[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 37 (Monday, February 26, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8307-8309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3166]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27339; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-280-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10 and 
DC-10-10F Airplanes, Model DC-10-15 Airplanes, Model DC-10-30 and DC-
10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-10) Airplanes, Model DC-10-40 and DC-10-40F 
Airplanes, Model MD-10-10F and MD-10-30F Airplanes, and Model MD-11 and 
MD-11F 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 transport category airplanes identified above. This 
proposed AD would require modifying the fuel boost pumps. This proposed 
AD results from a fuel boost pump found with blown thermal fuses and a 
fractured thrust washer. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of 
the fuel boost pumps, which could lead to the potential of ignition 
sources inside fuel tanks. This condition, in combination with 
flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and 
consequent loss of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 12, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.

[[Page 8308]]

     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 Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Long Beach Division, 3855 
Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Data and 
Service Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024), for the service 
information identified in this proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Samuel Lee, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137; 
telephone (562) 627-5262; fax (562) 627-5210.

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-2007-
27339; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-280-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 indicating that an operator found a fuel 
boost pump with blown thermal fuses and a fractured thrust washer. 
Investigation revealed that the fractured Stellite thrust washer led to 
arcing damage to the rotor assembly shaft and stator end windings. 
Stellite thrust washers are used in the rotor assembly of fuel boost 
pumps, part numbers (P/Ns) 60-847-1A, -2, and -3. Failure of the fuel 
boost pumps, if not corrected, could lead to the potential of ignition 
sources inside fuel tanks. This condition, in combination with 
flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and 
consequent loss of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed the following service bulletins:
     Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-28A254, dated September 
8, 2006, for McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10 and DC-10-10F airplanes, 
Model DC-10-15 airplanes, Model DC-10-30 and DC-10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-
10) airplanes, Model DC-10-40 and DC-10-40F airplanes, and Model MD-10-
10F and MD-10-30F airplanes.
     Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11-28A134, dated September 
8, 2006, for McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes.
    Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-28A254 describes procedures for 
modifying fuel boost pumps, P/Ns 60-847-1A, -2, and -3. The 
modification involves replacing the pump assembly connector, washers, 
screws, and other hardware with new parts, upgrading the rotor 
assembly, inspecting the stator assembly wire leads, and rerouting the 
stator-to-connector wire leads. Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11-
28A134 describes procedures for modifying fuel boost pumps, P/Ns 60-
847-2 and -3. Accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information is intended to adequately address the unsafe condition.
    The Boeing service bulletins refer to Crane Hydro-Aire Service 
Bulletin 60-847-28-3, dated May 1, 2006, as an additional source of 
service information for modifying the fuel boost pumps, P/Ns 60-847-1A, 
-2, and -3. (The modification converts these parts to P/N 60-847-4.)
    Crane Hydro-Aire Service Bulletin 60-847-28-3 specifies prior 
accomplishment of Crane Hydro-Aire Service Bulletin 60-847-1A-28-6, 
dated February 15, 1973, for fuel boost pump P/N 60-847-1A. Crane 
Hydro-Aire Service Bulletin 60-847-28-3 also specifies prior 
accomplishment of Crane Hydro-Aire Service Bulletin 60-847-3-28-13, 
dated March 17, 1975, for fuel boost pump P/N 60-847-2.

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.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 512 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 360 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. The proposed modification would take about 3 work hours 
per fuel boost pump, at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. 
Required parts would cost about $640 per fuel boost pump. Depending on 
the airplane configuration, there are between 10 and 19 fuel boost 
pumps per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the 
proposed AD for U.S. operators is between $3,168,000 and $6,019,200, or 
between $8,800 and $16,720 per airplane.

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

[[Page 8309]]

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):

McDonnell Douglas: Docket No. FAA-2007-27339; Directorate Identifier 
2006-NM-280-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by April 12, 
2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to the airplanes identified in paragraphs 
(c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD, certificated in any category.
    (1) McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10 and DC-10-10F airplanes, 
Model DC-10-15 airplanes, Model DC-10-30 and DC-10-30F (KC-10A and 
KDC-10) airplanes, Model DC-10-40 and DC-10-40F airplanes, and Model 
MD-10-10F and MD-10-30F airplanes; as identified in Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin DC10-28A254, dated September 8, 2006.
    (2) McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes, as 
identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11-28A134, dated 
September 8, 2006.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a fuel boost pump found with blown 
thermal fuses and a fractured thrust washer. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent failure of the fuel boost pumps, which could lead to the 
potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks. This condition, in 
combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in 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.

Service Bulletin Reference Paragraph

    (f) The term ``service bulletin,'' as used in this AD, means the 
following service bulletins, as applicable:
    (1) For the airplanes identified in paragraph (c)(1) of this AD, 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-28A254, dated September 8, 2006.
    (2) For the airplanes identified in paragraph (c)(2) of this AD, 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11-28A134, dated September 8, 2006.

    Note 1: Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-28A254, dated 
September 8, 2006; and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11-28A134, 
dated September 8, 2006; refer to Crane Hydro-Aire Service Bulletin 
60-847-28-3, dated May 1, 2006, as an additional source of service 
information for accomplishing the modification in paragraph (g) of 
this AD.

Modification

    (g) At the applicable compliance time specified in paragraph 
(g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD, modify the fuel boost pumps having part 
numbers 60-847-1A, -2, and -3, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the applicable service bulletin.
    (1) For fuel boost pumps identified as Configuration 1 or 2 in 
Table 1 of paragraph 1.E. of the applicable service bulletin, do the 
modification within 120 months after the effective date of this AD.
    (2) For fuel boost pumps identified as Configuration 3 in Table 
1 of paragraph 1.E. of the applicable service bulletin, do the 
modification within 72 months after the effective date of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles 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 February 16, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-3166 Filed 2-23-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P