[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 68 (Monday, April 11, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18274-18275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6912]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NE-09-AD; Amendment 39-14052; AD 2005-07-27]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Aviointeriors S.p.A. Series 312 Seats

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD), that is applicable to Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN), 
series 312 seats. That AD requires initial and repetitive inspections 
of the seat central crossmember for cracks, and if necessary, replacing 
the crossmember with a new crossmember. This ad requires the same 
actions and adds other crossmember part numbers for inspection. In 
addition, this AD replaces the original design crossmembers with 
reinforced design crossmembers as optional terminating actions to the 
repetitive inspections. This AD results from reports of 88 cracked seat 
central crossmembers and 60 aisle side crossmembers, to date; and, from 
the introduction of reinforced optional seat crossmembers by the 
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent the loss of the 
structural integrity of the seat due to cracks in seat crossmembers, 
which could lead to passenger injury.

DATES: This AD becomes effective May 16, 2005. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in the regulations as of May 16, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Contact Aviointeriors S.p.A., Via Appia Km. 66.4--04013 
Latina, Italy; telephone: 39-0773-6891; fax: 39-0773-631546, for the 
service information identified in this AD.
    You may examine the AD docket at the FAA, New England Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA. You may examine the service information, at the FAA, 
New England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Lee, Aerospace Engineer, 
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; 
telephone: 781-238-7161; fax: 781-238-7170.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR Part 39 
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to Aviointeriors S.p.A. 
(formerly ALVEN), series 312 seats. We published the proposed AD in the 
Federal Register on May 20, 2004 (69 FR 29109). That action proposed to 
require initial and repetitive inspections of seat central and aisle 
side crossmembers for cracks, and if necessary, replacing the 
crossmember with a new crossmember. That action also proposed to 
introduce replacing the original design crossmember with a reinforced 
crossmember as an optional terminating action to the repetitive 
inspections.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD Docket (including any comments and service 
information), by appointment, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. See ADDRESSES for the 
location.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We received no comments on the proposal or on 
the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 1,020 Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN) series 
312 seats installed on airplanes of U.S. registry that would be 
affected by this AD. We estimate that it would take about 0.5 work 
hours per seat to perform the inspections, and about one work hour per 
seat to perform the replacement of a crossmember. The average labor 
rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts will cost about $650.50 per 
seat. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of one 
inspection and total parts replacement to U.S. operators to be 
$729,810.

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 AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866;
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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 summary of the costs to comply with this AD and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by 
sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include 
``AD Docket No. 2000-NE-09-AD'' in your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

[[Page 18275]]

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing Amendment 39-11889 (65 FR 
58177, September 27, 2000) and by adding a new airworthiness directive, 
Amendment 39-14052, to read as follows:

2005-07-27 Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN): Amendment 39-
14052. Docket No. 2000-NE-09-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective May 16, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2000-18-04.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN), 
model 312 seats. These seats are installed in, but not limited to, 
Fokker Model F27 Mark 050, Mark 500, and Mark 600 airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of 88 cracked seat central 
crossmembers and 60 aisle side crossmembers, to date; and, from the 
introduction of reinforced optional seat crossmembers by the 
manufacturer. The actions specified in this AD are intended to 
prevent the loss of the structural integrity of the seat due to 
cracks in seat crossmembers, which could lead to passenger injury.

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.

Initial Visual Inspection

    (f) Perform an initial visual inspection of the crossmember for 
cracks, within 12,000 hours time-in-service (TIS); or within 180 
days after the effective date of this AD if the crossmember has more 
than 12,000 hours TIS, as follows:
    (1) Inspect seat central crossmembers, part number (P/N) 
DM03437-1, using Section 2. of Inspection Procedure of Aviointeriors 
Service Bulletin (SB) No. 312/912-01, Revision 2, dated August 1, 
2000.
    (2) Replace any cracked central crossmember with a new 
crossmember of the same P/N. Use Section 3. Crossmember Replacement 
Procedure, Steps 3.1 though 3.10 of Aviointeriors SB No. 312/912-01, 
Revision 2, dated August 1, 2000.
    (3) Inspect seat aisle side crossmembers, P/Ns DM03435-1, 
DM03435-2, and DM03437-1 (Disabled People seat application), using 
Section 2. of Inspection Procedure of Aviointeriors SB No. 312/912-
02, Revision 1, dated August 1, 2000.
    (4) Replace any cracked aisle side crossmember with a new 
crossmember of the same P/N. Use Section 3. Crossmember Replacement 
Procedure, Steps 3.1 though 3.8 of Aviointeriors SB No. 312/912-02, 
Revision 1, dated August 1, 2000.

Repetitive Visual Inspections

    (g) Perform repetitive visual inspections of crossmembers, P/N 
DM03435-1, DM03435-2, and DM03437-1, for cracks, within 650 hours 
TIS after the last inspection. Use paragraphs (f)(1) through (f)(4) 
of this AD to inspect and disposition crossmembers.

Optional Terminating Action

    (h) As optional terminating actions to the repetitive 
inspections required by this AD, do the following:
    (1) Replace seat central crossmembers, P/N DM03437-1, with 
reinforced crossmembers, P/N F11541300000. Use Section 2. 
Crossmember Replacement Procedure, Steps 2.1 through 2.11 of 
Aviointeriors SB No. 312/912-03, dated August 1, 2000.
    (2) Replace seat aisle side crossmembers, P/N DM03435-1, 
DM03435-2, and DM03437-1 (Disabled People seat application), with 
reinforced crossmembers, P/N F11555400000, F11555500000, and 
F11541300000, respectively. Use Section 2. Crossmember Replacement 
Procedure, Steps 2.1 through 2.11 of Aviointeriors SB No. 312/912-
04, dated August 1, 2000.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (i) The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, has the 
authority to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD 
if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use the Aviointeriors service information specified 
in Table 1 of this AD to perform the inspections and replacements 
required by this AD. The Director of the Federal Register approved 
the incorporation by reference of the documents in Table 1 of this 
AD in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact 
Aviointeriors S.p.A., Via Appia Km. 66.4--04013 Latina, Italy; 
telephone: 39-0773-6891; fax: 39-0773-631546, for a copy of this 
service information. You can review copies at the FAA, New England 
Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive 
Park, Burlington, MA, or at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. Table 1 follows:

                                      Table 1.--Incorporation By Reference
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 Aviointeriors service bulletin No.            Page                  Revision                    Date
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312/912-01, Total Pages: 8.........  ALL....................  2.....................  August 1, 2000.
312/912-02, Total Pages: 9.........  ALL....................  1.....................  August 1, 2000.
312/912-03, Total Pages: 8.........  ALL....................  Original..............  August 1, 2000.
312/912-04, Total Pages: 8.........  ALL....................  Original..............  August 1, 2000.
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Related Information

    (k) Ente Nazionale per l'Aviazione Civile airworthiness 
directives 2000-511 and 2000-512, both dated November 7, 2000, also 
address the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on April 1, 2005.
Diane Cook,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 05-6912 Filed 4-8-05; 8:45 am]
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