Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 123 / Monday, June 28, 2010 / Proposed Rules 36579 

related investigative and corrective actions 

before further flight. 

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: Ken Sujishi, 

Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety/ 

Mechanical and Environmental Systems 

Branch, ANM–150L, FAA, Los Angeles 

Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount 

Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712– 

4137; telephone (562) 627–5353; 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 17, 

2010. 

Robert D. Breneman, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–15652 Filed 6–25–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2010–0553; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–NM–070–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell 

Douglas Corporation Model DC–10–30, 

DC–10–30F, DC–10–30F (KC–10A and 

KDC–10), DC–10–40, DC–10–40F, and 

MD–10–30F Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Model DC–10–30, DC–10–30F, DC–10– 

30F (KC–10A and KDC–10), DC–10–40, 

DC10–40F, and MD–10–30F airplanes. 

This proposed AD would require doing 

a one-time inspection of the wire 

bundles to determine if wires touch the 

upper surface of the center upper 

auxiliary fuel tank, and marking the 

location if necessary; a one-time 

inspection for splices and damage of all 

wire bundles routed above the center 

upper auxiliary fuel tank; a one-time 

inspection for damage to the fuel vapor 

barrier seal and upper surface of the 

center upper auxiliary fuel tank; and 

corrective actions, if necessary. This 

proposed AD would also require 

installing non-metallic barrier/shield 

sleeving to the wire harnesses, new 

clamps, new attaching hardware, and 

new extruded channels. 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 12, 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 

dse.boecom@boeing.com; 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, 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–2010–0553; Directorate Identifier 

2010–NM–070–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 

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 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with PROPOSALS
36580 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 123 / Monday, June 28, 2010 / Proposed Rules 

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. 

Fuel system reviews conducted by the 

manufacturer have determined that 

wires routed above the center upper 

auxiliary fuel tank are in close 

proximity to the upper surface of the 

tank. In addition, some wire harness 

mounts may have loosened, allowing 

the wires to contact the tank. This 

condition can cause wire damage or 

chafing that could lead to possible 

arcing and sparking on the fuel tank 

upper surface. If not corrected, wires in 

contact with the fuel tank could become 

damaged, and the possible resulting 

arcing and sparking could lead to burnthrough of the upper surface of the fuel 

tank. 

Relevant Service Information 

We have reviewed Boeing Service 

Bulletin DC10–28–244, dated February 

25, 2010. The service bulletin describes 

procedures for the following actions. 

• Doing a one-time general visual 

inspection of the wire bundles to 

determine if wires touch the upper 

surface of the center upper auxiliary 

fuel tank, and marking the location(s) 

where the wire bundle(s) contacts the 

upper surface of the center upper 

auxiliary fuel tank. 

• Doing a one-time detailed 

inspection of all wire bundles routed 

above the center upper auxiliary fuel 

tank for splices and damage (such as 

wire chafing, arcing, or broken 

insulation or burn marks), and 

corrective actions, which include 

repairing or replacing damaged wires, 

and relocating any splice; and repairing 

or replacing wires causing damage. 

• Doing a one-time detailed 

inspection for damage (burn marks) on 

the upper surface of the center upper 

auxiliary fuel tank and fuel vapor 

barrier seal, and doing corrective 

actions, which include repairing the 

vapor barrier seal, and contacting 

Boeing for repair instructions and doing 

the repair. 

• Installing non-metallic barrier/ 

shield sleeving to the wire harnesses, 

new clamps, new attaching hardware, 

and new extruded channels to raise the 

wire harnesses off the upper surface of 

the center upper auxiliary fuel tank. 

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 166 airplanes of U.S. 

registry. The following table provides 

the estimated costs for U.S. operators to 

comply with this proposed AD. 

TABLE—ESTIMATED COSTS

Inspection and installation Work hours Average labor 

rate per hour Parts Cost per product 

Number of 

U.S.-registered 

airplanes 

Fleet cost 

Group 1 Inspection .................................. 16 $85 $0 $1,360 75 $102,000 

Group 1 Installation .................................. 200 85 13,309 30,309 75 2,273,175 

Group 2 Inspection .................................. 16 85 0 1,360 58 78,880 

Group 2 Installation .................................. 232 85 16,660 36,380 58 2,110,040 

Group 3 Inspection .................................. 16 85 0 1,360 18 24,480 

Group 3 Installation .................................. 200 85 12,258 29,258 18 526,644 

Group 4 Inspection .................................. 16 85 0 1,360 15 20,400 

Group 4 Installation .................................. 200 85 12,372 29,372 15 440,580 

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. 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 123 / Monday, June 28, 2010 / Proposed Rules 36581 

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: 

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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new AD: 

McDonnell Douglas Corporation: Docket No. 

FAA–2010–0553; Directorate Identifier 

2010–NM–070–AD. 

Comments Due Date 

(a) We must receive comments by August 

12, 2010. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas 

Corporation Model DC–10–30, DC–10–30F, 

DC–10–30F (KC–10A and KDC–10), DC–10– 

40, DC10–40F, and MD–10–30F airplanes, 

certificated in any category; as specified in 

Boeing Service Bulletin DC10–28–244, dated 

February 25, 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 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. 

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. 

Actions 

(g) Within 60 months after the effective 

date of this AD do the actions specified in 

paragraphs (g)(1), (g)(2), (g)(3), and (g)(4) of 

this AD, as applicable, and do all applicable 

corrective actions, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Service Bulletin DC10–28–244, dated 

February 25, 2010, except as required by 

paragraph (h) of this AD. Do all applicable 

corrective actions before further flight. 

(1) Do a one-time general visual inspection 

of the wire bundles to determine if wires 

touch the upper surface of the center upper 

auxiliary fuel tank, and mark the location as 

applicable. 

(2) Do a one-time detailed inspection for 

splices and damage of all wire bundles 

between Stations Y=1219.000 and 

Y=1381.000 between X=¥40 to X=¥90 (right 

side) and X=15 to X=85 (left side) above the 

center upper auxiliary fuel tank. 

(3) Do a one-time detailed inspection for 

damage (burn marks) on the upper surface of 

the center upper auxiliary fuel tank and to 

the fuel vapor barrier seal. 

(4) Install non-metallic barrier/shield 

sleeving to the wire harnesses, new clamps, 

new attaching hardware, and new extruded 

channels. 

(h) Where Boeing Service Bulletin DC10– 

28–244, dated February 25, 2010, specifies to 

contact Boeing for repair instructions: Before 

further flight, repair the center upper 

auxiliary fuel tank using a method approved 

in accordance with the procedures specified 

in paragraph (i) of this AD. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(i)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft 

Certification Office (ACO), 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 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. 

(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 the 

Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization 

Designation Authorization (ODA) that 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. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 16, 

2010. 

Robert D. Breneman, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–15653 Filed 6–25–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2010–0610; Directorate 

Identifier 2009–SW–47–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter 

France Model EC 155B, EC155B1, SA– 

360C, SA–365C, SA–365C1, SA–365C2, 

SA–365N, SA–365N1, AS–365N2, AS 

365 N3, and SA–366G1 Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration, DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This document proposes 

superseding an existing airworthiness 

directive (AD) for the specified 

Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) 

helicopters. That AD requires 

repetitively inspecting the main gearbox 

(MGB) planet gear carrier for a crack and 

replacing any MGB that has a cracked 

planet gear carrier before further flight. 

This action would require the same 

inspections required by the existing AD 

but would shorten the initial inspection 

interval. This proposal is prompted by 

the discovery of another crack in a MGB 

planet gear carrier and additional 

analysis that indicates that the initial 

inspection interval must be shortened. 

The actions specified by the proposed 

AD are intended to detect a crack in the 

web of the planet gear carrier, which 

could lead to a MGB seizure and 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before August 27, 2010. 

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to submit comments on this 

proposed AD: 

• 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. 

• You may get the service information 

identified in this proposed AD from 

American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 

Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75053– 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with PROPOSALS