Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-11F Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 9, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64846-64847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-24623]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-18572; Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-72-AD; 
Amendment 39-13848; AD 2004-22-20]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-
11F Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes. This AD 
requires replacement of low base terminal boards, related investigative 
action, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD is prompted by 
arcing between a power feeder cable and terminal board support bracket. 
We are issuing this AD to prevent arcing damage to the power feeder 
cables, terminal boards, and adjacent structure, which could result in 
smoke and/or fire in the cabin.

DATES: This AD becomes effective December 14, 2004.
    The incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in 
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of 
December 14, 2004.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Long Beach Division, 3855 Lakewood 
Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Data and Service 
Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024). You can examine this information 
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 
741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    Docket: The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any 
final disposition. You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical information: Brett Portwood, 
Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 
Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5350; fax (562) 
627-5210. Plain language information: Marcia Walters, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with an AD for certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-11F 
airplanes. That action, published in the Federal Register on July 13, 
2004 (69 FR 41992), proposed to require replacement of low base 
terminal boards, related investigative action, and corrective actions 
if necessary.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. No comments have been submitted on the proposed 
AD or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 152 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This AD will affect about 52 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. 
operators to comply with this AD.

                                                                     Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                    Cost per airplane
                                                                               Average labor rate  per                              (depending on  the
  Airplanes identified in the service bulletin as--          Work hours                  hour                  Parts cost                airplane
                                                                                                                                      configuration)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group 1.............................................                        3                      $65                 $45-$384                $240-$579
Groups 2 and 5......................................                        1                       65                   45-384                  110-449
Groups 3, 4, and 6..................................                        2                       65                   45-384                  175-514
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD. See the ADDRESSES section for

[[Page 64847]]

a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2004-22-20 McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-13848. Docket No. FAA-
2004-18572; Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-72-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective December 14, 2004.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-11F 
airplanes, as listed in McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin 
MD11-24A175, Revision 01, dated April 25, 2003; certificated in any 
category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by arcing between a power feeder cable 
and terminal board support bracket. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent arcing damage to the power feeder cables, terminal boards, 
and adjacent structure, which could result in smoke and/or fire in 
the cabin.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Service Bulletin References

    (f) The term ``service bulletin,'' as used in this AD, means the 
Accomplishment Instructions of McDonnell Douglas Alert Service 
Bulletin MD11-24A175, Revision 01, dated April 25, 2003, including 
Boeing Information Notices MD11-24A175 IN 01, dated November 6, 
2003, and MD11-24A175 IN 02, dated December 17, 2003.

Replacement, Related Investigative Action, and Corrective Actions

    (g) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, 
replace low base terminal boards with higher base terminal boards in 
accordance with the applicable figure in the service bulletin, and 
do all related investigative action/applicable corrective actions by 
accomplishing all the actions in the service bulletin, except as 
provided by paragraph (h) of this AD. Any related investigative 
action/applicable corrective actions must be done before further 
flight.
    (h) If, during the corrective actions required by paragraph (g) 
of this AD, the type of structural material that has been damaged is 
not covered in the structural repair manual, before further flight, 
repair in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA.

Parts Installation

    (i) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
terminal board, as listed in section 1.A.2. ``Spares Affected'' of 
the Planning Information of the service bulletin, on any airplane.

No Reporting

    (j) Although the service bulletin referenced in this AD 
specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD 
does not include that requirement.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (k) The Manager, Los Angeles ACO, FAA, has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found 
in 14 CFR 39.19.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (l) You must use McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD11-
24A175, Revision 01, dated April 25, 2003, including Boeing 
Information Notice MD11-24A175 IN 01, dated November 6, 2003, and 
Boeing Information Notice MD11-24A175 IN 02, dated December 17, 
2003, to perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless 
the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register 
approves the incorporation by reference of these documents in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For copies of the 
service information, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Long Beach 
Division, 3855 Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, 
Attention: Data and Service Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024). 
For information on the availability of this material at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA), call (202) 741-6030, or 
go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. You may view the AD docket at the 
Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 
Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 25, 2004.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-24623 Filed 11-8-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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