[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 5, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30095-30097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-14005]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-163-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-81, -82, -
83, and -87 Series Airplanes, and Model MD-88 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 DC-9-81, -82, -83, and -87 series airplanes, and Model MD-88 
airplanes, that currently requires an inspection to detect damage, burn 
marks, or discoloration at certain electrical plugs and receptacles of 
the sidewall lighting in the passenger cabin, and correction of 
discrepancies. That AD also requires modification of the electrical 
connectors, which terminates the inspection requirement. That action 
was prompted by reports of failures of the electrical connectors in the 
sidewall fluorescent lighting, which resulted in smoke or lighting 
interruption in the passenger cabin. This action would expand the 
applicability of the existing AD to include additional airplanes. The 
actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent failures 
of the electrical connectors, which could result in poor socket/pin 
contact, excessive heat, electrical arcing, and subsequently, connector 
burn through and smoke and/or fire in the passenger cabin.

DATES: Comments must be received by July 20, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-163-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-163-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: Data 
and Service Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024). 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 Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, 
California.

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; telephone (562) 627-5344; 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.

[[Page 30096]]

    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-163-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-163-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    On September 7, 1995, the FAA issued AD 95-19-09, amendment 39-9371 
(60 FR 48639, September 20, 1995), applicable to certain McDonnell 
Douglas Model DC-9-81, -82, -83, and -87 series airplanes, and Model 
MD-88 airplanes, to require an inspection to detect damage, burn marks, 
or discoloration at certain electrical plugs and receptacles of the 
sidewall lighting in the passenger cabin, and correction of 
discrepancies. That AD also requires modification of the electrical 
connectors, which terminates the inspection requirement. That action 
was prompted by reports of failures of the electrical connectors in the 
sidewall fluorescent lighting, which resulted in smoke or lighting 
interruption in the passenger cabin. The requirements of that AD are 
intended to prevent failures of the electrical connectors, which could 
result in poor socket/pin contact, excessive heat, electrical arcing, 
and subsequently, connector burn through and smoke in the passenger 
cabin.

Actions Since Issuance of Previous Rule

    Since the issuance of that AD, the FAA has reviewed and approved 
McDonnell Douglas MD-80 Service Bulletin 33-99, Revision 02, dated 
December 15, 1995, and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD80-33A099, 
Revision 03, dated January 27, 2000. The inspection, replacement, if 
necessary, and modification procedures described in these revisions are 
essentially identical to those in Revision 01 of the service bulletin, 
which was referenced in AD 95-19-09 as the appropriate source of 
service information for accomplishing the required actions in that AD. 
However, Revision 02 of the service bulletin added additional airplanes 
to the effectivity listing that are subject to the identified unsafe 
condition. Accomplishment of the actions specified in these service 
bulletins 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 95-19-09 to continue to require an 
inspection to detect damage, burn marks, or discoloration at certain 
electrical plugs and receptacles of the sidewall lighting in the 
passenger cabin, and correction of discrepancies. The proposed AD also 
would continue to require modification of the electrical connectors, 
which would terminate the inspection requirement. In addition, the 
proposed AD would expand the applicability of the existing AD to 
include additional airplanes. The actions would be required to be 
accomplished in accordance with the service bulletins described 
previously.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 970 Model DC-9-81, -82, -83, and -87 series 
airplanes, and Model MD-88 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 470 airplanes of U.S. registry 
would be affected by this proposed AD.
    The actions that are proposed in this AD action would take 
approximately between 24 and 31 work hours per airplane to accomplish, 
at an average labor rate of $60 per work hour. Required parts would 
cost approximately $1,199 per airplane. Based on these figures, the 
cost impact of the proposed requirements of this AD on U.S. operators 
is estimated to be between $1,240,330, and $1,437,730, or between 
$2,639, and $3,059 per airplane.
    The cost impact figures discussed above are 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 
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.

[[Page 30097]]

Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing amendment 39-9371 (60 FR 
48639, September 20, 1995), and by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD), to read as follows:

McDonnell Douglas: Docket 2000-NM-163-AD. Supersedes AD 95-19-09, 
Amendment 39-9371.

    Applicability: Model DC-9-81, -82, -83, and -87 series 
airplanes, and Model MD-88 airplanes, as listed in Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin MD80-33A099, Revision 03, dated January 27, 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 (d) 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.

    Note 2:
    Actions required by this AD that were done before the effective 
date of this AD per McDonnell Douglas MD-80 Service Bulletin 33-99, 
Revision 1, dated February 23, 1995, or Revision 02, dated December 
15, 1995, are considered acceptable for compliance with the 
requirements of this AD.

    To prevent failures of the electrical connectors, which could 
result in poor socket/pin contact, excessive heat, electrical 
arcing, and subsequently, connector burn through and smoke and/or 
fire in the passenger cabin, accomplish the following:

General Visual Inspection

    (a) At the applicable time indicated in Table 1 of this AD, do a 
general visual inspection to detect damage, burn marks, or black or 
brown discoloration caused by electrical arcing at electrical plugs, 
having part number (P/N) MS3126F-15P, and receptacles, having P/N 
MS3124E-15S, of the sidewall lighting in the passenger cabin, per 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD80-33A099, Revision 03, dated 
January 27, 2000.

                                 Table 1
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           Affected airplanes                    Compliance time
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(1) DC-9-81, -82, -83, and -87 series    Within 18 months after October
 airplanes, and MD-88 airplanes, serial   5, 1995 (the effective date of
 numbers 49614, 49626 through 49632       AD 95-19-09).
 inclusive, 49668, and 49707.
(2) Other than those airplanes           Within 18 months after the
 identified in paragraph (a)(1) of this   effective date of this AD.
 AD.
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    Note 3:
    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.''

Corrective Action

    (b) If any discrepancy is found during the inspection required 
by paragraph (a) of this AD, before further flight, replace the 
damaged connectors, pins, sockets, or wire with new parts, per 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD80-33A099, Revision 03, dated 
January 27, 2000.

Modification

    (c) At the applicable time indicated in Table 1 of this AD, 
modify the electrical connectors of the sidewall lighting in the 
passenger cabin, per Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD80-33A099, 
Revision 03, dated January 27, 2000. Accomplishment of this 
modification constitutes compliance with the requirements of this 
AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (d) 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 4: 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

    (e) 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 25, 2001.
Vi L. Lipski,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-14005 Filed 6-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U