[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 20, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10842-10844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4058]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-193-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 supersedure of an existing 
airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas 
Model MD-11 series airplanes, that currently requires replacement of 
the air driven generator (ADG) wire assembly with a new, increased 
length wire assembly. This action would require, among other actions, 
replacement of the existing ADG wire assembly in the right air 
conditioning compartment with a certain new wire assembly. This action 
also would expand the applicability of the existing AD to include 
additional airplanes. This proposal is prompted by an investigation 
that revealed the length of the new wire assembly is too long and 
causes the assembly to chafe against the left emergency alternating 
current bus of the ADG. The actions specified by the proposed AD are 
intended to prevent loss of the charging capability of the airplane 
battery due to chafing. Loss of the charging capability of the airplane 
battery, coupled with a loss of all normal electrical power, could 
prevent continued safe flight and landing of the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 6, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-193-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9 a.m. and 3 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-193-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 the 
FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft

[[Page 10843]]

Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brett Portwood, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, 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 action 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 action must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 2000-NM-193-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-193-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    On February 10, 2000, the FAA issued AD 2000-03-12, amendment 39-
11571 (65 FR 8030, February 17, 2000), applicable to certain McDonnell 
Douglas Model MD-11 series airplanes, to require replacement of the air 
driven generator (ADG) wire assembly with a new, increased length wire 
assembly. That action was prompted by a report of loose terminal 
attachment hardware on the ADG power monitor relay due to a stress 
condition on the terminal attachment points. The requirements of that 
AD are intended to prevent loss of the charging capability of the 
airplane battery. Loss of the charging capability of the airplane 
battery, coupled with a loss of all normal electrical power, could 
prevent continued safe flight and landing of the airplane.
    The incident that prompted AD 2000-03-12 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 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.

Actions Since Issuance of Previous Rule

    Since the issuance of AD 2000-03-12, an investigation revealed that 
the length of the new wire assembly installed per that AD is too long 
and causes the assembly to chafe against the left emergency alternating 
current bus of the airplane battery. This condition, if not corrected, 
could result in the loss of the charging capability of the ADG, which, 
when coupled with a loss of all normal electrical power, could 
consequently prevent continued safe flight and landing of the airplane.
    In addition, Model MD-11 series airplanes, manufacturer's fuselage 
numbers 0633 through 0646, inclusive, which were not subject to the 
requirements of AD 2000-03-12, had a modification accomplished in 
production that is similar to the replacement required by AD 2000-03-
12. Therefore, the FAA finds that these additional airplanes are also 
subject to the identified unsafe condition.
    Also, the original issue and Revision 01 of Boeing (McDonnell 
Douglas) Service Bulletin MD11-24-128 (which were referenced in AD 
2000-03-12 as the appropriate sources of service information for 
accomplishing the required actions) contained an error, which resulted 
in the misidentification of a wire assembly and the omission of an 
existing wire on an illustration.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    The FAA has reviewed and approved Boeing Service Bulletin MD11-24-
128, Revision 02, dated October 31, 2000, which describes procedures 
for replacement of the existing ADG wire assembly located on the 
transformer panel at station Y=568.333 in the right air conditioning 
compartment with a certain new wire assembly. The service bulletin also 
describes procedures for replacing the associated clamps and screws of 
the ADG wire assembly with new clamps and screws, and torque tightening 
the terminal hardware to certain limits. 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 supersede AD 2000-03-12 to require accomplishment of 
the actions specified in the service bulletin described previously.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 191 Model MD-11 series airplanes of the 
affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 60 
airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected by this proposed AD.
    The new actions that are proposed in this AD action would take 
approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish, at an average 
labor rate of $60 per work hour. Required parts would cost 
approximately $810 per airplane. Based on these figures, the cost 
impact of the proposed requirements of this AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $52,200, or $870 per airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the current or proposed 
requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish 
those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted. The cost 
impact figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the

[[Page 10844]]

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 removing amendment 39-11571 (65 FR 
8030, February 17, 2000), and by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD), to read as follows:

McDonnell Douglas: Docket 2000-NM-193-AD. Supersedes AD 2000-03-12, 
Amendment 39-11571.

    Applicability: Model MD-11 series airplanes, as listed in Boeing 
Service Bulletin MD11-24-128, Revision 02, dated October 31, 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 loss of the charging capability of the air driven 
generator (ADG), that when coupled with a loss of all normal 
electrical power, could prevent continued safe flight and landing of 
the airplane, accomplish the following:

Replacement

    (a) Within 1 year after the effective date of this AD, do the 
actions specified in paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(3) of this 
AD per Boeing Service Bulletin MD11-24-128, Revision 02, dated 
October 31, 2000.
    (1) Replace the ADG wire assembly, part number (P/N) ACS9006-501 
and/or ACS9006-502, located on the transformer panel at station 
Y=568.333 in the right air conditioning compartment with a new wire 
assembly, P/N SR11240033-101.

    Note 2: The referenced service bulletin incorrectly lists the 
new wire assembly as having P/N SR1124033-101 in paragraph 3.A.4. of 
the Accomplishment Instructions. The correct P/N is SR11240033-101, 
as indicated in paragraph (a)(1) of this AD.

    (2) Replace the associated clamps and screws of the ADG wire 
assembly with new clamps and screws.
    (3) Torque tighten terminal hardware to the limits specified in 
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 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 February 12, 2001.
Vi L. Lipski,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-4058 Filed 2-16-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U