DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9506; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-090-AD;
Amendment 39-18957; AD 2017-14-13]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company 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
The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER
series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of an aborted
takeoff because the rudder pedals were not operating correctly.
Investigation revealed a protruding screw in the rudder pedal heel rest
adjacent to the pedals. This AD requires a torque check of the screws
in the cover assembly of the heel rest for both the Captain and the
First Officer's rudder pedals, and corrective action if necessary. We
are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 23, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 23,
2017.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services
Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; telephone
206-544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet https://www.
myboeingfleet.com. You may view this referenced service information
at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW.,
Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the
FAA, call 425-227-1221. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-9506.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-9506;
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 (phone: 800-647-
5527) is Docket 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: Kelly McGuckin, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-
3356; phone: 425-917-6490; fax: 425-917-6590; email:
Kelly.McGuckin@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain The Boeing Company
Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on December 20, 2016 (81 FR
92753). The NPRM was prompted by a report of an aborted takeoff because
the rudder pedals were not operating correctly. Investigation revealed
a protruding screw in the rudder pedal heel rest adjacent to the
pedals. It was determined that the screws in the cover assembly of the
heel rest for both the Captain and the First Officer's rudder pedals
might not have been properly torqued. The NPRM proposed to require a
torque check of the screws in the cover assembly of the heel rest for
both the Captain and the First Officer's rudder pedals, and corrective
action if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct a
protruding screw in the cover assembly of the heel rest of a rudder
pedal. A protruding screw could restrict rudder pedal motion and reduce
differential braking control during takeoff or landing, which could
cause a high speed runway excursion.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and
the FAA's response to each comment.

Support for the NPRM

Boeing, Air Line Pilots Association, International, and Tyler Myers
supported the intent of the NPRM.

Request To Allow Credit for Previously Accomplished Actions

United Airlines noted that the NPRM did not address whether or not
the final rule would allow operators to take credit for accomplishment
of the actions in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-25A1732, Revision
1, dated August 15, 2016 (``BASB 737-25A1732, Revision 1''), if
completed prior to the effective date of the final rule. We infer that
the commenter is requesting that the final rule include a statement
that accomplishment of the actions specified in BASB 737-25A1732,
Revision 1, prior to the effective date of the final rule is acceptable
for compliance with the requirements of the final rule.
We agree with the commenter that operators should be able to take
credit for accomplishment of the actions in BASB 737-25A1732, Revision
1, prior to the effective date of this AD. This allowance was provided
in paragraph (f) of the proposed AD in the statement ``Comply with this
AD within the compliance times specified unless already done.''
However, since the NPRM was issued, Boeing has published, and we have
reviewed, Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-25A1732, Revision 2, dated
April 13, 2017 (``BASB 737-25A1732, Revision 2''). BASB 737-25A1732,
Revision 2, provides clarification of the actions described in the work
instructions by providing supplementary details and including
additional descriptive figures. No additional work is necessary and the
scope of this AD is not expanded.
We have revised paragraphs (c), (g), and (h) of this AD to refer to
BASB 737-25A1732, Revision 2. We have also added paragraph (i) to this
AD to give credit for actions accomplished using the work instructions
in BASB 737-25A1732, Revision 1; and redesignated the subsequent
paragraphs accordingly.

Effect of Winglets on Accomplishment of the Proposed Actions

Aviation Partners Boeing stated that the installation of winglets
per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST00830SE does not affect the
accomplishment of the manufacturer's service instructions.
We agree with the commenter that STC ST00830SE does not affect the
accomplishment of the manufacturer's service instructions. Therefore,
the installation of STC ST00830SE does not affect the ability to
accomplish the actions required by this AD. 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
this AD as proposed, except for minor editorial changes. We have
determined that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-25A1732, Revision 2,
dated April 13, 2017. The service information describes procedures for
a torque check of the screws in the cover assembly of the heel rest for
both the Captain and the First Officer's rudder pedals, and corrective
action. 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.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 1,187 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

We have received no definitive data that will enable us to provide
cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this AD.

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),
(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.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 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):