[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 238 (Monday, December 13, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69389-69390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-31813]



[[Page 69389]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-NM-71-AD; Amendment 39-11457; AD 99-25-14]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-
11F Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-11F series 
airplanes, that requires a one-time inspection to determine if metallic 
transitions are installed on wire harnesses of the tail tank fuel 
transfer pumps, and to determine if damaged wires are present; and 
repair, if necessary. This amendment also would require repetitive 
inspections of the repaired area; and a permanent modification of the 
wire harnesses if metallic transitions are not installed, which 
terminates the repetitive inspections. This amendment is prompted by a 
report of chafing and damage to a wire harness of a tail tank fuel 
transfer pump. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent 
wire chafing and damage, which could result in an inoperative fuel 
transfer pump and/or an increased risk of a fire or explosion from a 
fuel leak.

DATES: Effective January 18, 2000.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of January 18, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from Boeing Commercial Aircraft Group, Long Beach Division, 
3855 Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: 
Technical Publications Business Administration, Dept. C1-L51 (2-60). 
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, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 
Lakewood, California; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 
North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roscoe Van Dyke, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140L, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 
Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5254; fax (562) 
627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model 
MD-11 and MD-11F series airplanes was published in the Federal Register 
on August 10, 1999 (64 FR 43316). That action proposed to require a 
one-time inspection to determine if metallic transitions are installed 
on wire harnesses of the tail tank fuel transfer pumps, and to 
determine if damaged wires are present; and repair, if necessary. That 
action also proposed to require repetitive inspections of the repaired 
area; and a permanent modification of the wire harnesses if metallic 
transitions are not installed, which would terminate the repetitive 
inspections.

Comments

    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.

Support for the Proposal

    One commenter supports the proposed rule.

Request Credit for Previously Accomplished Work

    One commenter requests credit for prior accomplishment of the 
proposed one-time visual inspection, temporary repairs, and repetitive 
inspections of the wire harnesses of the tail tank fuel transfer pumps 
in accordance with McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD11-
28A101, dated August 24, 1998.
    The FAA concurs that an initial inspection, temporary repairs, and 
repetitive inspections accomplished prior to the effective date of this 
AD in accordance with McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD11-
28A101, dated August 24, 1998, is acceptable for compliance with those 
requirements. However, the FAA notes that operators are always given 
credit for work accomplished previously if the work is performed in 
accordance with the existing AD by means of the phrase in the 
compliance section of the AD that states, ``Required as indicated, 
unless accomplished previously.'' Therefore no change to the final rule 
is necessary in this regard.

Conclusion

    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 as proposed.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 14 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 5 airplanes of U.S. registry 
will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 1 work 
hour per airplane to accomplish the required inspection, and that the 
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
cost impact of the inspection required by this AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $300, or $60 per airplane.
    The 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. However, the FAA has been advised 
that manufacturer warranty remedies are available for labor costs 
associated with accomplishing the actions required by this AD. 
Therefore, the future economic cost impact of this rule on U.S. 
operators may be less than the cost impact figure indicated above.

Regulatory Impact

    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

[[Page 69390]]

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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

99-25-14  McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-11457. Docket 99-NM-71-AD.
    Applicability: Model MD-11 and MD-11F series airplanes, as 
listed in McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD11-28A101, 
dated August 24, 1998, certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (b) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent wire chafing and damage which could result in an 
inoperative tail tank fuel transfer pump and/or an increased risk of 
a fire or explosion from a fuel leak, accomplish the following:

Inspection and Corrective Actions

    (a) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, perform 
a one-time visual inspection of the wire harnesses of the tail tank 
fuel transfer pumps to determine if metallic transitions are 
installed, and to determine if damaged wires are present, in 
accordance with McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD11-
28A101, dated August 24, 1998.
    (1) If all metallic transitions are installed, no further action 
is required by this AD.
    (2) If metallic transitions are not installed, accomplish the 
following:
    (i) Prior to further flight, accomplish the temporary repair in 
accordance with condition 2 of the service bulletin;
    (ii) Repeat the visual inspection thereafter at intervals not to 
exceed 2 years; and
    (iii) Within 5 years after the effective date of this AD, 
permanently modify the wire harnesses in accordance with McDonnell 
Douglas Service Bulletin MD11-28-102, Revision 01, dated June 23, 
1999. Accomplishment of this modification constitutes terminating 
action for the repetitive inspection requirements of this AD.

    Note 2: Modification of the wire harnesses accomplished prior to 
the effective date of this AD in accordance with McDonnell Douglas 
Service Bulletin MD11-28-102, dated January 29, 1999, is considered 
acceptable for compliance with the modification required by 
paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (b) 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 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Los Angeles ACO.

Special Flight Permits

    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Secs. 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.

Incorporation by Reference

    (d) The actions shall be done in accordance with McDonnell 
Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD11-28A101, dated August 24, 1998, 
or McDonnell Douglas Service Bulletin MD11-28-102, Revision 01, 
dated June 23, 1999, as applicable. 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 
Boeing Commercial Aircraft Group, Long Beach Division, 3855 Lakewood 
Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Technical 
Publications Business Administration, Dept. C1-L51 (2-60). Copies 
may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 
Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 
3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California; or at the Office of 
the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, 
Washington, DC.
    (e) This amendment becomes effective on January 18, 2000.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 2, 1999.
D.L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-31813 Filed 12-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U