This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

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REGISTER issue of each week.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

77367 

Vol. 76, No. 239 

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–0649; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–076–AD; Amendment 

39–16882; AD 2011–25–06] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

The Boeing Company Model MD–11 

and MD–11F airplanes. This AD was 

prompted by a report that the rub strips 

attached to the horizontal stabilizer 

front spar access door location were 

manufactured improperly using 

anodized aluminum. This AD requires 

replacing the anodized rub strips with 

new alodined rub strips to prevent 

inadequate electrical bonding between 

the rub strips and the fuel access door, 

which can contribute to possible 

ignition of flammable fuel vapor in the 

tail fuel tank as a result of a lightning 

strike. We are issuing this AD to correct 

the unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective January 17, 

2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in the AD 

as of January 17, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, 3855 

Lakewood Boulevard, MC D800–0019, 

Long Beach, California 90846–0001; 

phone: (206) 544–5000, extension 2; fax: 

(206) 766–5683; email: 

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 AD, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The address for the 

Docket Office (phone: (800) 647–5527) 

is Document Management Facility, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Philip Kush, Aerospace Engineer, 

Propulsion Branch, ANM–140L, FAA, 

Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 

Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 

Lakewood, California 90712–4137; 

phone: (562) 627–5263; fax: (562) 627– 

5210; email: philip.kush@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to include an AD that would 

apply to the specified products. That 

NPRM was published in the Federal 

Register on June 30, 2011 (76 FR 38332). 

That NPRM proposed to require 

replacing the anodized rub strips of the 

tail fuel tank access door with new 

alodined rub strips. 

Revisions to AD Language 

In the NPRM (76 FR 38332, June 30, 

2011) we specified that this AD was 

prompted by a report that the rub strips 

of the tail fuel tank access door were 

manufactured improperly. We are 

revising the statement to more 

accurately reflect the location of the rub 

strips. We have revised the summary 

section and paragraph (e) of this AD 

accordingly. 

Also, to more accurately describe the 

rub strips, we have revised paragraph (g) 

of this AD to state, ‘‘replace the 

anodized rub strips with new alodined 

rub strips.’’ 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comment 

received on the proposal and the FAA’s 

response to the comment. 

Request To Revise Part Number 

UPS requested that Boeing revise the 

part number of the alodined rub strip 

specified in Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin MD11–55–027, dated 

March 17, 2011. UPS stated that the 

existing anodized rub strip has the same 

part number as the new alodined rub 

strip, and this may cause confusion for 

the operators. UPS stated that changing 

the part number of the new alodined rub 

strip would prevent an anodized rub 

strip from being installed instead of the 

required alodined rub strip. 

We disagree with the commenter’s 

request to revise the part number of the 

alodined rub strip. Boeing has verified 

that prior to issuance of Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin MD11–55– 

027, dated March 17, 2011, two 

alodined rub strips have been sold to 

the MD–11 operators. The rub strips are 

not part of the access door. They are 

riveted to the horizontal stabilizer front 

spar web and are not re-installable after 

drilling out rivets during replacement. 

Since only alodined rub strips are 

available and since the anodized rub 

strips are destroyed during removal, 

reinstalling anodized rub strips is not 

possible. We have determined that the 

only airplanes with anodized rub strips 

are the airplanes listed in the 

Applicability section of this AD. No 

change has been made to the AD in this 

regard. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comment received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting the AD 

as proposed. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 120 

airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this AD: 


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77368 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 239 / Tuesday, December 13, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Replace rub strips ............................................... 32 work-hours × $85 per hour = $2,720 ............ $0 $2,720 $326,400 

According to the manufacturer, some 

of the costs of this AD may be covered 

under warranty, thereby reducing the 

cost impact on affected individuals. We 

do not control warranty coverage for 

affected individuals. As a result, we 

have included all costs in our cost 

estimate. 

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), 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, and 

(4) 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. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 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 airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

2011–25–06 The Boeing Company: 

Amendment 39–16882; Docket No. 

FAA–2011–0649; Directorate Identifier 

2011–NM–076–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective January 17, 2012. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

The Boeing Company Model MD–11 and 

MD–11F airplanes, certificated in any 

category, as identified in Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin MD11–55–027, 

dated March 17, 2011. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/ 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America 

Code 5510: Horizontal stabilizer structure. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report that the 

rub strips attached to the horizontal stabilizer 

front spar access door location were 

manufactured improperly using anodized 

aluminum. We are issuing this AD to prevent 

inadequate electrical bonding between the 

rub strips and the fuel access door, which 

can contribute to possible ignition of 

flammable fuel vapor in the tail fuel tank as 

a result of a lightning strike. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Installation 

Within 60 months after the effective date 

of this AD, replace the anodized rub strips 

with new alodined rub strips, in accordance 

with the Accomplishment Instructions of 

Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 

MD11–55–027, dated March 17, 2011. 

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft 

Certification Office (ACO), Transport 

Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority 

to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 

request to your principal inspector or local 

Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 

attention of the person identified in the 

Related Information section of this AD. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

(i) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Philip Kush, Aerospace Engineer, 

Propulsion Branch, ANM–140L, FAA, Los 

Angeles ACO, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 

Lakewood, California 90712–4137; phone: 

(562) 627–5263; fax: (562) 627–5210; email: 

philip.kush@faa.gov. 

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference 

You must use the following service 

information to do the actions required by this 

AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 

Director of the Federal Register approved the 

incorporation by reference (IBR) under 5 

U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 of the 

following service information on the date 

specified: 

(1) Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin MD11–55–027, dated March 17, 

2011, approved for IBR January 17, 2012, 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services 

Management, 3855 Lakewood Boulevard, MC 

D800–0019, Long Beach, California 90846– 

0001; phone: (206) 544–5000, extension 2; 

fax: (206) 766–5683; email: 

dse.boecom@boeing.com; Internet: https:// 

www.myboeingfleet.com. 

(3) 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. 

(4) You may also review copies of the 

service information that is incorporated by 

reference at the National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of this 

material at an NARA facility, call (202) 741– 

6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/ 


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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 239 / Tuesday, December 13, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 77369 

federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ 

ibr_locations.html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

November 23, 2011. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–31269 Filed 12–12–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–1040; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–CE–029–AD; Amendment 

39–16889; AD 2011–26–01] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Piaggio Aero 

Industries S.p.A. Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for Piaggio 

Aero Industries S.p.A. Model P–180 

airplanes. This AD results from 

mandatory continuing airworthiness 

information (MCAI) issued by an 

aviation authority of another country to 

identify and correct an unsafe condition 

on an aviation product. The MCAI 

describes the unsafe condition as the 

baggage door lockpins not engaging 

properly and the baggage door open 

light illuminating when the baggage 

door is not open, which could lead to 

the pilot disregarding a valid warning. 

We are issuing this AD to require 

actions to address the unsafe condition 

on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective January 17, 

2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in the AD 

as of January 17, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD 

docket on the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov or in person at 

Document Management Facility, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC 20590. 

For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Piaggio Aero Industries 

S.p.A–Airworthiness Office, Via Luigi 

Cibrario, 4–16154 Genova-Italy; phone: 

+39 010 6481353; fax: +39 010 6481881; 

email: airworthiness@piaggioaero.it; 

Internet: http://www.piaggioaero.com/#/ 

en/after-sales/service-support. You may 

review copies of the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Small Airplane 

Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, 

Missouri 64106. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call (816) 329–4148. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 

Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 

Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; 

telephone: (816) 329–4144; fax: (816) 

329–4090; email: mike.kiesov@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to include an AD that would 

apply to the specified products. That 

NPRM was published in the Federal 

Register on September 29, 2011 (76 FR 

60396). That NPRM proposed to correct 

an unsafe condition for the specified 

products. The MCAI states: 

One event of in-flight baggage door 

opening occurred on an in-service aeroplane 

due to a defective locking mechanism or 

installation thereof; the BAG DOOR warning 

light went on properly before the event, but 

was ignored by the pilot, who misinterpreted 

it as a false warning. 

NOTE: false in-service BAG DOOR 

warnings had occurred on other P.180 

aeroplanes, and Piaggio Aero Industries (PAI) 

had issued Service Bulletin (SB) No. 80–0223 

revision 1 to improve the installation of the 

baggage door warning microswitch and to 

modify the locking mechanism if necessary. 

This condition, if not detected and 

corrected, could lead to in-flight detachment 

of the door, which could hit and damage the 

left propeller and/or the vertical or horizontal 

stabilizer, possibly resulting in loss of control 

of the aeroplane, or in injuries to persons or 

damage to property on the ground. 

This AD requires an inspection of the 

locking mechanism of the baggage door and 

its proper adjustment, in accordance with 

PAI SB No. 80–0289 revision 1; if baggage 

door lockpins do not reach the correct 

engagement, or false BAG DOOR warnings 

were reported by flight crew, this AD 

requires also a modification of the door 

mechanism in accordance with PAI SB No. 

80–0223 revision 1. 

Instances of the baggage door open light 

illuminating have occurred when the 

baggage door was not open. This 

condition, if not corrected, could result 

in the pilot disregarding a valid 

warning. You may obtain further 

information by examining the MCAI in 

the AD docket. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. We 

received no comments on the NPRM (76 

FR 60396, September 29, 2011) or on the 

determination of the cost to the public. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the available data and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting the AD 

as proposed. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

MCAI or Service Information 

We have reviewed the MCAI and 

related service information and, in 

general, agree with their substance. But 

we might have found it necessary to use 

different words from those in the MCAI 

to ensure the AD is clear for U.S. 

operators and is enforceable. In making 

these changes, we do not intend to differ 

substantively from the information 

provided in the MCAI and related 

service information. 

We might also have required different 

actions in this AD from those in the 

MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. 

Any such differences are highlighted in 

a note within the AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD will affect 

102 products of U.S. registry. We also 

estimate that it would take about 29 

work-hours per product to comply with 

the basic requirements of this AD. The 

average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. 

Required parts would cost about $4,482 

per product. 

Based on these figures, we estimate 

the cost of the AD on U.S. operators to 

be 708,594, or $6,947 per product. 

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 AD will not 

have federalism implications under 


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