Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-10), DC-10-40, DC-10-40F, MD-10-10F, MD-10-30F, MD-11, and MD-11F Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 139 (Thursday, July 21, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41944-41946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14088]


=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20882; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-241-AD; 
Amendment 39-14192; AD 2005-15-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, DC-
10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-10), DC-10-40, 
DC-10-40F, MD-10-10F, MD-10-30F, MD-11, and MD-11F Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain McDonnell Douglas airplanes identified above. This AD requires 
repetitive functional tests for noisy or improper operation of the 
exterior emergency control handle assemblies of the mid, overwing, and 
aft passenger doors, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also 
provides for optional terminating action for the repetitive tests. This 
AD is prompted by a report that the exterior emergency control 
mechanism handles were inoperative on a McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 
airplane. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the passenger 
doors to operate properly in an emergency condition, which could delay 
an emergency evacuation and possibly result in injury to passengers and 
flightcrew.

DATES: Effective August 25, 2005.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of August 25, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
    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 service information 
identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Sujishi, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin 
Safety/Mechanical and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150L, FAA, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 
Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5353; fax (562) 
627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Examining the Docket

    You may 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 street address stated in the 
ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to McDonnell Douglas 
Model DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F (KC-10A and 
KDC-10), DC-10-40, DC-10-40F, MD-10-10F, MD-10-30F, MD-11, and MD-11F 
airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 7, 
2005 (70 FR 17618). That NPRM proposed to require repetitive functional 
tests for noisy or improper operation of the exterior emergency control 
handle assemblies of the mid, overwing, and aft passenger doors, and 
corrective actions if necessary. That NPRM also proposed to provide for 
optional terminating action for the repetitive tests.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the 
determination of the cost to the public.

[[Page 41945]]

Changes to This AD

    We have changed the manufacturer name on the service bulletin 
citations in this AD from McDonnell Douglas to Boeing to reflect 
current guidelines established by the Office of the Federal Register 
for material incorporated by reference.
    We have revised paragraph (f) of the final rule to include airplane 
model information for each of the service bulletins that was 
inadvertently left out of paragraph (f) of the proposed AD. It is 
necessary to identify which service bulletin affects which airplanes to 
eliminate any possible confusion.
    We have made certain editorial changes to the proposed AD. These 
changes are minor in nature and do not have any effect on the technical 
content or proposed cost to the public of the final rule.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed, 
except as discussed under ``Changes to this AD.''

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 633 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This AD will affect about 218 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The following table provides the estimated costs, at an 
average labor rate of $65 per work hour, for U.S. operators to comply 
with this AD.

                                           Test and Modification Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                  Work hours   Parts cost     Cost per airplane            Fleet cost
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Functional test.....................            1          N/A  $65 per test cycle.....  $14,170, per test
                                                                                          cycle.
Replace bearings....................            6         $825  $1,215 per door, if      N/A.
                                                                 required.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
subtitle VII, part A, subpart III, section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

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 and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES 
section for 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2005-15-03 McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-14192. Docket No. FAA-
2005-20882; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-241-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective August 25, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.
    Applicability: (c) This AD applies to the airplanes identified 
in Table 1 of this AD; certificated in any category.

                         Table 1.--Applicability
------------------------------------------------------------------------
   McDonnell Douglas Airplane model--           As identified in--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30,  Boeing Service Bulletin DC10-
 DC-10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-10), DC-10-     52-219, Revision 1, dated
 40, DC-10-40F, MD-10-10F, and MD-10-30F   September 3, 2004.
 airplanes.
MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes..............  Boeing Service Bulletin MD11-
                                           52-044, Revision 1, dated
                                           September 3, 2004.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report indicating that the 
exterior emergency control mechanism handles of the mid, overwing 
and aft passenger doors were inoperative on a McDonnell Douglas 
Model MD-11 airplane. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of 
the passenger doors to operate properly in an emergency condition, 
which could delay an emergency evacuation and possibly result in 
injury to passengers and flightcrew.
    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.

[[Page 41946]]

Service Bulletin Reference

    (f) The term ``service bulletin,'' as used in this AD, means the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin MD11-52-044, 
Revision 1 (for Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes), and Service 
Bulletin DC10-52-219, Revision 1 (for Model DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-
10-15, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-10), DC-10-40, DC-10-40F, 
MD-10-10F, and MD-10-30F airplanes); both dated September 3, 2004; 
as applicable.

Functional Test

    (g) Within 6,000 flight hours or 18 months after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs later, perform a functional test 
of the exterior emergency control handle assemblies of the mid, 
overwing, and aft passenger doors; by doing all actions specified in 
the applicable service bulletin, except as provided by paragraph (i) 
of this AD.
    (1) If the functional test reveals no noisy operation or 
binding: Repeat the functional test at intervals not to exceed 6,000 
flight hours or 18 months, whichever occurs later, until the 
terminating action of paragraph (h) of this AD has been 
accomplished.
    (2) If any functional test required by this AD reveals noisy 
operation or binding: Prior to further flight, replace the steel 
bearings with bearings made from corrosion-resistant material, in 
accordance with the applicable service bulletin.

Optional Terminating Action

    (h) Accomplishment of the actions required by paragraph (g)(2) 
of this AD constitutes terminating action for the repetitive tests 
required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD only for the modified doors.

Inoperable Doors

    (i) Any mid, overwing, or aft passenger door that has been 
fastened shut and rendered inoperable according to an approved 
airplane freighter configuration is not subject to the requirements 
of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (j) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 
requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin DC10-52-219, Revision 
1, dated September 3, 2004; or Boeing Service Bulletin MD11-52-044, 
Revision 1, dated September 3, 2004; as applicable, to perform the 
actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies 
otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of these documents in accordance with 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 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 copies of this service information. You may 
review copies at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Room PL-401, Nassif 
Building, Washington, DC; on the internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or 
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material at the NARA, call 
(202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 8, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-14088 Filed 7-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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