[Federal Register: July 21, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 139)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 41944-41946]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21jy05-3]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-20882; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-241-AD;
Amendment 39-14192; AD 2005-15-03]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, DC-
10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-10), DC-10-40,
DC-10-40F, MD-10-10F, MD-10-30F, MD-11, and MD-11F 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 airplanes identified above. This AD requires
repetitive functional tests for noisy or improper operation of the
exterior emergency control handle assemblies of the mid, overwing, and
aft passenger doors, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also
provides for optional terminating action for the repetitive tests. This
AD is prompted by a report that the exterior emergency control
mechanism handles were inoperative on a McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11
airplane. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the passenger
doors to operate properly in an emergency condition, which could delay
an emergency evacuation and possibly result in injury to passengers and
flightcrew.
DATES: Effective August 25, 2005.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of August 25,
2005.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S.
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building,
Room PL-401, 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: Ken Sujishi, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin
Safety/Mechanical and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150L, FAA, Los
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard,
Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5353; fax (562)
627-5210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Examining the Docket
You may 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 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 McDonnell Douglas
Model DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F (KC-10A and
KDC-10), DC-10-40, DC-10-40F, MD-10-10F, MD-10-30F, MD-11, and MD-11F
airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 7,
2005 (70 FR 17618). That NPRM proposed to require repetitive functional
tests for noisy or improper operation of the exterior emergency control
handle assemblies of the mid, overwing, and aft passenger doors, and
corrective actions if necessary. That NPRM also proposed to provide for
optional terminating action for the repetitive tests.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the
determination of the cost to the public.
[[Page 41945]]
Changes to This AD
We have changed the manufacturer name on the service bulletin
citations in this AD from McDonnell Douglas to Boeing to reflect
current guidelines established by the Office of the Federal Register
for material incorporated by reference.
We have revised paragraph (f) of the final rule to include airplane
model information for each of the service bulletins that was
inadvertently left out of paragraph (f) of the proposed AD. It is
necessary to identify which service bulletin affects which airplanes to
eliminate any possible confusion.
We have made certain editorial changes to the proposed AD. These
changes are minor in nature and do not have any effect on the technical
content or proposed cost to the public of the final rule.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed,
except as discussed under ``Changes to this AD.''
Costs of Compliance
There are about 633 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This AD will affect about 218 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The following table provides the estimated costs, at an
average labor rate of $65 per work hour, for U.S. operators to comply
with this AD.
Test and Modification Costs
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Action Work hours Parts cost Cost per airplane Fleet cost
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Functional test..................... 1 N/A $65 per test cycle..... $14,170, per test
cycle.
Replace bearings.................... 6 $825 $1,215 per door, if N/A.
required.
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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):
2005-15-03 McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-14192. Docket No. FAA-
2005-20882; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-241-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective August 25, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability: (c) This AD applies to the airplanes identified
in Table 1 of this AD; certificated in any category.
Table 1.--Applicability
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McDonnell Douglas Airplane model-- As identified in--
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DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30, Boeing Service Bulletin DC10-
DC-10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-10), DC-10- 52-219, Revision 1, dated
40, DC-10-40F, MD-10-10F, and MD-10-30F September 3, 2004.
airplanes.
MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes.............. Boeing Service Bulletin MD11-
52-044, Revision 1, dated
September 3, 2004.
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Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by a report indicating that the
exterior emergency control mechanism handles of the mid, overwing
and aft passenger doors were inoperative on a McDonnell Douglas
Model MD-11 airplane. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of
the passenger doors to operate properly in an emergency condition,
which could delay an emergency evacuation and possibly result in
injury to passengers and flightcrew.
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.
[[Page 41946]]
Service Bulletin Reference
(f) The term ``service bulletin,'' as used in this AD, means the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin MD11-52-044,
Revision 1 (for Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes), and Service
Bulletin DC10-52-219, Revision 1 (for Model DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-
10-15, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-10), DC-10-40, DC-10-40F,
MD-10-10F, and MD-10-30F airplanes); both dated September 3, 2004;
as applicable.
Functional Test
(g) Within 6,000 flight hours or 18 months after the effective
date of this AD, whichever occurs later, perform a functional test
of the exterior emergency control handle assemblies of the mid,
overwing, and aft passenger doors; by doing all actions specified in
the applicable service bulletin, except as provided by paragraph (i)
of this AD.
(1) If the functional test reveals no noisy operation or
binding: Repeat the functional test at intervals not to exceed 6,000
flight hours or 18 months, whichever occurs later, until the
terminating action of paragraph (h) of this AD has been
accomplished.
(2) If any functional test required by this AD reveals noisy
operation or binding: Prior to further flight, replace the steel
bearings with bearings made from corrosion-resistant material, in
accordance with the applicable service bulletin.
Optional Terminating Action
(h) Accomplishment of the actions required by paragraph (g)(2)
of this AD constitutes terminating action for the repetitive tests
required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD only for the modified doors.
Inoperable Doors
(i) Any mid, overwing, or aft passenger door that has been
fastened shut and rendered inoperable according to an approved
airplane freighter configuration is not subject to the requirements
of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(j) 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
(k) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin DC10-52-219, Revision
1, dated September 3, 2004; or Boeing Service Bulletin MD11-52-044,
Revision 1, dated September 3, 2004; as applicable, 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 these documents 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 copies of this service information. You may
review copies at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Room PL-401, Nassif
Building, Washington, DC; on the internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For
information on the availability of this material at the NARA, call
(202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/ federal--register/
code--of-- federal--regulations/ ibr--locations.html.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 8, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-14088 Filed 7-20-05; 8:45 am]
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