[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 214 (Friday, November 5, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68245-68246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28080]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-1043; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-200-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Corporation Model MD-
90-30 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
McDonnell Douglas Model MD-90-30 airplanes. This proposed AD would 
require installing new fire handle shutoff system wiring. This proposed 
AD was prompted by a possible latent failure in the fire handle shutoff 
relay circuit due to a lack of separation between engine wires. We are 
proposing this AD to minimize the possibility of a multiple engine 
shutdown due to single fire handle activation.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 20, 
2010.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     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.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
3855 Lakewood Boulevard, MC D800-0019, Long Beach, California 90846-
0001; telephone 206-544-5000, extension 2; fax 206-766-5683; e-mail 
[email protected]; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may 
review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 425-227-1221.

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 proposed AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES 
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William S. Bond, Aerospace Engineer, 
Los Angeles ACO--Propulsion Branch, ANM-140L, FAA Los Angeles Aircraft 
Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; 
telephone: (562) 627-5253; fax: (562) 627-5210; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-1043; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-200-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    We have received a report from Boeing identifying a potential 
unsafe condition. The engine fire shutoff handles on the MD-90 
airplanes are designed to shutoff fuel at both the wing spar's 
mechanical fuel fire shutoff valve and the electrical solenoid 
controlled engine fuel shutoff valve in the engine Hydromechanical Unit 
(HMU). Due to the lack of separation between engine wires, a latent 
failure in the fire handle fuel shutoff relay circuit has the potential 
of causing a dual engine shutdown in the event any single engine fuel 
fire shutoff handle is activated. Separating the fire handle shutoff 
system wiring will minimize the possibility of multiple engine shutdown 
due to a single event. This condition, if not corrected, has the 
potential of causing a dual engine shutdown in the event of any single 
engine fuel fire shutoff handle activation.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90-74A002, dated August 
17, 2010. The service information describes procedures for installing 
new fire handle shutoff system wiring.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 25 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                  Cost on U.S.
              Action                    Labor cost           Parts cost      Cost per product      operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wiring change....................  8 work-hour x $85                 $489             $1,169            $29,225
                                    per hour = $680.
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[[Page 68246]]

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 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 this 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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, 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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

McDonnell Douglas Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2010-1043; Directorate 
Identifier 2010-NM-200-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by December 20, 2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all McDonnell Douglas Corporation Model 
MD-90-30 airplanes, certificated in any category.

Subject

    (d) Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport 
Association (ATA) of America Code 74: Ignition system.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD was prompted by a possible latent failure in the 
fire handle shutoff relay circuit due to a lack of separation 
between engine wires. We are proposing this AD to minimize the 
possibility of a multiple engine shutdown due to single fire handle 
activation.

Compliance

    (f) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

Wire Installation

    (g) Within 4,200 flight hours after the effective date of this 
AD, install new fire handle shutoff system wiring, in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin MD90-74A002, dated August 17, 2010.

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 
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local 
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending 
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in the Related Information 
section of this AD.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your Principal 
Maintenance Inspector or Principal Avionics Inspector, as 
appropriate, or lacking a principal inspector, your local Flight 
Standards District Office.

Related Information

    (i) For more information about this AD, contact William S. Bond, 
Aerospace Engineer, Los Angeles ACO--Airframe Branch, ANM-140L, FAA 
Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Blvd, 
Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; telephone: (562) 627-5253; fax: (562) 627-
5210; e-mail: [email protected].
    (j) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
3855 Lakewood Boulevard, MC D800-0019, Long Beach, California 90846-
0001; telephone 206-544-5000, extension 2; fax 206-766-5683; e-mail 
[email protected]; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You 
may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington. For information on the availability of this material at 
the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 21, 2010.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-28080 Filed 11-4-10; 8:45 am]
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