[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 11, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40828-40830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16963]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0680; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-247-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company 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 
certain The Boeing Company Model DC-10-10 and MD-10-10F airplanes. This 
proposed AD was prompted by a report that the safe life limit on 
certain main landing gear (MLG) upper torque link bolts is reduced 
significantly due to incorrect fabrication. This proposed AD would 
require replacing certain MLG upper torque link bolts with a new or 
serviceable part. We are proposing this AD to prevent damage to the MLG 
and consequent damage to airplane structure, which could adversely 
affect the airplane's continued safe flight and landing.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 27, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, 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, CA 90846-0001; 
telephone 206-544-5000, extension 2; fax 206-766-5683; 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, WA. 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: Nenita Odesa, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: (562) 
627-5234; fax: (562) 627-5210; email: [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-2012-0680; 
Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-247-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 that the safe life limit on certain MLG 
upper torque link bolts is reduced significantly due to incorrect 
fabrication. This condition, if not corrected, could result in damage 
to the MLG and consequent damage to airplane structure, which could 
adversely affect the airplane's continued safe flight and landing.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-32A260, dated 
September 30, 2011. The service information describes procedures for 
replacing certain MLG upper torque link bolts with a new or serviceable 
part.

Explanation of Proposed Compliance Time

    Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-32A260, dated September 30, 
2011, specifies a compliance time of ``before further flight or before 
6,590 flight cycles from installation,'' for replacing the MLG upper 
torque link bolt. This proposed AD would change the compliance time to 
``within 6,590 flight cycles from bolt installation or within 180 days 
after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later.'' We have 
determined that this compliance time would provide adequate time for 
the actions to be done without grounding airplanes.

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.

[[Page 40829]]

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 affects 17 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
              Action                        Labor cost            Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bolt Replacement..................  2 work-hours x $85 per             $9,340           $9,510         $161,670
                                     hour = $170.
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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

    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):

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2012-0680; Directorate Identifier 
2011-NM-247-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by August 27, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model DC-10-10 and MD-10-
10F airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin DC10-32A260, dated September 30, 2011.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 32, Landing Gear.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted a report that the safe life limit on 
certain main landing gear (MLG) upper torque link bolts is reduced 
significantly due to incorrect fabrication. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent damage to the MLG and consequent damage to airplane 
structure, which could adversely affect the airplane's continued 
safe flight and landing.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Modification

    For airplanes having any bolts identified in paragraph 3.B.1. of 
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 
DC10-32A260, dated September 30, 2011: Within 6,590 flight cycles 
from bolt installation or within 180 days after the effective date 
of this AD, whichever occurs later: Replace the MLG upper torque 
link bolt with a new or serviceable bolt, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-
32A260, dated September 30, 2011.

(h) Parts Installation

    As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
bolt identified in paragraph 3.B.1. of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-32A260, dated 
September 30, 2011, on any airplane.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Los Angeles Airplane Certification Office 
(ACO), ANM-120L, 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 appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.
    (3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used for any repair required by this AD if it is approved by The 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization Designation Authorization 
(ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, Los Angeles ACO, to 
make those findings. For a repair method to be approved, the repair 
must meet the certification basis of the airplane, and 14 CFR 
25.571, Amendment 45, and the approval must specifically refer to 
this AD.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Nenita Odesa, 
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120L, FAA, Los Angeles 
Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, 
CA 90712-4137; phone: (562) 627-5234; fax: (562) 627-5210; email: 
[email protected].

[[Page 40830]]

    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
3855 Lakewood Boulevard, MC D800-0019, Long Beach, CA 90846-0001; 
telephone 206-544-5000, extension 2; fax 206-766-5683; email 
[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, WA. 
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 425-227-1221.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 5, 2012.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-16963 Filed 7-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P