[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 160 (Monday, August 19, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53763-53764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-20932]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-NM-90-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9 Airplanes 
and Model MD-88 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); reopening of the comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: This document extends the period for public comment on the 
above-referenced NPRM that would apply to certain McDonnell Douglas 
Model DC-9 airplanes and Model MD-88 airplanes. The NPRM proposes to 
require replacement of certain power relays, and subsequent repetitive 
cleaning, inspecting, repairing, and testing of certain replaced power 
relays. The NPRM is prompted by reports indicating that the alternating 
current (AC) cross-tie relay shorted out internally, which caused 
severe smoke and burn damage to the relay, aircraft wiring, and 
adjacent panels. This extension of the comment period is necessary to 
assure that all interested persons have ample opportunity to present 
their views on the proposed requirements of the NPRM.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 26, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-NM-90-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. 99-NM-90-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.

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:

[[Page 53764]]

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 99-NM-90-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Events Leading to This Extension of the Comment Period

    A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to certain McDonnell 
Douglas Model DC-9 airplanes and Model MD-88 airplanes was published as 
a second supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the 
Federal Register on July 1, 2002 (67 FR 44119). The second supplemental 
NPRM proposed to require replacement of certain power relays, and 
subsequent repetitive cleaning, inspecting, repairing, and testing of 
certain replaced power relays.
    The FAA has received a request from the National Transportation 
Safety Board (NTSB) to extend the comment period of the second 
supplemental NPRM by three weeks to allow additional time to prepare 
comments. The FAA has considered this request and finds it appropriate 
to extend the comment period to give all interested persons more time 
to examine the proposed requirements of the second supplemental NPRM 
and to submit comments. In light of the fact that some of the 
additional time requested to prepare comments has passed, we have 
determined that extending the comment period by 7 days after date of 
publication in the Federal Register is appropriate, and that such an 
extension will not compromise the safety of these airplanes.

The Extension

    The comment period for Docket No. 99-NM-90-AD is hereby extended to 
August 26, 2002.
    Since no portion of the second supplemental NPRM or other 
regulatory information has been changed, that entire NPRM is not being 
republished.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 12, 2002.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-20932 Filed 8-16-02; 8:45 am]
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