[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 10, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 18575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8727]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-07-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Dornier Model 328-300 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: This action withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
that proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain 
Dornier Model 328-300 series airplanes. That action would have required 
replacement of the hydraulic line tube assemblies with improved tube 
assemblies and flexible hose assemblies. Since the issuance of the 
NPRM, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has received 
information from Fairchild Dornier indicating that the replacement has 
already been carried out on all of the affected airplanes. Accordingly, 
the proposed rule is withdrawn.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, ANM-
116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2125; fax (425) 227-
1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations to add a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to certain Dornier Model 328-300 series airplanes, was 
published in the Federal Register on June 15, 2000 (65 FR 37500). The 
proposed rule would have required replacement of the hydraulic line 
tube assemblies with improved tube assemblies and flexible hose 
assemblies. That action was prompted by information from the Luftfahrt-
Bundesamt (LBA), which is the airworthiness authority for Germany, 
indicating that pressure spikes and vibration during manual activation 
of the hydraulic changeover valve may cause cracking of the hydraulic 
lines that pressurize the braking systems of these airplanes. The 
pressure spikes create a high bending stress near the sleeve at the 
changeover valve. The proposed actions were intended to prevent 
cracking of the hydraulic lines, which could result in loss of 
hydraulic pressure for certain braking systems on the airplane.

Actions Since Issuance of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)

    Since the issuance of that NPRM, the FAA has received a comment 
from Fairchild Dornier indicating that the replacement of the hydraulic 
line tube assemblies had been accomplished in all airplanes world-wide, 
which are affected by the rule. Therefore, Fairchild Dornier requested 
the FAA to withdraw the NPRM.

FAA's Conclusions

    The FAA concurs that, if all of the requirements of the NPRM have 
already been accomplished on all affected airplanes world-wide, the 
NPRM may be withdrawn.
    Withdrawal of this NPRM constitutes only such action, and does not 
preclude the agency from issuing another notice in the future, nor does 
it commit the agency to any course of action in the future.

Regulatory Impact

    Since this action only withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking, 
it is neither a proposed nor a final rule and therefore, is not covered 
under Executive Order 13132, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979).

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Withdrawal

    Accordingly, the notice of proposed rulemaking, Docket 2000-NM-07-
AD, published in the Federal Register on June 15, 2000 (65 FR 37500), 
is withdrawn.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 3, 2001.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-8727 Filed 4-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U