Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 Series Airplanes

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).

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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

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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.

Sec. 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]

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