[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 234 (Friday, December 5, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67981-67984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30224]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-NM-333-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Model F.28 Mark 1000, 2000, 
3000, and 4000 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

[[Page 67982]]

certain Fokker Model F.28 Mark 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 series 
airplanes. This proposal would require repetitive general visual 
inspections, lubrication, and tests of the release mechanism for the 
service/emergency door; and corrective actions if necessary. This 
proposal also provides an optional terminating action for the 
repetitive inspections and lubrication. This action is necessary to 
prevent failure of the release mechanism on the service/emergency door, 
which could result in the inability to open the service/emergency door 
during an emergency evacuation. This action is intended to address the 
identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 5, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-NM-333-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232. 
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address: 
[email protected]. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must 
contain ``Docket No. 2001-NM-333-AD'' in the subject line and need not 
be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached 
electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 or 2000 or 
ASCII text.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Fokker Services B.V., P.O. Box 231, 2150 AE Nieuw-Vennep, 
the Netherlands. This information may be examined at the FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-1137; 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 action may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Submit comments using the following format:
    [sbull] Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a 
request to change the compliance time and a request to change the 
service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
    [sbull] For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed 
AD is being requested.
    [sbull] Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each 
request.
    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 action must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 2001-NM-333-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. 2001-NM-333-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    The Civil Aviation Authority--The Netherlands (CAA-NL), which is 
the airworthiness authority for the Netherlands, notified the FAA that 
an unsafe condition may exist on certain Fokker Model F.28 Mark 1000, 
2000, 3000, and 4000 series airplanes. The CAA-NL advises that it has 
received reports that, during evacuation training, the service/
emergency door release mechanism was unable to release the door 
rollers, which resulted in the inability to open the service/emergency 
door. Investigation revealed that the release mechanism did not operate 
properly due to lack of lubrication on the door rollers. Service 
experience has shown that the reliability of the release mechanism can 
degrade if it is not regularly maintained (inspected, lubricated, and 
tested). Improperly maintained service/emergency door release 
mechanisms, if not corrected, could result in the inability to open the 
service/emergency door during an emergency evacuation.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Fokker Services B.V. has issued Fokker Service Bulletin F28/52-118, 
dated June 25, 2001, which describes procedures for repetitive 
inspections, lubrication, and tests of the release mechanism for the 
service/emergency door; and corrective actions if necessary. These 
procedures include inspection and lubrication of the four roller 
assemblies, actuating mechanism (including measurement of the torque of 
the torsion spring), and Bowden cables; adjustment of the Bowden 
cables; and measurement of the operating force for the emergency 
release button. The corrective actions include rework/repair or 
replacement of damaged or corroded parts with new parts of the same 
type.
    Fokker Service B.V. has also issued Fokker Service Bulletin F28/52-
89, dated October 31, 1983, which describes procedures for replacing 
the service/emergency door by removing the Bowden cable-operated door 
and installing a push-pull rod-operated door. Accomplishment of this 
service bulletin eliminates the need for the repetitive inspections and 
lubrication. For certain airplanes, Fokker Service Bulletin F28/52-89 
recommends prior or concurrent accomplishment of Part VII of Fokker 
Service Bulletin F28/52-55, Revision 1, dated February 28, 1977. Part 
VII describes procedures for modification of the roller assemblies in 
the service/emergency door by installing a second pull-up mechanism.
    Accomplishment of the actions specified in Service Bulletin F28/52-
118, dated June 25, 2001, is intended to adequately address the 
identified unsafe condition. The CAA-NL classified Fokker Service 
Bulletin F28/52-118 as mandatory and issued Dutch airworthiness 
directive 2001-094, dated July 31, 2001, to ensure 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 CAA-NL has kept the FAA informed 
of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of 
the

[[Page 67983]]

CAA-NL, 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 rule would require accomplishment of 
the actions specified in Fokker Service Bulletin F28/52-118, dated June 
25, 2001, described previously, except as discussed below.

Differences Between Dutch Airworthiness Directive, Service Bulletin, 
and Proposed Rule

    Fokker Service Bulletin F28/52-118 and the Dutch airworthiness 
directive specify that if any discrepancy or corroded part is found 
during any inspection, the applicable corrective action must be 
accomplished within 1,500 flight hours or 18 months after finding the 
discrepancy or corroded part, whichever occurs first. We have 
determined that, because of the safety implications of a potentially 
inoperative emergency door, this proposed rule would require 
accomplishment of the applicable corrective action before further 
flight. This difference has been coordinated with the CAA-NL.
    Also, where the service bulletin and the Dutch airworthiness 
directive specify inspections of various parts of the release mechanism 
for the service/emergency door, this proposed rule identifies these as 
general visual inspections. A note has been added to the proposed rule 
to define that type of inspection.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 6 airplanes of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 15 work 
hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the 
average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$5,850, or $975 per inspection cycle.
    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. The cost impact figures 
discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to 
perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures 
typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to 
gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other 
administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein would 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, it 
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132.
    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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

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

Fokker Services B.V.: Docket 2001-NM-333-AD.

    Applicability: Model F.28 Mark 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 series 
airplanes as listed in the effectivity of Fokker Service Bulletin 
F28/52-118, dated June 25, 2001; certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent failure of the release mechanism on the service/
emergency door, which could result in the inability to open the 
service/emergency door during an emergency evacuation, accomplish 
the following:

Inspection, Lubrication, Testing, and Corrective Actions

    (a) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD: Do a 
general visual inspection (including measurement of the torque for 
the actuating mechanism torsion spring), lubricate, and test to 
verify proper operation of the emergency release mechanism of the 
service/emergency door by accomplishing all of the actions specified 
in paragraphs A. through R. of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Fokker Service Bulletin F28/52-118, dated June 25, 2001.

    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection 
is defined as: ``A visual examination of an interior or exterior 
area, installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, 
or irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within 
touching distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be 
necessary to enhance visual access to all exposed surfaces in the 
inspection area. This level of inspection is made under normally 
available lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, 
flashlight, or droplight and may require removal or opening of 
access panels or doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be 
required to gain proximity to the area being checked.''

    (1) If no discrepant or corroded part is found during the 
inspection required by paragraph (a) of this AD: Repeat the actions 
specified in paragraph (a) of this AD thereafter at intervals not to 
exceed 1,500 flight hours or 18 months, whichever occurs first.
    (2) If any discrepancy (including a torque value which exceeds 
the limits specified in the applicable service bulletin, improperly 
installed part, or damaged part) is found, or if a corroded part is 
found, during any inspection required by paragraph (a) of this AD: 
Before further flight, do the applicable corrective action in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of the service 
bulletin. Repeat the actions specified in paragraph (a) of this AD 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1,500 flight hours or 18 
months, whichever occurs first.

Optional Terminating Action and Concurrent Service Bulletin

    (b) Replacement of the Bowden cable-operated service/emergency 
door with a push-pull rod-operated service/emergency door, in 
accordance with Fokker Service Bulletin F28/52-89, dated October 31, 
1983, constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspections 
and lubrication required by paragraph (a) of this AD.
    (c) For airplanes with serial numbers 11003 to 11051 inclusive, 
11991, and 11992: Prior to or concurrent with paragraph (b) of this 
AD, accomplish the modification specified in part VII of Fokker 
Service Bulletin F28/52-55, Revision 1, dated February 28, 1977.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (d) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, International 
Branch, ANM-116,

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FAA, is authorized to approve alternative methods of compliance for 
this AD.

    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in Dutch 
airworthiness directive 2001-094, dated July 31, 2001.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 28, 2003.
Kevin Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-30224 Filed 12-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P