[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 6, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17375-17377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6771]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20868; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-162-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0100 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 0100 series airplanes. This proposed AD 
would require an inspection to determine the part number of the 
passenger service unit (PSU) panels for the PSU modification status, 
and corrective actions if applicable. This proposed AD is prompted by 
reported incidents of smoke in the passenger compartment during flight. 
One of those incidents also included a burning smell and consequently 
led to emergency evacuation of the airplane. We are proposing this AD 
to prevent overheating of the PSU panel due to moisture ingress, which 
could result in smoke or fire in the passenger cabin.

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.

[[Page 17376]]

     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-2005-20868; the directorate identifier for this 
docket is 2004-NM-162-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-2005-20868; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-162-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 website, 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 certain Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0100 
series airplanes, equipped with Grimes Aerospace passenger service unit 
(PSU) panels having part number (P/N) 10-1178-( ) or 10-1571-( ). The 
CAA-NL advises that operators have reported incidents of smoke in the 
passenger compartment during flight. One of those incidents also 
included a burning smell during flight and consequently led to the 
airplane's return to the airport and emergency evacuation. 
Investigation revealed that water leaking onto the electrical connector 
of the PSU panel could cause overheating of the PSU panel. This 
condition, if not corrected, could result in smoke or fire in the 
passenger cabin.

Relevant Service Information

    Fokker Services B.V. has issued Service Bulletin SBF100-25-097, 
dated December 30, 2003. The service bulletin describes procedures for 
inspecting to determine the part number of the PSU panels for the PSU 
modification status, and corrective actions if applicable. The 
corrective actions include the following:
     For Grimes Aerospace PSU panels having P/N 10-1178-() or 
10-1571-() that have been reidentified as ``REV AE'' or ``REV C,'' as 
applicable: Sealing the PSU panel/airplane interface connector if 
necessary, and cleaning the plug and receptacle of the PSU panel/
airplane interface connector.
     For Grimes Aerospace PSU panels having P/N 10-1178-() or 
10-1571-() that have not been reidentified as ``REV AE'' or ``REV C,'' 
as applicable: Modifying the PSU panel, sealing the PSU panel/airplane 
interface connector if necessary, and cleaning the plug and receptacle 
of the PSU panel/airplane interface connector.
    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 2004-022, dated February 27, 2004, to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of these airplanes in the Netherlands.
    The Fokker service bulletin refers to Grimes Aerospace Service 
Bulletin 10-1178-33-0040 (for PSU panel P/N 10-1178-()), Revision 1, 
dated March 25, 1996; and Service Bulletin 10-1571-33-0041 (for PSU 
panel P/N 10-1571-()), dated October 15, 1993; as additional sources of 
service information for modifying the PSU panel.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    This airplane model is manufactured in the Netherlands and is 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, except as discussed under ``Differences Between 
the Proposed AD and Dutch Airworthiness Directive.''

Differences Between the Proposed AD and Dutch Airworthiness Directive

    The Dutch airworthiness directive only requires an inspection to 
determine the modification status of the PSU panels. This proposed AD, 
however, would require an inspection to determine whether Grimes 
Aerospace PSU panels having P/N 10-1178-( ) or 10-1571-( ) are 
installed and the modification status of the PSU panels. Since the PSU 
panels are a rotatable part, this inspection is necessary to determine 
whether an airplane is affected by the unsafe condition of this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would affect about 61 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The proposed actions would take about 5 work hours per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts would cost 
about $6 per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of 
the proposed AD for U.S. operators is $20,191, or $331 per airplane.

[[Page 17377]]

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-2005-20868; Directorate 
Identifier 2004-NM-162-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 0100 series 
airplanes, certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by reported incidents of smoke in the 
passenger compartment during flight. One of those incidents also 
included a burning smell and consequently led to emergency 
evacuation of the airplane. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
overheating of the PSU panel due to moisture ingress, which could 
result in smoke or fire in the passenger cabin.

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 If Applicable

    (f) Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, 
inspect to determine if Grimes Aerospace PSU panels having part 
number (P/N) 10-1178-( ) or 10-1571-( ) are installed and the PSU 
modification status if applicable, and do any corrective actions if 
applicable, by doing all of the actions specified in the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-25-
097, dated December 30, 2003.

    Note 1: Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-25-097, dated December 
30, 2003, refers to Grimes Aerospace Service Bulletin 10-1178-33-
0040 (for PSU panel P/N 10-1178-( )), Revision 1, dated March 25, 
1996; and Service Bulletin 10-1571-33-0041 (for PSU panel P/N 10-
1571-( )), dated October 15, 1993, as additional sources of service 
information for modifying the PSU panel.

Parts Installation

    (g) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
PSU panel, P/Ns 10-1178-( ) and 10-1571-( ), on any airplane, unless 
it has been inspected and any corrective actions if applicable have 
been done in accordance with paragraph (f) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) 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

    (i) Dutch airworthiness directive 2004-022, dated February 27, 
2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 28, 2005.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-6771 Filed 4-5-05; 8:45 am]
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