[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 1, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4792-4793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2009]



[[Page 4792]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-NM-269-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model 
MD-11 series airplanes. This proposal would require electrical 
resistance measurements of the ground studs of the No. 2 generator in 
the electrical power center of the center accessory compartment for 
proper electrical bonding and of the ground studs and circuit breaker 
terminations in the forward cargo compartment to detect looseness and 
for proper electrical bonding; and corrective actions, if necessary. 
This proposal is prompted by an incident of charred insulation blankets 
in the forward cargo compartment in the area of the external ground 
power receptacle and the galley external power circuit breakers, and 
another incident of a No. 2 ``generator off'' alert while the generator 
was still on line. The actions specified by the proposed AD are 
intended to prevent arcing and overheating of terminals and consequent 
smoke and fire in the forward cargo compartment due to improper bonding 
of ground studs in the forward cargo compartment and in the electrical 
power center and due to improper installation of circuit breaker 
terminations.

DATES: Comments must be received by March 17, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-NM-269-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule 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 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brett Portwood, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount 
Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5350; 
fax (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments, 
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the 
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with 
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 99-NM-269-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 99-NM-269-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Supplementary Information

    As part of its practice of re-examining all aspects of the service 
experience of a particular aircraft whenever an accident occurs, the 
FAA has become aware of one incident of charred insulation blankets in 
the forward cargo compartment in the area of the external ground power 
receptacle and the galley external power circuit breakers, and another 
incident of a No. 2 ``generator off'' alert while the generator was 
still on line. These incidents occurred on McDonnell Douglas Model MD-
11 series airplanes. Investigation revealed that, during production, 
the ground studs in the forward cargo compartment and electrical power 
center (EPC) were bonded improperly. Also, investigation revealed that 
three of the nine circuit breaker terminations of the galley were loose 
due to improper installation during production. These conditions, if 
not corrected, could result in arcing and overheating of circuit 
breaker terminals and consequent smoke and fire in the forward cargo 
compartment.
    This incident is not considered to be related to an accident that 
occurred off the coast of Nova Scotia involving a McDonnell Douglas 
Model MD-11 series airplane. The cause of that accident is still under 
investigation.

Other Related Rulemaking

    The FAA, in conjunction with Boeing and operators of Model MD-11 
series airplanes, is continuing to review all aspects of the service 
history of those airplanes to identify potential unsafe conditions and 
to take appropriate corrective actions. This proposed airworthiness 
directive (AD) is one of a series of actions identified during that 
process. The process is continuing and the FAA may consider additional 
rulemaking actions as further results of the review become available.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    The FAA has reviewed and approved McDonnell Douglas Alert Service 
Bulletin MD11-24A040, Revision 01, dated October 11, 1999, which 
describes procedures an electrical resistance measurement of the ground 
studs of the No. 2 generator in the electrical power center of the 
center accessory compartment for proper electrical bonding; and 
corrective actions, if necessary. The corrective actions include 
tightening the applicable fastener, if necessary, and electrically 
bonding the ground studs.
    The service bulletin also describes procedures for an electrical 
resistance measurement of the ground studs and circuit breaker 
terminations in the forward cargo compartment to detect looseness and 
for proper electrical bonding, and corrective actions, if

[[Page 4793]]

necessary. The corrective actions include tightening applicable 
attaching parts and electrically bonding the ground studs.
    Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletin is 
intended to adequately address the identified unsafe condition.

Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other products of this same type design, this 
proposed AD would require accomplishment of the actions specified in 
the service bulletin described previously.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 31 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 9 airplanes of U.S. registry 
would be affected by this proposed AD. It would take approximately 2 
work hour per airplane to accomplish the proposed measurements, at an 
average labor rate of $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
cost impact of the measurements proposed by this AD on U.S. operators 
is estimated to be $1,080, or $120 per airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of 
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in 
the future if this AD were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
regulation: (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) if promulgated, 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 copy of the draft 
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the 
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules 
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
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:

McDonnell Douglas: Docket 99-NM-269-AD.

    Applicability: Model MD-11 series airplanes, as listed in 
McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD11-24A040, Revision 01, 
dated October 11, 1999; 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 arcing and overheating of terminals and consequent 
smoke and fire in the forward cargo compartment due to improper 
bonding of ground studs in the forward cargo compartment and in the 
electrical power center (EPC) and due to improper installation of 
circuit breaker terminations, accomplish the following:

Resistance Check and Corrective Actions

    (a) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, 
accomplish the actions specified in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of 
this AD, in accordance with McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin 
MD11-24A040, Revision 01, dated October 11, 1999.
    (1) Perform an electrical resistance measurement of the ground 
studs of the No. 2 generator in the electrical power center of the 
center accessory compartment for proper electrical bonding, in 
accordance with the service bulletin.
    (i) If all ground studs are electrically bonded properly, prior 
to further flight, tighten applicable fasteners, if necessary, in 
accordance with the service bulletin.
    (ii) If any ground stud is not electrically bonded properly, 
prior to further flight, electrically bond the ground stud in 
accordance with the service bulletin.
    (2) Perform an electrical resistance measurement of the ground 
studs and circuit breaker terminations in the forward cargo 
compartment to detect looseness and for proper electrical bonding, 
in accordance with the service bulletin.
    (i) If all ground studs are electrically bonded properly, prior 
to further flight, tighten applicable attaching parts in accordance 
with the service bulletin.
    (ii) If any circuit breaker termination is found loose, tighten 
in accordance with the service bulletin.
    (iii) If any ground stud is not electrically bonded properly, 
prior to further flight, electrically bond the ground stud in 
accordance with the service bulletin.

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 2: 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 
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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 21, 2000.
Vi L. Lipski,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-2009 Filed 1-31-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U