[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 19, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37038-37040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17707]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-NM-249-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Model F28 Mark 0100 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 Fokker Model F28 Mark 0100 
series airplanes. For certain airplanes, this proposal would require an 
inspection to determine the torque value of the attaching parts of the 
interlock mechanism of the large cargo doors, and adjustment of the 
torque values that are outside certain limits. For certain other 
airplanes, the proposed AD would require removal of a spring from the 
interlock mechanism of the large cargo doors, and installation of a new 
microswitch bracket and two new springs in the interlock mechanism. 
This proposal is prompted by a report indicating that a spring on the 
interlock lever of the large cargo doors may become disconnected or the 
lever may become jammed in the ``activated'' state. The actions 
specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent the spring from 
becoming disconnected or the lever from jamming. If other failures 
occur, the flightcrew could dispatch the airplane with improperly 
locked cargo doors; this condition could result in the opening and/or 
separation of the cargo doors while the airplane is in flight and 
subsequent rapid decompression and/or structural damage to the 
airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 28, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-NM-249-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 

[[Page 37039]]
Fokker Aircraft USA, Inc., 1199 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22314. This information may be examined at the FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Dulin, Aerospace Engineer, 
Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206) 
227-2141; fax (206) 227-1320.

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 94-NM-249-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-103, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 94-NM-249-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    The Rijksluchtvaartdienst (RLD), which is the airworthiness 
authority for the Netherlands, recently notified the FAA that an unsafe 
condition may exist on certain Fokker Model F28 Mark 0100 series 
airplanes. The RLD advises that a spring on the interlock lever of the 
large cargo doors on these airplanes may become disconnected and/or the 
lever itself may become jammed in the ``activated'' state on these 
airplanes. If more failures occur when either of these situations 
exist, the flightcrew will not receive a warning and could dispatch the 
airplane with improperly locked cargo doors. This condition, if not 
corrected, could result in the opening and/or separation of the cargo 
doors while the airplane is in flight and subsequent rapid 
decompression and/or structural damage to the airplane.
    Fokker has issued Service Bulletin SBF100-52-045, dated August 25, 
1993. For certain airplanes, the service bulletin describes procedures 
for a one-time inspection to determine the torque value of the 
attaching parts of the interlock mechanism of the large cargo doors, 
and adjustment of the torque values that are outside certain limits. 
For certain other airplanes, the service bulletin describes procedures 
for removing the spring from the interlock mechanism, and installing a 
new microswitch bracket and two new springs in the interlock mechanism. 
The RLD classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued Dutch 
airworthiness directive BLA 93-124 (A), dated September 17, 1993, in 
order to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in the 
Netherlands.
    This airplane model is manufactured in the Netherlands and is type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and 
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the RLD has kept the FAA informed of 
the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of the 
RLD, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action 
is necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design registered 
in the United States, for certain airplanes, the proposed AD would 
require an inspection to determine the torque value of the attaching 
parts of the interlock mechanism of the large cargo doors, and 
adjustment of the torque values that are outside certain limits. For 
certain other airplanes, the proposed AD would require removal of the 
spring from the interlock mechanism, and installation of a new 
microswitch bracket and new springs in the interlock mechanism. The 
actions would be required to be accomplished in accordance with the 
service bulletin described previously.
    As a result of recent communications with the Air Transport 
Association (ATA) of America, the FAA has learned that, in general, 
some operators may misunderstand the legal effect of AD's on airplanes 
that are identified in the applicability provision of the AD, but that 
have been altered or repaired in the area addressed by the AD. The FAA 
points out that all airplanes identified in the applicability provision 
of an AD are legally subject to the AD. If an airplane has been altered 
or repaired in the affected area in such a way as to affect compliance 
with the AD, the owner or operator is required to obtain FAA approval 
for an alternative method of compliance with the AD, in accordance with 
the paragraph of each AD that provides for such approvals. A note has 
been included in this notice to clarify this long-standing requirement.
    The FAA estimates that 61 airplanes of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD.
    For 7 of these airplanes, it would take approximately 6 work hours 
per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspection, at an average labor 
rate of $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the inspection proposed by this AD on U.S. operators of these 
airplanes is estimated to be $2,520, or $360 per airplane.
    For the other 54 airplanes, it would take approximately 12 work 
hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed removal and installation, 
at an average labor rate of $60 per work hour. Required parts would 
cost approximately $1,200 per airplane. Based on these figures, the 
total cost impact of the removal and installation proposed by this AD 
on U.S. operators of these airplanes is estimated to be $103,680, or 
$1,920 per airplane.
    The total cost impact figured 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.
    The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct 
effects 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, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this 
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant 
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment. 

[[Page 37040]]

    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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

Fokker: Docket 94-NM-249-AD.
    -Applicability: Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes; as listed 
in Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-52-045, dated August 25, 1993; 
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 use the authority 
provided in paragraph (b) of this AD to request approval from the 
FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current 
configuration eliminates the unsafe condition; or different actions 
necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such 
a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed 
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no 
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair 
remove any airplane from the applicability of this AD.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent the opening and/or separation of the large cargo 
doors while the airplane is in flight, which could result in rapid 
decompression and/or structural damage to the airplane, accomplish 
the following:
    (a) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, 
accomplish either paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this AD, as 
applicable, in accordance with Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-52-
045, dated August 25, 1993.
    (1) For airplanes having serial numbers listed in Part 1 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-52-
045, dated August 25, 1993: Perform an inspection to determine the 
torque value of the attaching parts of the interlock mechanism of 
the large cargo doors, in accordance Part 1 of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the service bulletin. If the torque value is outside 
the limits specified in paragraphs 2.C.(1) and 2.C.(2) of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin, prior to 
further flight, adjust the torque value in accordance with the 
service bulletin.
    (2) For airplanes having serial numbers listed in Part 2 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-52-
045, dated August 25, 1993: Remove the spring from the interlock 
mechanism, and install a new microswitch bracket and new springs in 
the interlock mechanism, in accordance with Part 2 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin.
    (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, Standardization Branch, ANM-113, 
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, 
Standardization Branch, ANM-113.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.

    (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 July 13, 1995.
James V. Devany,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-17707 Filed 7-18-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U