[Federal Register: October 30, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 210)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 61772-61774]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30oc03-23]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2000-NM-168-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 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
MD-88 airplanes. This proposal would require installing shield
assemblies for power feeder cables in the forward and aft lower cargo
compartments, and installing an additional shield for the power feeder
cable of the auxiliary power unit in the aft lower cargo compartment.
This action is necessary to prevent a cable from chafing against an
edge of a lightening hole, which could result in electrical arcing, and
consequent smoke/fire in the lower cargo compartments. This action is
intended to address the identified unsafe condition.
DATES: Comments must be received by December 15, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-168-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. 2000-NM-168-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: Elvin K. Wheeler, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft
Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California
90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5344; 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.
[[Page 61773]]
[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 2000-NM-168-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. 2000-NM-168-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
As part of its practice of re-examining all aspects of the service
experience of a particular aircraft whenever an accident occurs, the
FAA has become aware of several incidents of migration of power feeder
cable troughs on 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. The
migration occurred where cables pass through lightening holes into
forward and aft lower cargo compartments. Investigation revealed that
the cause of such migration is vibration. Migration of the trough could
result in a cable chafing against an edge of a lightening hole, which
could result in electrical arcing, and consequent smoke/fire in the
lower cargo compartments.
Other Related Rulemaking
The FAA, in conjunction with Boeing and operators of 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, has reviewed all aspects of the
service history of those airplanes to identify potential unsafe
conditions and to take appropriate corrective actions. This proposed
airworthiness directive (AD) is one of a series of corrective actions
identified during that process. We have previously issued several other
ADs and may consider further rulemaking actions to address the
remaining identified unsafe conditions.
On April 14, 1994, the FAA issued AD 94-09-02, amendment 39-8890
(59 FR 18720, April 20, 1994). That AD requires inspecting the
auxiliary power unit (APU) for power feeder cable damage, and repair of
the cable if necessary; then modifying the cable installation. Those
actions are required to eliminate a potential source of fire ignition
from electrical shorting of the generator power feeder cable. That AD
also requires inspecting previously modified airplanes to determine
whether a spacer or ``stand off'' had been installed, and installing
those items if necessary. Those actions are required to prevent the
power feeder cable for the APU from chafing against adjacent
structures, which could result in electrical shorting and arcing, and a
fire below the cabin floor.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
The FAA has reviewed and approved McDonnell Douglas Alert Service
Bulletin MD80-24A100, Revision 04, dated January 24, 2000, which
describes procedures for installing shield assemblies for power feeder
cables in the forward and aft lower cargo compartments, and installing
an additional shield for the power feeder cable of the auxiliary power
unit in the aft lower cargo compartment.
Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletin
will protect the power feeder cables from contact with the edge of a
lightening hole when trough migration occurs, and is intended to
adequately address the identified unsafe condition.
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 service bulletin described previously.
Cost Impact
There are approximately 473 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 275 airplanes of U.S. registry
would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately
1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the proposed installation, and
that the average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts would
cost approximately between $674 and $3,656 per airplane. Based on these
figures, the cost impact of the proposed installation on U.S. operators
of these airplanes is estimated to be between $203,225 and $1,023,275,
or between $739 and $3,721 per airplane.
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. The manufacturer may
cover the cost of parts associated with this proposed AD, subject to
warranty conditions. Manufacturer warranty remedies also may be
available for labor costs associated with this proposed AD. As a
result, the costs attributable to the proposed AD may be less than
stated above.
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
[[Page 61774]]
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 2000-NM-168-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
McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD80-24A100, Revision 04,
dated January 24, 2000; certificated in any category.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent a cable from chafing against an edge of a lightening
hole, which could result in electrical arcing, and consequent smoke/
fire in the lower cargo compartments, accomplish the following:
Installation
(a) Within 1 year after the effective date of this AD, install
shield assemblies for power feeder cables in the forward and aft
lower cargo compartments, and install an additional shield for the
power feeder cable of the auxiliary power unit in the aft lower
cargo compartment, per the Accomplishment Instructions of McDonnell
Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD80-24A100, Revision 04, dated
January 24, 2000.
Installations Accomplished per Previous Issues of Service Bulletin
(b) Installations accomplished before the effective date of this
AD per McDonnell Douglas Service Bulletin MD80-24-100, original
issue, dated March 30, 1988, through Revision 3, dated March 15,
1991, are considered acceptable for compliance with the actions
specified in paragraph (a) of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(c) 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 October 24, 2003.
Vi L. Lipski,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-27322 Filed 10-29-03; 8:45 am]
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