[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 123 (Wednesday, June 30, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34653-34656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13931]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0504; Project Identifier AD-2020-01380-T]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2019-03-26, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, 
-700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. AD 2019-03-26 
requires modifying the passenger service units (PSUs) and life vest 
panels by replacing the existing inboard lanyard and installing two new 
lanyards on the outboard edge of the PSUs and life vest panels; 
measuring the distance between the hooks of the torsion spring of the 
lanyard assembly; replacing discrepant lanyard assemblies; and re-
identifying serviceable lanyard assemblies. Since the FAA issued AD 
2019-03-26, it has been determined that certain airplanes are listed in 
the wrong configuration and certain PSUs have not been correctly re-
identified. This proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2019-
03-26, and, for certain airplanes, would require an inspection to 
determine if the re-identified PSU part number is correct, and further 
re-identification if necessary. The FAA is proposing this AD to address 
the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 16, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://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.

[[Page 34654]]

    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Boeing 
Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data Services (C&DS), 
2600 Westminster Blvd., MC 110-SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740-5600; 
telephone 562-797-1717; internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may 
view this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products 
Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, 
WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 206-231-3195. It is also available at https://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0504.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0504; or in person at 
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tony Koung, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin 
Safety and Environmental Systems Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206-231-3985; 
email: tony.koung@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0504; Project Identifier 
AD-2020-01380-T'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
the proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this proposed AD.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Tony 
Koung, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems 
Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 
98198; phone and fax: 206-231-3985; email: tony.koung@faa.gov. Any 
commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated 
as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA issued AD 2019-03-26, Amendment 39-19578 (84 FR 7266, March 
4, 2019) (AD 2019-03-26), for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, 
-700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. AD 2019-03-26 was 
prompted by reports of PSUs becoming detached from the supporting 
airplane structure in several Model 737 series airplanes. AD 2019-03-26 
requires modifying the PSUs and life vest panels by replacing the 
existing inboard lanyard and installing two new lanyards on the 
outboard edge of the PSUs and life vest panels; measuring the distance 
between the hooks of the torsion spring of the lanyard assembly; 
replacing discrepant lanyard assemblies; and re-identifying serviceable 
lanyard assemblies. The agency issued AD 2019-03-26 to address PSUs and 
life vest panels detaching from the supporting airplane structure, 
which could lead to passenger injuries and impede passenger and crew 
egress during evacuation.

Actions Since AD 2019-03-26 Was Issued

    Since the FAA issued AD 2019-03-26, Boeing found that, in the 
service information required by AD 2019-03-26, some airplanes were not 
assigned to the correct group and configuration. In addition, Boeing 
determined that the service information had missing or incorrect re-
identification part numbers for those PSUs that were modified using 
Boeing Service Bulletin 737-35-1107. The FAA determined that the new 
requirements in this proposed AD would take a minimal amount of time to 
accomplish. Therefore, the proposed compliance time would remain the 
same as the time required by AD 2019-03-26 (within 60 months after 
April 8, 2019 (the effective date of AD 2019-03-26)).

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-25-
1707, Revision 2, dated July 27, 2020. This service information 
specifies procedures for modifying the PSUs and life vest panels by: 
Replacing the existing inboard lanyard and installing two new lanyards 
on the outboard edge of the PSUs and life vest panels (secondary 
retention features); measuring the distance between the hooks of the 
torsion spring of the lanyard assembly; replacing any discrepant 
lanyard assemblies; and re-identifying serviceable lanyard assemblies. 
For some airplanes, the service information specifies procedures for 
inspecting PSUs for correct re-identification part numbers and, if 
necessary, re-identifying the PSU. This service information is 
reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it 
through their normal course of business or by the means identified in 
the ADDRESSES section.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    Although this proposed AD does not explicitly restate the 
requirements of AD 2019-03-26, this proposed AD would retain all of the 
requirements of AD 2019-03-26. Those requirements are referenced in the 
service information identified previously, which, in turn, is 
referenced in paragraph (g) of this proposed AD. This proposed AD would 
add additional actions for certain airplanes. This proposed AD would 
also require accomplishment of the actions identified as ``RC'' 
(required for compliance) in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 
Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-25-1707, Revision 2, dated July 
27, 2020, described previously, except as discussed under

[[Page 34655]]

``Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Information.''
    For information on the procedures and compliance times, see this 
service information at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0504.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    The effectivity of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-
25-1707, Revision 2, dated July 27, 2020, is limited to Model 737-600, 
-700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes, having certain 
line numbers, without a Boeing Sky Interior (BSI). However, the 
applicability of this proposed AD includes all Boeing Model 737-600, -
700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes without a BSI. 
Because the affected lanyard assemblies are rotable parts, the FAA has 
determined that these affected parts could later be installed on 
airplanes that were initially delivered with acceptable lanyard 
assemblies, thereby subjecting those airplanes to the unsafe condition.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 2,045 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the 
following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                  Cost on U.S.
             Action                    Labor cost            Parts cost      Cost per product      operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Measurement and modification     Up to 70 work-hour x    Up to $13,000....  Up to $18,950....  Up to
 (retained actions from AD 2019-  $85 per hour = Up to                                          $38,752,750.
 03-26).                          $5,950.
Inspection of re-identified      1 work-hour x $85 per   $0...............  $85..............  $173,825.
 parts (per PSU) (new proposed    hour = $85.
 actions).
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    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 
replacements or re-identifications that would be required based on the 
results of the proposed inspection. The FAA has no way of determining 
the number of aircraft that might need these replacements or re-
identifications:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                      Labor cost                Parts cost             Cost per  product
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Replacement or re-identification     Up to 2 work-hour x     Up to $196...............  Up to $366.
 (per PSU or life vest panel).        $85 per hour = Up to
                                      $170.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this 
proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost 
impact on affected operators.

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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA has 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 that the proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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

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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-03-26, Amendment 39-19578 
(84 FR 7266, March 4, 2019), and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2021-0504; Project Identifier AD-
2020-01380-T.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by August 16, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2019-03-26, Amendment 39-19578 (84 FR 7266, 
March 4, 2019) (AD 2019-03-26).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -
700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes, certificated in

[[Page 34656]]

any category, without a Boeing Sky Interior (BSI).

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25, Equipment/
furnishings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of passenger service units 
(PSUs) becoming detached from the supporting airplane structure in 
several Model 737 series airplanes during survivable accidents. The 
FAA is issuing this AD to address PSUs and life vest panels 
detaching from the supporting airplane structure, which could lead 
to passenger injuries and impede passenger and crew egress during 
evacuation.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Within 60 months after April 8, 2019 (the effective date of AD 
2019-03-26), do all applicable actions identified as ``RC'' 
(required for compliance) in, and in accordance with, the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 737-25-1707, Revision 2, dated July 27, 2020.

(h) Parts Installation Prohibition

    As of the applicable time specified in paragraph (h)(1) or 
(h)(2) of this AD, no person may install on any airplane a PSU or 
life vest panel, unless the lanyard assembly has been modified 
(secondary retention features added) or re-identified, as 
applicable, as required by paragraph (g) of this AD.
    (1) For airplanes that have PSUs or life vest panels without the 
secondary retention features installed: After modification or re-
identification, as applicable, of the airplane as required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD.
    (2) For airplanes that have PSUs or life vest panels with the 
secondary retention features installed: As of the effective date of 
this AD.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Seattle ACO Branch, 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 responsible Flight Standards Office, 
as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of 
the certification office, send it to the attention of the person 
identified in Related Information. Information may be emailed 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 responsible Flight Standards Office.
    (3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used for any repair, modification, or alteration required by this AD 
if it is approved by The Boeing Company Organization Designation 
Authorization (ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, Seattle 
ACO Branch, FAA, to make those findings. To be approved, the repair 
method, modification deviation, or alteration deviation must meet 
the certification basis of the airplane, and the approval must 
specifically refer to this AD.
    (4) AMOCs approved for AD 2019-03-26 are approved as AMOCs for 
the corresponding provisions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 737-25-1707, Revision 2, dated July 27, 2020, that are 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Tony Koung, 
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Section, 
FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 
phone and fax: 206-231-3985; email: tony.koung@faa.gov.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data Services 
(C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd., MC 110-SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740-
5600; telephone 562-797-1717; internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational 
Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information 
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.

    Issued on June 14, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-13931 Filed 6-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


