[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 28, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45194-45196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21631]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2000-NM-343-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -
300, -400, and -500 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Boeing Model 737-100, -
200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This proposal would
require inspection of landing gear parts and/or their records to see
that parts have serial numbers and that each part's number of flight
cycles has been tracked; assignment of serial numbers and flight cycle
use numbers if necessary; and removal of individual landing gear
components from service when they reach their life limit. This action
is necessary to prevent failure of landing gear parts, which could lead
to landing gear collapse. This action is intended to address the
identified unsafe condition.
DATES: Comments must be received by October 12, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-343-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this
location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232.
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address:
9-anm-
[[Page 45195]]
[email protected]. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must contain
``Docket No. 2000-NM-343-AD'' in the subject line and need not be
submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached
electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or
ASCII text.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,
Washington 98124-2207. This information may be examined at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Blilie, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
227-2131; fax (425) 227-1181.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this action may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Submit comments using the following format:
Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a
request to change the compliance time and a request to change the
service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed
AD is being requested.
Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each
request.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this action must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 2000-NM-343-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped
and returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 2000-NM-343-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
The FAA has received reports that a check by the manufacturer of
the list of Model 737 series airplane main and nose landing gear life-
limited parts revealed that some life-limited parts were not included
on the list. Those life-limited parts have now been added to the 737
Main Landing Gear and Nose Landing Gear Components Interchangeability
Lists (drawings). Failure to remove ``safe life'' parts at their life
limit could result in failure of landing gear parts, which could lead
to landing gear collapse.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
The FAA has reviewed and approved Boeing Service Bulletin 737-32-
1322, dated September 30, 1999, which describes procedures for
examining records and/or landing gear parts to verify that parts
identified in this service bulletin have serial numbers on them; for
assigning and marking serial numbers on parts if necessary; for
examining records to find out if flight cycles for the landing gear
parts identified in this service bulletin have been tracked; for
assigning a number of flight cycles to parts for tracking purposes, if
necessary; and for removing landing gear parts from service when they
reach their life limit. Accomplishment of the actions specified in the
service bulletin is intended to adequately address the identified
unsafe condition.
Boeing Service Bulletin 737-32-1322, dated September 30, 1999,
refers to Boeing Drawing 65C73761--737 Main Landing Gear Components
Interchangeability List, and Boeing Drawing 65C73762--737 Nose Landing
Gear Components Interchangeability List, as additional sources of
service information for accomplishment of the removal of landing gear
parts from service when they reach their life limit.
Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other products of this same type design, the
proposed AD would require accomplishment of the actions specified in
the service bulletin described previously, except as discussed below.
Differences Between Proposed Rule and Service Bulletin
Operators should note that, although the service bulletin
recommends that the serial numbers assigned to parts must be different
for each part, it does not define a process to ensure that duplicate
serial numbers will not be issued. This proposal would require that the
serialization of those parts' numbers be accomplished per a method
approved by the FAA.
Cost Impact
There are approximately 3,132 airplanes of the affected design in
the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 1,099 airplanes of U.S.
registry would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take
approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the proposed
actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on
these figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is
estimated to be $65,940, or $60 per airplane.
The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in
the future if this proposed AD were not adopted. The cost impact
figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time
necessary to perform the specific actions actually required by the AD.
These figures typically do not include incidental costs, such as
planning time, or time necessitated by other administrative actions.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein 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. Therefore, it
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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) if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact,
positive or negative,
[[Page 45196]]
on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation
prepared for this action is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it
may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided
under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Boeing: Docket 2000-NM-343-AD.
Applicability: Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500
series airplanes, certificated in any category, line numbers 1 through
3132, inclusive.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (g) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously.
To prevent failure of landing gear parts, which could lead to
landing gear collapse, accomplish the following:
Inspection of Parts and/or Records
(a) During the next gear overhaul, or within 10 years from the
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, examine records and/
or landing gear parts in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 737-
32-1322, dated September 30, 1999, to determine whether parts have
serial numbers and whether the number of flight cycles for each part
has been tracked. If landing gear parts have serial numbers in
accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 737-32-1322, dated September
30, 1999, and the number of flight cycles has been tracked, no further
action is necessary for paragraphs (a), (b), or (c) of this AD.
Assignment of Serial Numbers and Flight Cycles
(b) If any part examined as mandated in paragraph (a) of this AD
does not have serial numbers, during the next gear overhaul, or within
10 years from the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later,
assign serial numbers to those parts using a method approved by the
Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, and mark
them on the parts in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 737-32-
1322, dated September 30, 1999.
(c) If flight cycles for any part examined as mandated in paragraph
(a) of this AD have not been tracked, during the next gear overhaul, or
within 10 years from the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs
later, assign a number of lifetime flight cycles to that part in
accordance with Part 2. B. of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing
Service Bulletin 737-32-1322, dated September 30, 1999.
Removal from Service at Life Limit
(d) When any landing gear part has reached its life limit number of
flight cycles, as described in Part 2. B. of the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-32-1322, dated September
30, 1999, remove that part from service.
Spare Parts
(e) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install on
any airplane a landing gear part unless it has been assigned a serial
number and a lifetime flight cycle number in accordance with the
requirements of this AD.
(f) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install on
any airplane a landing gear part that has reached its life limit of
flight cycles, in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 737-32-1322,
dated September 30, 1999.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(g) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used
if approved by the Manager, Seattle ACO. Operators shall submit their
requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector,
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Seattle ACO.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Seattle ACO.
Special Flight Permits
(h) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR
21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the
requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 21, 2001.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-21631 Filed 8-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U