Document ID: FAA-2011-0032-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Boeing Co. Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 Series Airplanes
Posted Date: 2011-01-26T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 26, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4567-4569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1438]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0032; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-236-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).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This proposed AD would require an inspection of 
the orientation of both sides of the coil cord connector keyways of the 
number 2 windows on the flight deck, re-clocking the connector keyways 
to 12 o'clock if necessary; and replacing the coil cord assemblies on 
both number 2 windows on the flight deck. This proposed AD was prompted 
by reports of arcing and smoke at the number 2 window in the flight 
deck. We are proposing this AD to prevent arcing, smoke, and fire in 
the flight deck, which could lead to injuries to or incapacitation of 
the flight crew.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 14, 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: Louis Natsiopoulos, Aerospace 
Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office; phone: 425-917-6478; fax: 425-917-6590; e-mail: 
elias.natsiopoulos@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-2011-0032; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-236-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 a report of arcing and smoke at the left number 2 
window in the flight deck. The arcing and smoke were traced to 
mechanical damage of the heat-coil assembly at the 90-degree connector 
back shell. It appears that the wires are being stressed at the back 
shell when the window is cycled open and closed. The repeated cycles 
are causing the wires to fatigue and break resulting in arcing, smoke, 
and fire in the flight deck. This condition, if not corrected, could 
lead to injuries to or incapacitation of the flight crew.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-30-1058, 
Revision 3, dated July 7, 2010. The service information describes 
procedures for inspecting the orientation of both sides of the coil 
cord connector keyways, re-clocking the connector keyways to the 12 
o'clock position if necessary; and replacing the existing coil cord 
assemblies with new assemblies on both sides of the flight deck.

FAA's Determination

    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 the same type designs.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 687 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

[[Page 4568]]

                                                                     Estimated costs
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                   Action                              Labor cost                  Parts cost             Cost per product       Cost on U.S. operators
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Keyway inspection and installation of new    6 work-hours x $85 per hour =                   $1,608                    $2,118                $1,455,066
 cord assemblies on both sides of the         $510.
 flight deck.
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    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed 
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2011-0032; Directorate Identifier 
2010-NM-236-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by March 14, 2011.

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 Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-30-
1058, Revision 3, dated July 7, 2010.

Subject

    (d) Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport 
Association (ATA) of America Code 30, Ice and Rain Protection.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD was prompted by reports of arcing and smoke at the 
left number 2 window in the flight deck. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent arcing, smoke, and fire in the flight deck, which could lead 
to injuries to or incapacitation of the flight crew.

Compliance

    (f) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

Replacement

    (g) Within 48 months after the effective date of this AD, do the 
actions in paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD.
    (1) Do a general visual inspection of the orientation of the 
coil cord connector keyways on the captain's and first officer's 
side of the flight compartment, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision 3, dated July 7, 2010. If the 
orientation is not at the 12 o'clock position, before further 
flight, re-clock the connector keyways to the 12 o'clock position, 
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision 3, dated July 7, 
2010.
    (2) Replace the coil cord assemblies with new assemblies on both 
sides of the flight deck, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-30-
1058, Revision 3, dated July 7, 2010.

Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service 
Information

    (h) Actions done before the effective date of this AD, in 
accordance with a service bulletin identified in table 1 of this AD, 
are acceptable for compliance with the corresponding actions 
specified in this AD.

                                Table 1--Acceptable Previous Service Information
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       Boeing Service Bulletin                      Revision                                Dated
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737-30-1058.........................  Original............................  July, 27, 2006.
737-30-1058.........................  1...................................  June 18, 2007.
737-30-1058.........................  2...................................  February 13, 2009.
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[[Page 4569]]

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 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-ANM-Seattle-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

    (j) For more information about this AD, contact Louis 
Natsiopoulos, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-
130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO); phone: 425-
917-6478; fax: 425-917-6590; e-mail: elias.natsiopoulos@faa.gov.
    (k) 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, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington. For information on the availability of this material at 
the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 12, 2011.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-1438 Filed 1-25-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P