FR Doc 05-6910

[Federal Register: April 7, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 66)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 17618-17620]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07ap05-18]

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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]
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: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain McDonnell Douglas airplanes identified above. This proposed
AD would 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. This proposed AD also would provide for optional terminating
action for the repetitive tests. This proposed AD is prompted by a
report that the exterior emergency control mechanism handles were
inoperative on a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 airplane. We are proposing
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: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 23, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed AD.
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow

the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your

comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590.
By fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Long Beach Division, 3855 Lakewood
Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Data and Service
Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024).
You can examine the contents of this 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., room PL-
401, on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC. This
docket number is FAA-2005-20882; the directorate identifier for this
docket is 2004-NM-241-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Sujishi, Aerospace Engineer; Cabin
Safety, Mechanical, and Environmental 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:

Comments Invited

We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-20882;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-241-AD'' in the subject line of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the
proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will

also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of
that Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union,
etc.). You can review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you
can visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

You can 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

[[Page 17619]]

Federal holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone
(800) 647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at
the DOT street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will
be available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

We have received a report indicating that an operator found, during
a heavy maintenance visit, that the emergency control mechanism handles
of the mid, overwing, and aft passenger doors were inoperative on a
McDonnell Douglas MD-11 airplane. Investigation revealed that the six
steel bearings in each control mechanism were corroded and had seized.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to 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.

Similar Models

The subject area on certain 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, and MD-11F airplanes is almost
identical to that on the affected Model MD-11 airplanes. Therefore, all
of these models may be subject to the same unsafe condition.

Other Related Rulemaking

Operators should note that a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM),
docket identifier 2001-NM-359-AD, applicable to certain 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, was published in the Federal Register on November 12,
2003 (68 FR 64006). That NPRM proposed to require repetitive operation
of the exterior emergency door handle of the forward passenger door to
determine if binding exists in the exterior emergency control handle
mechanism, and corrective actions if necessary.

Relevant Service Information

We have reviewed McDonnell Douglas Service Bulletin MD11-52-044 and
Service Bulletin DC10-52-219; both Revision 1; both dated September 3,
2004. The service bulletins describe procedures for, among other
things, 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.
Corrective actions include replacing the steel bearings with bearings
made from corrosion-resistant material. The service bulletins also
indicate that replacing the steel bearings as described provides
optional terminating action for the repetitive tests. Accomplishing the
actions specified in the service information is intended to adequately
address the unsafe condition.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes
of this same type design. Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which
would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service
information described previously.
Operators should note that this proposed AD allows operators to
continue the repetitive functional tests instead of doing the
terminating action. In making this determination, the FAA considers
that, in the case of this AD, long-term continued operational safety is
adequately assured by doing the repetitive functional tests to detect
binding before it represents a hazard to the airplane, and by doing
corrective actions within the specified time limits.

Clarification of Service Information

The service information also describes procedures for installing
lube fittings in the emergency control handle assemblies to minimize
the possibility that binding of the exterior door free fall handle
mechanisms would prevent the passenger doors from free falling to the
closed position. Installing the lube fittings does not help to correct
the unsafe condition specified by this proposed AD and would therefore
not be required by this proposed AD.
The service information is applicable to all mid, overwing, and aft
passenger doors. However, some of these doors may have been fastened
shut to render them inoperable according to some approved freighter
configurations. Such doors would not be subject to the requirements of
this proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

There are about 633 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would 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 proposed AD.

Test and Modification Costs
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Work Parts Fleet
Action hours cost Cost per airplane cost
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Functional test............................... 1 N/A $65 per test cycle............... $14,170
Replace bearings.............................. 6 $825 1,215 per door, if required...... N/A
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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 proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.

[[Page 17620]]

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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. 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 proposed AD. 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, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new
airworthiness directive (AD):

McDonnell Douglas: Docket No. FAA-2005-20882; Directorate Identifier
2004-NM-241-AD.

Comments Due Date

(a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive
comments on this AD action by May 23, 2005.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

Table 1.--Applicability
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Airplane model Applicable service bulletin
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DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10- McDonnell Douglas Service
30, DC-10-30F airplanes (KC-10A and Bulletin DC10-52-219, Revision
KDC-10), DC-10-40, DC-10-40F, MD-10- 1, dated September 3, 2004.
10F, MD-10-30F airplanes.
MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes............. McDonnell Douglas 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. 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.

Service Bulletin Reference

(f) The term ``service bulletin,'' as used in this AD, means the
Accomplishment Instructions of McDonnell Douglas Service Bulletin
MD11-52-044, Revision 1, and Service Bulletin DC10-52-219, Revision
1; 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 some 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.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 31, 2005.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-6910 Filed 4-6-05; 8:45 am]

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