67 FR 55 pgs. 13111-13113 - Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-90-30 Airplanes
Type: PRORULEVolume: 67Number: 55Pages: 13111 - 13113
Docket number: [Docket No. 2001-NM-130-AD]
FR document: [FR Doc. 02-6795 Filed 3-20-02; 8:45 am]
Agency: Transportation Department
Sub Agency: Federal Aviation Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2001-NM-130-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-90-30 Airplanes
AGENCY:
Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION:
Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of comment period.
SUMMARY:
This document revises an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-90-30 airplanes, that would have required installation of two arcing protection brackets below and behind the circuit breakers located in the generator control rack in the electrical/electronics compartment. This new action revises the proposed rule by adding certain airplanes and removing certain other airplanes from the applicability. The actions specified by this new proposed AD are intended to prevent arcing between circuit breaker terminals and adjacent equipment and structure located in the generator control rack in the electrical/electronics compartment, which, if not corrected, could result in possible electrical shock to maintenance personnel during maintenance operations. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.
DATES:
Comments must be received by May 6, 2002.
ADDRESSES:
Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-NM-130-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. 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. 2001-NM-130-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: Data and Service Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024). This information may be examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or the FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
George Y. Mabuni, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5341; 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 2001-NM-130-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. 2001-NM-130-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056.
Discussion
A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to add an airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-90-30 airplanes, was published as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register on August 29, 2001 (66 FR 45655). That NPRM would have required installation of two arcing protection brackets below and behind the circuit breakers located in the generator control rack in the electrical/electronics compartment. That condition, if not corrected, could result in arcing between circuit breaker terminals and adjacent equipment and structure located in the generator control rack in the electrical/electronics compartment, which, if not corrected, could result in possible electrical shock to maintenance personnel during maintenance operations.
Comments
Due consideration has been given to the comments received in response to the NPRM.
Support for the Proposed Rule
One commenter mentions that it generally supports the proposed rule.
Request to Add Additional Service Information
One commenter advises that Boeing has revised Service Bulletin MD90-24-007 by issuing Revision 01, dated August 31, 2000, and Revision 02, dated July 16, 2001. The commenter notes that Revision 01 and Revision 02 add certain airplanes and delete certain other airplanes from the effectivity of the original service bulletin. Since the procedures described in the original service bulletin did not change in the revised service bulletins, the commenter requests that credit also be given for the accomplishment of Revision 01 or 02 of the service bulletin.
The FAA agrees that the procedures described in the original service bulletin are the same as those described in Revision 01 and Revision 02 of the original service bulletin. Since Boeing Service Bulletin MD90-24-007, Revision 02, dated July 16, 2001, contains the correct airplane effectivity, we have revised the applicability of this proposed rule to specify Revision 02. We have also added a new "Note 2" that provides credit for those procedures accomplished per the original service bulletin and Revision 01 of the service bulletin.
Conclusion
Since these changes expand the scope of the originally proposed rule, the FAA has determined that it is necessary to reopen the comment period to provide additional opportunity for public comment.
Cost Impact
There are approximately 26 Model MD-90-30 airplanes of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 13 airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 2 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 $200 per airplane. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $4,160, or $320 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 2001-NM-130-AD.
Applicability: Model MD-90-30 airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing Service Bulletin MD90-24-007, Revision 02, dated July 16, 2001.
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 arcing between circuit breaker terminals and adjacent equipment and structure located on the generator control rack in the electrical/electronics compartment, and consequent electrical shock to maintenance personnel during maintenance operations, accomplish the following:
Installation
(a) Within one year after the effective date of this AD, install two arcing protection brackets below and behind the circuit breakers located in the generator control rack in the electrical/electronics compartment per the Accomplishment Instructions of McDonnell Douglas Service Bulletin MD90-24-007, Revision 02, dated July 16, 2001.
Note 2:
Installation of two arcing protection brackets below and behind the circuit breakers located in the generator control rack in the electrical/electronics compartment per the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin MD90-24-007, dated February 7, 1996, or Revision 01, dated August 31, 2000, 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 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
(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with §§ 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 March 14, 2002.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-6795 Filed 3-20-02; 8:45 am]
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