[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 78 (Friday, April 23, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19940-19942]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10184]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 98-NM-364-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Model F27 Series Airplanes
Equipped with Rolls-Royce 532-7 ``Dart 7'' (RDa-7) Series Engines
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 F27 series
airplanes. This proposal would require a revision to the Airplane
Flight Manual (AFM) to provide the flightcrew with modified operational
procedures to ensure continuous operation with the high pressure cock
(HPC) levers in the lockout position. This proposal is prompted by
issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign
civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by the proposed AD
are intended to prevent overspeed and burnout of the engines during
flight by ensuring that the HPC levers are in a permanent lockout
position.
DATES: Comments must be received by May 24, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-NM-364-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 Fokker Services B.V., Technical Support Department, P.O.
Box 75047, 1117 ZN Schiphol Airport, The Netherlands. This information
may be examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.
[[Page 19941]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norman B. Martenson, Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
227-2110; fax (425) 227-1149.
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 98-NM-364-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. 98-NM-364-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
The Rijksluchtvaartdienst (RLD), which is the airworthiness
authority for the Netherlands, notified the FAA that an unsafe
condition may exist on Fokker Model F27 series airplanes equipped with
Rolls-Royce 532-7 ``Dart 7'' (RDa-7) series engines. The RLD advises
that there have been numerous incidents of cruise lock hang-up on
Fokker Model F27 series airplanes. This malfunction of the cruise lock
withdrawal system, combined with failure of the flightcrew to select
the high pressure cock (HPC) levers to the lockout position, has
resulted in incidents of engine overspeed and burnout. Additionally,
there have been reports of erroneous selection of the HPC levers to the
closed position, resulting in unnecessary engine shutdown. These
conditions, if not corrected, could result in overspeed and burnout of
the engines during flight.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
The manufacturer has issued Fokker F27 Service Bulletin F27/61-40,
Revision 1, dated August 1, 1997; including Fokker F27 Manual Change
Notification (MCNO) F27-001, dated June 30, 1997; which describes
procedures for revision of the Emergency, Normal, and Abnormal
Procedures Sections of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM). The MCNO
introduces a change that specifies placing the HPC levers in a
permanent lockout position (with the cruise lock withdrawal system
disabled) during operation of the airplane. The RLD classified this
service information as mandatory and issued Dutch airworthiness
directive 1996-130(A), dated October 31, 1996, in order to assure the
continued airworthiness of these airplanes in the Netherlands.
FAA's Conclusions
This airplane model is manufactured in the Netherlands and is type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
Sec. 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.
Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule
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, the proposed AD would require a revision of the
Emergency, Normal, and Abnormal Procedures Sections of the FAA-approved
Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to provide the flightcrew with modified
operational procedures to ensure continuous operation with the HPC
levers in the lockout position (with the cruise lock withdrawal system
disabled). The actions would be required to be accomplished in
accordance with the service information described previously, except as
discussed below.
Differences Between Proposed Rule and Dutch Airworthiness Directive
Operators should note that the related Dutch airworthiness
directive recommends verification that the modifications described in
two Rolls-Royce Service Bulletins (DA72-198 and DA72-348) have been
accomplished on Rolls-Royce 532-7 ``Dart 7'' (RDa-7) series engines
installed on Fokker F27 airplanes. However, this proposed AD would not
require such verification. The FAA has been advised that accomplishment
of the two modifications of the Rolls-Royce engines is recommended to
prevent the loss of propeller control in the event of an annulus gear
failure. Such engine gearbox failures are not related to malfunction of
the cruise lock withdrawal system, and accomplishment of these engine
modifications is not intended to address the identified unsafe
condition of this proposed AD. Therefore, the FAA has determined that
verification of accomplishment of these engine modifications, if
necessary, will be addressed by separate rulemaking action.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 34 Model F27 series airplanes of U.S.
registry would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take
approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the proposed AFM
revision, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based
on these figures, the cost impact of the AFM revision proposed by this
AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $2,040, or $60 per airplane.
The cost impact figure discussed above is 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.
Regulatory Impact
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.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed
regulation: (1)
[[Page 19942]]
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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Fokker: Docket 98-NM-364-AD.
Applicability: Model F27 series airplanes, as listed in Fokker
F27 Service Bulletin F27/61-40, Revision 1, dated August 1, 1997;
certificated in any category.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent overspeed and burnout of the engines during flight by
ensuring that the high pressure cock (HPC) levers are in a permanent
lockout position, accomplish the following:
AFM Revision
(a) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD: Revise
the Emergency, Normal, and Abnormal Procedures Sections, as
applicable, of the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) by
incorporation of Fokker F27 Service Bulletin F27/61-40, Revision 1,
dated August 1, 1997; including Fokker F27 Manual Change
Notification (MCNO) F27-001, dated June 30, 1997. [MCNO F27-001
specifies procedures for placing the HPC levers in a permanent
lockout position (with the cruise lock withdrawal system disabled)
during operation of the airplane.] This action may be accomplished
by inserting a copy of the MCNO into the AFM.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(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, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their
requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Operations Inspector,
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, International
Branch, ANM-116.
Note 1: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116.
Special Flight Permits
(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
Secs. 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.
Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in Dutch
airworthiness directive 1996-130 (A), dated October 31, 1996.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 19, 1999.
D.L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-10184 Filed 4-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U