[Federal Register: September 20, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 182)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 54941-54943]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20se06-25]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-25850; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-128-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and -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 all McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and -11F airplanes. This proposed
AD would require revising the maintenance inspection program that
provides for inspection of principal structural elements (PSEs) and
replacement of safe-life parts, to incorporate a new revision to the
MD-11 Airworthiness Limitations Instructions. The revision would reduce
inspection intervals for fatigue cracking of certain PSEs, and expand
the inspection area for a certain other PSE. This proposed AD results
from a revised damage tolerance analysis. We are proposing this AD to
detect and correct fatigue cracking of certain PSEs, which could
adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 6,
2006.
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.
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.
Contact Boeing Commercial Aircraft Group, Long Beach Division, 3855
Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Data and
Service Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024), for the service
information identified in this proposed AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maureen Moreland, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification
Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137;
telephone (562) 627-5238; 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
[[Page 54942]]
comments to an address listed in the ADDRESSES section. Include the
docket number ``FAA-2006-25850; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-128-AD''
at the beginning 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 received 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 may review DOT's
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
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 DOT
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after the Docket Management System
receives them.
Discussion
Boeing has completed a revised damage tolerance analysis of certain
principal structural elements (PSEs) on Model MD-11 and MD-11F
airplanes. Boeing repeated the analysis to address additional crack
growth scenarios as a result of in-service cracking and to correct the
crack growth analysis spectrum which it found to underpredict
operational loading. These new data indicate that the initial and
repeat inspection intervals to detect fatigue cracking for certain PSEs
must be revised.
The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to detect
fatigue cracking of several wing PSEs and a tail pylon PSE. This
fatigue cracking, if not detected and corrected, could adversely affect
the structural integrity of the airplane.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing MD-11 Airworthiness Limitations
Instructions (ALI), Report Number MDC-K5225, Revision 11, dated March
2006. Among other things, Revision 11 of the ALI reduces certain
initial and repeat intervals for inspections for fatigue cracking of
certain PSEs, and expands the inspection area for a certain other PSE.
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. For this reason, we are proposing this AD,
which would require operators to incorporate the Boeing MD-11 ALI,
Report Number MDC-K5225, Revision 11, dated March 2006, into the
applicable maintenance and inspection program.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 102 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 93 airplanes of
U.S. registry. The proposed maintenance and inspection program revision
would take about 1 work hour per airplane, at an average labor rate of
$80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the
proposed AD for U.S. operators is $7,440, or $80 per airplane, per
inspection cycle.
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.
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 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, 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
McDonnell Douglas: Docket No. FAA-2006-25850; Directorate Identifier
2006-NM-128-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by November
6, 2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and -
11F airplanes, certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD requires revisions to certain operator
maintenance documents to incorporate new inspections for fatigue
[[Page 54943]]
cracking of principal structural elements (PSEs). Compliance with
these inspections is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes
that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the
areas addressed by these inspections, the operator may not be able
to incorporate the inspections described in the revisions. In this
situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must
request approval for an alternative method of compliance according
to paragraph (h) of this AD. The request should include a
description of changes to the required inspections that will ensure
the continued damage tolerance of the affected structure. The FAA
has provided guidance for this determination in Advisory Circular
(AC) 25-1529.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a revised damage tolerance analysis. We
are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of
certain principal structural elements (PSEs), which could adversely
affect the structural integrity of the airplane.
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.
Revision of Airworthiness Limitations Section
(f) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD: Revise
the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for
Continued Airworthiness, Airworthiness Limitations Instructions
(ALI), according to a method approved by the Manager, Los Angeles
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA. Boeing MD-11 ALI, Report
Number MDC-K5225, Revision 11, dated March 2006, is one approved
method.
(g) Except as provided by paragraph (h) of this AD: After the
actions specified in paragraph (f) of this AD have been done, no
alternative inspection intervals or replacement times may be
approved for the PSEs and safe-life limited parts specified in
Boeing Report Number MDC-K5225, Revision 11, dated March 2006.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles ACO, has the authority to
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
(2) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used for any repair required by accomplishing the actions in this
AD, if it is approved by an Authorized Representative for the Boeing
Commercial Airplanes Delegation Option Authorization Organization
who has been authorized by the Manager, Los Angeles ACO, to make
those findings. For a repair method to be approved, the repair must
meet the certification basis of the airplane, and the approval must
specifically refer to this AD.
(3) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards
Certificate Holding District Office.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 12, 2006.
Kevin M. Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-7945 Filed 9-19-06; 8:45 am]
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