Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 Airplanes, 60446-60448 [E6-17004]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
60446
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 198 / Friday, October 13, 2006 / Proposed Rules
(4) Repeat the cleaning task per above
paragraph (e)(3) of this AD, at intervals not
exceeding 2,400 flight hours.
Other FAA AD Provisions
(g) The following provisions also apply to
this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance
(AMOCs): The Manager, International
Branch, ANM–116, FAA, ATTN: Tim Dulin,
Aerospace Engineer, International Branch,
ANM–116, FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98057–3356; telephone (425)
227–2141; fax (425) 227–1149, if requested,
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
(2) Notification of Principal Inspector:
Before using any AMOC approved in
accordance with 14 CFR 39.19 on any
airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify
the appropriate principal inspector in the
FAA Flight Standards Certificate Holding
District Office.
(3) Airworthy Product: For any requirement
in this AD to obtain corrective actions from
a manufacturer or other source, use these
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective
actions are considered FAA-approved if they
are approved by the State of Design Authority
(or their delegated agent). You are required
to assure the product is airworthy before it
is returned to service.
(4) Reporting Requirements: For any
reporting requirement in this AD, under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act,
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
has approved the information collection
requirements and has assigned OMB Control
Number 2120–0056.
Related Information
(h) Refer to MCAI European Aviation
Safety Agency Airworthiness Directive 2006–
0153, dated May 30, 2006, which references
Airbus Service Bulletin A320–49–1068,
Revision 01, dated February 2, 2006, for
related information.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on October
4, 2006.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane
Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E6–17006 Filed 10–12–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
mstockstill on PROD1PC61 with PROPOSALS
[Docket No. FAA–2006–26048; Directorate
Identifier 2006–NM–191–AD]
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell
Douglas Model 717–200 Airplanes
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
AGENCY:
14:51 Oct 12, 2006
The FAA proposes to adopt a
new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain McDonnell Douglas Model 717–
200 airplanes. This proposed AD would
require replacing certain attaching
hardware of the bulkhead nipple
assemblies of the left and right wing
vent boxes with new electrical bonding
attaching hardware, doing resistance
testing of the new electrical bonds, and
doing fuel leakage testing of the
reworked nipple assemblies. This
proposed AD results from fuel system
reviews conducted by the manufacturer.
We are proposing this AD to provide a
conductive path, from the bulkhead
nipple assemblies of the left and right
wing vent boxes to the airframe
structure inside the wing fuel tanks, to
dissipate high amperage lightninginduced currents which might
otherwise create an ignition source for
fuel vapors inside the wing vent boxes
and lead to an explosion of the fuel
tanks.
DATES: We must receive comments on
this proposed AD by November 27,
2006.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following
addresses to submit comments on this
proposed AD.
• DOT Docket Web site: Go to
https://dms.dot.gov and follow the
instructions for sending your comments
electronically.
• Government-wide rulemaking Web
site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending
your comments electronically.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building,
Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590.
• Fax: (202) 493–2251.
• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on
the plaza level of the Nassif Building,
400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington,
DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Contact Boeing Commercial
Airplanes, Long Beach Division, 3855
Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach,
California 90846, Attention: Data and
Service Management, Dept. C1–L5A
(D800–0024), for the service information
identified in this proposed AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Samuel Lee, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM–140L, FAA,
Los Angeles Aircraft Certification
Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard,
Lakewood, California 90712–4137;
telephone (562) 627–5262; fax (562)
627–5210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
FAA AD Differences
(f) None.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
ACTION:
Jkt 211001
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Comments Invited
We invite you to submit any relevant
written data, views, or arguments
regarding this proposed AD. Send your
comments to an address listed in the
ADDRESSES section. Include the docket
number ‘‘FAA–2006–26048; Directorate
Identifier 2006–NM–191–AD’’ at the
beginning of your comments. We
specifically invite comments on the
overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of
the proposed AD. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date
and may amend the proposed AD in
light of those comments.
We will post all comments we
receive, without change, to https://
dms.dot.gov, including any personal
information you provide. We will also
post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed AD.
Using the search function of that Web
site, anyone can find and read the
comments in any of our dockets,
including the name of the individual
who sent the comment (or signed the
comment on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may
review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR
19477–78), or you may visit https://
dms.dot.gov.
Examining the Docket
You may examine the AD docket on
the Internet at https://dms.dot.gov, or in
person at the Docket Management
Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The Docket
Management Facility office (telephone
(800) 647–5227) is located on the plaza
level of the Nassif Building at the DOT
street address stated in the ADDRESSES
section. Comments will be available in
the AD docket shortly after the Docket
Management System receives them.
Discussion
The FAA has examined the
underlying safety issues involved in fuel
tank explosions on several large
transport airplanes, including the
adequacy of existing regulations, the
service history of airplanes subject to
those regulations, and existing
maintenance practices for fuel tank
systems. As a result of those findings,
we issued a regulation titled ‘‘Transport
Airplane Fuel Tank System Design
Review, Flammability Reduction and
Maintenance and Inspection
Requirements’’ (66 FR 23086, May 7,
2001). In addition to new airworthiness
standards for transport airplanes and
E:\FR\FM\13OCP1.SGM
13OCP1
mstockstill on PROD1PC61 with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 198 / Friday, October 13, 2006 / Proposed Rules
new maintenance requirements, this
rule included Special Federal Aviation
Regulation No. 88 (‘‘SFAR 88,’’
Amendment 21–78, and subsequent
Amendments 21–82 and 21–83).
Among other actions, SFAR 88
requires certain type design (i.e., type
certificate (TC) and supplemental type
certificate (STC)) holders to substantiate
that their fuel tank systems can prevent
ignition sources in the fuel tanks. This
requirement applies to type design
holders for large turbine-powered
transport airplanes and for subsequent
modifications to those airplanes. It
requires them to perform design reviews
and to develop design changes and
maintenance procedures if their designs
do not meet the new fuel tank safety
standards. As explained in the preamble
to the rule, we intended to adopt
airworthiness directives to mandate any
changes found necessary to address
unsafe conditions identified as a result
of these reviews.
In evaluating these design reviews, we
have established four criteria intended
to define the unsafe conditions
associated with fuel tank systems that
require corrective actions. The
percentage of operating time during
which fuel tanks are exposed to
flammable conditions is one of these
criteria. The other three criteria address
the failure types under evaluation:
Single failures, single failures in
combination with a latent condition(s),
and in-service failure experience. For all
four criteria, the evaluations included
consideration of previous actions taken
that may mitigate the need for further
action.
We have determined that the actions
identified in this AD are necessary to
reduce the potential of ignition sources
inside fuel tanks, which, in combination
with flammable fuel vapors, could result
in fuel tank explosions and consequent
loss of the airplane.
We have received a report indicating
that a fuel system review of McDonnell
Douglas Model 717–200 airplanes
revealed that no electrical bonding
exists between the nipple assemblies of
the left and right wing vent boxes and
the bulkhead. This condition, if not
corrected, could result in high amperage
lightning-induced currents at the
bulkhead nipple assemblies of the left
and right wing vent boxes, which might
create an ignition source for fuel vapors
inside the wing vent boxes and lead to
an explosion of the fuel tanks.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Service
Bulletin 717–28–0011, Revision 2, dated
July 19, 2006. The service bulletin
describes procedures for replacing
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:51 Oct 12, 2006
Jkt 211001
certain attaching hardware of the nipple
assemblies of the left and right wing
vent boxes with new electrical bonding
attaching hardware; doing resistance
testing of the new electrical bonds; and
doing fuel leakage testing of the
reworked nipple assemblies.
Accomplishing the actions specified in
the service information is intended to
adequately address the unsafe
condition.
FAA’s Determination and Requirements
of the Proposed AD
We have evaluated all pertinent
information and identified an unsafe
condition that is likely to exist or
develop on other airplanes of this same
type design. For this reason, we are
proposing this AD, which would require
accomplishing the actions specified in
the service information described
previously, except as discussed under
‘‘Difference Between the Proposed AD
and Service Bulletin.’’
Difference Between the Proposed AD
and Service Bulletin
Boeing Service Bulletin 717–28–0011,
Revision 2, recommends a compliance
time ‘‘not to exceed 10 years from the
release date of Revision 1 of this service
bulletin.’’ However, we have
determined that, due to the nature of the
unsafe condition, 78 months after the
effective date of this proposed AD is the
appropriate compliance time. We have
coordinated this difference with Boeing.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 138 airplanes of the
affected design in the worldwide fleet.
This proposed AD would affect about
108 airplanes of U.S. registry. The
proposed actions would take about 6
work hours per airplane, at an average
labor rate of $80 per work hour. The
manufacturer states that it will supply
required parts to the operators at no
cost. Based on these figures, the
estimated cost of the proposed AD for
U.S. operators is $51,840, or $480 per
airplane.
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code
specifies the FAA’s authority to issue
rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I,
Section 106, describes the authority of
the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII,
Aviation Programs, describes in more
detail the scope of the Agency’s
authority.
We are issuing this rulemaking under
the authority described in Subtitle VII,
Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701,
‘‘General requirements.’’ Under that
section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
60447
air commerce by prescribing regulations
for practices, methods, and procedures
the Administrator finds necessary for
safety in air commerce. This regulation
is within the scope of that authority
because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on
products identified in this rulemaking
action.
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that this
proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order
13132. This proposed AD 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.
For the reasons discussed above, I
certify that the 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. 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation
of the estimated costs to comply with
this proposed AD and placed it in the
AD docket. See the ADDRESSES section
for a location to examine the regulatory
evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation
safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority
delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA proposes to amend 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. The Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) amends § 39.13
by adding the following new
airworthiness directive (AD):
McDonnell Douglas: Docket No. FAA–2006–
26048; Directorate Identifier 2006–NM–
191–AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on
this AD action by November 27, 2006.
E:\FR\FM\13OCP1.SGM
13OCP1
60448
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 198 / Friday, October 13, 2006 / Proposed Rules
Affected ADs
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
(b) None.
Federal Aviation Administration
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas
Model 717–200 airplanes, certificated in any
category; as identified in Boeing Service
Bulletin 717–28–0011, Revision 2, dated July
19, 2006.
14 CFR Part 39
Unsafe Condition
Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell
Douglas Model DC–10–10, DC–10–10F,
DC–10–15, DC–10–30, and DC–10–30F
(KC–10A and KDC–10) Airplanes;
Model DC–10–40 and DC–10–40F
Airplanes Equipped With Pratt &
Whitney JT9–20 or JT9–20J Engines;
and Model MD–10–10F and MD–10–30F
Airplanes
(d) This AD results from fuel system
reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We
are issuing this AD to provide a conductive
path, from the bulkhead nipple assemblies of
the left and right wing vent boxes to the
airframe structure inside the wing fuel tanks,
to dissipate high amperage lightning-induced
currents, which might otherwise create an
ignition source for fuel vapors inside the
wing vent boxes and lead to an explosion of
the fuel tanks.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the
actions required by this AD performed within
the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Installing Electrical Bonding, and Resistance
and Fuel Leakage Testing
(f) Within 78 months after the effective
date of this AD, replace certain attaching
hardware of the bulkhead nipple assemblies
of the left and right wing vent boxes with
new electrical bonding attaching hardware,
do resistance testing of the new electrical
bonds, and do fuel leakage testing of the
reworked nipple assemblies; in accordance
with the Accomplishment Instructions of
Boeing Service Bulletin 717–28–0011,
Revision 2, dated July 19, 2006.
Actions Accomplished According to
Previous Issue of Service Bulletin
(g) Actions accomplished before the
effective date of this AD in accordance with
Boeing Service Bulletin 717–28–0011,
Revision 1, dated January 24, 2006, are
acceptable for compliance with the
corresponding actions specified in this AD.
mstockstill on PROD1PC61 with PROPOSALS
(h)(1) The Manager, ANM–116,
International Branch, Transport Airplane
Directorate, FAA, has, has the authority to
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in
accordance with the procedures found in 14
CFR 39.19.
(2) Before using any AMOC approved in
accordance with § 39.19 on any airplane to
which the AMOC applies, notify the
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA
Flight Standards Certificate Holding District
Office.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on October
3, 2006.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane
Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E6–17004 Filed 10–12–06; 8:45 am]
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:51 Oct 12, 2006
Jkt 211001
RIN 2120–AA64
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a
new airworthiness directive (AD) for the
McDonnell Douglas airplanes
previously described. This proposed AD
would require replacing the control
modules of the fire detection systems of
the propulsion engines with new,
improved control modules. This
proposed AD results from a report of
broken or severed wiring between
engine fire detectors and the fire
detection system control module, which
caused the fire detection system to
become non-functional without
flightcrew awareness. We are proposing
this AD to prevent unannunciated fire
in a propulsion engine, which could
cause injury to flightcrew and
passengers or loss of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on
this proposed AD by November 27,
2006.
Use one of the following
addresses to submit comments on this
proposed AD.
• DOT Docket Web site: Go to https://
dms.dot.gov and follow the instructions
for sending your comments
electronically.
• Government-wide rulemaking Web
site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending
your comments electronically.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building,
Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590.
• Fax: (202) 493–2251.
• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on
the plaza level of the Nassif Building,
400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington,
DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
ADDRESSES:
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(AMOCs)
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
[Docket No. FAA–2006–26049; Directorate
Identifier 2006–NM–177–AD]
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Contact Meggitt Safety Systems Inc.,
1915 Voyager Avenue, Simi Valley,
California 93063, for the service
information identified in this proposed
AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Samuel Lee, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM–140L, FAA,
Los Angeles Aircraft Certification
Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard,
Lakewood, California 90712–4137;
telephone (562) 627–5262; fax (562)
627–5210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to submit any relevant
written data, views, or arguments
regarding this proposed AD. Send your
comments to an address listed in the
ADDRESSES section. Include the docket
number ‘‘FAA–2006–26049; Directorate
Identifier 2006–NM–177–AD’’ at the
beginning of your comments. We
specifically invite comments on the
overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of
the proposed AD. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date
and may amend the proposed AD in
light of those comments.
We will post all comments we
receive, without change, to https://
dms.dot.gov, including any personal
information you provide. We will also
post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed AD.
Using the search function of that Web
site, anyone can find and read the
comments in any of our dockets,
including the name of the individual
who sent the comment (or signed the
comment on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may
review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR
19477–78), or you may visit https://
dms.dot.gov.
Examining the Docket
You may examine the AD docket on
the Internet at https://dms.dot.gov, or in
person at the Docket Management
Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The Docket
Management Facility office (telephone
(800) 647–5227) is located on the plaza
level of the Nassif Building at the DOT
street address stated in the ADDRESSES
section. Comments will be available in
the AD docket shortly after the Docket
Management System receives them.
Discussion
We have received a report indicating
that an unsafe condition may exist on
E:\FR\FM\13OCP1.SGM
13OCP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 198 (Friday, October 13, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60446-60448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17004]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-26048; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-191-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 airplanes. This proposed AD
would require replacing certain attaching hardware of the bulkhead
nipple assemblies of the left and right wing vent boxes with new
electrical bonding attaching hardware, doing resistance testing of the
new electrical bonds, and doing fuel leakage testing of the reworked
nipple assemblies. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews
conducted by the manufacturer. We are proposing this AD to provide a
conductive path, from the bulkhead nipple assemblies of the left and
right wing vent boxes to the airframe structure inside the wing fuel
tanks, to dissipate high amperage lightning-induced currents which
might otherwise create an ignition source for fuel vapors inside the
wing vent boxes and lead to an explosion of the fuel tanks.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 27,
2006.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed AD.
DOT Docket Web site: Go to https://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to https://
www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Long Beach Division, 3855
Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Data and
Service Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024), for the service
information identified in this proposed AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Samuel Lee, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification
Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137;
telephone (562) 627-5262; fax (562) 627-5210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2006-
26048; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-191-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the
proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to https://
dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of
that Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union,
etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you
may visit https://dms.dot.gov.
Examining the Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at https://
dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after the Docket Management System
receives them.
Discussion
The FAA has examined the underlying safety issues involved in fuel
tank explosions on several large transport airplanes, including the
adequacy of existing regulations, the service history of airplanes
subject to those regulations, and existing maintenance practices for
fuel tank systems. As a result of those findings, we issued a
regulation titled ``Transport Airplane Fuel Tank System Design Review,
Flammability Reduction and Maintenance and Inspection Requirements''
(66 FR 23086, May 7, 2001). In addition to new airworthiness standards
for transport airplanes and
[[Page 60447]]
new maintenance requirements, this rule included Special Federal
Aviation Regulation No. 88 (``SFAR 88,'' Amendment 21-78, and
subsequent Amendments 21-82 and 21-83).
Among other actions, SFAR 88 requires certain type design (i.e.,
type certificate (TC) and supplemental type certificate (STC)) holders
to substantiate that their fuel tank systems can prevent ignition
sources in the fuel tanks. This requirement applies to type design
holders for large turbine-powered transport airplanes and for
subsequent modifications to those airplanes. It requires them to
perform design reviews and to develop design changes and maintenance
procedures if their designs do not meet the new fuel tank safety
standards. As explained in the preamble to the rule, we intended to
adopt airworthiness directives to mandate any changes found necessary
to address unsafe conditions identified as a result of these reviews.
In evaluating these design reviews, we have established four
criteria intended to define the unsafe conditions associated with fuel
tank systems that require corrective actions. The percentage of
operating time during which fuel tanks are exposed to flammable
conditions is one of these criteria. The other three criteria address
the failure types under evaluation: Single failures, single failures in
combination with a latent condition(s), and in-service failure
experience. For all four criteria, the evaluations included
consideration of previous actions taken that may mitigate the need for
further action.
We have determined that the actions identified in this AD are
necessary to reduce the potential of ignition sources inside fuel
tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result
in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.
We have received a report indicating that a fuel system review of
McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 airplanes revealed that no electrical
bonding exists between the nipple assemblies of the left and right wing
vent boxes and the bulkhead. This condition, if not corrected, could
result in high amperage lightning-induced currents at the bulkhead
nipple assemblies of the left and right wing vent boxes, which might
create an ignition source for fuel vapors inside the wing vent boxes
and lead to an explosion of the fuel tanks.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin 717-28-0011, Revision 2,
dated July 19, 2006. The service bulletin describes procedures for
replacing certain attaching hardware of the nipple assemblies of the
left and right wing vent boxes with new electrical bonding attaching
hardware; doing resistance testing of the new electrical bonds; and
doing fuel leakage testing of the reworked nipple assemblies.
Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is
intended to adequately address the unsafe condition.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes
of this same type design. For this reason, we are proposing this AD,
which would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service
information described previously, except as discussed under
``Difference Between the Proposed AD and Service Bulletin.''
Difference Between the Proposed AD and Service Bulletin
Boeing Service Bulletin 717-28-0011, Revision 2, recommends a
compliance time ``not to exceed 10 years from the release date of
Revision 1 of this service bulletin.'' However, we have determined
that, due to the nature of the unsafe condition, 78 months after the
effective date of this proposed AD is the appropriate compliance time.
We have coordinated this difference with Boeing.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 138 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 108 airplanes of
U.S. registry. The proposed actions would take about 6 work hours per
airplane, at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. The
manufacturer states that it will supply required parts to the operators
at no cost. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the proposed
AD for U.S. operators is $51,840, or $480 per airplane.
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs,
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this
rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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. 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the
ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
McDonnell Douglas: Docket No. FAA-2006-26048; Directorate Identifier
2006-NM-191-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by November
27, 2006.
[[Page 60448]]
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200
airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing
Service Bulletin 717-28-0011, Revision 2, dated July 19, 2006.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to provide a conductive path,
from the bulkhead nipple assemblies of the left and right wing vent
boxes to the airframe structure inside the wing fuel tanks, to
dissipate high amperage lightning-induced currents, which might
otherwise create an ignition source for fuel vapors inside the wing
vent boxes and lead to an explosion of the fuel tanks.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Installing Electrical Bonding, and Resistance and Fuel Leakage Testing
(f) Within 78 months after the effective date of this AD,
replace certain attaching hardware of the bulkhead nipple assemblies
of the left and right wing vent boxes with new electrical bonding
attaching hardware, do resistance testing of the new electrical
bonds, and do fuel leakage testing of the reworked nipple
assemblies; in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of
Boeing Service Bulletin 717-28-0011, Revision 2, dated July 19,
2006.
Actions Accomplished According to Previous Issue of Service Bulletin
(g) Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD in
accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 717-28-0011, Revision 1,
dated January 24, 2006, are acceptable for compliance with the
corresponding actions specified in this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, ANM-116, International Branch, Transport
Airplane Directorate, FAA, has, has the authority to approve AMOCs
for this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in
14 CFR 39.19.
(2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards
Certificate Holding District Office.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 3, 2006.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-17004 Filed 10-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
