[Federal Register: April 7, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 67)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 18719-18720]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07ap08-12]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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[[Page 18719]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0403; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-166-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-
11F Airplanes Equipped With General Electric CF6-80C2 Series Engines
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 Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes. This
proposed AD would require revising the airplane flight manual to advise
the flightcrew to use certain procedures during descent in certain
icing conditions. This proposed AD results from reports of several in-
flight engine flameouts, including multiple dual engine flameout
events, in ice-crystal icing conditions. We are proposing this AD to
ensure that the flightcrew has the proper procedures to follow in
certain icing conditions. These certain icing conditions could cause a
multiple engine flameout during flight without the ability of the
engines to be relit, and consequent forced landing of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 22, 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: 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 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-2008-0403;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-166-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 have received reports indicating that there have been six (two
dual) engine flameout events on McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11
airplanes, in ice-crystal icing conditions during descent. These
airplanes were equipped with General Electric (GE) CF6-80C2 series
engines. Each flameout was in or near convective weather with ice-
crystal icing; this type of icing does not appear on radar due to its
low reflectivity, and neither the airplane ice detectors nor visual
indications indicate the presence of this type of icing conditions.
Therefore, it is usually undetected by the flightcrew. These conditions
can cause ice crystals to accumulate in the core flow path of the
engine during low-power conditions, such as idle or idle descent. The
accumulated ice sheds during throttle increase and is ingested into the
engine, causing the combustor to flameout resulting in an in-flight
flameout and potential damage to the high pressure compressor due to
ice impact.
Activating the anti-ice system increases the flameout margin and
reduces the potential for multiple engine flameouts by increasing bleed
flow and engine idle speed. However, in some of the subject engine
flameouts, the anti-ice was already on when the engines flamed out. In
each event, the engines relit and continued to operate normally for the
remainder of the flight. Having the igniters on is necessary to ensure
that the engine will relight quickly.
This condition, if not corrected, could result in a multiple engine
flameout during flight without the ability of the engines to be relit,
and consequent forced landing of the airplane.
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 revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to advise
the flightcrew to use certain procedures during descent in certain
icing conditions.
[[Page 18720]]
Interim Action
We consider this proposed AD interim action. If final action is
later identified, we might consider further rulemaking then.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 118 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. 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 Parts Cost per registered Fleet cost
rate per hour airplane airplanes
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AFM revision...................................... 1 $80 $0 $80 70 $5,600
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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.
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-2008-0403; Directorate Identifier
2007-NM-166-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by May 22,
2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-11F
airplanes, certified in any category, equipped with General Electric
CF6-80C2 series engines.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports of several in-flight engine
flameouts, including multiple dual engine flameout events, in ice-
crystal icing conditions. We are issuing this AD to ensure that the
flightcrew has the proper procedures to follow in certain icing
conditions. These certain icing conditions could cause a multiple
engine flameout during flight without the ability of the engines to
be relit, and consequent forced landing 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.
Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Revision
(f) Within 14 days after the effective date of this AD, revise
the Limitations Section of the McDonnell Douglas MD-11/MD-11F AFM to
include the following statement. This may be done by inserting a
copy of this AD into the AFM.
``Prior to reducing thrust for descent in visible moisture when
TAT is 6 [deg]C and below, the ENG IGN OVRD switch and the ENG,
WING, and TAIL ANTI-ICE switches must be placed in the ON
position.''
Note 1: When a statement identical to that in paragraph (f) of
this AD has been included in the general revisions of the AFM, the
general revisions may be inserted into the AFM, and the copy of this
AD may be removed from the AFM.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(g)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office,
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in
accordance with 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 March 27, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-7151 Filed 4-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P