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

[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 195 (Friday, October 6, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59707-59708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25149]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-NM-329-AD; Amendment 39-11915; AD 2000-20-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; correction.

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SUMMARY: This document supersedes an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD) that applies to certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-90-30 series 
airplanes. That AD currently requires replacement of certain ground 
block screws with new screws; and retermination of the circuit ground 
wires of the electrical power control unit (EPCU) to separate grounding 
points. The actions specified in that AD are intended to prevent a 
loose electrical ground block of the circuit ground wires of the EPCU, 
which could result in complete loss of the primary electrical power of 
an airplane during flight. This amendment is prompted by the Federal 
Aviation Administration's determination that the existing AD must be 
revised to ensure that the requirements apply to the appropriate 
airplane groups.

DATES: Effective November 13, 2000.
    The incorporation by reference of McDonnell Douglas Service 
Bulletin MD90-24-062, dated February 3, 2000, as listed in the 
regulations, is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of 
November 13, 2000.
    The incorporation by reference of McDonnell Douglas Alert Service 
Bulletin MD90-24A060, Revision 01, dated September 2, 1999, as listed 
in the regulations, was approved previously by the Director of the 
Federal Register as of September 19, 2000 (65 FR 49728, August 15, 
2000).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Mabuni, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft 
Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 
90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5341; fax (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 3, 2000, the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA) issued AD 2000-16-01, amendment 39-11855 (65 FR 
49728, August 15, 2000), which applies to certain McDonnell Douglas 
Model MD-90-30 series airplanes. That AD requires replacement of 
certain ground block screws with new screws; and retermination of the 
circuit ground wires of the electrical power control unit (EPCU) to 
separate grounding points. That AD was prompted by reports of complete 
loss of the primary electrical power on an airplane during flight. The 
actions required by that AD are intended to prevent a loose electrical 
ground block of the circuit ground wires of the EPCU, which could 
result in complete loss of the primary electrical power of an airplane 
during flight.

Need for the Correction

    In the preamble of AD 2000-16-01, the FAA indicated that a 
supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) was published in the 
Federal Register on June 12, 2000 (65 FR 36799). After careful review 
of the available data, including the comments received from the public, 
the FAA determined that air safety and the public interest required the 
adoption of the rule as proposed in the supplemental NPRM. However, the 
FAA inadvertently included the requirements from the original NPRM (64 
FR 68302, December 7, 1999) in the final rule, rather than the 
requirements specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of the supplemental 
NPRM. The effect of this error is that operators of certain airplanes 
are not required to accomplish actions that apply to those airplanes,

[[Page 59708]]

and that certain actions are to be accomplished in accordance with a 
method approved by the FAA, rather than a specific service bulletin. 
Therefore, consistent with the FAA's intent in the supplemental NPRM, 
this correction is necessary to require operators of specific airplanes 
to replace certain ground block screws with new screws and to 
reterminate the circuit ground wires of the EPCU to separate grounding 
points.
    These actions shall be done in accordance with McDonnell Douglas 
Alert Service Bulletin MD90-24A060, Revision 01, dated September 2, 
1999; and McDonnell Douglas Service Bulletin MD90-24-062, dated 
February 3, 2000; as applicable. The FAA inadventently omitted 
McDonnell Douglas Service Bulletin MD90-24-062 from the incorporation 
by reference paragraph and is incorporating by reference that service 
bulletin in this final rule.

Correction of Publication

    Action is taken herein to correct these inadvertent errors in AD 
2000-16-01 and to correctly add this AD as an amendment to section 
39.13 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 39.13). The AD is 
reprinted in its entirety for the convenience of affected operators.
    Since this action only corrects current requirements, it has no 
adverse economic impact and imposes no additional burden on any person. 
Therefore, the FAA has determined that notice and public procedures are 
unnecessary.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Correction

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by removing amendment 39-11855 (65 FR 
49728, August 15, 2000), and by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD), amendment 39-, to read as follows:

    2000-20-04  McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-11915. Docket 99-NM-
329-AD. Supersedes AD 2000-16-01, Amendment 39-11855.

    Applicability: Model MD-90-30 series airplanes, as listed in 
McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD90-24A060, Revision 01, 
dated September 2, 1999, and McDonnell Douglas Service Bulletin 
MD90-24-062, dated February 3, 2000; certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent a loose electrical ground block of the circuit ground 
wires of the electrical power control unit (EPCU), accomplish the 
following:

Replacement

    (a) For airplanes listed in McDonnell Douglas Alert Service 
Bulletin MD90-24A060, Revision 01, dated September 2, 1999: Within 
30 days after the effective of this AD, replace the electrical 
ground block screws with new screws in accordance with McDonnell 
Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD90-24A060, Revision 01, dated 
September 2, 1999.

    Note 2: Accomplishment of the replacement of electrical ground 
block screws prior to the effective date of this AD in accordance 
with McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD90-24A060, dated 
July 28, 1999, is acceptable for compliance with the requirements of 
paragraph (a) of this AD.

Modification of the Electrical Power Control Unit

    (b) For airplanes listed in McDonnell Douglas Service Bulletin 
MD90-24-062, dated February 3, 2000: Within 12 months after the 
effective date of this AD, reterminate the circuit ground wires of 
the EPCU to separate grounding points to ensure that a single point 
failure does not occur, in accordance with McDonnell Douglas Service 
Bulletin MD90-24-062, dated February 3, 2000.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office (ACO), FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through an 
appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add 
comments and then send it to the Manager, Los Angeles ACO.

    Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Los Angeles ACO.

Incorporation by Reference

    (d) The actions shall be done in accordance with McDonnell 
Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD90-24A060, Revision 01, dated 
September 2, 1999; and McDonnell Douglas Service Bulletin MD90-24-
062, dated February 3, 2000; as applicable.
    (1) The incorporation by reference of McDonnell Douglas Service 
Bulletin MD90-24-062, dated February 3, 2000, is approved by the 
Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) 
and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) The incorporation by reference of McDonnell Douglas Alert 
Service Bulletin MD90-24A060, Revision 01, dated September 2, 1999, 
was approved previously by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of September 19, 2000 (65 FR 49728, August 15, 2000).
    (3) Copies may be obtained from Boeing Commercial Aircraft 
Group, Long Beach Division, 3855 Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, 
California 90846, Attention: Technical Publications Business 
Administration, Dept. C1-L51 (2-60). Copies may be inspected at the 
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington; or at the FAA, Los Angeles ACO, 3960 Paramount 
Boulevard, Lakewood, California; or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

Effective Date

    (e) This amendment becomes effective on November 13, 2000.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 26, 2000.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-25149 Filed 10-5-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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