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Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-700, 737-800, 737-900, 737-900ER, 737-8, and 737-9 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a passenger being unable to exit the lavatory during flight due to a broken latch that prevented toggling of the lock. This proposed AD would require replacing lavatory bifold door latches with latches having an improved design. This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of affected parts. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 27, 2025.
You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0349; 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.
Nicole Tsang, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3959; email: nicole.s.tsang@faa.gov.
The FAA invites 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-2025-0349; Project Identifier AD-2024-00208-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 this 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 regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.
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 Nicole Tsang, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3959; email: nicole.s.tsang@faa.gov. Any commentary that the FAA receives that is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.
The FAA has received a report indicating that during flight, a passenger was unable to exit the lavatory due to a broken latch that prevented toggling of the lock. Flight attendants were unable to open the bifold door, leading the flightcrew to accomplish an unscheduled landing. It was determined that bifold door latches failed in service, preventing the bifold door from opening without mechanic assistance. The root cause was material fatigue of the plastic structure of the bifold door latch. The material fatigue was caused primarily by excessive stress combined with weld-line and machining marks from drilling holes for inserts into the plastic structure. In an otherwise survivable emergency event ( e.g., severe turbulence, medical emergency, or emergency egress), potential damages to the lavatory lock could impede access to the passenger and impede egress during an emergency evacuation, which may result in serious injury to the trapped occupant.
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.
This proposed AD would require replacing the lavatory bifold door latch having part number (P/N) SC1L500031-3/20218-3, SC1L500031-4/20218-4, SC1L500031-5/20218-5/20218-7, or SC1L500031-6/20218-6/20218-8 with lavatory bifold door latch having P/N SC1L500031-9/20218-9 or SC1L500031-10/20218-10. This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of the affected part. ( printed page 15418)
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 2,612 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
| Action | Labor cost | Parts cost | Cost per product | Cost on U.S. operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Replacement | 2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170 per latch | Up to $481 per latch | Up to $1,302 (Up to 2 latches per airplane) | Up to $3,400,824. |
The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. According to the manufacturer, however, some or all of the costs of this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected operators.
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.
The FAA 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) 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.
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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 airworthiness directive:
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2025-0349; Project Identifier AD-2024-00208-T.
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by May 27, 2025.
None.
This AD applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-700, 737-800, 737-900, 737-900ER, 737-8, and 737-9 series airplanes, certificated in any category, with lavatory bifold door latch part number (P/N) SC1L500031-3/20218-3, SC1L500031-4/20218-4, SC1L500031-5/20218-5/20218-7, or SC1L500031-6/20218-6/20218-8.
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25; Equipment/Furnishings.
This AD was prompted by a report that a passenger was unable to exit the lavatory during flight due to a broken latch that prevented toggling of the lock. The FAA is issuing this AD to address bifold door latch failure during service preventing the bifold door from opening without mechanic assistance. In an otherwise survivable emergency event ( e.g., severe turbulence, medical emergency, or emergency egress), potential damages to the lavatory lock could impede access to the passenger and impede egress during an emergency evacuation, which may result in serious injury to the trapped occupant.
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.
Within 4 months after the effective date of this AD. Replace lavatory bifold door latch having part number SC1L500031-3/20218-3, SC1L500031-4/20218-4, SC1L500031-5/20218-5/20218-7, or SC1L500031-6/20218-6/20218-8 with lavatory bifold door latch having part number SC1L500031-9/20218-9 or SC1L500031-10/20218-10.
Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions required by this AD can be found in B/E Aerospace Service Bulletin 1L3-25-0069, Revision 4, dated April 18, 2024.
Note 2 to paragraph (g): For airplanes modified via Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST02574SE, guidance for accomplishing the actions required by this AD can be found in B/E Aerospace Service Bulletin 1L3-25-0083, Revision 2, dated August 26, 2020.
Note 3 to paragraph (g): For airplanes modified via STC ST02582SE, guidance for accomplishing the actions required by this AD can be found in B/E Aerospace Service Bulletin 1L3-25-0112, Revision 1, dated August 26, 2020.
As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install, on any airplane, a lavatory bifold door latch having part number SC1L500031-3/20218-3, SC1L500031-4/20218-4, SC1L500031-5/20218-5/20218-7, or SC1L500031-6/20218-6/20218-8.
(1) The Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety 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 paragraph (j)(1) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: AMOC@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. ( printed page 15419)
(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, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety 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.
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Nicole Tsang, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3959; email: nicole.s.tsang@faa.gov.
(2) For B/E Aerospace material identified in this AD that is not incorporated by reference, contact Collins Aerospace, Interiors—B/E Aerospace—ALCI, 11404 Commando Road, Suite B, Everett, WA 98204, United States; telephone +1-888-232-2594; email interiors.techsupport@collins.com; website customers.collinsaerospace.com.
None.
Issued on March 13, 2025.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-06157 Filed 4-10-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
12 comments have been received at Regulations.gov.
Agencies review all submissions and may choose to redact, or withhold, certain submissions (or portions thereof). Submitted comments may not be available to be read until the agency has approved them.