Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 22, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44034-44035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-20939]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-193-AD; Amendment 39-12403; AD 2001-17-12]
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 supersedes an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD), applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 series 
airplanes, that currently requires replacement of the air driven 
generator (ADG) wire assembly with a new, increased length wire 
assembly. This amendment requires, among other actions, replacement of 
the existing ADG wire assembly in the right air conditioning 
compartment with a certain new wire assembly. This amendment is 
prompted by an investigation that revealed the length of the new wire 
assembly is too long and causes the assembly to chafe against the left 
emergency alternating current bus of the ADG. The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to prevent loss of the charging capability of the 
airplane battery due to chafing. Loss of the charging capability of the 
airplane battery, coupled with a loss of all normal electrical power, 
could prevent continued safe flight and landing of the airplane.

DATES: Effective September 26, 2001.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of September 26, 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: Data 
and Service Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024). 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, 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) by superseding AD 2000-03-12, 
amendment 39-11571 (65 FR 8030, February 17, 2000), which is applicable 
to certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 series airplanes, was 
published in the Federal Register on February 20, 2001 (66 FR 10842). 
The action proposed to require, among other actions, replacement of the 
existing air driven generator (ADG) wire assembly in the right air 
conditioning compartment with a certain new wire assembly. The action 
also proposed to expand the applicability of the existing AD to include 
additional airplanes.

Comments Received

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the comments received.

Address Change for Obtaining Service Information

    The airplane manufacturer states that the referenced department 
name, number, and mail code of the address for obtaining service 
information are incorrect in the proposed AD. The correct address is 
Boeing Commercial Aircraft Group, Long Beach Division, 3855 Lakewood 
Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Data and Service 
Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024). The airplane manufacturer 
requests that the proposed AD be revised accordingly. The FAA agrees 
and has revised this address in the final rule.

Delay Issuance of Final Rule

    One commenter requests that the FAA verify that the proposed 
replacements can be accomplished with the desired result before issuing 
the final rule. The commenter states that the proposed AD cannot be 
complied with as written due to a non-existent screw, part number
(P/N) 3D0005-8-9, specified in Boeing Service Bulletin MD11-24-128, 
Revision 02, dated October 31, 2000, which is referenced in the 
proposed AD as the appropriate source of service information for 
accomplishing the proposed replacements. The commenter also states that 
Figure 1 (Sheet 4 of 5), view B-B of the service bulletin indicates a 
screw having P/N NAS1096-2-9, which is not mentioned in the Materials 
information of the service bulletin. The commenter asks whether this 
screw is supposed to be listed in the Materials information instead of 
screw, P/N 3D-0005-8-9 (or -08-9).
    The FAA partially agrees. To delay this action until the required 
actions can be performed on an airplane would be inappropriate, since 
we have determined that an unsafe condition exists and that replacement 
must be accomplished to ensure continued safety. However, since 
issuance of the NPRM, we have reviewed and approved Revision 03 of 
Boeing Service Bulletin MD11-24-128, dated May 17, 2001. The only 
relevant change is that the revised service bulletin corrects the screw 
P/N to NAS1096-2-9 in the Material information and removes the non-
existent screw, P/N 3D0005-8-9. No more work is necessary on airplanes 
changed as shown in Revision 02 of the service bulletin. Therefore, we 
have revised the final rule to reference Revision 03 of the service 
bulletin as the appropriate source of service information, and added a 
new note to give operators credit for accomplishment of Revision 02 of 
the service bulletin before the effective date of this AD.

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 changes previously 
described. The FAA has determined that these changes will neither 
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of 
the AD.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 191 Model MD-11 series airplanes of the 
affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 60 
airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD.
    The new actions that are required in this AD action will take 
approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish, at an average 
labor rate of $60 per work hour. Required parts will cost approximately 
$810 per airplane. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the 
requirements of this AD on U.S.

[[Page 44035]]

operators is estimated to be $52,200, or $870 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 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 removing amendment 39-11571 (65 FR 
8030, February 17, 2000), and by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD), amendment 39-12403, to read as follows:

2001-17-12  McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-12403. Docket 2000-NM-
193-AD. Supersedes AD 2000-03-12, Amendment 39-11571.

    Applicability: Model MD-11 series airplanes, as listed in Boeing 
Service Bulletin MD11-24-128, Revision 03, dated May 17, 2001; 
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 (b) 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 loss of the charging capability of the air driven 
generator (ADG), that when coupled with a loss of all normal 
electrical power, could prevent continued safe flight and landing of 
the airplane, accomplish the following:

Replacement

    (a) Within 1 year after the effective date of this AD, do the 
actions specified in paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(3) of this 
AD per Boeing Service Bulletin MD11-24-128, Revision 03, dated May 
17, 2001.
    (1) Replace the ADG wire assembly, part number (P/N) ACS9006-501 
and/or ACS9006-502, located on the transformer panel at station 
Y=568.333 in the right air conditioning compartment with a new wire 
assembly, P/N SR11240033-101.

    Note 2: The referenced service bulletin incorrectly lists the 
new wire assembly as having P/N SR1124033-101 in paragraph 3.A.4. of 
the Accomplishment Instructions. The correct P/N is SR11240033-101, 
as indicated in paragraph (a)(1) of this AD.

    (2) Replace the associated clamps and screws of the ADG wire 
assembly with new clamps and screws.
    (3) Torque tighten terminal hardware to the limits specified in 
the service bulletin.

    Note 3: Accomplishment of the actions specified in Boeing 
Service Bulletin MD11-24-128, Revision 02, dated October 31, 2000, 
before the effective date of this AD, is considered acceptable for 
compliance with the requirements of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (b) 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 4: 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

    (c) 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

    (d) The actions shall be done in accordance with Boeing Service 
Bulletin MD11-24-128, Revision 03, dated May 17, 2001. 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: Data and Service Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-
0024). Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the 
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

    (e) This amendment becomes effective on September 26, 2001.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 14, 2001.
Vi L. Lipski,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-20939 Filed 8-21-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U

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