Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-11F Airplanes Equipped With Pratt & Whitney PW4000 Series Engines

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 19 (Monday, January 31, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4758-4759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1516]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19449; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-07-AD; 
Amendment 39-13951; AD 2005-02-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-
11F Airplanes Equipped With Pratt & Whitney PW4000 Series Engines

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 equipped 
with Pratt & Whitney PW4000 series engines. This AD requires, for each 
engine, replacing, with a tube assembly, the existing hose assembly 
that connects the oil pressure transmitter to the main oil circuit. 
This AD is prompted by a report indicating that, for each engine, the 
existing hose assembly does not meet zero-flow fireproof capability 
requirements. We are issuing this AD to prevent, if there is an engine 
fire, failure of the oil pressure indicator and the low-oil pressure 
warning, which could result in an unannounced shutdown of that engine; 
and oil leakage, which may feed the engine fire.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 7, 2005.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of March 
7, 2005.

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 U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL-401, 
Washington, DC. This docket number is FAA-2004-19449; the directorate 
identifier for this docket is 2004-NM-07-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Samuel Lee, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137; 
telephone (562) 627-5262; fax (562) 627-5210.

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 equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW4000 series engines. That 
action, published in the Federal Register on October 27, 2004 (69 FR 
62629), proposed to require, for each engine, replacing, with a tube 
assembly, the existing hose assembly that connects the oil pressure 
transmitter to the main oil circuit.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comments that have been 
submitted on the proposed AD. The commenters support the proposed AD.

Conclusion

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

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 76 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for 
U.S. operators to comply with this AD.

[[Page 4759]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                        Number of
                                        Work       Average                Cost per        U.S.-
               Action                   hours    labor rate     Parts     airplane     registered    Fleet cost
                                                  per hour                              airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement.........................        2           $65        No          $130            34        $4,420
                                                               charge
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

2005-02-06 McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-13951. Docket No. FAA-
2004-19449; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-07-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective March 7, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-11F 
airplanes, as listed in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11-79A008, 
dated December 11, 2001; certificated in any category; equipped with 
Pratt & Whitney PW4000 series engines.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report indicating that, for each 
engine, the existing hose assembly that connects the oil pressure 
transmitter to the main oil circuit does not meet zero-flow 
fireproof capability requirements. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent, if there is an engine fire, failure of the oil pressure 
indicator and the low-oil pressure warning, which could result in an 
unannounced shutdown of that engine; and oil leakage, which may feed 
the engine fire.

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.

Replacement of Hose Assemblies

    (f) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD: For 
each engine, replace the existing hose assembly, part number (P/N) 
113286, that connects the oil pressure transmitter to the main oil 
circuit, with tube assembly P/N 221-5318-501. Do the replacement in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin MD11-79A008, dated December 11, 2001.

    Note 1: Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11-79A008 refers to 
Pratt & Whitney Alert Service Bulletin PW4MD11 A79-9, dated October 
25, 2001, as an additional source of service information for 
replacing the hose assemblies.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 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

    (h) You must use Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11-79A008, 
dated December 11, 2001, 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 this 
document 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 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 January 18, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-1516 Filed 1-28-05; 8:45 am]
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