Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 Airplane

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 a single McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-30 airplane. This proposal would require repetitive tests for electrical continuity and resistance and repetitive inspections to detect discrepancies of the fuel boost/transfer pump connectors; and corrective actions, if necessary. This action is necessary to prevent arcing of connectors in the fuel boost/transfer pump circuit, which could result in a fire or explosion of the fuel tank. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES:

Comments must be received by February 18, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-NM-134-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. 2002-NM-134-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 at the FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Philip C. Kush, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712; telephone (562) 627-5263; 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 2002-NM-134-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. 2002-NM-134-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056.

Discussion

The FAA has previously received reports of five instances of failed connectors in the fuel boost/transfer pump circuit on certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10 and MD-11 series airplanes. The connectors returned for evaluation exhibited arcing of the contacts to the shell in the back side of the connector and between the glass insert and potting material. Arcing also caused the potting material to be displaced from the glass seal in the connector backshell, which separated the contacts and wiring. Typically, the circuit breaker was not actuated, as the arcing event was faster than the time required for the circuit breaker to detect the event. The only indication has been that failed connectors cause loss of the fuel boost/transfer pump circuit. The cause of the connector failures is under investigation. Arcing of connectors of the fuel boost/transfer pump, if not corrected, could result in a fire or explosion of the fuel tank.

Other Relevant Rulemaking

We previously issued AD 2002-13-10, amendment 39-12798 (67 FR 45053, July 8, 2002), to require repetitive tests for electrical continuity and resistance and repetitive inspections to detect discrepancies of the fuel boost/transfer pump connectors; and corrective actions, if necessary. That AD applies to certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, -10F, -15, -30, -30F, -30F (KC10A and KDC-10), -40, and -40F airplanes; Model MD-10-10F and -30F airplanes; and Model MD-11 and -11F airplanes.

In the final rule for AD 2002-13-10, we note that, subsequent to the issuance of the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for that AD, the manufacturer issued Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-28A228, including Appendix, Revision 02, dated December 7, 2001. Revision 02 of the service bulletin contains no new procedures beyond those in previous revisions of the service bulletin, but adds a single airplane, fuselage number 0106, to the effectivity listing. That airplane had been inadvertently omitted from the previous issue of the service bulletin.

We state in AD 2002-13-10 that we may consider additional rulemaking to require accomplishment of the actions in that AD on the airplane added to Revision 02 of the referenced service bulletin. We have determined that such rulemaking is indeed necessary, and this proposed AD follows from that determination. We have included Note 1 in this proposed AD to clarify that this proposed AD is related to AD 2002-13-10.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

As specified previously in AD 2002-13-10, we previously reviewed and approved Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-28A228, including Appendix, Revision 02, which describe procedures for repetitive tests (using a digital multi-meter and Quadtech 1864 megohm meter) for electrical continuity and resistance and repetitive general visual inspections to detect discrepancies (e.g, damage, arcing, loose parts, wear) of the fuel boost/transfer pump connectors (alternating current pumping unit); and corrective actions, if necessary. The corrective actions include replacement of the connector/wire assembly with a serviceable connector/wire assembly, and replacement of the pump with a serviceable fuel boost/transfer pump, as applicable. 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.

Difference Between Proposed AD and Service Information

Although the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-28A228, including Appendix, Revision 02, refer to a reporting requirement using the form in the Appendix of the service bulletin, this proposed AD would not require such reporting. We do not need the information described in the Appendix to the service bulletin.

Interim Action

This is considered to be interim action. The manufacturer has advised that it currently is developing a modification that will address the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. Once this modification is developed, approved, and available, we may consider additional rulemaking.

Cost Impact

This proposed AD applies to one airplane and that airplane is of U.S. registry. It would take approximately 65 work hours to accomplish the proposed tests and inspections on that airplane, at an average labor rate of $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on the single U.S. operator is estimated to be $3,900, per test or inspection cycle.

The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that the operator has not yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of this AD action, and that the operator would not 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.