[Federal Register: December 13, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 240)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 76673-76675]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13de02-2]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 99-NM-287-AD; Amendment 39-12979; AD 2002-25-04]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-10, -20, -
30, -40, and -50 Series Airplanes; and C-9 (Military) Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD),
applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-10, -20, -30, -40,
and -50 series airplanes, and C-9 (military) airplanes, that requires a
one-time visual inspection of circuit breakers to determine the
manufacturer of the circuit breakers, and corrective action, if
necessary. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent
internal overheating and arcing of circuit breakers and airplane wiring
due to long-term use and breakdown of internal components of the
circuit breakers, which could result in smoke and fire in the flight
compartment and main cabin. This action is intended to address the
identified unsafe condition.
DATES: Effective January 17, 2003.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as
of January 17, 2003.
ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport
Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington; or at the FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office,
3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California; or at the Office of the
Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington,
DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elvin 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: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model
DC-9-10, -20, -30, -40, and -50 series airplanes; and C-9 (military)
airplanes was published in the Federal Register on June 5, 2001 (66 FR
30101). That action proposed to require a one-time visual inspection of
circuit breakers to determine the manufacturer of the circuit breakers,
and corrective action, if necessary.
Comments
Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to
the single comment received.
The commenter expresses concern that, although the applicability in
the proposed AD only specifies Model DC-9 and MD-80 series airplanes,
the referenced circuit breakers (manufactured by Wood Electric
Corporation or Wood Electric Division of Potter Brumfield Corporation),
may be fitted to other FAA type-certificated products or aircraft. The
commenter asks for confirmation that this is or is not the case.
We agree that the subject circuit breakers can be installed on
other FAA type-certificated products. We previously issued other
rulemaking actions that address the commenter's concern. AD 2001-08-16,
amendment 39-12193, was issued on April 17, 2001
[[Page 76674]]
(66 FR 20914, April 26, 2001). That AD is applicable to certain
McDonnell Douglas Model DC-8 series airplanes and requires a one-time
inspection to determine the manufacturer of the circuit breakers, and
corrective action, if necessary. AD 2000-09-07, amendment 39-11716, was
issued on May 3, 2000 (65 FR 30534, May 12, 2000). That AD is
applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, -15, -30, -30F,
and -40 series airplanes, and KC-10A (military) airplanes. That AD
requires a one-time general visual inspection of circuit breakers to
determine the manufacturer of the circuit breakers, and corrective
action, if necessary. Therefore, no change to the final rule is
necessary.
Explanation of Editorial Change
We have changed the service bulletin citation throughout this final
rule to exclude the Evaluation Form. (The form is intended to be
completed by operators and submitted to the manufacturer to provide
input on the quality of the service bulletin; however, this AD does not
include such a requirement.)
Conclusion
After careful review of the available data, including the comment
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public
interest require the adoption of the rule with the change previously
described. The FAA has determined that this change will neither
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of
the AD.
Cost Impact
There are approximately 830 Model DC-9 series airplanes of the
affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 540
airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will
take approximately 80 work hours per airplane to accomplish the
inspection of the circuit breakers (over 700 installed on each
airplane), and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based
on these figures, the cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is
estimated to be $2,592,000, or $4,800 per airplane.
The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that
no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this AD
action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the
future if this 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 adopted herein 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. Therefore, it
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption
ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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:
2002-25-04 McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-12979. Docket 99-NM-287-
AD.
Applicability: Model DC-9-11, DC-9-12, DC-9-13, DC-9-14, DC-9-
15, and DC-9-15F airplanes; DC-9-21 airplanes; DC-9-31, DC-9-32, DC-
9-32 (VC-9C), DC-9-32F, DC-9-33F, DC-9-34, DC-9-34F, and DC-9-32F
(C-9A, C-9B) airplanes; DC-9-41 airplanes; and DC-9-51 airplanes; as
listed in McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin DC9-24A171,
Revision 01, dated September 21, 1999; certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent internal overheating and arcing of circuit breakers
and airplane wiring due to long-term use and breakdown of internal
components of the circuit breakers, which could result in smoke and
fire in the flight compartment and main cabin, accomplish the
following:
Inspection and Replacement, if Necessary
(a) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD:
Perform a one-time general visual inspection of circuit breakers to
determine the manufacturer of the circuit breaker, in accordance
with McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin DC9-24A171, Revision
01, dated September 21, 1999, excluding Evaluation Form.
Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection
is defined as ``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 under normally
available lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting,
flashlight, or drop-light, 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.''
(1) If no Wood Electric Corporation or Wood Electric Division of
Potter Brumfield Corporation circuit breaker is found, no further
action is required by this AD.
(2) If any Wood Electric Corporation or Wood Electric Division
of Potter Brumfield Corporation circuit breaker is found, prior to
further flight, replace the circuit breaker with a new circuit
breaker in accordance with the service bulletin.
Spares
(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall
install, on any airplane,
[[Page 76675]]
a circuit breaker having a part number listed in paragraph 1.A.2.,
``Spares Affected,'' of McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin
DC9-24A171, Revision 01, dated September 21, 1999, excluding
Evaluation Form.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification
Office (ACO), FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through an
appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add
comments and then send it to the Manager, Los Angeles ACO.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Los Angeles ACO.
Special Flight Permits
(d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
Incorporation by Reference
(e) The actions shall be done in accordance with McDonnell
Douglas Alert Service Bulletin DC9-24A171, Revision 01, dated
September 21, 1999, excluding Evaluation Form. This incorporation by
reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies 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). Copies may be
inspected 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; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North
Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
Effective Date
(f) This amendment becomes effective on January 17, 2003.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 5, 2002.
Vi L. Lipski,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-31178 Filed 12-12-02; 8:45 am]
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