Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 233 (Monday, December 4, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 75618-75620]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-30439]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-35-AD; Amendment 39-12021; AD 2000-24-14]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 series airplanes, 
that requires an inspection of the electrical wires routed above the 
door actuation cables for minimum .50-inch clearance with the door in 
the open and closed position, damage due to chafing or electrical 
arcing, or damaged door actuation cables; and corrective actions, if 
necessary. This action is necessary to prevent damaged electrical wires 
or damaged door actuation cables due to chafing by the cables during 
operation of the forward passenger door, which could result in 
electrical arcing and consequent smoke in the area above the forward 
passenger door. This action is intended to address the identified 
unsafe condition.

DATES: Effective January 8, 2001.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of January 8, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD 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). 
This information may be examined at the Federal Aviation Administration 
(FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, 
SW., Renton, Washington; or at the FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft 
Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California; 
or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, 
NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brett Portwood, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount 
Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5350; 
fax (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model 
MD-11 series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on July 
27, 2000 (65 FR 46216). That action proposed to require an inspection 
of the electrical wires routed above the door actuation cables for 
minimum .50-inch clearance with the door in the open and closed 
position, damage due to chafing or electrical arcing, or damaged door 
actuation cables; and corrective actions, if necessary.

Comments

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were submitted in response 
to the proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    The FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest 
require the adoption of the rule as proposed.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 187 Model MD-11 series airplanes of the 
affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 64 
airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will 
take approximately 2 work hours per airplane to accomplish the required 
inspection, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based 
on these figures, the cost impact of the inspection required by this AD 
on U.S. operators is estimated to be $7,680, or $120 per airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this AD 
action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the 
future if this AD were not adopted. The cost impact figures discussed 
in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to perform 
the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures 
typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time

[[Page 75619]]

required to gain access and close up, planning time, or time 
necessitated by other administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

    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 adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

2000-24-14 McDonnell Douglas:
    Amendment 39-12021. Docket 2000-NM-35-AD.

    Applicability: Model MD-11 series airplanes, as listed in 
McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD11-24A182, dated April 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 damaged electrical wires or damaged door actuation 
cables due to chafing by the cables during operation of the forward 
passenger door, which could result in electrical arcing and 
consequent smoke in the area above the forward passenger door, 
accomplish the following:

Inspection

    (a) Except as provided by paragarph (b) of this AD, within 6 
months after the effective date of this AD, perform a one-time 
general visual inspection of the electrical wires routed above the 
door actuation cables for minimum .50-inch clearance with the door 
in the open and closed position, damage due to chafing or electrical 
arcing, or damaged door actuation cables, in accordance with 
McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD11-24A182, dated April 3, 
2000.

    Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection 
is defined as ``A visual examination of an interior or exterior 
area, installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, 
or irregularity. This level of inspection is made under normally 
available lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, 
flashlight, or drop-light, and may require removal or opening of 
access panels or doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be 
required to gain proximity to the area being checked.''

Condition 1 (Minimum Clearance and No Chafed Electrical Wiring or 
Damaged Door Actuation Cables)

    (1) If minimum .50-inch clearance exists between the electrical 
wires and door actuation cables with the door in the open and closed 
positions, and if no chafed electrical wiring or damaged door 
actuation cable is detected, no further action is required by this 
AD.

Condition 2 (Less Than Minimum Clearance, No Chafed Electrical Wiring 
or Damaged Door Actuation Cables)

    (2) If less than .50-inch clearance exists between the 
electrical wires and door actuation cables with the door in the open 
and closed positions, and if no chafed electrical wiring or damaged 
door actuation cable is detected, before further flight, loosen wire 
clamps as necessary, reposition electrical wires to provide minimum 
clearance, and tighten wire clamps, in accordance with the service 
bulletin.

Condition 3 (Less Than Minimum Clearance, Chafed Electrical Wiring or 
Damaged Door Actuation Cables)

    (3) If less than .50-inch clearance exists between the 
electrical wires and door actuation cables with the door in the open 
and closed positions, and if any chafed electrical wiring or damaged 
door actuation cable is detected, before further flight, replace 
damaged electrical wires with new wires or repair damaged wires, 
loosen wire clamps as necessary, reposition electrical wires to 
provide minimum clearance, tighten wire clamps, and replace damaged 
door actuation cables with new cables, in accordance with the 
service bulletin.

Exception to Inspection Required in Paragraph (a) of This AD

    (b) For Model MD-11 series airplanes, the inspection required by 
paragraph (a) of this AD is only applicable to functioning doors. 
For Model MD-11F series airplanes or Model MD-11 series airplanes 
converted to a freighter configuration, equipped with one or more 
disabled non-functioning doors that do not have door acuating 
cables, the inspection is NOT required for those disabled doors.

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.

Special Flight Permit

    (d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

Incorporation by Reference

    (e) The actions shall be done in accordance with McDonnell 
Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD11-24A182, dated April 3, 2000. 
This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the 
Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 
51. 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 Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 
Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California; or at the Office of the 
Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, 
Washington, DC.

Effective Date

    (f) This amendment becomes effective on January 8, 2001.


[[Page 75620]]


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 22, 2000.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-30439 Filed 12-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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