[Federal Register: December 5, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 234)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 67978-67979]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05de03-19]
[[Page 67978]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2002-NM-215-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-81 (MD-
81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and Model MD-88
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model
DC-9-81 (MD-81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and
Model MD-88 airplanes. This proposal would require replacement of
certain freeze protection ribbon heaters in the lavatory water supply
system, and flushing, cleaning, and sterilizing the potable water
system; disconnecting, coiling, and stowing the wiring of the freeze
protection ribbon heater; or removal of freeze protection heaters. This
action is necessary to prevent failure of freeze protection ribbon
heaters, which could result in the charring, scorching, smoking, and
shorting out of freeze protection ribbon heaters in the lavatory water
supply system. This condition, if not corrected, could also result in
electrical arcing of freeze protection ribbon heaters, leading to fire
and damage to water lines and components under the lavatory sink. This
action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.
DATES: Comments must be received by January 20, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-NM-215-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this
location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232.
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address: 9-anm-nprmcomment@faa.gov. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must
contain ``Docket No. 2002-NM-215-AD'' in the subject line and need not
be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached
electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 or 2000 or
ASCII text.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Boeing Commercial Aircraft Group, Long Beach Division,
3855 Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Data
and Service Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024). This information may
be examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft
Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheyenne Del Carmen, Aerospace
Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Los Angeles
Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood,
California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5338; fax (562) 627-5210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this action may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Submit comments using the following format:
[sbull] Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a
request to change the compliance time and a request to change the
service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
[sbull] For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed
AD is being requested.
[sbull] Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each
request.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this action must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 2002-NM-215-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped
and returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 2002-NM-215-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
The FAA has received reports of charring, scorching, smoking, and
shorting out of freeze protection ribbon heaters in the lavatory water
supply system of certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-81 (MD-81), DC-9-
82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and MD-88 airplanes. We
also received reports of burning and scorching to water lines and
components under the lavatory sink. Investigation revealed that the
freeze protection ribbon heaters were failing. This condition, if not
corrected, could result in electrical arcing of freeze protection
ribbon heaters, leading to fire and damage to water lines and
components under the lavatory sink.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
The FAA has reviewed and approved Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
MD80-25A381, dated August 5, 2002. This service bulletin describes
procedures for replacing the existing freeze protection ribbon heater
in the lavatory water supply system with a new, reidentified heater
hose assembly, and flushing, cleaning, and sterilizing the potable
water system; disconnecting, coiling, and stowing the wiring of the
freeze protection ribbon heater in the lavatory water supply system; or
removing the freeze protection ribbon heater from the lavatory water
supply system. Accomplishment of the actions specified in the Boeing
service bulletin is intended to adequately address the identified
unsafe condition.
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD80-25A381 refers to Jamco
Corporation Service Bulletin MD080-25-829, dated February 14, 2002, as
an additional source of service information for instructions on
replacing the existing freeze protection ribbon heater with a new,
reidentified heater hose assembly for Model DC-9-81 (MD-81), DC-9-82
(MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and MD-88 airplanes.
[[Page 67979]]
Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other products of this same type design, the
proposed AD would require accomplishment of the actions specified in
the Boeing service bulletin described previously.
Cost Impact
There are approximately 1,180 airplanes of the affected design in
the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 724 airplanes of U.S.
registry would be affected by this proposed AD, and that each airplane
has approximately 3 lavatories, and that the average 1 labor rate is
$65 per work hour. Table 1 shows the estimated cost impact, based upon
the action taken, for airplanes affected by this proposed AD.
Table 1.--Cost Impact
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Work hours per Parts cost per
Action lavatory lavatory Cost per lavatory Total cost
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Replace the existing freeze 6 $2,344 to $3,208 $2,734 to $3,598 $5,938,248 to
protection ribbon heater with a (Depending on (Depending on $7,814,856
new, reidentified heater hose lavoratory module lavoratory module (Depending on
assemply; and flush, clean, and configuration). configuration). lavatory module
sterilize the potable water configuration) or
system; or. $8,202 to $10,794
per airplane.
Disconnect, coil, and stow the 2 $0................. $130............... $282,360 or $390
wiring of the freeze protection per airplane.
ribbon heater; or.
Remove the freeze protection 3 $0................. $195............... $423,540 or $585
ribbon heater. per airplane.
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The cost impact figures discussed above are based on assumptions
that no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements
of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions
in the future if this proposed AD were not adopted. The cost impact
figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time
necessary to perform the specific actions actually required by the AD.
These figures typically do not include incidental costs, such as the
time required to gain access and close up, planning time, or time
necessitated by other administrative actions.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein would 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. Therefore, it
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed
regulation (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
and (3) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as
follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
McDonnell Douglas: Docket 2002-NM-215-AD.
Applicability: Model DC-9-81 (MD-81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83
(MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and MD-88 airplanes, as listed in Boeing
Alert Service Bulletin MD80-25A381, dated August 5, 2002;
certificated in any category.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent failure of freeze protection ribbon heaters, which
could result in the charring, scorching, smoking, and shorting out
of freeze protection ribbon heaters in the lavatory water supply
system and could also result in electrical arcing of freeze
protection ribbon heaters, leading to fire and damage to water lines
and components under the lavatory sink; accomplish the following:
Corrective Actions
(a) Within 18 months of the effective date of this AD, do the
actions specified in paragraph (a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(3) of this AD
per the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
MD80-25A381, dated August 5, 2002.
(1) Replace the existing freeze protection ribbon heater in the
lavatory water supply system with a new, reidentified heater hose
assembly. Flush, clean, and sterilize the potable water system; or
(2) Disconnect, coil, and stow the wiring of the freeze
protection ribbon heater in the lavatory water supply system; or
(3) Remove the freeze protection ribbon heater from the lavatory
water supply system.
Note 1: Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD80-25A381 refers to
Jamco Corporation Service Bulletin MD080-25-829, dated February 14,
2002, as an additional source of service information for
instructions on replacing the existing freeze protection ribbon
heater with a new, reidentified heater hose assembly for Model DC-9-
81 (MD-81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and
Model MD-88 airplanes.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(b) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, Los Angeles
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, is authorized to approve
alternative methods of compliance for this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 28, 2003.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-30218 Filed 12-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P