[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 6, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17345-17347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6760]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20871; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-212-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all Fokker Model F.28 Mark 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 series 
airplanes. This proposed AD would require a detailed inspection to 
determine the presence of incorrectly installed bushings in the 
attachment holes of the reinforcing strap of the left- and right-hand 
wings' lower skin, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed 
AD is prompted by a report that bushings were installed in accordance 
with improper procedures in the structural repair manual. We are 
proposing this AD to detect and correct improperly installed bushings, 
which could result in reduced tensile strength of the reinforcing strap 
of the wing's lower skin, and consequently a reduction of the 
structural capability of the wing and possible wing failure.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 6, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     By fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Fokker Services B.V., P.O. Box 231, 2150 AE Nieuw-Vennep, the 
Netherlands.
    You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, 
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC. This docket 
number is FAA-2005-20871; the directorate identifier for this docket is 
2004-NM-212-AD.

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

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-20871; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-212-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of our 
docket Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You can review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
can visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    The Civil Aviation Authority--The Netherlands (CAA-NL), which is 
the airworthiness authority for the Netherlands, notified us that an 
unsafe condition may exist on all Fokker Model F.28 Mark 1000, 2000, 
3000, and 4000 series airplanes. The CAA-NL advises that an operator 
found worn attachment holes in the reinforcing strap of a wing's lower 
skin at wing station (WS) 2635. Subsequent investigation found that the 
repair bushings were improperly installed (with the bushings running 
completely through the wing skin and reinforcing strap) in a number of 
holes during the accomplishment of (optional) Fokker Service Bulletin 
F28/57-77. That service bulletin refers to the Structural Repair Manual 
(SRM) chapter 57-02-02, repair No. 3, for restoration of close 
tolerance holes by oversizing the holes or by installing bushings. The 
SRM has been updated and Fokker has issued Manual Change Notification--
Maintenance F28-027 to correct the flawed SRM procedure. Although a 
joint with improperly installed bushings may still have adequate shear 
strength, its tensile strength is considerably reduced. For this 
reason, the applied repair is considered to be inadequate. Improperly 
installed bushings, if not detected and corrected, could result in 
reduced tensile strength of the reinforcing strap of the wing's lower 
skin, and consequently a reduction of the structural capability of the 
wing and possible wing failure.

Relevant Service Information

    Fokker Services B.V. has issued Fokker Service Bulletin F28/57-93, 
dated December 22, 2003. The service bulletin describes procedures for 
an inspection to determine the presence of incorrectly installed 
bushings in the attachment holes of the reinforcing strap of the left- 
and right-hand wings' lower skin at WS 2635, and the repair of 
bushings, if necessary.

[[Page 17346]]

    Fokker Services B.V. has issued Fokker Service Bulletin F28/57-96, 
dated December 22, 2003. The service bulletin describes procedures for 
corrective action if the inspection reveals the presence of incorrectly 
installed bushings. The corrective action includes replacement of the 
reinforcing straps of the left- and right-hand wings' lower skin at WS 
2635 with new reinforcing straps.
    Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is 
intended to adequately address the unsafe condition. The CAA-NL 
mandated the service information and issued Dutch airworthiness 
directive 2004-021, dated February 27, 2004, to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of these airplanes in the Netherlands.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    These airplane models are manufactured in the Netherlands and are 
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 CAA-NL has kept the FAA 
informed of the situation described above. We have examined the CAA-
NL's findings, evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that 
we need to issue an AD for products of this type design that are 
certificated for operation in the United States.
    Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which would require 
accomplishing the actions specified in the service information 
described previously.

Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Dutch Airworthiness 
Directive

    Unlike the compliance times mandated in the Dutch airworthiness 
directive, this proposed AD would not permit further flight after 
incorrectly installed bushings or loose bolts in the attachment holes 
of the reinforcing strap are detected. This proposed AD would require 
corrective action before further flight. We find that, to achieve an 
adequate level of safety for the affected fleet, the corrective actions 
must be completed prior to further flight. Thus, we adjusted the 
compliance time for the corrective action, extending the initial 
inspection compliance time from the earlier of 6 months or 1,500 flight 
cycles after the effective date of the AD, as specified in the Dutch 
airworthiness directive, to the earlier of 12 months or 3,000 flight 
cycles after the effective date of the AD, as specified in this 
proposed AD. These differences have been coordinated with the CAA-NL.

Clarification of Inspection Terminology

    In this proposed AD, the ``inspection''' specified in the Fokker 
service bulletins is referred to as a ``detailed inspection.'' We have 
included the definition for a detailed inspection in a note in the 
proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
to comply with this proposed AD.

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                        Number of
                                               Average                    Cost per       U.S. -
           Action              Work hours    labor rate       Parts       airplane     registered    Fleet cost
                                              per hour                                  airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection..................            8           $65            $0          $520            12         6,240
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Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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. 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location 
to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Fokker Services B.V.: Docket No. FAA-2005-20871; Directorate 
Identifier 2004-NM-212-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration must receive comments on 
this AD action by May 6, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Fokker Model F.28 Mark 1000, 2000, 
3000, and 4000 series airplanes, certificated in any category.

[[Page 17347]]

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report that bushings were 
installed in accordance with improper procedures in the structural 
repair manual. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct 
improperly installed bushings which could result in reduced tensile 
strength of the reinforcing strap of the wing's lower skin, and 
consequently a reduction of the structural capability of the wing 
and possible wing failure.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Inspection and Corrective Actions

    (f) Within 12 months or 3,000 flight cycles after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs first, do a detailed inspection of 
the reinforcing strap of the left- and right-hand wings' lower skin 
at WS 2635 for improperly installed bushings in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin F28/57-93, 
dated December 22, 2003.

    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is: 
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or 
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available 
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good 
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as 
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning 
and elaborate procedures may be required.''

    (1) If no improperly installed bushing is found, no further 
action is required by this AD.
    (2) If any improperly installed bushing is found, before further 
flight:
    (i) Repair the bushing in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin F28/57-93, dated December 
22, 2003; and
    (ii) Replace the reinforcing strap with a new reinforcing strap 
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker Service 
Bulletin F28/57-96, dated December 22, 2003.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane
    Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this 
AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19.

Related Information

    (h) Dutch airworthiness directive 2004-021, dated February 27, 
2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 25, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-6760 Filed 4-5-05; 8:45 am]
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