[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 71 (Thursday, April 13, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19108-19110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-3480]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24429; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-003-AD; 
Amendment 39-14559; AD 2006-08-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0100 Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0100 airplanes. This AD requires 
reinforcing the fuselage at the emergency locator transmitter system's 
antenna area. This AD results from a report that certain structural 
provisions for an optional antenna are of insufficient strength. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent reduced structural integrity of the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 28, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of April 28, 
2006.
    We must receive comments on this AD by June 12, 2006.

[[Page 19109]]


ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this 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 AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-1137; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 
airplanes. The CAA-NL advises that in 2003 and 2004 the manufacturer 
developed two optional modifications for airplanes with an emergency 
locator transmitter (ELT) system installed in production. These 
modifications included removing existing structural provisions in the 
rear fuselage, and installing new structural provisions for a new 
antenna and tuner. Recent investigations showed that the new structural 
provisions for the new antenna are of insufficient strength. This 
condition, if not corrected, could result in reduced structural 
integrity of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    Fokker Services B.V. has issued Service Bulletin SBF100-53-100, 
dated February 28, 2005, including Drawing W98488, Sheets 07 and 08, 
Issue F, dated February 9, 2004, and Sheets 09 and 10, Issue F, dated 
February 10, 2004. The service bulletin describes procedures for 
reinforcing the fuselage at the ELT system's antenna area. The 
reinforcement involves installing new, improved angles at the existing 
attachment holes. 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 NL-2005-004, dated April 29, 2005, to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of these airplanes in the Netherlands.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This 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 issuing this AD to prevent reduced structural 
integrity of the airplane. This AD requires accomplishing the actions 
specified in the service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    None of the airplanes affected by this action are on the U.S. 
Register. All airplanes affected by this AD are currently operated by 
non-U.S. operators under foreign registry; therefore, they are not 
directly affected by this AD action. However, we consider this AD 
necessary to ensure that the unsafe condition is addressed if any 
affected airplane is imported and placed on the U.S. Register in the 
future.
    If an affected airplane is imported and placed on the U.S. Register 
in the future, the required actions would take about 3 work hours per 
airplane, at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Required parts 
are free of charge. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the 
AD would be $240 per airplane.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    No airplane affected by this AD is currently on the U.S. Register. 
Therefore, providing notice and opportunity for public comment is 
unnecessary before this AD is issued, and this AD may be made effective 
in less than 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements that affect 
flight safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for 
public comment; however, we invite you to submit any relevant written 
data, views, or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an 
address listed in the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2006-
24429; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-003-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the AD that might 
suggest a need to modify it.
    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 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 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.

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

[[Page 19110]]

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 the 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 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

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

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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2006-08-05 Fokker Services B.V.: Amendment 39-14559. Docket No. FAA-
2006-24429; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-003-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 28, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0100 airplanes, 
certificated in any category; serial numbers 11290, 11296, 11323, 
11329, and 11330, if modified in accordance with Fokker Service 
Bulletin SBF100-25-038 or SBF100-25-096.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report that certain structural 
provisions for an optional antenna are of insufficient strength. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent reduced structural integrity 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.

Installation

    (f) Within 24 months or 3,000 flight cycles after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs first: Reinforce the fuselage at 
the emergency locator transmitter system's antenna area in 
accordance with Part 1 or Part 2 of the Accomplishment Instructions 
of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-53-100, dated February 28, 2005, 
including Drawing W98488, Sheets 07 and 08, Issue F, dated February 
9, 2004, and Sheets 09 and 10, Issue F, dated February 10, 2004.

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 NL-2005-004, dated April 29, 
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-53-100, dated 
February 28, 2005, including Drawing W98488, Sheets 07 and 08, Issue 
F, dated February 9, 2004, and Sheets 09 and 10, Issue F, dated 
February 10, 2004, to perform the actions that are required by this 
AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. Fokker Service Bulletin 
SBF100-53-100 contains the following effective pages:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Revision level
            Page No.                 shown on page    Date shown on page
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1-9.............................  Original..........  February 28, 2005.
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                             Drawing W98488
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07, 08..........................  F.................  February 9, 2004.
09, 10..........................  F.................  February 10, 2004.
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    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation 
by reference of this document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 
1 CFR part 51. Contact Fokker Services B.V., P.O. Box 231, 2150 AE 
Nieuw-Vennep, the Netherlands, for a copy of this service 
information. You may review copies at the Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC; on the Internet 
at http://dms.dot.gov; or at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at the NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 4, 2006.
Kevin M. Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-3480 Filed 4-12-06; 8:45 am]
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