Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 and DC-10-30F Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 125 (Friday, June 29, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35642-35643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-11932]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27302; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-273-AD; 
Amendment 39-15114; AD 2007-13-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 and DC-10-
30F 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 
certain McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 and DC-10-30F airplanes. This AD 
requires installing Teflon sleeving around the fuel pump wire harness 
inside the conduit in the aft supplemental fuel tank. This AD results 
from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, 
which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel 
tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective August 3, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of August 3, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE., 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: 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:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the airworthiness directive (AD) docket on the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Operations 
office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is 
located on the ground floor of the West 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 certain McDonnell 
Douglas DC-10-30 and DC-10-30F (Model KC-10A and KDC-10) airplanes. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on February 22, 2007 
(72 FR 7939). That NPRM proposed to require installing Teflon sleeving 
around the fuel pump wire harness inside the conduit in the aft 
supplemental fuel tank.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comment received.

Request To Delete Certain Airplanes From the Applicability

    A private citizen requests that we delete McDonnell Douglas Model 
KC-10A and KDC-10 airplanes from the applicability of the NPRM. As 
justification for the request, the commenter states that none of the 
five affected airplanes identified in the effectivity of McDonnell 
Douglas DC-10 Service Bulletin 24-128, dated January 19, 1984, are 
Model KC-10A or KDC-10 airplanes.
    We agree to delete Model KC-10A and KDC-10 airplanes from the 
applicability of this AD. Boeing has confirmed that none of the 
affected airplanes are Model KC-10A or KDC-10 airplanes.

Clarification of Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC) Paragraph

    We have revised this action to clarify the appropriate procedure 
for notifying the principal inspector before using any

[[Page 35643]]

approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment received, 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

    There are about 5 airplanes of the affected design in the worldwide 
fleet. This AD affects about 5 airplanes of U.S. registry. The required 
actions take about 2 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate 
of $80 per work hour. The cost of required parts is negligible. Based 
on these figures, the estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators is 
$800, or $160 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 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):

2007-13-10 McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-15114. Docket No. FAA-
2007-27302; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-273-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective August 3, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-30 and DC-
10-30F airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified 
McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Service Bulletin 24-128, dated January 19, 
1984.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the 
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential of 
ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with 
flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and 
consequent loss of the airplane.

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.

Modification

    (f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, 
install Teflon sleeving around the fuel pump wire harness inside the 
conduit in the aft supplemental fuel tank, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Service 
Bulletin 24-128, dated January 19, 1984.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g)(1) 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.
    (2) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (h) You must use McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Service Bulletin 24-
128, dated January 19, 1984, 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 
this document 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 a copy of this 
service information. You may review copies at the FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington; or 
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/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 13, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-11932 Filed 6-28-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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