Airworthiness Directives: McDonnell Douglas Corporation Model MD-90-30 Airplanes

Federal Register: July 1, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 126)

Proposed Rules

Page 38056-38058

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr01jy10-24

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39

Docket No. FAA-2010-0645; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-200-AD

RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Corporation Model MD- 90-30 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of

Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Model MD-90-30 airplanes. The existing AD currently requires a detailed inspection for certain defects of the upper fasteners of the aft mount support fittings of the left and right engines, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would instead require repetitive replacement of the upper row of fasteners of the support fittings of the engine aft mount with new fasteners; and perform repetitive general visual inspections for defects of the lower row fasteners (Row B) of the support fittings of the left and right engine aft mounts, and replacement of all clearance fit fasteners in the lower row if necessary. This proposed AD results from reports of loose, cracked, or missing fasteners in the aft mount support fitting of the left and right engines. We are proposing this AD to prevent loose, cracked, or missing fasteners in the engine aft mount support fittings, which could lead to separation of the support fittings from the pylon, and could result in separation of the engine from the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 16, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Fax: 202-493-2251.

Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket

Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New

Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket

Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New

Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact

Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 3855 Lakewood Boulevard, MC D800 0019, Long Beach, California 90846- 0001; telephone 206-544-5000, extension 2; fax 206 766-5683; e-mail dse.boecom@boeing.com; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington. For information on the availability of this material at the

FAA, call 425-227-1221.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http:// www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the

ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Durbin, Aerospace Engineer,

Airframe Branch, ANM-120L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification

Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5233; fax (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-0645;

Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-200-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposed AD because of those comments.

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

On August 25, 2008, we issued AD 2008-18-10, Amendment 39-15667 (73

FR 52203, September 9, 2008), for certain McDonnell Douglas Corporation

Model MD-90-30 airplanes. That AD requires a detailed inspection for certain defects of the upper fasteners of the aft mount support fittings of the left and right engines, and corrective actions if necessary. That AD resulted from reports of loose, cracked, or missing fasteners in the aft mount support fittings of the left and right engines. We issued that AD to detect and correct loose, cracked, or missing fasteners in the engine aft support mount fittings, which could lead to separation of the support fittings from the pylon, and could result in separation of the engine from the airplane.

Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued

The preamble to AD 2008-18-10 explains that we considered the requirements ``interim action'' and were considering further rulemaking. We now have determined that further rulemaking is indeed necessary, and this proposed AD follows from that determination.

We also have received additional reports of loose, cracked, or missing fasteners in the aft mount support fitting of the left and right engines on 29 McDonnell Douglas Corporation Model MD-90-30 airplanes. The airplanes had accumulated between 15,560 and 37,298 total flight hours, and between 13,995 and 31,294 total flight cycles.

Results of a safety assessment of the missing fasteners indicate that loose or otherwise discrepant fasteners in the top horizontal row, common with the pylon skin, significantly decrease the margin of safety of the aft mount support installation at the design limit load.

Replacement of the upper row of fasteners at new specified intervals will help minimize the possibility of these fasteners becoming an unsafe condition while in service. Inspection of the lower

Page 38057

row of fasteners will help ensure design integrity.

Relevant Service Information

We have reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90-54A003,

Revision 2, dated February 12, 2010. The service bulletin describes procedures for repetitive replacement of the upper row of fasteners

(Row A) of the support fittings of the left and right engine aft mount with new fasteners.

The service bulletin also describes procedures for repetitive general visual inspections for defects of the lower row fasteners (Row

2. of the support fittings of the left and right engine aft mounts

(that includes a gap check under the head or nut, and a torque check), as necessary for defects of the lower row of fasteners (Row B) of the support fittings of the left and right engine aft mounts, and replacing all clearance fit fasteners in the lower row (Row B) with new fasteners if any defect is found. Defects include missing, loose, and damaged fasteners.

The service bulletin specifies the compliance times for the initial replacement and inspections as follows:

For Configurations 1 and 3 airplanes, as identified in the service bulletin: Within 10,000 flight cycles after fastener replacement in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin MD90-54A002 or

Boeing Multiple Operator Message 1-893882781-2, dated July 25, 2008.

For Configurations 2 and 4 airplanes, as identified in the service bulletin: Within 2,457 flight cycles after the original issue date on the service bulletin (August 10, 2009).

The repetitive interval for replacement and inspections is not to exceed 10,000 flight cycles.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an unsafe condition that is likely to develop on other airplanes of the same type design. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, which would supersede AD 2008-18-10. This proposed AD would not retain the requirements of AD 2008-18-10. This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

There are about 107 airplanes of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for

U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.

Estimated Costs

Number of U.S.-

Action

Work hours

Average labor

Parts

Cost per airplane

registered

Fleet cost rate per hour

airplanes

Replacement........................

14

$85 $152 per replacement. $1,342 per

13 $17,446 per replacement cycle.

replacement cycle.

Inspections........................

4

85 $0................... $340 per inspection

13 $4,420 per inspection cycle.

cycle.

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, Incorporation by reference, 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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing Amendment 39-15667 (73 FR 52203, September 9, 2008) and adding the following new AD:

McDonnell Douglas Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2010-0645; Directorate

Identifier 2009-NM-200-AD.

Comments Due Date

(

1. The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by August 16, 2010.

Affected ADs

(b) This AD supersedes AD 2008-18-10, Amendment 39-15667.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas Corporation Model MD- 90-30 airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90-54A003, Revision 2, dated

February 12, 2010.

Subject

(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 54:

Nacelles/Pylons.

Page 38058

Unsafe Condition

(e) This AD results from reports of loose, cracked, or missing fasteners in the aft mount support fitting of the left and right engines. The Federal Aviation Administration is issuing this AD to prevent loose, cracked, or missing fasteners in the engine aft support mount fitting, which could lead to separation of the support fitting from the pylon, and could result in separation of the engine from the airplane.

Compliance

(f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this

AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done.

Replacement and Inspection

(g) Except as required by paragraph (i) of this AD, at the applicable time specified in paragraph 1.E. ``Compliance'' of Boeing

Alert Service Bulletin MD90-54A003, Revision 2, dated February 12, 2010: Replace the upper row of fasteners (Row A) of the support fittings of the left and right engine aft mounts with new fasteners, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert

Service Bulletin MD90-54A003, Revision 2, dated February 12, 2010.

Repeat the replacement thereafter at intervals not to exceed 10,000 flight cycles.

(h) Concurrently with any replacement required by paragraph (g) of this AD: Perform a general visual inspection for defects of the lower row fasteners (Row B) of the support fittings of the left and right engine aft mounts, in accordance with the Accomplishment

Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90-54A003, Revision 2, dated February 12, 2010. Defects include missing, loose, and damaged fasteners.

(1) If no defect is found during any general visual inspection required by paragraph (h) of this AD, before further flight, insert a 0.0015-inch feeler gauge between the washer and the structure, or between the fastener head and structure, as applicable, to detect a gap condition, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90-54A003, Revision 2, dated

February 12, 2010. A gap condition is a defect identified in any location where the feeler gauge can slip completely between a washer or a fastener head and the structure.

(i) If no defect is found during any gap check required by paragraph (h)(1) of this AD, before further flight, apply torque to the fasteners of the lower row (Row B) to determine if there is a defect, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing

Alert Service Bulletin MD90-54A003, Revision 2, dated February 12, 2010. A defect is any fastener that turns with the application of the specified torque. If any defect is found, before further flight, replace all clearance fit fasteners in the lower row (Row B), in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert

Service Bulletin MD90-54A003, Revision 2, dated February 12, 2010.

(ii) If any defect is found during any gap check required by paragraph (h)(1) of this AD, before further flight, replace all clearance fit fasteners in the lower row (Row B), in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin

MD90-54A003, Revision 2, dated February 12, 2010.

(2) If any defect is found during any general visual inspection required by paragraph (h) of this AD, before further flight, replace all clearance fit fasteners in the lower row (Row B), in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service

Bulletin MD90-54A003, Revision 2, dated February 12, 2010.

Exception to Service Bulletin Compliance Times

(i) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90-54A003, Revision 2, dated February 12, 2010, specifies a compliance time after the original issue date on the service bulletin, this AD requires compliance within the specified compliance time after the effective date of this AD.

Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service

Information

(j) Replacements and inspections accomplished before the effective date of this AD in accordance with Boeing Alert Service

Bulletin MD90-54A003, Revision 1, dated November 17, 2009, are considered acceptable for compliance with the corresponding actions required by this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(k)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office

(ACO), FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Roger Durbin, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe

Branch, ANM-120L, FAA, Los Angeles ACO, 3960 Paramount Boulevard,

Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5233; fax (562) 627-5210.

(2) To request a different method of compliance or a different compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19.

Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office.

The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.

(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used for any repair required by this AD if it is approved by the

Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization Designation Authorization

(ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, Los Angeles ACO to make those findings. For a repair method to be approved, the repair must meet the certification basis of the airplane and 14 CFR 25.571,

Amendment 45, and the approval must specifically refer to this AD.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 23, 2010.

Ali Bahrami,

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service.

FR Doc. 2010-15988 Filed 6-30-10; 8:45 am

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