[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 13, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41992-41994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15763]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-18572; Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-72-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes. This 
proposed AD would require replacement of low base terminal boards, 
related investigative action, and corrective actions if necessary. This 
proposed AD is prompted by arcing between a power feeder cable and 
terminal board support bracket. We are proposing this AD to prevent 
arcing damage to the power feeder cables, terminal boards, and adjacent 
structure, which could result in smoke and/or fire in the cabin.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 27, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     By fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400

[[Page 41993]]

Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You can get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Long Beach Division, 3855 Lakewood 
Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Data and Service 
Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024)
    You may examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, on 
the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

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:

Docket Management System (DMS)

    The FAA has implemented new procedures for maintaining AD dockets 
electronically. As of May 17, 2004, new AD actions are posted on DMS 
and assigned a docket number. We track each action and assign a 
corresponding directorate identifier. The DMS AD docket number is in 
the form ``Docket No. FAA-2004-99999.'' The Transport Airplane 
Directorate identifier is in the form ``Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
999-AD.'' Each DMS AD docket also lists the directorate identifier 
(``Old Docket Number'') as a cross-reference for searching purposes.

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2004-18572; 
Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-72-AD'' in the subject line of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of 
that website, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    We are reviewing the writing style we currently use in regulatory 
documents. We are interested in your comments on whether the style of 
this document is clear, and your suggestions to improve the clarity of 
our communications that affect you. You can get more information about 
plain language at http://www.faa.gov/language and http://www.plainlanguage.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the AD docket in person at the Docket Management 
Facility office between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Management Facility office 
(telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif 
Building at the DOT street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS 
receives them.

Discussion

    As part of our practice of re-examining all aspects of the service 
experience of a particular aircraft whenever an accident occurs, we 
have become aware of arcing between a power feeder cable and terminal 
board support bracket on a McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 airplane. The 
cause is power feeder cables stacked improperly during manufacture in 
conjunction with low base terminal boards. Power feeder cables that are 
stacked improperly reduce the distance between the cables and mounting 
structure. This condition, if not corrected, could result in arcing 
damage to the power feeder cables, terminal boards, and adjacent 
structure, which could result in smoke and/or fire in the cabin.

Similar Airplanes

    The subject area on certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11F 
airplanes are identical to those on the affected McDonnell Douglas 
Model MD-11 airplanes. Therefore, all of these models may be subject to 
the same unsafe condition.

Other Related Rulemaking

    In conjunction with Boeing and operators of Model MD-11 and MD-11F 
airplanes, we have reviewed 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 
corrective actions identified during that process. We have previously 
issued several other ADs and may consider further rulemaking actions to 
address the remaining identified unsafe conditions.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD11-
24A175, Revision 01, dated April 25, 2003, including Boeing Information 
Notices MD11-24A175 IN 01, dated November 6, 2003, and MD11-24A175 IN 
02, dated December 17, 2003. The service bulletin describes procedures 
for replacing low base terminal boards with higher base terminal 
boards, performing a related investigative action (a general visual 
inspection of the cables, surrounding structure, and other systems 
components for arcing damage), and performing corrective actions if 
necessary. The corrective actions include repairing cable assemblies, 
replacing cable assemblies with new or serviceable cable assemblies, 
and repairing structural damage. We have determined that accomplishment 
of the actions specified in the service bulletin will adequately 
address the unsafe condition.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an 
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes 
of this same type design. Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which 
would require accomplishment of the actions specified in the service 
bulletin described previously, except as discussed under ``Differences 
Between the Proposed AD and Referenced Service Bulletin.''

Differences Between Proposed Rule and Referenced Service Bulletin

    Although the service bulletin referenced in the proposed AD 
specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, the 
proposed AD does not include that requirement. We do not need this 
information from operators.
    Operators should also note that the service bulletin specifies to 
repair damaged structure in accordance with the structural repair 
manual (SRM). However, the SRM does not provide procedures for repair 
of certain

[[Page 41994]]

structural material. Therefore, this proposed AD would require the 
repair of damaged structure that is not covered in the SRM to be done 
in accordance with a method approved by the FAA.

Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would affect about 52 airplanes of U.S. registry 
and 152 airplanes worldwide. The following table provides the estimated 
costs for U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                              Cost per airplane
    Airplanes identified in the service                       Average labor                   (depending on the
               bulletin as--                   Work hours     rate per hour    Parts cost          airplane
                                                                                                configuration)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group 1....................................               3             $65        $45-$384            $240-$579
Groups 2 and 5.............................               1             $65        $45-$384            $110-$449
Groups 3, 4, and 6.........................               2             $65        $45-$384            $175-$514
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Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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. 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location 
to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

McDonnell Douglas: Docket No. FAA-2004-18572; Directorate Identifier 
2003-NM-72-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this AD action by August 27, 2004.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-11F 
airplanes, as listed in McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin 
MD11-24A175, Revision 01, dated April 25, 2003; certificated in any 
category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by arcing between a power feeder cable 
and terminal board support bracket. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent arcing damage to the power feeder cables, terminal boards, 
and adjacent structure, which could result in smoke and/or fire in 
the cabin.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Service Bulletin References

    (f) The term ``service bulletin,'' as used in this AD, means the 
Accomplishment Instructions of McDonnell Douglas Alert Service 
Bulletin MD11-24A175, Revision 01, dated April 25, 2003, including 
Boeing Information Notices MD11-24A175 IN 01, dated November 6, 
2003, and MD11-24A175 IN 02, dated December 17, 2003.

Replacement, Related Investigative Action, and Corrective Actions

    (g) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, 
replace low base terminal boards with higher base terminal boards in 
accordance with the applicable figure in the service bulletin, and 
do all related investigative action/applicable corrective actions by 
accomplishing all the actions in the service bulletin, except as 
provided by paragraph (h) of this AD. Any related investigative 
action/applicable corrective actions must be done before further 
flight.
    (h) If, during the corrective actions required by paragraph (g) 
of this AD, the type of structural material that has been damaged is 
not covered in the structural repair manual, before further flight, 
repair in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA.

Parts Installation

    (i) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
terminal board, as listed in section 1.A.2. ``Spares Affected'' of 
the Planning Information of the service bulletin, on any airplane.

No Reporting

    (j) Although the service bulletin referenced in this AD 
specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD 
does not include that requirement.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (k) The Manager, Los Angeles ACO, FAA, has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found 
in 14 CFR 39.19.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 30, 2004.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-15763 Filed 7-12-04; 8:45 am]
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