[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 86 (Friday, May 2, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24155-24157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9439]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0015; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-328-AD;
Amendment 39-15498; AD 2008-09-17]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, DC-
10-10F, DC-10-15, and MD-10-10F Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, and MD-10-10F
airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for the presence of
stray nickel or chrome plating deposits on the air filler valve bore of
certain main landing gear (MLG) shock strut cylinders, and if
necessary, related investigative and corrective actions. Doing the
corrective action terminates the repetitive inspections. This AD
results from a report of a left MLG collapse during landing rollout. We
are issuing this AD to detect and correct stray nickel and chrome
plating deposits, corrosion, and cracking of the air filler valve bore
on the MLG cylinder, which could result in landing gear failure,
significant damage to the airplane, and injury to personnel.
DATES: This AD is effective June 6, 2008.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 6,
2008.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Long Beach Division, 3855 Lakewood
Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Data and Service
Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024).
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The address for the
Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is the Document Management
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30,
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maureen Moreland, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification
Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137;
telephone (562) 627-5238; fax (562) 627-5210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to
certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, and MD-
10-10F airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on
January 14, 2008 (73 FR 2206). That NPRM proposed to require repetitive
inspections for the presence of stray nickel or chrome plating deposits
on the air filler valve bore of certain main landing gear (MLG) shock
strut cylinders, and if necessary, related investigative and corrective
actions. Doing the corrective action would terminate the repetitive
inspections.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We considered the comment received from the commenter.
Support for the NPRM
The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), supports the
intent of the NPRM.
Request To Reduce the Compliance Time
ALPA requests that we reduce the 24-month compliance time for the
airplanes identified in paragraph (f)(2) of the NPRM. ALPA requests the
reduction in compliance time due to the stated severity of a landing
gear failure, the relatively short inspection times, and the low
estimated inspection costs.
We do not agree to reduce the compliance time specified in
paragraph (f)(2) of this AD. In developing the compliance time for this
AD action, we considered not only the safety implications of the
identified unsafe
[[Page 24156]]
condition, but the average utilization rate of the affected fleet, the
practical aspects of an orderly inspection of the fleet during regular
maintenance periods, and the availability of replacement parts. In
addition, we also considered the manufacturer's recommendation for an
appropriate compliance time. After considering all the available
information, we determined that the 24-month compliance time represents
an appropriate interval of time in which the required actions can be
performed in a timely manner within the affected fleet, while still
maintaining an adequate level of safety. However, if additional data
are presented that would justify a shorter compliance time, we might
consider further rulemaking on this issue. We have not changed this AD
in this regard.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the
AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 75 airplanes of U.S. registry. The
following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators to
comply with this AD.
Estimated Costs
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Number of
Work Average U.S.-
Action hours labor rate Cost per product registered Fleet cost
per hour airplanes
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Inspection..................... 4 $80 $320, per inspection cycle............... 75 $24,000, per inspection cycle.
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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
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.
You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of
compliance in the AD Docket.
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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
2008-09-17 McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-15498. Docket No. FAA-
2008-0015; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-328-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective June 6, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, DC-10-
10F, DC-10-15, and MD-10-10F airplanes, certificated in any
category; as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-
32A259, dated October 30, 2007.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report of a left main landing gear
(MLG) collapse during landing rollout. We are issuing this AD to
detect and correct stray nickel and chrome plating deposits,
corrosion, and cracking of the air filler valve bore on the MLG
cylinder, which could result in landing gear failure, significant
damage to the airplane, and injury to personnel.
Compliance
(e) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
Inspections and Corrective Actions
(f) At the applicable time specified in paragraph (f)(1),
(f)(2), or (f)(3) of this AD, do a video probe inspection for the
presence of stray nickel or chrome plating deposits on the air
filler valve bore of the MLG shock strut cylinders, and before
further flight, do all applicable related investigative and
corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-32A259, dated
October 30, 2007. Repeat the video probe inspection thereafter at
intervals not to exceed 2,400 flight cycles or 20 months, whichever
occurs first. Accomplishment of the repair specified in Part 2 of
the Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin or the
replacement specified in Part 3 of the Accomplishment Instructions
of the service bulletin terminates the repetitive inspections for
that MLG shock strut cylinder.
(1) For passenger airplanes: Within 24 months after the
effective date of this AD.
(2) For freighter airplanes with MLG cylinders that have
accumulated fewer than 7,200 flight cycles in a freighter
configuration as of the effective date of this AD: Within 24 months
after the effective date of this AD.
(3) For freighter airplanes with MLG cylinders that have
accumulated 7,200 flight cycles or more in a freighter configuration
as of the effective date of this AD: Within 6 months after the
effective date of this AD.
[[Page 24157]]
Parts Installation
(g) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a
MLG shock strut cylinder assembly, part number ARG7002-1, -501, -
503, or -505, on any airplane, unless the air filler valve bore hole
has been oversized and closing action has been accomplished in
accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-32A259, dated
October 30, 2007, and the MLG shock strut cylinder assembly has been
permanently identified with part number SB10320259-3 adjacent to the
existing ARG7002 part number.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), FAA, ATTN: Maureen Moreland, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe
Branch, ANM-120L, Los Angeles ACO, 3960 Paramount Boulevard,
Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5238; fax (562)
627-5210; has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if
requested using 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 Alert Service Bulletin DC10-32A259,
dated October 30, 2007, to do the actions required by this AD,
unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Long Beach Division, 3855 Lakewood
Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Data and Service
Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024).
(3) You may review copies of the service information
incorporated by reference 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 18, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-9439 Filed 5-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P