[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 81 (Thursday, April 26, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20914-20915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9934]



[[Page 20914]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-NM-272-AD; Amendment 39-12193; AD 2001-08-16]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-8 Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-8 series airplanes, 
that requires a one-time inspection to determine the manufacturer of 
the circuit breakers, and corrective action, if necessary. This 
amendment is prompted by reports of smoke and electrical odor in the 
flight compartment and cabin area as a result of failure of circuit 
breakers. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent 
internal overheating and arcing of the circuit breakers and airplane 
wiring due to long-term use and breakdown of internal components of the 
circuit breakers, which could result in smoke and fire in the flight 
compartment and main cabin.

DATES: Effective May 31, 2001.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of May 31, 2001.

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: Data 
and Service Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024). 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, 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: Elvin Wheeler, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft 
Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 
90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5344; 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 
DC-8 series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on 
September 1, 2000 (65 FR 53199). That action proposed to require a one-
time inspection to determine the manufacturer of the circuit breakers, 
and corrective action, if necessary.

Comment Received

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the comment received.
    One commenter requests that paragraph (a) of the proposed AD 
reference McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin DC8-24A075, Revision 
2, dated May 2, 2000, as an acceptable method of compliance.
    The FAA agrees. Since issuance of the notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) the FAA has reviewed and approved Revision 02 of McDonnell 
Douglas Alert Service Bulletin DC8-24A075. Revision 02 is essentially 
identical to Revision 01 of the service bulletin, which was referenced 
in the NPRM as the appropriate source of service information for 
accomplishing the proposed actions. No more work is necessary on 
airplanes changed as shown in Revision 01 of the service bulletin. 
Therefore, we have revised the final rule accordingly to reference 
Revision 02 of the service bulletin as an additional source of service 
information.

Conclusion

    After careful review of the available data, including the comment 
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.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 310 Model DC-8 series airplanes of the 
affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 231 
airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will 
take approximately 80 work hours per airplane to accomplish the 
required inspection of the circuit breakers (over 700 installed on each 
airplane), and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based 
on these figures, the cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $1,108,800, or $4,800 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. 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 adopted herein will 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 final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

[[Page 20915]]

Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

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

2001-08-16  McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-12193. Docket 99-NM-272-
AD.

    Applicability: Model DC-8 series airplanes, as listed in 
McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin DC8-24A075, Revision 02, 
dated May 2, 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 (c) 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 internal overheating and arcing of the circuit 
breakers and airplane wiring due to long-term use and breakdown of 
internal components of the circuit breakers, which could result in 
smoke and fire in the flight compartment and main cabin, accomplish 
the following:

Inspection and Replacement, If Necessary

    (a) Within 24 months after effective date of this AD: Perform a 
one-time inspection to determine the manufacturer of the circuit 
breaker in accordance with McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin 
DC8-24A075, Revision 01, dated September 21, 1999, or Revision 02, 
dated May 2, 2000.
    (1) If no Wood Electric Corporation or Wood Electric Division of 
Potter Brumfield Corporation circuit breaker is found, no further 
action is required by this paragraph.
    (2) If any Wood Electric Corporation or Wood Electric Division 
of Potter Brumfield Corporation circuit breaker is found, at the 
next scheduled maintenance visit, but not later than 24 months after 
the effective date of this AD, replace the circuit breaker with a 
new circuit breaker in accordance with the service bulletin.

Spares

    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install 
a circuit breaker, part number 104-205-104, 104-210-104, 104-215-
104, 104-220-104, 104-225-104, 104-230-104, 104-235-104, 104-250-
104, 446-250-102, 447-205-102, 448-205-102, 505-205-102, 506-205-
102, 447-507-102, 448-507-102, 505-507-102, 506-507-102, 447-210-
102, 448-210-102, 505-210-102, 506-210-102, 447-215-102, 448-215-
102, 505-215-102, 506-215-102, 447-220-102, 448-220-102, 505-220-
102, 506-220-102, 447-225-102, 448-225-102, 505-225-102, 506-225-
102, 448-235-102, 505-235-102, or 506-235-102, on any airplane.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (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. 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

    (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.

Incorporation by Reference

    (e) The actions shall be done in accordance with McDonnell 
Douglas Alert Service Bulletin DC8-24A075, Revision 01, dated 
September 21, 1999, or McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin DC8-
24A075, Revision 02, dated May 2, 2000. 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: 
Data and Service Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024). Copies may be 
inspected 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; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North 
Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

Effective Date

    (f) This amendment becomes effective on May 31, 2001.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 17, 2001.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-9934 Filed 4-25-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P