[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 9, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45447-45449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12948]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-25554; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-123-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Lockheed Model L-1011 Series Airplanes

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Lockheed Model L-1011 series airplanes. This proposed AD 
would require a one-time detailed inspection of the C112 harness clamp 
assembly for proper installation, a one-time detailed inspection of the 
C112 and C162 harness assemblies for damage, and corrective actions if 
necessary. This proposed AD results from a report of electrical arcing 
of the essential bus feeder cables behind hinged circuit breaker panel 
CB3 P-K. We are proposing this AD to prevent arcing of essential bus 
feeder cables due to improper installation of the harness C112 clamp 
assembly, which could result in loss of electrical systems and smoke 
and/or fire behind the CB3 P-K hinged circuit breaker panel in the 
flight compartment.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 25, 
2006.

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.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Contact Lockheed Martin Aircraft & Logistics Center, 120 Orion 
Street, Greenville, South Carolina 29605, for the service information 
identified in this proposed AD.

[[Page 45448]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Chupka, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ACE-119A, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft 
Certification Office, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 
450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone (770) 703-6070; fax (770) 703-
6097.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2006-
25554; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-123-AD'' at the beginning 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 received 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 Web site, 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.

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the 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 DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the Docket Management System 
receives them.

Discussion

    We have received a report of electrical arcing of the essential bus 
feeder cables behind hinged circuit breaker panel CB3 P-K that occurred 
during maintenance, causing extensive damage to the surrounding area, 
on a Lockheed Model L-1011 series airplane. Investigation of the arcing 
revealed that the cushion clamp securing wire harness assembly C112 was 
installed incorrectly, with the clamp loop on the forward side instead 
of the aft side of the clamp screw. The improper installation of the 
cushion clamp allowed the clamp to chafe against the C162 wire harness. 
We have also received a report indicating that two additional airplanes 
have been found with improperly installed cushion clamps at this 
location. This condition, if not corrected, could result in loss of 
electrical systems and smoke and/or fire behind the CB3 P-K hinged 
circuit breaker panel in the flight compartment.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Lockheed L-1011 Service Bulletin 093-24-142, dated 
November 16, 2005. The service bulletin describes procedures for a one-
time detailed inspection of the circuit breaker panel clamp assembly 
for harness C112 just outboard of terminal block 2400 TB17 in the 
hinged circuit breaker panel CB3 P-K to verify the position of the 
clamp assembly. It also describes procedures for a one-time detailed 
inspection of the C112 and C162 harness assemblies for damage (e.g., 
evidence of chafing, arcing, or deterioration), and corrective actions 
if necessary. The corrective actions include repositioning the clamp 
assembly to the correct position and correcting damage found in the 
C112 and C162 harness assemblies. Accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information is intended to 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. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, 
which would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information described previously, except as discussed under 
``Difference Between the Proposed AD and the Service Bulletin.''

Difference Between the Proposed AD and the Service Bulletin

    Although the service bulletin recommends accomplishing the 
inspection of the circuit breaker panel clamp assembly for harness C112 
``at the next scheduled maintenance visit,'' we have determined that 
this imprecise compliance time would not address the identified unsafe 
condition in a timely manner. In developing an appropriate compliance 
time for this proposed AD, we considered not only the manufacturer's 
recommendation, but also the degree of urgency associated with 
addressing the subject unsafe condition, the average utilization of the 
affected fleet, and the time necessary to perform the inspection. In 
light of all of these factors, we find a compliance time of 90 days for 
completing the required actions to be warranted, in that it represents 
an appropriate interval of time for affected airplanes to continue to 
operate without compromising safety. This difference has been 
coordinated with Lockheed.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 126 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for 
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.

                                                                     Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                                          Number of U.S.-
                         Action                             Work hours     Average labor       Parts         Cost per       registered      Fleet cost
                                                                           rate per hour                     airplane        airplanes
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Inspection of clamp assembly............................               2             $80              $0            $160              53          $8,480
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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

[[Page 45449]]

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

Lockheed: Docket No. FAA-2006-25554; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-
123-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by September 
25, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Lockheed Model L-1011-385-1, L-1011-385-
1-14, L-1011-385-1-15, and L-1011-385-3 series airplanes, 
certificated in any category; having serial numbers (S/N) 193A 
through 193Y inclusive and 293A through 293F inclusive: -1002 
through -1250 inclusive.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report of electrical arcing of the 
essential bus feeder cables behind hinged circuit breaker panel CB3 
P-K. We are issuing this AD to prevent arcing of essential bus 
feeder cables due to improper installation of the harness C112 clamp 
assembly, which could result in loss of electrical systems and smoke 
and/or fire behind the CB3 P-K hinged circuit breaker panel in the 
flight compartment.

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.

Detailed Inspection of the C112 Harness Clamp Assembly

    (f) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD: Do the 
actions in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD by accomplishing 
all the actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Lockheed L-1011 Service Bulletin 093-24-142, dated November 16, 
2005. Do all applicable corrective actions before further flight.
    (1) Perform a one-time detailed inspection of the C112 harness 
clamp assembly to find incorrectly installed harness clamps, and do 
all applicable corrective actions.
    (2) Perform a one-time detailed inspection of the C112 and C162 
harness assemblies to find evidence of chafing, arcing, or 
deterioration, and do all applicable corrective actions.

    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is: 
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or 
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available 
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good 
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as 
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning 
and elaborate procedures may be required.''

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g)(1) The Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 2, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-12948 Filed 8-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P