[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 103 (Wednesday, May 30, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29883-29884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-10111]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27341; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-272-AD; 
Amendment 39-15073; AD 2007-11-16]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-
11F 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 all 
McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes. This AD requires 
installing bracket assemblies and jumper wires in the center main wheel 
well to improve the bonding path between the structure (wall) of the 
lower auxiliary fuel tank and its internal fuel pumps; measuring the 
electrical resistance between the fuel pump housings and the fuel tank 
structure; and doing corrective actions if necessary. This AD results 
from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing 
this AD to detect and correct an inadequate bond between the internal 
fuel pump housings and the structure of the lower auxiliary fuel tank. 
This condition, if not corrected, could fail to meet fault current 
requirements and result in a potential ignition source that, in 
combination with flammable fuel vapors, could cause a fuel tank 
explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective July 5, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of July 5, 2007.

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 
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 all McDonnell Douglas 
Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes. That NPRM was published in the 
Federal Register on February 26, 2007 (72 FR 8311). That NPRM proposed 
to require installing bracket assemblies and jumper wires in the center 
main wheel well to improve the bonding path between the structure 
(wall) of the lower auxiliary fuel tank and its internal fuel pumps; 
measuring the electrical resistance between the fuel pump housings and 
the fuel tank structure; and doing corrective actions if necessary.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the 
determination of the cost to the public.

Clarification of Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC) Paragraph

    We have revised this action to clarify the appropriate procedure 
for notifying the principal inspector before using any approved AMOC on 
any airplane to which the AMOC applies.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD with the 
change described previously. We have determined that this change will 
neither increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the 
scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 195 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 107 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators to 
comply with this AD, at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour.

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Work                                         Cost per
                  Action                     hours                 Parts                  airplane    Fleet cost
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Install bracket assemblies and jumper            4  $1,928............................       $2,248     $240,536
 wires.
Do electrical resistance measurement......       1  None required.....................           80        8,560
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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

[[Page 29884]]

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):

2007-11-16 McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-15073. Docket No. FAA-
2007-27341; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-272-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective July 5, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-
11F airplanes; certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the 
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct an 
inadequate bond between the internal fuel pump housings and the 
structure of the lower auxiliary fuel tank. This condition, if not 
corrected, could fail to meet fault current requirements and result 
in a potential ignition source that, in combination with flammable 
fuel vapors, could cause a fuel tank explosion 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.

Installation of Brackets and Jumpers, and Resistance Measurement

    (f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, do the 
actions described in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service 
Bulletin MD11-28-127, dated September 19, 2006.
    (1) Install bracket assemblies and jumper wires between the 
structure of the lower auxiliary fuel tank and its internal fuel 
pumps.
    (2) Do an electrical resistance measurement between the fuel 
pump housings and the lower auxiliary fuel tank wall.

Corrective Action

    (g) If any resistance measurement done in accordance with 
paragraph (f)(2) of this AD is greater than 2.5 milliohms on either 
fuel pump housing: Before further flight, rework the electrical 
bonding between the fuel pump housings and the lower auxiliary fuel 
tank wall as needed to achieve a resistance measurement of 2.5 
milliohms or less on both fuel pump housings, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin MD11-28-127, 
dated September 19, 2006.

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) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin MD11-28-127, dated 
September 19, 2006, 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 this document 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 FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the 
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information 
on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or 
go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 21, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-10111 Filed 5-29-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P