[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 217 (Thursday, November 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26875]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 10, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-NM-65-AD; Amendment 39-9056; AD 94-22-07]

 

Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-8-70 Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD), applicable to all McDonnell Douglas Model DC-8-70 series 
airplanes, that currently requires replacement of all attachment screws 
at the exhaust nozzle plug splice, and a check of nut plates for 
running torque and replacement of nut plates, if necessary. This 
amendment requires modification of the engine exhaust plug assemblies 
as terminating action for the currently required replacement and check. 
This amendment is prompted by reports of loose or missing attachments 
at the splice joint of the engine forward and aft exhaust plugs, and 
loss of the rear exhaust plug following an engine bird strike. The 
actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent reduced integrity 
of the engine exhaust plug installation, which may lead to separation 
of exhaust plugs from the airplane, and create a hazard to persons and 
property on the ground.

DATES: Effective December 12, 1994.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of December 12, 1994.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from McDonnell Douglas Corporation, P.O. Box 1771, Long Beach, 
California 90801-1771, Attention: Business Unit Manager, Technical 
Administrative Support, Dept. L51, M.C. 2-98. This information may be 
examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport 
Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington; or at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, Los Angeles 
Aircraft Certification Office, 3229 East Spring Street, Long Beach, 
California; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol 
Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Baitoo, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-141L, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3229 East Spring Street, Long 
Beach, California 90806-2425; telephone (310) 988-5245; fax (310) 988-
5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) by superseding AD 83-02-05, 
amendment 39-4544 (48 FR 5539, February 7, 1983), which is applicable 
to all McDonnell Douglas Model DC-8-70 series airplanes, was published 
in the Federal Register on July 27, 1994 (59 FR 38144). The action 
proposed to require replacement of all attachment screws at the exhaust 
nozzle plug splice, and a check of nut plates for running torque and 
replacement of nut plates, if necessary. The action also proposed to 
require modification of the engine exhaust plug assemblies; when 
accomplished, this modification would terminate the need for the 
currently required replacement and check.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the two comments received.
    One commenter supports the proposed rule.
    One commenter requests that the compliance time for the 
accomplishment of the modification be extended from the proposed 24 
months to 60 months. This commenter states that it would have to 
procure additional spare engines and would need to special schedule its 
fleet of airplanes to accomplish this modification within the proposed 
compliance time. This would entail considerable expense over what was 
estimated in the FAA's cost impact analysis. The commenter indicates 
that a compliance time of 60 months would allow the modification to be 
accomplished during regularly scheduled maintenance, thereby 
eliminating any additional expenses.
    The FAA does not concur. In developing an appropriate compliance 
time for this action, the FAA considered the safety implications, parts 
availability, and the practical aspect of installing the required 
modification during normal maintenance schedules. In light of this, the 
FAA does not consider it appropriate to change the compliance time for 
all operators based on the unique circumstances of an individual 
operator. On the other hand, paragraph (c) of the AD provides that an 
individual may request an adjustment of compliance time that provides 
an acceptable level of safety, and this would be the appropriate means 
for the commenter to seek the requested relief.
    After careful review of the available data, including the comments 
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public 
interest require the adoption of the rule with the change previously 
described. The FAA has determined that this change will neither 
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of 
the AD.
    There are approximately 110 Model DC-8-70 series airplanes of the 
affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 78 
airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will 
take approximately 46 work hours per airplane to accomplish the 
required modification, and that the average labor rate is $55 per work 
hour. Required parts will cost approximately $21,400 per airplane. 
Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the AD on U.S. 
operators is estimated to be $1,866,540, or $23,930 per airplane.
    The total cost impact figure discussed above is based on 
assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the 
requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish 
those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.
    The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects 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, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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); 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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing amendment 39-4544 (48 FR 
5539, February 7, 1983), and by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD), amendment 39-9056, to read as follows:

94-22-07 McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-9056. Docket 94-NM-65-AD. 
Supersedes AD 83-02-05, Amendment 39-4544.

    Applicability: All Model DC-8-70 series airplanes, certificated 
in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent reduced integrity of the engine exhaust plug 
installation, which may lead to separation of exhaust plugs from the 
airplane, and create a hazard to persons and property on the ground, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 300 flight hours after February 7, 1983 (the 
effective date of AD 83-02-05, amendment 39-4544), accomplish the 
procedures specified in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this AD in 
accordance with McDonnell Douglas DC-8-70 Alert Service Bulletin 
A78-107, dated November 30, 1982; McDonnell Douglas DC-8-70 Service 
Bulletin 78-107, dated January 16, 1984; or McDonnell Douglas DC-8-
70 Service Bulletin 78-107, Revision 1, dated June 12, 1984.
    (1) Replace all NAS560XK4-5 screws with NAS560XK4-4 screws at 
the exhaust nozzle plug splice.
    (2) Check nut plates for running torque and replace all nut 
plates not meeting the minimum run down torque of five inch-pounds.
    (b) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the engine exhaust plug assemblies in accordance with McDonnell 
Douglas DC-8-70 Service Bulletin 78-112, Revision 2, dated March 8, 
1994. Accomplishment of this modification constitutes terminating 
action for the replacement and check requirements of paragraph (a) 
of this AD.
    (c) 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, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office (ACO), FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall 
submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Los Angeles ACO.

    Note: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Los Angeles ACO.

    (d) 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.
    (e) The modification shall be done in accordance with McDonnell 
Douglas DC-8-70 Service Bulletin 78-112, Revision 2, dated March 8, 
1994. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director 
of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 
part 51. Copies may be obtained from McDonnell Douglas Corporation, 
P.O. Box 1771, Long Beach, California 90801-1771, Attention: 
Business Unit Manager, Technical Administrative Support, Dept. L51, 
M.C. 2-98. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office, 3229 East Spring Street, Long Beach, California 90806-2425; 
or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, 
NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (f) This amendment becomes effective on December 12, 1994.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 25, 1994.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-26875 Filed 11-9-94; 8:45 am]
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