[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 117 (Friday, June 18, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34661-34663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14796]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-0549; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-109-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Corporation Model DC-
9-81 (MD-81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and
MD-88 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 Model DC-9-81 (MD-81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), DC-9-
87 (MD-87), and MD-88 airplanes. This proposed AD would require
installing fuel level float and pressure switch in-line fuses on the
wing forward spars and forward and aft auxiliary fuel tanks, depending
on the airplane configuration. This proposed AD results from fuel
system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are proposing this AD
to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which,
in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank
explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 2, 2010.
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 proposed AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management,
3855 Lakewood Boulevard, MC D800-0019, Long Beach, California 90846-
0001; telephone 206-544-5000, extension 2; fax 206-766-5683; e-mail
[email protected]; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may
review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
Washington. For information on the availability of this material at the
FAA, call 425-227-1221.
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 (ACO), 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-2010-0549;
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-109-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
The FAA has examined the underlying safety issues involved in fuel
tank explosions on several large transport airplanes, including the
adequacy of existing regulations, the service history of airplanes
subject to those regulations, and existing maintenance practices for
fuel tank systems. As a result of those findings, we issued a
regulation titled ``Transport
[[Page 34662]]
Airplane Fuel Tank System Design Review, Flammability Reduction and
Maintenance and Inspection Requirements'' (66 FR 23086, May 7, 2001).
In addition to new airworthiness standards for transport airplanes and
new maintenance requirements, this rule included Special Federal
Aviation Regulation No. 88 (``SFAR 88,'' Amendment 21-78, and
subsequent Amendments 21-82 and 21-83).
Among other actions, SFAR 88 requires certain type design (i.e.,
type certificate (TC) and supplemental type certificate (STC)) holders
to substantiate that their fuel tank systems can prevent ignition
sources in the fuel tanks. This requirement applies to type design
holders for large turbine-powered transport airplanes and for
subsequent modifications to those airplanes. It requires them to
perform design reviews and to develop design changes and maintenance
procedures if their designs do not meet the new fuel tank safety
standards. As explained in the preamble to the rule, we intended to
adopt airworthiness directives to mandate any changes found necessary
to address unsafe conditions identified as a result of these reviews.
In evaluating these design reviews, we have established four
criteria intended to define the unsafe conditions associated with fuel
tank systems that require corrective actions. The percentage of
operating time during which fuel tanks are exposed to flammable
conditions is one of these criteria. The other three criteria address
the failure types under evaluation: single failures, single failures in
combination with a latent condition(s), and in-service failure
experience. For all four criteria, the evaluations included
consideration of previous actions taken that may mitigate the need for
further action.
We have determined that the actions identified in this AD are
necessary to reduce the potential of ignition sources inside fuel
tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result
in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.
An investigation by Boeing has determined that fuel level float
switch wires located on the left and right wing forward spars, the
center tank forward spar, and the forward and aft auxiliary fuel tanks
and pressure switch wires located on the center tank forward spar are
routed in the same bundles as power wires. If a short circuit between a
fuel level float or pressure switch wire and a power wire occurs, an
over-current can cause excessive temperature in the fuel level float or
pressure switch wire, which could result in damage and become a
potential ignition source.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin MD80-28-226, dated April
14, 2010. The service bulletin describes procedures for installing fuel
level float and pressure switch in-line fuses, including wiring
changes, in the following locations:
On the left, right, and center wing forward spars (Groups
1 through 6).
On the left, right, and center wing forward spars, and aft
auxiliary fuel tank (Groups 7 and 8).
On the left, right, and center wing forward spars, forward
auxiliary fuel tank, and aft auxiliary fuel tank (Groups 9 through 11).
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 these same type
designs. 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 640 airplanes of
U.S. registry. The following table provides the estimated costs,
depending on the airplane configuration, for U.S. operators to comply
with this proposed AD.
Table--Estimated Costs
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Average Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours labor rate Parts Cost per product registered Fleet cost
per hour airplanes
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Installation...................... Between 7 and 17..... $85 Between $817 and Between $1,412 and 640 Between $903,680 and
$1,725. $3,170. $2,028,800,
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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 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, Incorporation by
reference, 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:
[[Page 34663]]
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 Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2010-0549; Directorate
Identifier 2010-NM-109-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by August 2, 2010.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas Corporation Model DC-9-
81 (MD-81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and
MD-88 airplanes; certificated in any category; as identified in
Boeing Service Bulletin MD80-28-226, dated April 14, 2010.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 28: Fuel.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the
manufacturer. The Federal Aviation Administration is issuing this AD
to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks,
which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in
fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.
Compliance
(f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Fuse Installation
(g) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD,
install fuel level float and pressure switch in-line fuses, and do
applicable wiring changes, in the applicable locations specified in
paragraph (g)(1), (g)(2), or (g)(3) of this AD. Do the actions in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service
Bulletin MD80-28-226, dated April 14, 2010.
(1) For Groups 1 through 6: On the left, right, and center wing
forward spars.
(2) For Groups 7 and 8: On the left, right, and center wing
forward spars, and aft auxiliary fuel tank.
(3) For Groups 9 through 11: On the left, right, and center wing
forward spars, forward auxiliary fuel tank, and aft auxiliary fuel
tank.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office,
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to
ATTN: Samuel Lee, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140L,
FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 3960 Paramount
Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-
5262; fax (562) 627-5210.
(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 principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or
principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a
principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office.
The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 10, 2010.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-14796 Filed 6-17-10; 8:45 am]
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