[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 27, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58178-58180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23578]



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Part III





Department of Transportation





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Federal Aviation Administration



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14 CFR Part 39



Airworthiness Directives; Aviointeriors S.p.A. Seat Model 312; Final 
Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / 
Rules and Regulations  

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NE-09-AD; Amendment 39-11889; AD 2000-18-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Aviointeriors S.p.A. Seat Model 312

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN), Seat Model 312. This 
AD requires initial and repetitive inspections of the seat center 
crossmember for cracks, and if necessary, replacing the crossmember 
with a new crossmember. This amendment is prompted by reports of cracks 
in the crossmember that were found during normal maintenance. The FAA 
is issuing this AD to prevent the loss of the structural integrity of 
the seat due to cracks in the seat center crossmember.

DATES: Effective October 12, 2000. The incorporation by reference of 
certain publications listed in the rule is approved by the Director of 
the Federal Register as of October 12, 2000.
    The FAA must receive any comments on this rule by November 27, 
2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to Docket number 2000-NE-09-AD in one of the 
following ways:
     Mail comments to the Federal Aviation Administration 
(FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, New England Region, Attention: 
Rules Docket number 2000-NE-09-AD, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803-5299. You may also send a request for a copy of 
the AD or regulatory evaluation from that address. If you want us to 
acknowledge receipt of your comments, you must include a self-
addressed, stamped postcard on which the Docket Number is written. We 
will date-stamp your postcard and mail it back to you.
     E-mail comments to [email protected]. Be sure to 
include Docket number 2000-NE-09-AD in the subject line.
    You can get the service information referenced in this AD from 
Aviointeriors S.p.A., Via Appia Km. 66.4--04013 Latina, Italy; 
telephone: 39-0773-6891; fax: 39-0773-631546. You may examine the AD 
Docket (including any comments and service information) at the FAA, New 
England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also examine the 
service information at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North 
Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Murphy, Aerospace Engineer, 
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; 
telephone: 781-238-7739; fax: 781-238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Ente Nazionale per l'Aviaazione Civile 
(ENAC), which is the airworthiness authority for Italy, recently 
notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on the crossmembers 
of Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN) model 312 seats. The ENAC has 
advised the FAA that cracks were found in three seat center 
crossmembers during routine maintenance.

Manufacturer's Service Information

    Aviointeriors has issued alert service bulletin (ASB) No. 312/912-
01, Revision 1, dated October 7, 1999, that specifies procedures for 
inspecting the center crossmember, part number (P/N) DM03437-1, of the 
seat for cracks and, if necessary, replacing the crossmember with a 
serviceable part. The ENAC classified this service bulletin as 
mandatory and issued AD 99-421 in order to assure the airworthiness of 
these seats in Italy.

Bilateral Airworthiness Agreement

    This seat is manufactured in Italy, and is approved for use on 
airplanes that are type certificated for operation in the United States 
under the provisions of Sec. 21.617 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 
(14 CFR 21.617) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. 
Under this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the ENAC has kept the FAA 
informed of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the 
findings of the ENAC, reviewed all available information, and 
determined that AD action is necessary for seats of this design that 
are used on airplanes that are certificated for operation in the United 
States.

Requirements of this AD

    The FAA has identified an unsafe condition that is likely to exist 
or develop on other seats of this same design. This AD is being issued 
to prevent the loss of the structural integrity of the seat due to 
cracks in the seat center crossmember. This AD requires an initial 
inspection within 20 days or 80 hours time-in-service (TIS), whichever 
occurs first, after the effective date of this AD, repetitive 
inspections within 650 hours TIS after the last inspection, and if 
necessary, the replacement of the seat center crossmember with a new 
crossmember. These actions must to be done in accordance with the 
service bulletin described previously.

Immediate Adoption

    Since a situation exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this regulation, it is found that notice and opportunity for prior 
public comment are impracticable, and that good cause exists for making 
this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    Although this AD is in the form of a final rule that involves 
requirements affecting flight safety and was not preceded by notice and 
an opportunity for public comment, the FAA invites you to submit any 
written relevant data, views, or arguments. Submit your comments as 
specified under the ``ADDRESSES'' caption. Be sure to include the Rules 
Docket number 2000-NE-09-AD in the communication. We specifically 
invite comments on the overall regulatory economic, environmental, and 
energy aspects of the rule that might suggest a need to modify it. We 
will file a report in the AD Docket that summarizes each FAA contact 
with the public that is related to the substantive part of this rule. 
The FAA is examining the writing style we currently use in regulatory 
documents, in response to the presidential memorandum of June 1, 1998. 
That memorandum requires federal agencies to communicate more clearly 
with the public. You can get more information about the presidential 
memorandum and the plain language initiative at http://www.plainlanguage.gov. We also specifically invite comments on the 
chart-type format used to publish the actions required by this AD. This 
format was developed in consultation with the Office of the Federal 
Register, and the FAA is considering using this format, when 
appropriate, for future AD's. We will consider all comments received by 
the closing date, and may amend the rule.
    If you want the FAA to acknowledge receipt of your comments, send a 
self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is 
made: ``Comments to Docket Number 2000-NE-09-AD.'' We will date stamp 
the postcard and return it to you.

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Regulatory Impact

    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. Therefore, the FAA has determined that this AD does not 
have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. Accordingly, 
the FAA has not consulted with state authorities before publication of 
this rule.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency 
regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe 
condition in aircraft, and is not a ``significant regulatory action'' 
under Executive Order 12866. Further, the FAA has determined that this 
AD involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If a determination is made 
that this AD otherwise would be significant under DOT Regulatory 
Policies and Procedures, the FAA will prepare a final regulatory 
evaluation and place it in the AD Docket. You can get a copy of this 
evaluation, if one has been prepared, by sending a request to the FAA 
at the mailing address listed under the caption ``ADDRESSES.'' Your 
request must reference ``AD Docket Number 2000-NE-09-AD.''

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

                                          Department of Transportation
                                      Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
                                     Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2000-18-04
                                  Docket No. 2000-NE-09-AD, Amendment 39-11889
                                              Aviointeriors S.p.A.
                            Subject: Inspection of Seat Center Crossmember for Cracks
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(a) Effective Date                                              October 12, 2000.
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(b) Affected Documents                                          None.
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(c) Applicability                                               Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN) Model 312
                                                                 Seats. These seats are used on, but are not
                                                                 limited to, Fokker 50 airplanes.
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(d) Unsafe Condition                                            The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the loss
                                                                 of the structural integrity of the seat due to
                                                                 cracks in the seat center crossmember.
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(e) Compliance                                                  Initial inspection within 20 days or 80 hours
                                                                 time-in-service (TIS), whichever occurs first
                                                                 after the effective date of this AD, unless
                                                                 already done, and repetitive inspections within
                                                                 650 hours TIS after last inspection.
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(f) Required Actions                                            (1) Inspect seat crossmember P/N DM03437-1 in
                                                                 accordance with Section 2. Inspection Procedure
                                                                 of Aviointeriors Alert Service Bulletin (ASB)
                                                                 312/912-01, Revision 1, dated October 7, 1999.
                                                                (2) If you find cracks, replace the crossmember
                                                                 with a new crossmember P/N DM03437-1 in
                                                                 accordance with Section 3 Crossmember
                                                                 Replacement Procedure, Step 3.1 through 3.9 of
                                                                 ASB 312/912-01, Revision 1, dated October 7,
                                                                 1999.
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(g) Other Provisions                                            (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance:
                                                                (i) You may use an alternative method of
                                                                 complying or adjust the time you take to meet
                                                                 the requirements of this AD if your alternative
                                                                 provides an acceptable level of safety, and the
                                                                 Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office
                                                                 (ACO), approves your alternative.
                                                                (ii) Submit your request for approval through an
                                                                 FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may
                                                                 add comments and then send it to the Manager,
                                                                 Boston ACO.
                                                                (iii) You can get information about the
                                                                 existence of already approved alternatives from
                                                                 the FAA, Boston ACO.
                                                                (2) Modifications, Alterations, or Repairs:
                                                                This AD applies to each seat identified in the
                                                                 applicability paragraph, even if it has been
                                                                 modified, altered, or repaired in the area
                                                                 subject to this AD. If that change in any way
                                                                 affects accomplishing the required actions, you
                                                                 must request FAA approval for an alternative
                                                                 method of compliance (AMOC). Your request
                                                                 should assess the effect of the change on the
                                                                 unsafe condition addressed by this AD.
                                                                (3) Special Flight Permits:
                                                                The FAA can issue you a special flight permit
                                                                 under 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate your
                                                                 airplane to a location where you can comply
                                                                 with this AD.
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(h) Incorporation by Reference                                  You must do the inspections and replacements in
                                                                 accordance with Aviointeriors ASB No 312/912-
                                                                 01, Revision 1, dated October 7, 1999. The
                                                                 Director of the Federal Register approved this
                                                                 incorporation by reference under 5 U.S.C.
                                                                 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. If you need a copy of
                                                                 the service bulletin, contact Aviointeriors
                                                                 S.p.A, Via Appia Km. 66.4-04013 Latina, Italy;
                                                                 telephone: 39-0773-6891; fax: 39-0773-631546.
                                                                 You may review a copy of the service bulletin
                                                                 at the FAA, New England Region, Office of the
                                                                 Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive
                                                                 Park, Burlington, MA or at the Office of the
                                                                 Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW,
                                                                 suite 700, Washington, DC.
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(i) Related Information                                         Ente Nazionale per L'Aviaazione Civile AD 99-421
                                                                 has required these inspections and replacements
                                                                 in Italy.
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    Issued in Burlington, MA on August 30, 2000.
David A. Downey,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-23578 Filed 9-26-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-S