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

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 16, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12791-12793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5016]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19448; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-134-AD; 
Amendment 39-14011; AD 2005-06-03]
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 replacing, 
with improved parts, certain existing fluorescent light lamp holders 
located in the ceiling panels and life raft ceiling support housings, 
and behind the overhead stowage compartments in the main cabin. This AD 
is prompted by reports of failure of fluorescent light lamp holders in 
the main cabin. We are issuing this AD to prevent chafing of the lamp 
holder power wire against the mounting bracket, and moisture intrusion 
into the lamp holders, which could result in failure of the lamp 
holders and consequent smoke and fire in the airplane cabin.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 20, 2005.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of April 
20, 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).
    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-2004-19448; the directorate 
identifier for this docket is 2004-NM-134-AD.

[[Page 12792]]


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 October 26, 2004 (69 FR 
62424), proposed to require replacing, with improved parts, certain 
existing fluorescent light lamp holders located in the ceiling panels 
and life raft ceiling support housings, and behind the overhead stowage 
compartments in the main cabin.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the single comment submitted 
on the proposed AD.

Request To Specify Part Numbers of Existing and Replacement Lamp 
Holders

    The commenter requests that we revise the proposed AD to specify 
the part numbers of fluorescent light lamp holders determined to be 
defective and the part numbers of acceptable replacement fluorescent 
light lamp holders. The commenter states that there may be other 
acceptable replacement parts, but this is difficult to determine 
without knowing the part numbers.
    We concur. The part numbers of the defective and replacement 
fluorescent light lamp holders are identified in C & D Aerospace Alert 
Service Bulletins 59406XX-25A01, currently at Revision 4, dated July 
31, 2003; and 51310XX-25A01, currently at Revision 5, dated March 30, 
2004. The proposed AD refers to those service bulletins as additional 
sources of instructions for accomplishing the replacement. For the 
convenience of affected operators, we have revised paragraphs (f) and 
(g) of this AD to include the relevant part numbers.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment that was submitted, and determined that air safety and the 
public interest require adopting the AD with the changes described 
previously. We have determined that these changes will neither increase 
the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD will affect about 84 airplanes worldwide and 21 airplanes 
of U.S. registry. The required actions will take about 98 work hours 
per airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required 
parts will cost about $27,158 per airplane. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of this AD for U.S. operators is $704,088, or $33,528 
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):

2005-06-03 McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-14011. Docket No. FAA-
2004-19448; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-134-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 20, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

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

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by reports of failure of fluorescent 
light lamp holders in the main cabin. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent chafing of the lamp holder power wire against the mounting 
bracket, and moisture intrusion into the lamp holders, which could 
result in failure of the lamp holders and consequent smoke and fire 
in the airplane 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.

Replacement

    (f) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, 
replace existing fluorescent light lamp holders manufactured by Page 
Aerospace Limited, part numbers (P/Ns) C779-02-001 and C779-09-001, 
with improved parts manufactured by Bruce Industries Incorporated, 
P/Ns BV04055-01-12 and BV04055N-01-12, as specified in Table 1 of 
this AD.

[[Page 12793]]



                  Table 1.--Replacement of Lamp Holders
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                                                    Which refers to this
                                                     service information
   Replace lamp holders in     In accordance with     as an additional
      these locations--           this service            source of
                                  information--          replacement
                                                       instructions--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Ceiling panels and life   Boeing Alert Service  C & D Aerospace
 raft ceiling support          Bulletin MD90-        Alert Service
 housings.                     33A012, Revision 3,   Bulletin 59406XX-
                               dated January 14,     25A01; currently at
                               2004.                 Revision 4, dated
                                                     July 31, 2003.
(2) Sidewall behind the       Boeing Alert Service  C & D Aerospace
 overhead stowage              Bulletin MD90-        Alert Service
 compartments in the main      33A013, dated         Bulletin 51310XX-
 cabin.                        November 29, 2001.    25A01; currently at
                                                     Revision 5, dated
                                                     March 30, 2004.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Parts Installation

    (g) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
fluorescent light lamp holder manufactured by Page Aerospace Limited 
and having P/N C779-02-001 or C779-09-001, in the locations 
specified in this AD, on any airplane.

Replacements Accomplished Per Previous Issues of Service Bulletin

    (h) Replacements accomplished before the effective date of this 
AD per the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin MD90-33A012, dated March 28, 2001; Revision 01, dated 
September 17, 2001; or Revision 02, dated January 17, 2002; are 
considered acceptable for compliance with paragraph (f) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i) 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

    (j) You must use the service information that is specified in 
Table 2 of this AD 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 those 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.

                                  Table 2.--Material Incorporated by Reference
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          Service bulletin                        Revision level                              Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90-  3.......................................  January 14, 2004.
 33A012.
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90-  Original................................  November 29, 2001.
 33A013.
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    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 7, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-5016 Filed 3-15-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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