Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 20, 2001 / Proposed Rules 10851

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.

Note 2: Where there are differences

between the referenced service bulletin and

the AD, the AD prevails.

To detect riding or chafing of the wire

bundles adjacent to the disconnect panel

bracket assembly, which could result in a fire

in the wire bundles and smoke in the

cockpit, accomplish the following:

General Visual Inspection and Corrective

Actions, If Necessary

(a) Within 6 months after the effective date

of this AD, perform a general visual

inspection to detect riding, chafing, or

damage of the wire bundles adjacent to the

disconnect panel bracket, per paragraph

3.B.2. of the Accomplishment Instructions of

McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin

MD11–24A111, Revision 01, dated July 27,

2000.

Note 3: For the purposes of this AD, a

general visual inspection is defined as ‘‘A

visual examination of an interior or exterior

area, installation, or assembly to detect

obvious damage, failure, or irregularity. This

level of inspection is made under normally

available lighting conditions such as

daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or droplight, and may require removal or opening of

access panels or doors. Stands, ladders, or

platforms may be required to gain proximity

to the area being checked.’’

(1) If any riding or chafing is found, and

if any damage is found: Before further flight,

repair damaged wires; install anti-chafing

sleeving on the wire bundles; and install a

protective grommet along the entire upper aft

edge of the disconnect panel bracket; per

Condition 1 of paragraph 3.B.2 of the

Accomplishment Instructions of the service

bulletin.

(2) If any riding or chafing is found, but no

damage is found: Before further flight, install

anti-chafing sleeving on the wire bundles,

and install a protective grommet along the

entire upper aft edge of the disconnect panel

bracket, per Condition 2 of paragraph 3.B.2.

of the Accomplishment Instructions of the

service bulletin.

(3) If no riding, chafing, or damage is

found: Before further flight, install antichafing sleeving on the wire bundles, and

install a protective grommet along the entire

upper aft edge of the disconnect panel

bracket, per Condition 3 of paragraph 3.B.2.

of the Accomplishment Instruction of the

service bulletin.

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. 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 4: 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 February

12, 2001.

Vi L. Lipski,

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–4055 Filed 2–16–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–NM–189–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 an inspection of the upper

avionics circuit breaker panel at the

main observer’s station to detect damage

of the wires and to verify the correct

routing of the wire bundles; corrective

actions, if necessary; and installation of

a new clamp, spacer, and sta-straps.

This action is necessary to prevent

chafing in the upper avionics circuit

breaker panel of the main observer’s

station, which could result in arcing and

consequent smoke and/or fire in the

cockpit. This action is intended to

address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by

April 6, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000–NM–

189–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, except Federal

holidays. Comments may be submitted

via fax to (425) 227–1232. Comments

may also be sent via the Internet using

the following address: 9-anmnprmcomment@faa.gov. Comments sent

via fax or the Internet must contain

‘‘Docket No. 2000–NM–189–AD’’ in the

subject line and need not be submitted

in triplicate. Comments sent via the

Internet as attached electronic files must

be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for

Windows or ASCII text.

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, Los Angeles Aircraft

Certification Office, 3960 Paramount

Boulevard, Lakewood, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brett Portwood, Technical Specialist,

Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM–

130L, FAA, 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 action may be changed in light

of the comments received.

Submit comments using the following

format:

• Organize comments issue-by-issue.

For example, discuss a request to

change the compliance time and a

request to change the service bulletin

reference as two separate issues.

• For each issue, state what specific

change to the proposed AD is being

requested.

• Include justification (e.g., reasons or

data) for each request.

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

10852 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 20, 2001 / Proposed Rules

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 action

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket Number 2000–NM–189–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.

2000–NM–189–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

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 incident of wiring chafing

in the upper avionics circuit breaker

panel of the main observer’s station on

a McDonnell Douglas Model MD–11

series airplane. Investigation revealed

that the chafed wiring was due to

friction between the wires and the edge

of the panel, which occurs during the

opening and closing of the panel. Such

chafing, if not corrected, could result in

arcing in the upper avionics circuit

breaker panel, which could result in

smoke and/or fire in the cockpit.

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 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

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11–

24A179, Revision 01, dated October 31,

2000. The service bulletin describes

procedures for a general visual

inspection of the upper avionics circuit

breaker panel at the main observer’s

station to detect damage of the wires

and to verify the correct routing of the

wire bundles, and corrective actions, if

necessary; and installation of a new

clamp to the AES9101 wire bundle and

wire support bar, and a new spacer and

sta-straps. The corrective actions

involve repairing damaged wiring;

replacing damaged wiring with new

wiring; loosening clamps; and replacing

the sta-straps with new sta-straps.

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

require accomplishment of the actions

specified in the service bulletin

described previously.

Cost Impact

There are approximately 185 Model

MD–11 series airplanes of the affected

design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA

estimates that 59 airplanes of U.S.

registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 5 work hours per

airplane to accomplish the proposed

actions, and that the average labor rate

is $60 per work hour. Required parts

would be supplied by the airplane

manufacturer at no cost to the operators.

Based on these figures, the cost impact

of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $17,700, or $300 per

airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed

above is 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 proposed AD were not adopted. The

cost impact figures discussed in AD

rulemaking actions represent only the

time necessary to perform the specific

actions actually required by the AD.

These figures typically do not include

incidental costs, such as the time

required to gain access and close up,

planning time, or time necessitated by

other administrative actions.

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 2000–NM–189–

AD.

Applicability: Model MD–11 series

airplanes, as listed in Boeing Alert Service

Bulletin MD11–24A179, Revision 01, dated

October 31, 2000; 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

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 20, 2001 / Proposed Rules 10853

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent chafing in the upper avionics

circuit breaker panel of the main observer’s

station, which could result in arcing and

consequent smoke and/or fire in the cockpit,

accomplish the following:

Inspection, Installation, and Corrective

Actions, If Necessary

(a) Within 6 months after the effective date

of this AD, do the action(s) specified in

paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this AD per

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11–24A179,

Revision 01, dated October 31, 2000.

(1) A general visual inspection of the upper

avionics circuit breaker panel at the main

observer’s station to detect damage of the

wires and to verify the correct routing of the

wire bundles.

Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a

general visual inspection is defined as ‘‘A

visual examination of an interior or exterior

area, installation, or assembly to detect

obvious damage, failure, or irregularity. This

level of inspection is made under normally

available lighting conditions such as

daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or droplight, and may require removal or opening of

access panels or doors. Stands, ladders, or

platforms may be required to gain proximity

to the area being checked.’’

(i) If any damaged wire is found, before

further flight, repair it or replace it with new

wiring.

(ii) If any incorrect wire routing is found,

before further flight, loosen clamps and

replace the sta-straps with new sta-straps.

(2) Install a new clamp to the AES9101

wire bundle and wire support bar, and install

a new spacer and sta-straps.

Note 3: Accomplishment of the actions

specified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin

MD11–24A179, dated August 10, 2000,

before the effective date of this AD, is

considered acceptable for compliance with

the requirements of this AD.

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. 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 4: 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 Permit

(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 February

12, 2001.

Vi L. Lipski,

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–4054 Filed 2–16–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–NM–188–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 performing a general visual

inspection to detect chafing or damage

of the parallel power feeder cables of the

number 2 integrated drive generator

(IDG); repairing any chafed cable and

damaged structure; and repositioning

the parallel power feeder cables of the

number 2 IDG. This action is necessary

to prevent chafing and arcing of the

parallel feeder cables of the number 2

IDG, which could result in smoke and/

or fire in the right aft galley area. This

action is intended to address the

identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by

April 6, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000–NM–

188–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, except Federal

holidays. Comments may be submitted

via fax to (425) 227–1232. Comments

may also be sent via the Internet using

the following address:

9-anm-nprmcomment@faa.gov.

Comments sent via fax or the Internet

must contain ‘‘Docket No. 2000–NM–

188–AD’’ in the subject line and need

not be submitted in triplicate.

Comments sent via the Internet as

attached electronic files must be

formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for

Windows or ASCII text.

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, Los Angeles Aircraft

Certification Office, 3960 Paramount

Boulevard, Lakewood, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brett Portwood, Technical Specialist,

Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM–

130L, FAA, 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 action may be changed in light

of the comments received.

Submit comments using the following

format:

• Organize comments issue-by-issue.

For example, discuss a request to

change the compliance time and a

request to change the service bulletin

reference as two separate issues.

• For each issue, state what specific

change to the proposed AD is being

requested.

• Include justification (e.g., reasons or

data) for each request.

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 action