[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 140 (Monday, July 23, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40094-40096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14150]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-28748; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-115-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, DC-
10-10F, DC-10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-10), DC-10-40F, 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 McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-30F (KC-
10A and KDC-10), DC-10-40F, MD-10-10F, and MD-10-30F airplanes; and 
Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes. This proposed AD would require 
installation of control cable freeze protection by making certain 
changes. This proposed AD results from reports of standing water on the 
horizontal pressure panel above the main and center landing gear wheel 
wells. We are proposing this AD to prevent the accumulation of ice on 
the flight control cables in the wheel wells. When the landing gear 
doors open or vibration in this area occurs, such ice accumulation 
could break off and can cause injury to people or damage to property on 
the ground, can affect landing gear controls and rear spar flight 
control systems, can cause damage to other control systems, and might 
cause loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 6, 
2007.

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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the 
West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 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.

[[Page 40095]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Sujishi, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin 
Safety/Mechanical and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150L, FAA, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 
Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5353; 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-
28748; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-115-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 Operations office between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The 
Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is located on the 
ground level of the West 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 reports of standing water on the horizontal 
pressure panel above the main and center landing gear wheel wells. The 
water leaks into the wheel wells and freezes. The existing design of 
the horizontal pressure panel has inadequate protection from water and 
ice accumulation. This condition, if not corrected, could result in the 
accumulation of ice on the flight control cables in the wheel wells due 
to water entering the horizontal pressure panel above the wheel wells 
and freezing. When the landing gear doors open or vibration in this 
area occurs, such ice accumulation could break off and can cause injury 
to people or damage to property on the ground, can affect landing gear 
controls and rear spar flight control systems, can cause damage to 
other control systems, and might cause loss of control of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed the following service information:

                       Table--Service Information
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   Boeing Alert Service Bulletin--       For McDonnell Douglas model--
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DC10-27A237, dated January 9, 2007...  DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-30F
                                        (KC-10A and KDC-10), DC-10-40F,
                                        MD-10-10F, and MD-10-30F
                                        airplanes.
MD11-27A084, Revision 1, dated March   MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes.
 26, 2007.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The service information describes procedures for installation of 
control cable freeze protection by making certain changes. The changes 
include the following:

     Installing redesigned control cable pressure seals and 
grommets on the horizontal pressure panel.
     Installing a ``horseshoe dam'' and a strap on the 
horizontal pressure panel.
     Applying tape to the electrical cable feedthroughs on the 
horizontal pressure panel.
     Changing the seals on the access doors of the center 
passenger compartment floor/main deck cargo floor panel.

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.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 387 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 283 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. The proposed actions would take about 40 work hours per 
airplane, at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Required parts 
would cost about $5,896 or $6,073 per airplane depending on the 
airplane configuration. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of 
the proposed AD for U.S. operators is between $2,574,168 and 
$2,624,259, or $9,096 or $9,273 per airplane depending on the airplane 
configuration.

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 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

[[Page 40096]]

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-2007-28748; Directorate Identifier 
2007-NM-115-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by September 
6, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to airplanes identified in Table 1 of this 
AD, certificated in any category.

                         Table 1.--Applicability
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                                          As identified in Boeing Alert
       McDonnell Douglas model--                Service Bulletin--
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(1) DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-30F (KC-  DC10-27A237, dated January 9,
 10A and KDC-10), DC-10-40F, MD-10-10F,   2007.
 and MD-10-30F airplanes.
(2) MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes.........  MD11-27A084, Revision 1, dated
                                          March 26, 2007.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of standing water on the 
horizontal pressure panel above the main and center landing gear 
wheel wells. We are issuing this AD to prevent the accumulation of 
ice on the flight control cables in the wheel wells. When the 
landing gear doors open or vibration in this area occurs, such ice 
accumulation could break off and can cause injury to people or 
damage to property on the ground, can affect landing gear controls 
and rear spar flight control systems, can cause damage to other 
control systems, and might cause loss of control 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 Control Cable Freeze Protection

    (f) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, 
install control cable freeze protection by making the changes 
specified in and in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions 
of the applicable service bulletin identified in Table 1 of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g)(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) 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 15, 2007.
Stephen P. Boyd,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-14150 Filed 7-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P