10844 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 20, 2001 / Proposed Rules

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

removing amendment 39–11571 (65 FR

8030, February 17, 2000), and by adding

a new airworthiness directive (AD), to

read as follows:

McDonnell Douglas: Docket 2000–NM–193–

AD. Supersedes AD 2000–03–12,

Amendment 39–11571.

Applicability: Model MD–11 series

airplanes, as listed in Boeing Service Bulletin

MD11–24–128, Revision 02, 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

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent loss of the charging capability

of the air driven generator (ADG), that when

coupled with a loss of all normal electrical

power, could prevent continued safe flight

and landing of the airplane, accomplish the

following:

Replacement

(a) Within 1 year after the effective date of

this AD, do the actions specified in

paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(3) of this AD

per Boeing Service Bulletin MD11–24–128,

Revision 02, dated October 31, 2000.

(1) Replace the ADG wire assembly, part

number (P/N) ACS9006–501 and/or

ACS9006–502, located on the transformer

panel at station Y=568.333 in the right air

conditioning compartment with a new wire

assembly, P/N SR11240033–101.

Note 2: The referenced service bulletin

incorrectly lists the new wire assembly as

having P/N SR1124033–101 in paragraph

3.A.4. of the Accomplishment Instructions.

The correct P/N is SR11240033–101, as

indicated in paragraph (a)(1) of this AD.

(2) Replace the associated clamps and

screws of the ADG wire assembly with new

clamps and screws.

(3) Torque tighten terminal hardware to the

limits specified in 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 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 February

12, 2001.

Vi L. Lipski,

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–4058 Filed 2–16–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–NM–192–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 to detect arcing

damage of the electrical cables leading

to the terminal strips and surrounding

structure in the wing areas inboard of

the pylons 1 and 3 and the No. 2 engine;

and corrective actions, if necessary. This

proposal also would require revising the

cable connection stackup of the terminal

strips on the wings and No. 2 engine.

This action is necessary to prevent

arcing damage to the terminal strips and

damage to the adjacent structure in the

wing areas inboard of the pylons 1 and

3 and the No. 2 engine, which could

result in a fire inboard of the pylons 1

and 3 or the No. 2 engine. 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–

192–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–192–AD’’ in the

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 20, 2001 / Proposed Rules 10845

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, Aerospace Engineer,

Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM–

130L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft

Certification Office, 3960 Paramount

Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712;

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

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket Number 2000–NM–192–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–192–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 in which arcing

occurred between the power feeder

cables and support bracket of the

terminal strips on a McDonnell Douglas

Model MD–11 series airplane.

Investigation revealed that inadequate

clearance exists between the terminal

strips and support brackets of the wing

areas inboard of the pylons 1 and 3 and

the No. 2 engine. This condition, if not

corrected, could result in arcing damage

to the terminal strips and damage to the

adjacent structure of the wing areas

inboard of the pylons 1 and 3 and the

No. 2 engine, which could result in a

fire inboard of the pylons 1 and 3 or the

No. 2 engine.

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

McDonnell Douglas Alert Service

Bulletin MD11–24A187, dated October

4, 2000, which describes procedures for

a general visual inspection to detect

arcing damage of the electrical cables

leading to the terminal strip and the

surrounding structure in the wing areas

inboard of the pylons 1 and 3 and the

No. 2 engine; and corrective actions, if

necessary. The corrective actions

include replacing any damaged terminal

strip with a like part and sealing the

screw heads of any replaced terminal

strip; repairing any arcing or structure

damage; and replacing any damaged

cable with a new cable. The service

bulletin also describes procedures for

revising the cable connection stackup of

the terminal strips on the left and right

wings and the No. 2 engine (including

performing a general visual inspection

for damaged cable assemblies; repairing

of any damaged cable assembly; and

tightening terminal lug hardware).

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; except as

discussed below.

Differences Between Proposed Rule and

Service Bulletin

Operators should note that the service

bulletin specifies to repair damaged

structure per the Structural Repair

Manual (SRM). However, the SRM does

not provide adequate procedures for

repair of certain structural material.

Therefore, this proposal would require

the repair of damaged structure that is

not covered in the SRM to be

accomplished per a method approved

by the FAA.

Cost Impact

There are approximately 153 Model

MD–11 series airplanes of the affected

design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA

estimates that 57 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 cost approximately $60 per

airplane. Based on these figures, the cost

impact of the proposed AD on U.S.

operators is estimated to be $20,520, or

$360 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

10846 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 20, 2001 / Proposed Rules

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–

192–AD.

Applicability: Model MD–11 series

airplanes, as listed in McDonnell Douglas

Alert Service Bulletin MD–1124A187, dated

October 4, 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 (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 arcing damage to the terminal

strips and damage to the adjacent structure

in the wing areas inboard of the pylons 1 and

3 and the No. 2 engine, which could result

in a fire inboard of the pylons 1 and 3 or the

No. 2 engine, accomplish the following:

Inspection and Corrective Actions, If

Necessary

(a) Within 18 months after the effective

date of this AD, do a general visual

inspection to detect arcing damage of the

electrical cables leading to the terminal strips

and the surrounding structure in the wing

areas inboard of the pylons 1 and 3 and the

No. 2 engine, per McDonnell Douglas Alert

Service Bulletin MD11–24A187, dated

October 4, 2000.

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.’’

(1) If no arcing or structure damage is

detected during the general visual inspection,

before further flight, do the action specified

in paragraph (b) of this AD.

(2) If any arcing damage is detected on any

terminal strip, before further flight, replace

the damaged terminal strip with a like part,

and seal the screw heads of any replaced

terminal strip, per the service bulletin.

(3) If any arcing damage is detected on any

cable and the damage is within the limits

specified in the service bulletin, before

further flight, repair the arcing per the service

bulletin, and do the action specified in

paragraph (b) of this AD.

(4) If any arcing damage is detected on any

cable and the damage is beyond the limits

specified in the service bulletin, before

further flight, replace the damaged cable with

a new cable, per the service bulletin, and do

the action specified in paragraph (b) of this

AD.

(5) If any structure damage is detected,

before further flight, do the actions specified

in paragraphs (a)(5)(i) and (a)(5)(ii) of this

AD.

(i) Repair the damaged structure per the

service bulletin, except if the type of

structural material that has been affected is

not covered in the SRM, repair per a method

approved by the Manager, Los Angeles

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA.

(ii) Do the action specified in paragraph (b)

of this AD.

Follow-On Revision of the Cable Connection

Stackup

(b) Revise the cable connection stackup of

the terminal strips on the left and right wings

and the No. 2 engine (including performing

a general visual inspection for damaged cable

assemblies; repairing of any damaged cable

assembly; and tightening terminal lug

hardware), per paragraph 3.B.4. of the

Acomplishment Instructions of McDonnell

Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD11–

24A187, October 4, 2000.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(c) 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 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 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 Permit

(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 February

12, 2001.

Vi L. Lipski,

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–4057 Filed 2–16–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–NM–191–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 to detect arcing