[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3792-3794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-795]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-23659; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-236-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Model F27 Mark 100, 200, 300, 
400, 500, 600, and 700 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 F27 Mark 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 
airplanes. This proposed AD would require revising the Limitations 
section of the airplane flight manual regarding the use of continuous 
ignition, fuel filter heating, and resetting circuit breakers during 
flight in certain conditions such as icing. This proposed AD results 
from reports of power loss on one or both engines in icing conditions. 
We are proposing this AD to advise the flightcrew that continuous 
ignition will not reduce the probability of power loss, and what action 
they must take to avoid this hazard. Loss of power in one or more 
engines during flight, if not prevented, could result in loss of 
control of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 23, 
2006.

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.
     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.
    Contact Fokker Services B.V., P.O. Box 231, 2150 AE Nieuw-Vennep, 
the Netherlands, for service information identified in this proposed 
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 in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2006-
23659; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-236-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 received 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 
that 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 may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may 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

[[Page 3793]]

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 Docket Management System 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 F27 Mark 100, 200, 300, 
400, 500, 600, and 700 airplanes. The CAA-NL advises that since the 
start of operations with the Fokker F27 in 1958, there have been 13 
reports of power loss on a single engine in icing conditions, and 9 
reports of power loss on both engines in icing conditions. 
Investigation revealed that the use of continuous ignition in icing 
conditions while the auto-feather system is armed could cause damage to 
the engine turbine on both engines if there is an engine flame-out or 
loss of power. Continuous ignition used in these circumstances could 
cause an immediate relight with the propeller already in a course pitch 
and, as a consequence, damage the turbine and cause the engine to shut 
down. In this case, the engine cannot be restarted. The investigation 
also revealed that the requirements in the airplane flight manual (AFM) 
regarding the use of continuous ignition in certain operational 
conditions will not reduce the probability of loss of engine power. 
Loss of power in one or more engines during flight, if not prevented, 
could result in loss of control of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    Fokker Service B.V. has issued Fokker Manual Change Notification--
Operational Documentation (MCNO) MCNO-F27-020, dated June 1, 2004, to 
the Fokker F27 AFM. The MCNO revises the normal, abnormal, and 
emergency procedures sections of the AFM regarding the use of 
continuous ignition, fuel filter heating, and resetting circuit 
breakers during flight in certain operating conditions such as icing 
conditions. The CAA-NL mandated the AFM revisions and issued Dutch 
airworthiness directive 2004-122, dated October 28, 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 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. We have examined the CAA-
NL's findings, evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that 
we need to issue an AD for airplanes of this type design that are 
certificated for operation in the United States. Therefore, we are 
proposing this AD, which would require revising the normal, abnormal, 
and emergency procedures sections of the AFM regarding the use of 
continuous ignition, fuel filter heating, and resetting circuit 
breakers during flight in certain conditions such as icing conditions.

Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would affect about 27 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The AFM revision would take about 1 work hour per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is $1,755, or $65 
per airplane.

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 and placed it in the AD docket. 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

Fokker Services B.V.: Docket No. FAA-2006-23659; Directorate 
Identifier 2005-NM-236-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by February 
23, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Fokker Model F27 Mark 100, 200, 300, 
400, 500, 600, and 700 airplanes, certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of power loss on one or both 
engines in icing conditions. We are issuing this AD to advise the 
flightcrew that continuous ignition will not reduce the probability 
of power loss, and what action they must take to avoid this hazard. 
Loss of power in one or more engines during flight, if not 
prevented, could result in loss of control of the airplane.

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.

[[Page 3794]]

Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Revision

    (f) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Limitations section of the Fokker F27 AFM by incorporating the 
information specified in Fokker Manual Change Notification--
Operational Documentation (MCNO) MCNO-F27-020, dated June 1, 2004, 
into the Limitations section of the AFM.

    Note 1: The actions required by paragraph (f) of this AD may be 
done by inserting a copy of MCNO MCNO-F27-020 into the Normal 
Procedures, Abnormal Procedures, and Emergency Procedures sections 
of the Fokker F27 AFM. When this MCNO, MCNO-F27-020, has been 
included in general revisions of the AFM, the general revisions may 
be inserted in the AFM, provided the relevant information in the 
general revision is identical to that in MCNO MCNO-F27-020.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g)(1) 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.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

Related Information

    (h) Dutch airworthiness directive 2004-122, dated October 28, 
2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 13, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-795 Filed 1-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P