[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 13, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41987-41990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15761]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-NM-54-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and -11 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document revises an earlier proposed airworthiness 
directive (AD), applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 
airplanes, that would have required an inspection of the connector 
cables for signs of arcing and/or signs of moisture penetration into 
the overhead decoder units (ODU), and replacement of the affected 
ODU(s) with a new ODU, if necessary. The proposed AD also would have 
required modification and reidentification of the cable assemblies and 
the connect cable assemblies at shipside power to the ODU, ODU to ODU, 
and adjacent bag racks. This new action revises the proposed rule by 
adding and removing airplanes in the applicability of the proposed rule 
and replacing certain connectors of the ODU and shipside power cable 
assemblies. The actions specified by this new proposed AD are intended 
to prevent moisture from entering through the rear of the connector of 
the ODUs located in the

[[Page 41988]]

overhead baggage stowage racks, which could result in a short, damage 
to the connector pins, and consequent smoke and/or fire in the cabin. 
This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 9, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-NM-54-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. 2001-NM-54-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 or 2000 or 
ASCII text.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplanes, 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 FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft 
Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brett Portwood, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, 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 2001-NM-54-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. 2001-NM-54-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR part 39) to add an airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to 
certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 airplanes, was published as a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register on October 
5, 2001 (66 FR 50901) (hereafter referred to as the ``original NPRM''). 
The original NPRM would have required an inspection of the connector 
cables for signs of arcing and/or signs of moisture penetration into 
the overhead decoder units (ODU), and replacement of the affected 
ODU(s) with a new ODU, if necessary. The original NPRM also would have 
required modification and reidentification of the cable assemblies and 
the connect cable assemblies at shipside power to the ODU, ODU to ODU, 
and adjacent bag racks. The original NPRM was prompted by several 
incidents of smoke in the cabin. Moisture entering through the rear of 
the connector of the ODUs located in the overhead baggage stowage 
racks, if not corrected, could result in a short, damage to the 
connector pins, and consequent smoke and/or fire in the cabin.

Comment Received: Request To Revise Cost Impact Section

    Due consideration has been given to the comment received in 
response to the original NPRM:
    One commenter requests that we revise the Cost Impact section of 
the original NPRM. The commenter notes that the original NPRM states, 
``The manufacturer has committed previously to its customers that it 
will bear the cost of replacement parts.'' The commenter states that 
Boeing warranty remedies are available for Model MD-11 and -11F 
airplanes under warranty as of October 1, 1999, and that the kits for 
airplanes in warranty as of that date will be supplied at no charge.
    The FAA concurs. We have revised the cost impact by including the 
cost of the replaced parts and adding the following statement: ``The 
manufacturer may cover the cost of replacement parts associated with 
this proposed AD, subject to warranty conditions. As a result, the 
costs attributable to the proposed AD may be less than stated above.''

Actions Since Issuance of the Original NPRM

    Since the issuance of the original NPRM, Boeing issued Revision 01 
of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11-33A065, dated December 21, 2001 
(the original issue was referenced in the original NPRM as the 
appropriate source of service information for the proposed actions). 
Revision 01 corrected several part numbers and revised the effectivity 
listing by removing certain fuselage numbers and Group 34 airplanes and 
adding six convertible freighters.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Since the issuance of Revision 01 of the service bulletin, we have 
reviewed and approved Revision 02 of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 
MD11-33A065, dated April 1, 2003. For all airplanes, Revision 02 
continues to describes procedures for a general visual inspection of 
the cable connectors for signs of arcing or signs of moisture 
penetration into the ODUs, and replacement of the affected ODU with a 
new ODU, if necessary.
    For certain airplanes, Revision 02 describes new procedures for:

[[Page 41989]]

     A general visual inspection of the P1 connector end of all 
AWP9604 cable assemblies of the ODUs to determine if SK2464-15 
connectors are present; and replacement of SK2464-15 connectors with 
new connectors;
     Replacement of the connector ends on the applicable cable 
assemblies of the ODUs with new connector ends;
     A general visual inspection of the P1 connector end of the 
jumper cables of the centerline AWP9606 shipside cable assemblies to 
determine if SK2464-9 connectors are present; and replacement of 
SK2464-9 connectors with new connectors;
     Replacement of the P1 connector ends on the applicable 
shipside cable assemblies with new connector ends; and
     Replacement of the connectors of the applicable shipside 
cable assemblies with new connectors.
    For certain other airplanes, Revision 02 describes new procedures 
for replacement of the connectors of the applicable cable assemblies of 
the ODUs with new connectors. In addition, Revision 02 removes 19 
passenger airplanes that have been converted to freighter 
configuration.

Changes to Proposed Requirements

    Accomplishment of the actions described above in Revision 02 of the 
service bulletin is intended to adequately address the identified 
unsafe condition. Therefore, we have revised this supplemental NPRM to 
reference Revision 02 as the appropriate source of service information, 
except as discussed below.
    Although the service bulletin describes procedure for a general 
visual inspection of the connector cables of the shipside cable 
assemblies for signs of arcing or signs of moisture penetration for 
certain airplanes, this proposed AD does not require that inspection. 
We have consulted with the airplane manufacturer and have determined 
that this inspection is unnecessary because this proposed AD would 
require replacement of the connectors and connector ends of the 
applicable shipside cable assemblies with new parts.
    In addition, although the Accomplishment Instructions of the 
referenced service bulletin describe procedures for submitting a 
comment sheet related to service bulletin quality and a sheet recording 
compliance with the service bulletin, this proposed AD would not 
require those actions. We do not need this information from operators.

Conclusion

    Since these changes expand the scope of the originally proposed 
rule, we have determined that it is necessary to reopen the comment 
period to provide additional opportunity for public comment.

Changes to 14 CFR Part 39/Effect on the Proposed AD

    On July 10, 2002, the FAA issued a new version of 14 CFR part 39 
(67 FR 47997, July 22, 2002), which governs the FAA's airworthiness 
directives system. The regulation now includes material that relates to 
altered products, special flight permits, and alternative methods of 
compliance (AMOCs). These changes are reflected in this supplemental 
NPRM.

Changes to Labor Rate

    We have reviewed the figures we have used over the past several 
years to calculate AD costs to operators. To account for various 
inflationary costs in the airline industry, we find it necessary to 
increase the labor rate used in these calculations from $60 per work 
hour to $65 per work hour. The cost impact information, below, reflects 
this increase in the specified hourly labor rate.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 114 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 28 airplanes of U.S. registry 
would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 
between 295 and 2,056 work hours per airplane (i.e., 2 work hours per 
ODU and shipside connector; the number of ODUs and shipside connectors 
per airplane will vary between 59 and 1,028 depending on the airplane's 
configuration) to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the average 
labor rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts would cost 
approximately between $2,264 and $130,864 per airplane (depending on 
the airplane configuration). Based on these figures, the cost impact of 
the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be between $21,439 
and $264,504 per airplane.
    The cost impact figures discussed above are 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 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. The manufacturer may cover the cost of 
replacement parts associated with this proposed AD, subject to warranty 
conditions. As a result, the costs attributable to the proposed AD may 
be less than stated above.

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 2001-NM-54-AD.

    Applicability: Model MD-11 and -11F airplanes, as listed in 
Boeing Alert Service

[[Page 41990]]

Bulletin MD11-33A065, Revision 02, dated April 1, 2003; certificated 
in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent moisture from entering through the rear of the 
connector of the overhead decoder units (ODU) located in the 
overhead baggage stowage racks, which could result in a short, 
damage to the connector pins, and consequent smoke and/or fire in 
the cabin, accomplish the following:

Service Bulletin References

    (a) The term ``the service bulletin,'' as used in this AD, means 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11-33A065, Revision 02, dated April 
1, 2003.

Part 1: Cable Assemblies of the ODU

    (b) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, do the 
actions specified in paragraphs (b)(1) through (b)(4) of Table 1 of 
this AD, as applicable, and any applicable corrective actions by 
doing all actions in Part 1 of the Work Instructions of the service 
bulletin. Do the actions per the service bulletin. Do any applicable 
corrective actions before further flight.

                 Table 1.--Cable Assemblies of the ODUs
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For airplanes identified in the service
             bulletin as--                          Actions--
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(1) For Groups 1 through 69............  Do a general visual inspection
                                          of the P1 connector end of all
                                          AWP9604 cable assemblies of
                                          the ODUs to determine if
                                          SK2464-15 connectors are
                                          present.
(2) For Groups 1 through 69............  Replace the connector ends on
                                          the applicable cable
                                          assemblies of the ODUs with
                                          new connector ends.
(3) Groups 1 through 72................  Do general visual inspection of
                                          the cable connectors for signs
                                          of arcing or signs of moisture
                                          penetration into the ODUs.
(4) Groups 70 through 72...............  Replace the connectors of the
                                          applicable cable assemblies of
                                          the ODUs with new connectors.
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    Note 1: 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 from within 
touching distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be 
necessary to enhance visual access to all exposed surfaces in the 
inspection area. This level of inspection is made under normally 
available lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, 
flashlight, or droplight 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.''

Part 2: Shipside Cable Assemblies

    (c) For Groups 1 through 69 identified in the service bulletin: 
Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, do the actions 
specified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(3) of this AD, and any 
applicable corrective action by doing all actions in paragraphs 1., 
and 3. through 10., as applicable, of Part 2 of the Work 
Instructions of the service bulletin. Do the actions per the service 
bulletin. Do any applicable corrective actions before further 
flight.
    (1) Do a general visual inspection of the P1 connector end of 
the jumper cables of the centerline AWP9606 shipside cable 
assemblies to determine if SK2464-9 connectors are present.
    (2) Replace the P1 connector ends on the applicable shipside 
cable assemblies with new connector ends.
    (3) Replace the connectors of the applicable shipside cable 
assemblies with new connectors.

Differences Between AD and Referenced Service Bulletin

    (d) Although the service bulletin referenced in this AD 
specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD 
does not include that requirement.
    (e) Although the service bulletin describes procedure for a 
general visual inspection of the connector cables of the shipside 
cable assemblies for signs of arcing or signs of moisture 
penetration for certain airplanes, this AD does not require that 
inspection.

    Note 2: Where there are differences between the AD and the 
service bulletin, the AD prevails.

Parts Installation

    (f) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install 
a cable assembly having a part number in the ``Existing Part 
Number'' column of the applicable table specified in paragraph 
2.C.3, ``Parts Necessary for Each Airplanes'' of the service 
bulletin, on any airplane.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (g) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, Los Angeles 
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, is authorized to approve 
alternative methods of compliance (AMOCs) for this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 30, 2004.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-15761 Filed 7-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P