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.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

37072

Vol. 63, No. 131

Thursday, July 9, 1998

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98–NM–72–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing

Model 737–100 and –200 Series

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

supersedure of an existing airworthiness

directive (AD), applicable to certain

Boeing Model 737–100 and –200 series

airplanes, that currently requires

replacement of certain outboard and

inboard wheel halves with improved

wheel halves; cleaning and inspecting

certain outboard and inboard wheel

halves for corrosion, missing paint in

large areas, and cracks; and repair or

replacement of the wheel halves with

serviceable wheel halves, if necessary.

That AD was prompted by a review of

the design of the flight control systems

on Model 737 series airplanes. This

action would require that the actions be

accomplished in accordance with

revised service information. The actions

specified by the proposed AD are

intended to prevent failure of the wheel

flanges, which could result in damage to

the hydraulics systems, jammed flight

controls, loss of electrical power, or

other combinations of failures; and

consequent reduced controllability of

the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received by

August 24, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 98–NM–

72–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

The service information referenced in

the proposed rule may be obtained from

Allied Signal Aerospace Company,

Bendix Wheels and Brakes Division,

South Bend, Indiana 46624; and Bendix,

Aircraft Brake and Strut Division, 3520

Westmoor Street, South Bend, Indiana

46628–1373. This information may be

examined at the FAA, Transport

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David Herron, Aerospace Engineer,

Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM–

130S, FAA, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Seattle Aircraft Certification

Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington 98055–4056; telephone

(425) 227–2672; fax (425) 227–1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications shall

identify the Rules Docket number and

be submitted in triplicate to the address

specified above. All communications

received on or before the closing date

for comments, specified above, will be

considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained

in this notice may be changed in light

of the comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report

summarizing each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this

proposal will be filed in the Rules

Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket Number 98–NM–72–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

ANM–114, Attention: Rules Docket No.

98–NM–72–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

On August 4, 1997, the FAA issued

AD 97–17–01, amendment 39–10102 (62

FR 43067, August 12, 1997), applicable

to certain Boeing Model 737–100 and

–200 series airplanes, to require

replacement of certain outboard and

inboard wheel halves with improved

wheel halves; cleaning and inspecting

certain outboard and inboard wheel

halves for corrosion, missing paint in

large areas, and cracks; and repair or

replacement of the wheel halves with

serviceable wheel halves, if necessary.

That action was prompted by a review

of the design of the flight control

systems on Model 737 series airplanes.

The requirements of that AD are

intended to prevent failure of the wheel

flanges, which could result in damage to

the hydraulics systems, jammed flight

controls, loss of electrical power, or

other combinations of failures; and

consequent reduced controllability of

the airplane.

Explanation of Revised Service

Information

Since the issuance of that AD, the

FAA has been advised that Allied Signal

Service Bulletin No. 737–32–026, dated

April 26, 1988, which was referenced as

the appropriate source of service

information for accomplishment of the

actions specified in that original AD,

was incorrect. Subsequently, the FAA

has reviewed and approved Allied

Signal Service Bulletin No. 737–32–026,

dated June 27, 1988. The procedures

described in that revision are similar to

those described in the earlier version of

the service bulletin. However, among

other things, this new version of the

service bulletin differs from the original

version in the following respects:

1. The effectivity listing in the revised

service bulletin includes a new part

number for inboard wheel halves.

2. The revised service bulletin

provides a new option for repainting the

wheels.

3. The revised service bulletin

identifies specific serial numbers of

wheel halves on which ‘‘beef-ups’’ were
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37073

accomplished, but inspections are still

necessary.

Accomplishment of the actions

specified in the service bulletin is

intended to adequately address the

identified unsafe condition.

Explanation of Requirements of

Proposed Rule

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other products of this same

type design, the proposed AD would

supersede AD 97–17–01 to continue to

require replacement of certain outboard

and inboard wheel halves with

improved wheel halves; cleaning and

inspecting certain outboard and inboard

wheel halves for corrosion, missing

paint in large areas, and cracks; and

repair or replacement of the wheel

halves with serviceable wheel halves, if

necessary. The actions would be

required to be accomplished in

accordance with the revised service

bulletin described previously.

Cost Impact

There are approximately 634 Boeing

Model 737–100 and –200 series

airplanes of the affected design in the

worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that

241 airplanes of U.S. registry would be

affected by this proposed AD.

Because this proposed AD would

merely require that the actions currently

required by AD 97–17–01 be

accomplished in accordance with

revised service information, the

proposed AD would add no additional

costs, and would require no additional

work to be performed by affected

operators. The current costs associated

with this amendment are reiterated in

their entirety (as follows) for the

convenience of affected operators.

The FAA estimates that it will take

approximately 4 work hours per

airplane to accomplish the required

replacement of wheel halves at an

average labor rate of $60 per work hour.

Required parts will cost approximately

$20,212 per airplane. Based on these

figures, the cost impact of the required

replacement on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $4,928,932, or $20,452

per airplane.

The FAA also estimates that it will

take approximately 2 work hours per

airplane to accomplish the required

cleaning and inspection at an average

labor rate of $60 per work hour. Based

on these figures, the cost impact of the

required cleaning and inspection on

U.S. operators is estimated to be

$28,920, or $120 per airplane.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein

would not have substantial direct effects

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. Therefore,

in accordance with Executive Order

12612, it is determined that this

proposal would not have sufficient

federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that 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) if

promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this

action is contained in the Rules Docket.

A copy of it may be obtained by

contacting the Rules Docket at the

location provided under the caption

ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration proposes to amend part

39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations

(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. Section 39.13 is amended by

removing amendment 39–10102 (62 FR

43067, August 12, 1997), and by adding

a new airworthiness directive (AD), to

read as follows:

Boeing: Docket 98–NM–72–AD. Supersedes

AD 97–17–01, amendment 39–10102.

Applicability: Model 737–100 and –200

series airplanes equipped with Bendix main

wheel assemblies having part number (P/N)

2601571–1, certificated in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

modified, altered, or repaired in the area

subject to the requirements of this AD. For

airplanes that have been modified, altered, or

repaired so that the performance of the

requirements of this AD is affected, the

owner/operator must request approval for an

alternative method of compliance in

accordance with paragraph (c) of this AD.

The request should include an assessment of

the effect of the modification, alteration, or

repair on the unsafe condition addressed by

this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent failure of the wheel flanges,

which could result in damage to the

hydraulics systems, jammed flight controls,

loss of electrical power, or other

combinations of failures; and consequent

reduced controllability of the airplane;

accomplish the following:

Note 2: Allied Signal, Aircraft Landing

Systems, Service Information Letter (SIL)

#619, dated February 26, 1997, is an

additional source of service information for

appropriate wheel half serial numbers.

(a) For airplanes equipped with a Bendix

main wheel assembly having P/N 2601571–

1 with an inboard wheel half with serial

number (S/N) B–5898 or lower, or S/N H–

1721 or lower; or with an outboard wheel

half with S/N B–5898 or lower, or S/N H–

0863 or lower; accomplish the following:

(1) Within 180 days after September 16,

1997 (the effective date of AD 97–17–01,

amendment 39–10102, 62 FR 43067), and

thereafter at each tire change until the

replacement required by paragraph (b) of this

AD is accomplished: Accomplish the actions

specified in paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii), and

(a)(1)(iii) of this AD, in accordance with the

Accomplishment Instructions of Allied

Signal Service Bulletin No. 737–32–026,

dated June 27, 1988.

(i) Clean any inboard and outboard wheel

half specified in paragraph (a) of this AD.

And

(ii) Inspect the wheel halves for corrosion

or missing paint. If any corrosion is found,

or if any paint is missing in large areas, prior

to further flight, strip or remove paint, and

remove any corrosion. And

(iii) Perform an eddy current inspection to

detect cracks of the bead seat area.

(2) If any cracking is found during the

inspections required by this paragraph, prior

to further flight, repair or replace the wheel

halves with serviceable wheel halves in

accordance with procedures specified in the

Component Maintenance Manual.

(b) For airplanes equipped with a Bendix

main wheel assembly having P/N 2601571–

1 with an inboard wheel half with S/N B–

5898 or lower, or S/N H–1721 or lower; or

with an outboard wheel half with S/N B–

5898 or lower, or S/N H–0863 or lower;

accomplish the following: Within 2 years

after September 16, 1997, accomplish the

actions specified in paragraphs (b)(1) and

(b)(2) of this AD, in accordance with Bendix

SIL 392, Revision 1, dated November 15,

1979. Accomplishment of the replacement

constitutes terminating action for the

repetitive inspections required by paragraph

(a) of this AD.

(1) Remove any inboard wheel half

specified in paragraph (b) of this AD, and
37074 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

replace it with an inboard wheel half having

P/N 2607046, S/N 5899 or greater, or S/N H–

1722 or greater. And

(2) Remove any outboard wheel half

specified in paragraph (b) of this AD, and

replace it with an outboard wheel half having

P/N 2607047, S/N B–5899 or greater, or S/N

H–0864 or greater.

(c)(1) An alternative method of compliance

or adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager, Seattle

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators

shall submit their requests through an

appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, Seattle ACO.

(c)(2) Alternative methods of compliance,

approved previously in accordance with AD

97–17–01, amendment 39–10102, are

approved as alternative methods of

compliance with this AD.

Note 3: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Seattle ACO.

(d) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to

a location where the requirements of this AD

can be accomplished.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 1,

1998.

Stewart R. Miller,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–18159 Filed 7–8–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket 97–NM–242–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell

Douglas Model DC–8 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to

certain Model DC–8 series airplanes.

Among other things, this proposal

would require repetitive leak tests of the

lavatory drain systems and repair, if

necessary; installation of a lever lock

cap, vacuum breaker check valve or

flush/fill line ball valve on the flush/fill

line; periodic seal changes; and

replacement of ‘‘donut’’ type waste

drain valves installed in the waste drain

system. This proposal is prompted by

continuing reports of damage to engines,

airframes, and to property on the

ground, caused by ‘‘blue ice’’ that forms

from leaking lavatory drain systems on

transport category airplanes and

subsequently dislodges from the

airplane fuselage. The actions specified

by this proposed AD are intended to

prevent such damage associated with

the problems of ‘‘blue ice.’’

DATES: Comments must be received by

August 24, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–NM–

242–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Walter Eierman, Aerospace Engineer,

Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM–

130L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft

Certification Office, 3960 Paramount

Boulevard, Lakewood, California

90712–4317; telephone (562) 627–5336;

fax (562) 627–5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications shall

identify the Rules Docket number and

be submitted in triplicate to the address

specified above. All communications

received on or before the closing date

for comments, specified above, will be

considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained

in this notice may be changed in light

of the comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report

summarizing each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this

proposal will be filed in the Rules

Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket Number 97–NM–242–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

ANM–114, Attention: Rules Docket No.

97–NM–242–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

Over the past several years, the FAA

has received numerous reports of

leakage from the lavatory service

systems on in-service transport category

airplanes that resulted in the formation

of ‘‘blue ice’’ on the fuselage. In some

instances, the ‘‘blue ice’’ subsequently

dislodged from the fuselage and was

ingested into an engine. In several of

these incidents, the ingestion of ‘‘blue

ice’’ into an engine resulted in the loss

of an engine fan blade, severe engine

damage, and the inflight shutdown of

the engine. In two cases, the loads

created by the ‘‘blue ice’’ being ingested

into the engine resulted in the engine

being physically torn from the airplane.

Damage to an engine, or the separation

of an engine from the airplane, could

result in reduced controllability of the

airplane.

The FAA also has received reports of

at least three incidents of damage to the

airframe of various models of transport

category airplanes that was caused by

foreign objects dislodged from the

forward toilet drain valve and flush/fill

line. One report was of a dent on the

right horizontal stabilizer leading edge

on a Boeing Model 737 series airplane

that was caused by ‘‘blue ice’’ that had

formed from leakage through a flush/fill

line; in this case, the flush/fill cap was

missing from the line at the forward

service panel. Numerous operators have

stated that leakage from the flush/fill

line is a significant source of problems

associated with ‘‘blue ice.’’ Such

damage caused by ‘‘blue ice’’ could

adversely affect the integrity of the

fuselage skin or surface structures.

Additionally, there have been

numerous reports of ‘‘blue ice’’

dislodging from airplanes and striking

houses, cars, buildings, and other

occupied areas on the ground. Although

there have been no reports of any person

being struck by ‘‘blue ice,’’ the FAA

considers that the large number of

reported cases of ‘‘blue ice’’ falling from

lavatory drain systems is sufficient to

support the conclusion that ‘‘blue ice’’

presents an unsafe condition to people

on the ground. Demographic studies

have shown that population density has

increased around airports, and probably

will continue to increase. These are