AD 2007-19-12

This AD becomes effective October 26, 2007. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of October 26, 2007.

The Docket Operations office is located at U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.

Jeffrey Lee, Aerospace Engineer, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate; 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: Jeffrey.lee@faa.gov; telephone 781-238-7161; fax 781-238-7170.

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 27, 2007 (72 FR 20963). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The Direction Generale De L'Aviation Civile (DGAC) AD states that:

A release of smoke was experienced in the passenger compartment during flight after an overheating of a reading lights power box of a PN 5039201-4T SICMA seat. An analysis put into evidence that this overheating was caused by a short-circuit produced by the rupture of an electrical power supply component (PN 78147-B). It has been noticed that this power supply is not in compliance with DO 160 environmental standard.

The short-circuiting could result in arcing and consequent smoke or fire.

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

SICMA Aero Seat requests us to change the Costs of Compliance section of the AD to accurately depict the extent of the issue. SICMA has verified the number of affected power boxes installed in seats and the number already retrofitted. SICMA states that only 731 seats don't comply with the AD and we should change the Costs of Compliance to reflect the new numbers. We agree. We changed the Costs to Comply to reflect the reduced number of affected seats.

We reviewed the available data, including the comment[s] received, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously. We determined that these changes will not increase the economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of the AD.

We estimate that this AD will affect about 731 seats installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 0.33 work-hour to perform the actions required by this AD and that the average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $3,475 per seat. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of this AD to U.S. operators to be $2,559,523. Our cost estimate is exclusive of possible warranty coverage.

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.

We determined that 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 this AD:

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. 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.

We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 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 street address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is provided in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new AD: