[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 230 (Wednesday, November 29, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 71074-71076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-30445]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 230 / Wednesday, November 29, 2000 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 71074]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-149-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10 and MD-10 
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 
DC-10 and MD-10 series airplanes. This proposal would require an 
inspection of the one phase remote control circuit breakers (RCCB) in 
the main avionics compartment and center accessory compartment to 
determine their part numbers and serial numbers, and replacement of 
RCCB's with certain RCCB's, if necessary. This action is necessary to 
ensure that defective braze joints of certain latch assemblies of the 
RCCB are not installed on the airplane. Defective braze joints could 
fail and prevent the RCCB from tripping during an overload condition, 
which could result in a fire and smoke in certain wire bundles that are 
routed to and from the main avionics compartment or center accessory 
compartment. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe 
condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 16, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-149-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. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232. 
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address: 
[email protected]. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must 
contain ``Docket No. 2000-NM-149-AD'' in the subject line and need not 
be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached 
electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or 
ASCII text.
    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, 
Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 
Lakewood, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Natalie Phan-Tran, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft 
Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 
90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5343; 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.
    Submit comments using the following format:
     Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a 
request to change the compliance time and a request to change the 
service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
     For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed 
AD is being requested.
     Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each 
request.
    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 2000-NM-149-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. 2000-NM-149-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    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 been informed by the airplane manufacturer that certain latch 
assemblies of the one phase remote control circuit breakers (RCCB) were 
manufactured with defective braze joints. These defective braze joints 
are installed on certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10 and MD-10 series 
airplanes. The defective braze joints that are located between the 
bimetal assembly and the latch are limited to two lots with specific 
part numbers and serial numbers. Defective braze joints could fail and 
prevent the RCCB from tripping during an overload condition, which 
could result in a fire and smoke in certain wire bundles that are 
routed to and from the main avionics compartment or center accessory 
compartment.

Other Related Rulemaking

    The FAA, in conjunction with Boeing and operators of Model DC-10 
and MD-10 series airplanes, is continuing to review all aspects of the 
service history of those airplanes to identify potential

[[Page 71075]]

unsafe conditions and to take appropriate corrective actions. This 
proposed 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 Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 
DC10-24A164, dated June 22, 2000. The service bulletin describes 
procedures for a one-time general visual inspection of the one phase 
RCCB's in the main avionics compartment and center accessory 
compartment to determine their part numbers and serial numbers, and 
replacement of the RCCB's with RCCB's having the same part number with 
a certain serial number, if necessary. 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, the 
proposed AD would require accomplishment of the actions specified in 
the service bulletin described previously.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 446 Model DC-10 and MD-10 series airplanes 
of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 
312 airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected by this proposed AD, 
that it would take approximately 6 work hours per airplane to 
accomplish the proposed inspection, and that the average labor rate is 
$60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the 
inspection proposed by this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$112,320, or $360 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 proposed AD were not adopted. The cost impact 
figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time 
necessary to perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. 
These figures typically do not include incidental costs, such as the 
time required to gain access and close up, planning time, or time 
necessitated by other administrative actions.

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 2000-NM-149-AD.

    Applicability: Model DC-10 and MD-10 series airplanes, as listed 
in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-24A164, dated June 22, 2000; 
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 fire and smoke in certain wire bundles that are 
routed to and from the main avionics compartment or center accessory 
compartment, accomplish the following:

Inspection and Replacement, If Necessary

    (a) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, perform 
a one-time general visual inspection of the one phase remote control 
circuit breakers (RCCB) in the main avionics compartment and center 
accessory compartment to determine the part numbers and serial 
numbers (identified in Table 2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
the service bulletin), in accordance with Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin DC10-24A164, dated June 22, 2000.

    Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection 
is defined as ``A visual examination of an interior or exterior 
area, installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, 
or irregularity. This level of inspection is made under normally 
available lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, 
flashlight, or drop-light, and may require removal or opening of 
access panels or doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be 
required to gain proximity to the area being checked.''

    (1) If any RCCB has a part number listed in Table 2 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin and the 
corresponding serial number is NOT identified in that table, no 
further action is required by this AD.
    (2) If any RCCB has a part number listed in Table 2 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin and the 
corresponding serial number is identified in that table, before 
further flight, replace the RCCB with a RCCB having the same part 
number with a serial number that is NOT identified in Table 2, 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. 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 Permit

    (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.


[[Page 71076]]


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 22, 2000.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-30445 Filed 11-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P