[Federal Register: January 14, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 9)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 2206-2208]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14ja08-22]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0015; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-328-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, DC-
10-10F, DC-10-15, and MD-10-10F Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, and MD-
10-10F airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections
for the presence of stray nickel or chrome plating deposits on the air
filler valve bore of certain main landing gear (MLG) shock strut
cylinders, and if necessary, related investigative and corrective
actions. Doing the corrective action would terminate the repetitive
inspections. This proposed AD results from a report of a left MLG
collapse
[[Page 2207]]
during landing rollout. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct
stray nickel and chrome plating deposits, corrosion, and cracking of
the air filler valve bore on the MLG cylinder, which could result in
landing gear failure, significant damage to the airplane, and injury to
personnel.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 28,
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 proposed 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: 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 send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2008-0015;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-328-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed 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 proposed AD.
Discussion
We received a report that one McDonnell Douglas Model MD-10-10
airplane experienced a left main landing gear (MLG) collapse during
landing rollout, which was caused by combined fatigue and stress
corrosion cracking failure of the MLG shock strut cylinder assembly.
Metallurgical analysis has determined that the origin of the fracture
was located in the bore of the air filler valve port located on the aft
side of the MLG cylinder. The primary crack initiation point was in an
area of stray nickel plating deposits on the bore. A secondary
origination of the crack was initiated from a shallow corrosion pit
located at the opposite side of the bore to the primary initiation
point. Stray nickel or chrome plating deposits, corrosion, or cracking
in the air filler valve bore of the MLG cylinder, if not corrected,
could result in landing gear failure, significant damage to the
airplane, and injury to personnel.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-32A259, dated
October 30, 2007. The service bulletin describes procedures for
repetitive video probe inspections to detect the presence of stray
nickel or chrome plating deposits on the air filler valve bore of
certain main landing gear (MLG) shock strut cylinders, and if
necessary, related investigative and corrective actions. The related
investigative actions include a video probe inspection for corrosion of
the air filler valve bore in the MLG shock strut cylinder and an eddy
current inspection for cracking of the air filler valve bore. The
corrective actions include repair of the air filler valve bore of the
MLG shock strut cylinder, removal of corrosion, and replacement of the
MLG cylinder. The service bulletin specifies that doing the repair or
replacement ends the repetitive inspections for that MLG shock strut
cylinder only.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in
the service information described previously.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 75 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S.
operators to comply with this proposed AD.
Estimated Costs
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Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours Average labor Cost per product registered Fleet cost
rate per hour airplanes
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Inspection................... 4 $80 $320, per 75 $24,000, per
inspection inspection
cycle. cycle.
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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
[[Page 2208]]
because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or
develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
We 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 this 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.
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, 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 AD:
McDonnell Douglas: Docket No. FAA-2008-0015; Directorate Identifier
2007-NM-328-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by February 28, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, DC-10-
10F, DC-10-15, and MD-10-10F airplanes, certificated in any
category; as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-
32A259, dated October 30, 2007.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report of a left main landing gear
(MLG) collapse during landing rollout. We are issuing this AD to
detect and correct stray nickel and chrome plating deposits,
corrosion, and cracking of the air filler valve bore on the MLG
cylinder, which could result in landing gear failure, significant
damage to the airplane, and injury to personnel.
Compliance
(e) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
Inspections and Corrective Actions
(f) At the applicable time specified in paragraph (f)(1),
(f)(2), or (f)(3) of this AD, do a video probe inspection for the
presence of stray nickel or chrome plating deposits on the air
filler valve bore of the MLG shock strut cylinders, and before
further flight, do all applicable related investigative and
corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-32A259, dated
October 30, 2007. Repeat the video probe inspection thereafter at
intervals not to exceed 2,400 flight cycles or 20 months, whichever
occurs first. Accomplishment of the repair specified in Part 2 of
the Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin or the
replacement specified in Part 3 of the Accomplishment Instructions
of the service bulletin terminates the repetitive inspections for
that MLG shock strut cylinder.
(1) For passenger airplanes: Within 24 months after the
effective date of this AD.
(2) For freighter airplanes with MLG cylinders that have
accumulated fewer than 7,200 flight cycles in a freighter
configuration as of the effective date of this AD: Within 24 months
after the effective date of this AD.
(3) For freighter airplanes with MLG cylinders that have
accumulated 7,200 flight cycles or more in a freighter configuration
as of the effective date of this AD: Within 6 months after the
effective date of this AD.
Parts Installation
(g) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a
MLG shock strut cylinder assembly, part number ARG7002-1, -501, -
503, or -505, on any airplane, unless the air filler valve bore hole
has been oversized and closing action has been accomplished in
accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-32A259, dated
October 30, 2007, and the MLG shock strut cylinder assembly has been
permanently identified with part number SB10320259-3 adjacent to the
existing ARG7002 part number.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), FAA, ATTN: Maureen Moreland, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe
Branch, ANM-120L, FAA, Los Angeles ACO, 3960 Paramount Boulevard,
Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5238; 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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 26, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-385 Filed 1-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P