Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 21 / Tuesday, February 1, 2000 / Proposed Rules 4781

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99–NM–263–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell

Douglas Model MD–11 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 McDonnell Douglas Model MD–

11 series airplanes. This proposal would

require a one-time detailed visual

inspection of a certain passenger seat

wire assembly to detect chafed or

damaged wires; repair, if necessary; and

installation of protective sleeving. This

proposal is prompted by a report of

arcing emanating from a certain

passenger seat wire assembly. The

actions specified by the proposed AD

are intended to prevent chafing of the

passenger seat wire assembly against a

bracket at the lower sidewall panel due

to insufficient clearance between the

bracket and seat wire assembly, which

could result in arcing damage to the

passenger seat wire assembly and

consequent smoke and fire in the main

cabin.

DATES: Comments must be received by

March 17, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 99–NM–

263–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

Boeing Commercial Aircraft Group,

Long Beach Division, 3855 Lakewood

Boulevard, Long Beach, California

90846, Attention: Technical

Publications Business Administration,

Dept. C1–L51 (2–60). This information

may be examined at the FAA, Transport

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at

the FAA, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Los Angeles Aircraft

Certification Office, 3960 Paramount

Boulevard, Lakewood, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brett Portwood, Aerospace Engineer,

Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM–

130L, FAA, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Los Angeles Aircraft

Certification Office, 3960 Paramount

Boulevard, Lakewood, California

90712–4137; telephone (562) 627–5350;

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 99–NM–263–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.

99–NM–263–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Supplementary Information

As part of its practice of re-examining

all aspects of the service experience of

a particular aircraft whenever an

accident occurs, the FAA has become

aware of an instance in which a seat

control circuit breaker tripped while a

crew member was checking a problem

with the controls of a first class

passenger seat. The circuit breaker was

reset and subsequently an arc was

observed emanating from the passenger

seat wire assembly at the base of the

sidewall panel at fuselage station

Y=675. This incident occurred on a

McDonnell Douglas Model MD–11

series airplane. This arcing caused a

foam material to ignite. Investigation

revealed that the passenger seat wire

assembly had been chafing on a bracket

at the lower sidewall panel. This

condition has been attributed to

insufficient clearance between the

bracket and seat wire assembly. This

condition, if not corrected, could result

in smoke and fire in the main cabin.

This incident is not considered to be

related to an accident that occurred off

the coast of Nova Scotia involving a

McDonnell Douglas Model MD–11

series airplane. The cause of that

accident is still under investigation.

Other Related Rulemaking

The FAA, in conjunction with Boeing

and operators of Model MD–11 series

airplanes, is continuing to review all

aspects of the service history of those

airplanes to identify potential unsafe

conditions and to take appropriate

corrective actions. This proposed

airworthiness directive (AD) is one of a

series of actions identified during that

process. The process is continuing and

the FAA may consider additional

rulemaking actions as further results of

the review become available.

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information

The FAA has reviewed and approved

McDonnell Douglas Alert Service

Bulletin MD11–24A152, dated August 9,

1999, which describes procedures for a

one-time detailed visual inspection of

the passenger seat wire assembly to

detect chafed or damaged wires; repair,

if necessary; and installation of

protective sleeving. 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, this proposed AD would

require accomplishment of the actions

specified in the service bulletin

described previously.

Cost Impact

There are approximately 128

airplanes of the affected design in the

worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that

32 airplanes of U.S. registry would be

affected by this proposed AD.

It would take approximately 2 work

hour per airplane to accomplish the

proposed inspection, at an average labor

4782 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 21 / Tuesday, February 1, 2000 / Proposed Rules

rate of $60 per work hour. Based on

these figures, the cost impact of the

inspection proposed by this AD on U.S.

operators is estimated to be $3,840, or

$120 per airplane.

It would take approximately 2 work

hours per airplane to accomplish the

proposed installation of protective

sleeving, at an average labor rate of $60

per work hour. Based on these figures,

the cost impact of the installation

proposed by this AD on U.S. operators

is estimated to be $3,840, or $120 per

airplane.

The cost impact figures discussed

above are based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the proposed requirements of this AD

action, and that no operator would

accomplish those actions in the future if

this AD were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein

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. Therefore,

it is determined that this proposal

would not have federalism implications

under Executive Order 13132.

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

adding the following new airworthiness

directive:

McDonnell Douglas: Docket 99–NM–263–

AD.

Applicability: Model MD–11 series

airplanes, as listed in McDonnell Douglas

Alert Service Bulletin MD11–24A152, dated

August 9, 1999; 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 (b) 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 chafing of the passenger seat

wire assembly against a bracket at the lower

sidewall panel due to insufficient clearance

between the bracket and seat wire assembly,

which could result in arcing damage to the

passenger seat wire assembly and consequent

smoke and fire in the main cabin, accomplish

the following:

Inspection, Installation, and Repair, If

Necessary

(a) Within 6 months after the effective date

of this AD, perform a detailed visual

inspection of the passenger seat wire

assembly to detect chafed or damaged wires,

and install protective sleeving, in accordance

with McDonnell Douglas Alert Service

Bulletin MD11–24A152, dated August 9,

1999. If any chafed or damaged wire is found,

prior to further flight, repair in accordance

with the service bulletin.

Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a

detailed visual inspection is defined as: ‘‘An

intensive visual examination of a specific

structural area, system, installation, or

assembly to detect damage, failure, or

irregularity. Available lighting is normally

supplemented with a direct source of good

lighting at intensity deemed appropriate by

the inspector. Inspection aids such as mirror,

magnifying lenses, etc., may be used. Surface

cleaning and elaborate access procedures

may be required.’’

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(b) 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, Los

Angeles 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, Los Angeles ACO.

Note 3: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Los Angeles ACO.

Special Flight Permits

(c) 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 January

21, 2000.

Vi L. Lipski,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00– 2003 Filed 1–31–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99–NM–264–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell

Douglas Model MD–11 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 McDonnell Douglas Model MD–

11 series airplanes. This proposal would

require a one-time detailed visual

inspection of the electrical connections

to detect corrosion; repair, if necessary;

and installation of new circuit breakers

and associated wiring. This proposal is

prompted by a report that the ratings of

certain circuit breakers of a certain

video entertainment system exceed the

ratings of their associated electrical

connector contacts. The actions

specified by the proposed AD are

intended to prevent a disparity between

the ratings of certain circuit breakers

and their associated electrical connector

contacts, which could damage the

electrical connector contacts and cause

possible arcing and heat damage to the

electrical connector.

DATES: Comments must be received by

March 17, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,