2008 of the MPD, also may be incorporated into the AWLs 
section of the ICA.

Initial Inspection and Repair if Necessary

    (h) At the later of the compliance times specified in paragraphs 
(h)(1) and (h)(2) of this AD, do a special detailed inspection of 
the lightning shield to ground termination on the out-of-tank fuel 
quantity indication system (FQIS) wiring to verify functional 
integrity, in accordance with AWL No. 28-AWL-03 of Subsection G of 
Revision March 2008 of the MPD. If any discrepancy is found during 
the inspection, repair the discrepancy before further flight in 
accordance with AWL No. 28-AWL-03 of Subsection G of Revision March 
2008 of the MPD. Accomplishing the actions required by this 
paragraph in accordance with a later revision of the MPD is an 
acceptable method of compliance if the revision is approved by the 
Manager, Seattle ACO. Accomplishing AWL No. 28-AWL-03 as part of an 
FAA-approved maintenance program before the applicable compliance 
time specified in paragraph (h)(1) or (h)(2) of this AD constitutes 
compliance with the requirements of this paragraph.

    Note 3: For the purposes of this AD, a special detailed 
inspection is: ``An intensive examination of a specific item, 
installation, or assembly to detect damage, failure, or 
irregularity. The examination is likely to make extensive use of 
specialized inspection techniques and/or equipment. Intricate 
cleaning and substantial access or disassembly procedure may be 
required.''

    (1) Within 120 months since the date of issuance of the original 
standard airworthiness certification or the date of issuance of the 
original export certificate of airworthiness.
    (2) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD.

No Alternative Inspections, Inspection Intervals, or Critical Design 
Configuration Control Limitations (CDCCLs)

    (i) After accomplishing the actions specified in paragraphs (g) 
and (h) of this AD, no alternative inspections, inspection 
intervals, or CDCCLs may be used unless the inspections, intervals, 
or CDCCLs are part of a later revision of Revision March 2008 of the 
MPD that is approved by the Manager, Seattle ACO; or unless the 
inspections, intervals, or CDCCLs are approved as an AMOC in 
accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (l) of this 
AD.

Credit for Actions Done According to Previous Revisions of the MPD

    (j) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with the following MPDs are acceptable for compliance 
with the corresponding requirements of paragraphs (g) and (h) of 
this AD: Section 9 of the Boeing 737-600/700/700C/700IGW/800/900 MPD 
Document, D626A001-CMR, Revision March 2006; Revision May 2006; 
Revision October 2006; Revision November 2006; or Revision November 
2006 R1; and Section 9 of the Boeing 737-600/700/800/900 MPD 
Document, D626A001-CMR, Revision March 2007; Revision March 2007 R1; 
Revision March 2007 R2; or Revision February 2008.

Terminating Action for AD 2008-06-03, Amendment 39-15415

    (k) Incorporating AWLs No. 28-AWL-21, No. 28-AWL-22, and No. 28-
AWL-24 into the AWLs section of the ICA in accordance with paragraph 
(g) of this AD terminates the action required by paragraph (h)(1) of 
AD 2008-06-03.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (l)(1) The Manager, Seattle ACO, 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

    (m) You must use Boeing Temporary Revision 09-020, dated March 
2008, to the Boeing 737-600/700/800/900 Maintenance Planning Data 
(MPD) Document, D626A001-CMR, to do the actions required by this AD, 
unless the AD specifies otherwise. Boeing Temporary Revision 09-020 
is published as Section 9 of the Boeing 737-600/700/800/900 
Maintenance Planning Data (MPD) Document, D626A001-CMR, Revision 
March 2008.
    (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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 29, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-9919 Filed 5-7-08; 8:45 am]

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