Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-90-30 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 2, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10032-10034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3785]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19768; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-184-AD; 
Amendment 39-13990; AD 2005-05-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-90-30 
Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
McDonnell Douglas Model MD-90-30 airplanes. This AD requires a general 
visual inspection in the electrical/electronics (E/E) compartment for 
damage of the wire bundle and aft right radio rack structure at station 
160.000, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also requires 
modifying the radio rack structure and wire bundle routing. This AD is 
prompted by a report indicating that burnt wiring was discovered in the 
wire bundle at station 160.000 in the E/E compartment. We are issuing 
this AD to detect and correct chafing of the wire bundle at station 
160.000 against the support bracket located on the aft right radio 
rack, which could lead to shorted or burnt wires and consequent smoke 
and fire in the E/E compartment.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 6, 2005.
    The incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in 
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of April 
6, 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

[[Page 10033]]

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-2004-19768; the directorate identifier for 
this docket is 2004-NM-184-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Mabuni, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft 
Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 
90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5341; fax (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR Part 39 
with an AD for all McDonnell Douglas Model MD-90-30 airplanes. That 
action, published in the Federal Register on December 14, 2004 (69 FR 
74463), proposed to require a general visual inspection in the 
electrical/electronics (E/E) compartment for damage of the wire bundle 
and aft right radio rack structure at station 160.000, and corrective 
actions if necessary. That action also proposed to require modifying 
the radio rack structure and wire bundle routing.

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.

Change to This AD

    We have changed the manufacturer name on the service bulletin 
citation 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.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 105 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This AD will affect about 21 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The required actions will take about 5 work hours per 
airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts 
will cost about $3,479 per airplane. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators is $79,884, or $3,804 per 
airplane.

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):

2005-05-02 McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-13990. Docket No. FAA-
2004-19768; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-184-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 6, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all McDonnell Douglas Model MD-90-30 
airplanes; certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report indicating that burnt 
wiring was discovered in the wire bundle at station 160.000 in the 
electrical/electronics (E/E) compartment. We are issuing this AD to 
detect and correct chafing of the wire bundle at station 160.000 
against the support bracket located on the aft right radio rack, 
which could lead to shorted or burnt wires and consequent smoke and 
fire in the E/E compartment.

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.

Inspection

    (f) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, 
perform a general visual inspection in the E/E compartment for 
damage of the wire bundle and aft right radio rack structure at 
station 160.000; do any applicable corrective actions; and modify 
the radio rack structure and reroute the wire assembly; by 
accomplishing all of the actions specified in the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90-24A080, Revision 
1, dated August 5, 2004.


    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection 
is: ``A visual examination of an interior or exterior area, 
installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or 
irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within touching 
distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be necessary to 
ensure visual access to all surfaces in the inspection area. This 
level of inspection is made under normally available lighting 
conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or 
droplight and may require removal or opening of access panels or 
doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be required to gain 
proximity to the area being checked.''


[[Page 10034]]



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 MD90-24A080, 
Revision 1, dated August 5, 2004, 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. 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 February 16, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-3785 Filed 3-1-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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