[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 9, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52203-52205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20494]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0946; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-147-AD;
Amendment 39-15667; AD 2008-18-10]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-90-30
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
McDonnell Douglas Model MD-90-30 airplanes. This AD requires a detailed
inspection for certain defects of the upper fasteners of the aft mount
support fitting of the left and right engines and corrective actions if
necessary. This AD results from reports of loose, cracked, or missing
fasteners in the aft mount support fitting of the left and right
engines. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct loose, cracked,
or missing fasteners in the engine aft support mount fitting, which
could lead to separation of the support fitting from the pylon, which
could result in separation of the engine from the airplane.
DATES: This AD is effective September 24, 2008.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of September
24, 2008.
We must receive comments on this AD by November 10, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this 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).
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The street address for
the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Durbin, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification
Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137;
telephone (562) 627-5233; fax (562) 627-5210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We have received reports of loose, cracked, or missing fasteners in
the aft mount support fitting of the left and right engines on several
McDonnell Douglas Model MD-90-30 airplanes. The airplanes had
accumulated between 18,767 and 25,400 total flight hours and between
15,841 and 27,000 total flight cycles. A safety assessment of the
missing fasteners has concluded that loose or discrepant fasteners in
the top
[[Page 52204]]
horizontal row, common with the pylon skin, significantly decrease the
margin of safety of the aft mount support installation at the design
limit load. Loose, cracked, or missing fasteners in the engine aft
mount support fitting could lead to separation of the support fitting
from the pylon. This condition, if not corrected, could result in
separation of the engine from the airplane.
Relevant Service Information
We reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90-54A002, dated August
1, 2008. The service bulletin describes procedures for doing a detailed
inspection for certain defects of the upper fasteners of the aft mount
support fitting of the left and right engines, and corrective action as
applicable. The detailed inspection consists of the following actions:
(1) A general visual inspection of the upper fasteners for any missing,
loose, or damaged fasteners, (2) a gap check between the washers and
structure or between the fastener heads and structure, if applicable,
and (3) a torque check of the fastener nuts, if applicable. The
corrective action includes replacing all fasteners if any defect is
found.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD
We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the(se) same type
design(s). This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the
service information described previously.
Interim Action
This is considered to be interim action until final action is
identified, at which time we might consider further rulemaking.
FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date
Loose, cracked, or missing fasteners in the engine aft mount
support fitting could lead to separation of the support fitting from
the pylon, possibly resulting in separation of the engine from the
airplane. Because of our requirement to promote safe flight of civil
aircraft and thus, the critical need to assure structural integrity of
the engine aft mount support fitting and the short compliance time
involved with this action, this AD must be issued immediately.
Because an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate
adoption of this AD, we find that notice and opportunity for prior
public comment hereon are impracticable and that good cause exists for
making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to
provide your comments before it becomes effective. However, we invite
you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send
your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include
``Docket No. FAA-2008-0946; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-147-AD'' at
the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the
overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may
amend this AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this AD.
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
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.
You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of
compliance in the AD Docket.
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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
2008-18-10 McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-15667. Docket No. FAA-
2008-0946; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-147-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective September 24,
2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas Model MD-90-30
airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing
Alert Service Bulletin MD90-54A002, dated August 1, 2008.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports of loose, cracked, or missing
fasteners in the aft mount support fitting of the left and right
engines. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct loose,
cracked, or missing fasteners in the engine aft support mount
fitting, which could lead to separation of the support fitting from
the pylon, which could result in separation of the engine from the
airplane.
Compliance
(e) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
Detailed Inspection
(f) Within 703 flight cycles after the effective date of this
AD, do a detailed
[[Page 52205]]
inspection for any defect (missing, loose, or damaged fasteners;
incorrect gap between washers and structure or between fastener
heads and structure; or incorrect torque of fastener nuts) of the
upper fasteners of the aft mount support fitting of the left and
right engines, and do all the applicable corrective actions before
further flight, by accomplishing all of the applicable actions
specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin MD90-54A002, dated August 1, 2008.
Credit for Actions Done per Multiple Operator Message (MOM)
(g) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in
accordance with Boeing MOM 1-893882781-2, dated July 25, 2008, are
acceptable for compliance with the requirements of paragraph (f) of
this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Certification Office (ACO), FAA,
ATTN: Roger Durbin, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120L,
FAA, Los Angeles ACO, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California
90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5233; fax (562) 627-5210; has the
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
(2) To request a different method of compliance or a different
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19.
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local
FSDO.
(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used for any repair required by 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) You must use Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90-54A002,
dated August 1, 2008, to do the actions required by this AD, unless
the AD specifies otherwise.
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) For service information identified in this 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).
(3) You may review copies of the service information
incorporated by reference at the FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington; or at the
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information
on the availability of this material at 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 August 25, 2008.
Dionne Palermo,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-20494 Filed 9-8-08; 8:45 am]
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