[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 9, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45368-45370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12827]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24864; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-072-AD; 
Amendment 39-14712; AD 2006-16-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, DC-
10-10F, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F (KDC-10), DC-10-40, and DC-10-40F Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain McDonnell Douglas airplanes, identified above. This AD requires 
reducing the length of the sump drain collar and replacing the fuel 
tank sump drain lockring for fuel tanks 1, 2, and 3; and reducing the 
length of the drain outlet barrel for the auxiliary fuel tank, if 
applicable. For airplanes with an auxiliary fuel tank, this AD also 
requires relocating the sump drain outlet to allow draining the sumps 
without opening the doors of the main landing gear wheel well. This AD 
results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are 
issuing this AD to reduce the potential of ignition sources inside fuel 
tanks in the event of a lightning strike, which, in combination with 
flammable fuel vapors, could result in arcing in the fuel tank, fuel 
tank explosions, and consequent loss of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective September 13, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of September 13, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
    Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Long Beach Division, 3855 
Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Data and 
Service Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024), for service information 
identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Samuel Lee, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification

[[Page 45369]]

Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137; 
telephone (562) 627-5262; fax (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the airworthiness directive (AD) docket on the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management 
Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 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 street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain McDonnell 
Douglas Model DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F (KDC-10), DC-10-
40, and DC-10-40F airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal 
Register on May 25, 2006 (71 FR 30086). That NPRM proposed to require 
reducing the length of the sump drain collar and replacing the fuel 
tank sump drain lockring for fuel tanks 1, 2, and 3; and reducing the 
length of the drain outlet barrel for the auxiliary fuel tank, if 
applicable. For airplanes with an auxiliary fuel tank, that NPRM also 
proposed to require relocating the sump drain outlet to allow draining 
the sumps without opening the doors of the main landing gear wheel 
well.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the two comments received. 
The commenters, FedEx and Biman Bangladesh Airlines, stated that their 
airplanes are not affected by the NPRM.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 135 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for 
U.S. operators to comply with this AD. The labor rate is $80 per work 
hour.

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                Number of U.S.-
            Action              Work hours        Parts           Cost per        registered       Fleet cost
                                                                  airplane         airplanes
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For all airplanes: Reduce the  3 to 15....  $720 to $4,858..  $960 to $6,058..  109...........  $104,640 to
 length of the sump drain                                                                        $660,322.
 collar and replace the fuel
 tank sump drain for fuel
 tanks 1, 2, and 3.
For airplanes with an          6 to 15....  $0 to $720......  $480 to $1,920..  Up to 109.....  $52,320 to
 auxiliary fuel tank: Reduce                                                                     $209,280.
 the length of the drain
 outlet barrel for the
 auxiliary fuel tank.
Prior requirement for certain  1 to 6.....  The manufacturer  $80 to $480.....  Up to 109.....  $8,720 to
 airplanes.                                  states that it                                      $52,320.
                                             will supply
                                             required parts
                                             to the
                                             operators at no
                                             cost.
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Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):


[[Page 45370]]


2006-16-12 McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-14712. Docket No. FAA-
2006-24864; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-072-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective September 13, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, DC-10-
10F, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F (KDC-10), DC-10-40, and DC-10-40F 
airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in McDonnell 
Douglas DC-10 Service Bulletin 28-61, dated January 17, 1978.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the 
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to reduce the potential of 
ignition sources inside fuel tanks in the event of a lightning 
strike, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could 
result in arcing in the fuel tank, fuel tank explosions, and 
consequent loss of the airplane.

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.

Corrective Actions

    (f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD: Reduce 
the length of the sump drain collar and replace the fuel tank sump 
drain lockring for fuel tanks 1, 2, and 3; and reduce the length of 
the drain outlet barrel for the auxiliary fuel tank, as applicable; 
by doing all the applicable actions in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Service 
Bulletin 28-61, dated January 17, 1978.

Prior Requirement

    (g) For airplanes identified as Group II airplanes in McDonnell 
Douglas DC-10 Service Bulletin 28-61, dated January 17, 1978, that 
are also contained in the effectivity of McDonnell Douglas DC-10 
Service Bulletin 28-19, Revision 1, dated October 15, 1973: Before 
accomplishing the actions in paragraph (f) of this AD, relocate the 
sump drain outlet for the auxiliary tank in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Service 
Bulletin 28-19, Revision 1, dated October 15, 1973.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 
requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Service Bulletin 28-61, 
dated January 17, 1978; and McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Service Bulletin 
28-19, Revision 1, dated October 15, 1973; as applicable, to perform 
the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies 
otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of these documents in accordance with 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Boeing Commercial 
Airplanes, Long Beach Division, 3855 Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, 
California 90846, Attention: Data and Service Management, Dept. C1-
L5A (D800-0024), for a copy of this service information. You may 
review copies at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room PL-401, Nassif 
Building, Washington, DC; on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or 
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material at the NARA, call 
(202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 31, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-12827 Filed 8-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P