AD 2011-11-05

Airworthiness directive · Fuel · Boeing DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15 and 10 more

Effective
July 6, 2011
Published
June 1, 2011 · 76 FR 31462–31464
Issued
May 12, 2011
Supersedes
AD2007-15-05
Models
DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F (KC-10A, KDC-10), DC-10-30F (KC-10A, KDC-10) and 7 more
Data sheet
TCDSA22WE
Registered aircraft
149 matched by model
Product
Aircraft · Large airplane
ATA chapter
28 · Fuel
Amendment
39-16704
Docket
FAA-2010-1044
Project
2010-NM-033-AD
Issued as
Final rule

Unofficial copy from the Federal Register XML, document 2011-12592. Only the govinfo PDF is the legal edition. DRS record last changed May 30, 2024.

On this page

Summary

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. That AD currently requires an inspection to determine if a certain fuel pump housing electrical connector is installed. The existing AD also requires a revision to the FAA-approved airplane flight manual (AFM) to advise the flightcrew of the appropriate procedures for disabling certain fuel pump electrical circuits following failure of a fuel pump housing electrical connector if applicable. The existing AD also requires the deactivation of certain fuel tanks or fuel pumps and the installation of placards if applicable. The existing AD allows the optional replacement of the fuel pump housing electrical connectors with new, improved parts, which would terminate the AFM revisions, deactivation of certain fuel tanks and fuel pumps, and placard installation. This new AD instead requires replacing the fuel pump housing electrical connector assembly with a new part and doing repetitive inspections for continuity, resistance, and insulation resistance, and doing corrective actions if necessary. This AD was prompted by reports of failures of a certain fuel pump housing electrical connector. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct insulation resistance degradation and arcing in the potted backside of the electrical connector assembly of the fuel boost/transfer pump housing, which could compromise its performance and cause an ignition source in the fuel tank, resulting in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

The airworthiness directive

2011-11-05 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-16704; Docket No. FAA-2010-1044; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-033-AD.

(a) Effective Date

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(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective July 6, 2011.

(b) Affected ADs

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(b) This AD supersedes AD 2007-15-05, Amendment 39-15134.

(c) Applicability

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(c) This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-10), DC-10-40, DC-10-40F, MD-10-10F, MD-10-30F, MD-11, and MD-11F airplanes, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

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(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 28: Fuel.

(e) Unsafe Condition

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(e) This AD results from reports of failures of the fuel pump housing electrical connector having P/N 60-84355-1. The Federal Aviation Administration is issuing this AD to detect and correct insulation resistance degradation and arcing in the potted backside of the electrical connector assembly of the fuel boost/transfer pump housing, which could compromise its performance and cause an ignition source in the fuel tank, resulting in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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(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.

(g) Inspection and Change

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(g) For all airplanes: Within 10 months after the effective date of this AD, do an inspection of the fuel pump housing electrical connector to determine if part number (P/N) 60-84355-1 is installed. A review of airplane maintenance records is acceptable in lieu of this inspection if the part number of the fuel pump housing electrical connector can be conclusively determined from that review.

(h) If, during the inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD, any airplane is determined to have fuel pump housing electrical connector assembly having P/N 60-84355-1: Within 10 months after the effective date of this AD, do the actions in paragraph (h)(1) or (h)(2) of this AD, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-28A261, dated December 1, 2009; or Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11-28A143, dated December 2, 2009; as applicable.

(1) Replace the fuel pump housing electrical connector assembly having P/N 60-84355-1 with new P/N 60-84351; or

(2) Do the actions required by paragraphs (h)(2)(i) and (h)(2)(ii) of this AD.

(i) Using a digital multi-meter, do a continuity, resistance, and insulation resistance inspection from the terminal strip through the fuel boost/transfer pump; and all applicable corrective actions specified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-28A261, dated December 1, 2009; or Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11-28A143, dated December 2, 2009; as applicable. Do all applicable corrective actions before further flight.

(ii) Within 12 months after accomplishing the inspection required by paragraph (h)(2)(i) of this AD: Replace the fuel pump housing electrical connector assembly having P/N 60-84355-1 with a new fuel pump housing electrical connector assembly having P/N 60-84351.

(i) Before further flight after installing the new fuel pump housing electrical connector assembly, insert the applicable interim operating procedure regarding abnormal operations for failure of the fuel pump housing electrical connector into the Procedures section of the applicable Boeing airplane flight manual, in accordance with the applicable service information identified in Table 1 of this AD.

Table 1—Service Information
Bulletin—Date—To the—
Boeing DC-10 Operations Bulletin 2-001BJanuary 25, 2010Boeing DC-10 Flight Crew Operating Manual.
Boeing MD-10 Flight Crew Operations Manual Advisory Bulletin 2-01BJanuary 25, 2010Boeing MD-10 Flight Crew Operations Manual.
Boeing MD-11 Flight Crew Operations Manual Advisory Bulletin 2-05CJanuary 25, 2010Boeing MD-11 Flight Crew Operations Manual.

(j) Repetitive Inspections for P/N 60-84351

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(j) Within 18 months after installing the fuel pump housing electrical connector assembly having P/N 60-84351, in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-28A261 or Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11-28A143: Do a continuity, resistance, and insulation resistance inspection from the terminal strip through the fuel boost/transfer pump, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-28A261, dated December 1, 2009; or Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11-28A143, dated December 2, 2009; as applicable. Do all applicable corrective actions before further flight in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-28A261, dated December 1, 2009; or Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11-28A143, dated December 2, 2009; as applicable. Repeat the inspections thereafter at intervals not to exceed 18 months.

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

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(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. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the ACO, send it to ATTN: Philip Kush, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137; phone: 562-627-5263; fax: 562-627-5210; e-mail: philip.kush@faa.gov.

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office.

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

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(l) You must use the service information contained in table 2 of this AD, as applicable, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.

Table 2—All Material Incorporated by Reference
DocumentDate
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-28A261December 1, 2009.
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11-28A143December 2, 2009.
Boeing DC-10 Operations Bulletin 2-001B to the Boeing DC-10 Flight Crew Operating ManualJanuary 25, 2010.
Boeing MD-10 Flight Crew Operations Manual Advisory Bulletin 2-01B to the Boeing MD-10 Flight Crew Operations ManualJanuary 25, 2010.
Boeing MD-11 Flight Crew Operations Manual Advisory Bulletin 2-05C to the Boeing MD-11 Flight Crew Operations ManualJanuary 25, 2010.

(The document number of Boeing DC-10 Operations Bulletin 2-001B is specified only on the first page of the document.)

(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of the service information contained in table 2 of this AD under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

(2) For service information identified in this 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.

(3) 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.

(4) You may also review copies of the service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at an NARA facility, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

Rule preamble

The FAA’s background, reasoning and cost estimate, published with the AD.

DatesPage 1

This AD is effective July 6, 2011.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of July 6, 2011.

AddressesPage 1

For service information identified in this 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.

For further information contactPage 1

Philip Kush, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137; phone: 562-627-5263; fax: 562-627-5210.; e-mail: philip.kush@faa.gov.

DiscussionPage 1

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 2007-15-05, amendment 39-15134 (72 FR 40216, July 24, 2007). That AD applies to the specified products. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on November 5, 2010 (75 FR 68246). That NPRM proposed to require replacing the fuel pump housing electrical assembly with a new part and doing repetitive inspections for continuity, resistance, and insulation resistance, and doing corrective actions, if necessary.

CommentsPage 1

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. The following presents the comments received on the proposal and the FAA's response to each comment.

Request for Addition of Part NumberPage 1

FedEx requested that we add, in the header above the Summary and paragraphs (c), (e), and (f) of the proposed AD, the part number of the fuel pump housing electrical connector assembly requiring replacement. FedEx stated that the change will clarify the AD and avoid unnecessary work and cost to the operators.

We partially agree with the commenter. We disagree with adding the part number of the fuel pump housing electrical connector assembly requiring replacement to the header information, paragraph (c), and paragraph (f) of this AD because the affected part could be rotated onto any of the airplanes listed in the applicability. However, we agree that clarification of paragraph (h) of this AD (referred to as paragraph (g) in the NPRM) is needed. In order to comply with this AD, for all airplanes in the applicability it must be determined if the fuel pump housing electrical connector assembly having part number (P/N) 60-84355-1 is installed. We have added paragraph (g) to specify the inspection to determine the part number. We have also added a reference of P/N 60-84355-1 to paragraph (h) of this AD for clarification. In addition, we have added a reference of P/N 60-84355-1 to paragraph (e) of this AD for clarification.

Clarification of Paragraph (i) of This ADPage 2

We have revised paragraph (i) of this AD by replacing the phrase, “replacing the fuel pump electrical connector assembly as required by paragraph (g) of this AD” with the phrase, “installing the fuel pump housing electrical connector assembly having P/N 60-84351, in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC10-28A261 or Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD11-28A143,” to clarify that P/N 60-84351 must be repetitively inspected after installation.

ConclusionPage 2

We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD with the change described previously—and minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:

• Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and

• Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed in the NPRM.

We also determined that these changes will not increase the economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of CompliancePage 2

We estimate that this AD affects 281 airplanes of U.S. registry.

We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs
ActionWork hoursAverage labor rate per hourPartsCost per airplaneNumber of U.S.-registered airplanesFleet cost
InspectionBetween 20 and 36 per inspection cycle$85$0Between $1,700 and $3,060 per inspection cycle281Between $477,700 and $859,860 per inspection cycle.
ReplacementUp to 4485Up to $4,478Up to $8,218281Up to $2,309,258.
Authority for This RulemakingPage 2

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 findingsPage 2

We have determined that this AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 this AD:

(1) Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866,

(2) Is not a “significant rule” under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(4) 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.

Adoption of the AmendmentPage 2

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

Adoption of the amendmentPage 2

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by removing airworthiness directive (AD) 2007-15-05, Amendment 39-15134 (72 FR 40216, July 24, 2007), and adding the following new AD:

Affected TCDS · 1

The type certificate data sheets for the models this AD names, matched by model and maker.

Registered aircraft · 149

Registered aircraft whose airframe or engine model this AD names. Matched by model only, so check each against the AD’s applicability.

By aircraft maker
  • Mcdonnell Douglas132 aircraft
  • Douglas8 aircraft
  • Mcdonnell-Douglas5 aircraft
  • Boeing4 aircraft
By year built
19712001
Registered aircraft by year built: 117 aircraft
19711
19721
19732
19751
19761
19782
19792
19804
19851
19862
19884
19902
199113
199227
199314
19947
19957
19969
19974
19984
19994
20002
20013

32 with no year recorded

By model

Aircraft

See all 149 aircraft