[Federal Register: October 13, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 198)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 60448-60450]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13oc06-14]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-26049; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-177-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, DC-
10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30, and DC-10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-10)
Airplanes; Model DC-10-40 and DC-10-40F Airplanes Equipped With Pratt &
Whitney JT9-20 or JT9-20J Engines; and Model MD-10-10F and MD-10-30F
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 the McDonnell Douglas airplanes previously described. This proposed
AD would require replacing the control modules of the fire detection
systems of the propulsion engines with new, improved control modules.
This proposed AD results from a report of broken or severed wiring
between engine fire detectors and the fire detection system control
module, which caused the fire detection system to become non-functional
without flightcrew awareness. We are proposing this AD to prevent
unannunciated fire in a propulsion engine, which could cause injury to
flightcrew and passengers or loss of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 27,
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 Meggitt Safety Systems Inc., 1915 Voyager Avenue, Simi
Valley, California 93063, for the service information identified in
this proposed AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Samuel Lee, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification
Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137;
telephone (562) 627-5262; 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 in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2006-
26049; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-177-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
We have received a report indicating that an unsafe condition may
exist on
[[Page 60449]]
all McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30,
and DC-10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-10) airplanes; Model DC-10-40 and DC-10-
40F airplanes equipped with Pratt & Whitney JT9-20 or JT9-20J engines;
and all Model MD-10-10F and MD-10-30F airplanes. The report stated that
a Model DC-10-10F airplane experienced an undetected, uncontained
engine failure upon takeoff, which severed the wiring between the
engine fire detectors and the fire detection system control module. As
the fire detection system control module was not designed to register
wiring or component failures when not in test mode, the fire detection
system became non-functional without flightcrew awareness. Upon
landing, the flightcrew employed the thrust reversers for all engines,
which caused an unannunciated fire in the failed engine that required
ground support to extinguish. A fire detection system not known to be
malfunctioning could, if not repaired, result in unannunciated fire in
a propulsion engine, which could cause injury to flightcrew and
passengers or loss of the airplane.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Meggitt Safety Systems Service Bulletin 26-34,
Revision 2, dated August 15, 2006. The service bulletin describes
procedures for replacing the fire detection system control modules of
the main propulsion engines and auxiliary power unit (APU) with new,
improved control modules. 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 accomplishing the actions specified in the service
information described previously, except as discussed under
``Differences Between Proposed AD and Service Bulletin.''
Differences Between Proposed AD and Service Bulletin
The service bulletin describes procedures for replacing the control
modules of the fire detection systems of the propulsion engines and of
the APU. However, we have determined that mandating replacement of the
control module of the fire detection system of the APU is not critical
to fleet safety. Therefore, this proposed AD would not require this
action.
The service bulletin does not specify a compliance time for
accomplishing the described actions. However, we have determined that a
compliance time of 60 months after the effective date of this proposed
AD would provide an appropriate amount of time to accomplish the
actions while maintaining an adequate level of fleet safety.
We have coordinated these differences with Boeing.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 305 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 233 airplanes of
U.S. registry. The proposed actions would take about 6 work hours per
airplane, at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Required parts
would cost about $9,900 per airplane. Based on these figures, the
estimated cost of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is $2,418,540, or
$10,380 per airplane.
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-2006-26049; Directorate Identifier
2006-NM-177-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by November
27, 2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas airplanes, certificated
in any category; as specified in paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), and
(c)(3) of this AD.
(1) All Model DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30, and DC-
10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-10) airplanes;
(2) Model DC-10-40 and DC-10-40F airplanes equipped with Pratt &
Whitney JT9-20 or JT9-20J engines; and
(3) All Model MD-10-10F and MD-10-30F airplanes.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report of broken or severed wiring
between engine fire detectors and the fire detection system control
module, which caused the fire detection system to become non-
functional without flightcrew awareness. We are issuing this AD to
prevent unannunciated fire in a propulsion engine, which could cause
injury to flightcrew and passengers or loss of the airplane.
[[Page 60450]]
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.
Control Module Replacement
(f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD,
replace the control modules of the fire detection systems of the
propulsion engines with new, improved control modules, in accordance
with paragraph 2., ``Main Engine Control Module Replacement
Instructions,'' of Meggitt Safety Systems Service Bulletin 26-34,
Revision 2, dated August 15, 2006.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(g)(1) 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.
(2) 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 October 3, 2006.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-17003 Filed 10-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P