Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 33 (Thursday, February 17, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8024-8025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3614]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-NM-174-AD; Amendment 39-11575; AD 2000-03-16]
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 a one-time visual inspection of the 90 percent brake 
pedal position switch to determine if certain date codes are present; 
and corrective action, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by 
reports indicating that the threaded insert connectors pulled free from 
the casing of the 90 percent brake pedal position switch, which allowed 
the insert connector contact to burn through the nose wheel steering 
cable. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the 
threaded insert connector from pulling free from the casing of the 90 
percent brake pedal position switch and burning through the nose wheel 
steering cable, which could result in reduced aircraft directional 
control while on the ground.

DATES: Effective March 23, 2000.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of March 23, 2000.

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, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
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 October 
27, 1999 (64 FR 57816). That action proposed to require a one-time 
visual inspection of the 90 percent brake pedal position switch to 
determine if certain date codes are present; and corrective action, if 
necessary.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the comments received.

Support for the Proposal

    One comment supports the proposed rule.

Request for Credit for Accomplishing Original Issue of Service 
Bulletin

    The Air Transport Association (ATA) of America, on behalf of one of 
its members, requests that operators be given credit for prior 
accomplishment of McDonnell Douglas Service Bulletin MD11-24-71, dated 
June 29, 1994. (Revision 01 of that service bulletin was cited in the 
proposed rule as the appropriate source of service information for 
accomplishment of the required actions.)
    The FAA concurs. Operators of airplanes on which the original issue 
of the service bulletin has been accomplished are given credit by a 
phrase that appears in paragraph (a) of the AD, as follows: ``For 
airplanes on which McDonnell Douglas Service Bulletin MD11-24-71, dated 
June 29, 1994, has not been accomplished.'' The effect of that phrase 
is to exclude airplanes on which the original issue of the service 
bulletin has been accomplished from the requirements of that paragraph, 
which contains the action required by this AD. No change to the final 
rule is necessary.

Correction of Typographical Error

    The FAA has revised paragraph (a)(1) of this AD to correct a 
typographical error that appeared in the proposed rule. The word 
``not,'' which was inadvertently included in that paragraph, has been 
removed from the final rule.

Conclusion

    After careful review of the available data, including the comments 
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public 
interest require the adoption of the rule with the change previously 
described. The FAA has determined that this change will neither 
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of 
the AD.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 91 Model MD-11 series airplanes of the 
affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 33 
airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will 
take approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the required 
actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on 
these figures, the cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated 
to be $1,980, or $60 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.

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

[[Page 8025]]

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:

2000-03-16  McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-11575. Docket 99-NM-174-
AD.

    Applicability: Model MD-11 series airplanes, as listed in 
McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD11-24A071, Revision 01, 
dated May 20, 1999; 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 the threaded insert connector from pulling free from 
the casing of the 90 percent brake pedal position switch and burning 
through the nose wheel steering cable, which could result in reduced 
aircraft directional control while on the ground, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) For airplanes on which McDonnell Douglas Service Bulletin 
MD11-24-71, dated June 29, 1994, has not been accomplished: Within 
12 months after the effective date of this AD, perform a one-time 
visual inspection of the 90 percent brake pedal position switch to 
determine the manufacturer's date code, in accordance with McDonnell 
Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD11-24A071, Revision 01, dated May 
20, 1999.
    (1) If no manufacturer's date code 8944 through 9033 inclusive 
is found on the 90 percent brake pedal position switch, no further 
action is required by this AD.
    (2) If any manufacturer's date code 8944 through 9033 inclusive 
is found on the 90 percent brake pedal position switch, prior to 
further flight, replace the 90 percent brake pedal position switch 
with a new switch, in accordance with the service bulletin.
    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install 
a 90 percent brake pedal switch that has a manufacturer's date code 
of 8944 through 9033 inclusive, on any airplane.

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, Transport Airplane Directorate. 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 2: 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 Permits

    (d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Secs. 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 MD11-24A071, Revision 01, dated May 
20, 1999. 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, Transport Airplane Directorate, 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.
    (f) This amendment becomes effective on March 23, 2000.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 10, 2000.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-3614 Filed 2-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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