[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 197 (Thursday, October 12, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60085-60087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-16894]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-26044; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-098-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Model F.28 Mark 1000, 2000, 
3000, and 4000 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 airplanes. 
This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection of the left- and 
right-hand main landing gear (MLG) downlock actuators or a review of 
the airplane maintenance records to determine the part number of each 
downlock actuator installed, and replacement of identified MLG downlock 
actuators with modified MLG downlock actuators. This proposed AD 
results from a report of a failed downlock actuator, which resulted in 
the left MLG collapsing during taxi after landing. We are proposing 
this AD to prevent failure of the downlock actuator, which could 
prevent the MLG side stay from locking properly, resulting in collapse 
of the MLG during ground maneuvers or upon landing.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 13, 
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., Technical Services Dept., 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, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; 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-
26044; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-098-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

[[Page 60086]]

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.

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 1000, 
2000, 3000, and 4000 airplanes. The CAA-NL advises that it received a 
report that a flightcrew of a Model F.28 Mark 3000 airplane received a 
``LH MLG UNSAFE'' warning during approach to landing. The flightcrew 
made an uneventful landing, but during taxi after landing the left main 
landing gear (MLG) collapsed. Investigation into the cause of the 
collapse revealed a failed downlock actuator. The failed downlock 
actuator prevented the MLG side stay assembly from locking properly, 
causing the MLG collapse. Investigators determined that the use of an 
improved (modified) version of the downlock assembly could prevent this 
condition. Failure of the downlock actuator, if not corrected, could 
prevent the MLG side stay from locking properly, resulting in collapse 
of the MLG during ground maneuvers or upon landing.
    The MLG downlock actuators installed on Model F.28 Mark 1000, 2000, 
and 4000 airplanes are identical to those installed on the Model F.28 
Mark 3000 airplanes. Therefore, all of these models may be subject to 
the identified unsafe condition.

Relevant Service Information

    Fokker Services B.V. has issued Service Bulletin F28/32-163, dated 
March 8, 2004. The service bulletin describes procedures for removing 
the MLG downlock actuator, sending it to an approved Dowty Aerospace 
Hydraulics workshop for modification, and reinstalling the modified 
downlock actuator. The modification includes replacing certain parts 
(i.e., spring carrier, nuts, sub-assembly, certain end fittings, and 
bush inserts) and re-identifying certain other parts. 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 2004-047, dated 
April 20, 2004, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these 
airplanes in the Netherlands.
    Fokker Service Bulletin F28/32-163 refers to Dowty Aerospace 
Hydraulics--Cheltenham Service Bulletin 32-501R, Revision 1, dated 
September 3, 1998, as an additional source of service information for 
modifying the MLG downlock actuator.

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 airplanes of this type design that are 
certificated for operation in the United States.
    Therefore, we are proposing this AD to require a one-time 
inspection of the left- and right-hand MLG downlock actuators or a 
review of the airplane maintenance records to determine the part number 
(P/N) of each MLG downlock actuator installed, and replacement of 
identified MLG downlock actuators with modified MLG downlock actuators.

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 U.S.-
                  Action                       Work     Average labor    Parts       Cost per       registered                  Fleet cost
                                              hours     rate per hour                airplane        airplanes
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Inspection of both MLG downlock actuators           1             $80         $0             $80               6  As much as $480.
 (2 per airplane).
Review of the airplane maintenance records          1              80          0              80               6  As much as $480.
 in lieu of the inspection to determine P/
 N.
Replacement of the MLG downlock actuators       \1\ 4              80        \1\          33,662               6  As much as $201,972.
 (2 per airplane).                                                        16,511
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Per actuator.

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:

[[Page 60087]]

    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-2006-26044; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-NM-098-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by November 
13, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

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

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report of a failed downlock actuator, 
which resulted in the left MLG collapsing during taxi after landing. 
We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the downlock actuator, 
which could prevent the MLG side stay from locking properly, 
resulting in collapse of the MLG during ground maneuvers or upon 
landing.

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.

Determination of the Part Number (P/N) of the MLG Downlock Actuators

    (f) Within 66 months after the effective date of this AD: 
Inspect the left- and right-hand MLG downlock actuators to determine 
if P/N 200497005 or 200498005 is installed. A review of airplane 
maintenance records is acceptable in lieu of this inspection if the 
P/N of the MLG downlock actuators can be conclusively determined 
from that review. If an MLG downlock actuator does not have a 
subject P/N, no further action is required by this AD for that MLG 
only, except as provided by paragraph (h) of this AD.

Replacement of Subject MLG Downlock Actuators

    (g) For any MLG downlock actuator identified during the 
inspection or maintenance records review required by paragraph (f) 
of this AD, or for which the P/N cannot be determined: Within 66 
months after the effective date of this AD, replace the MLG downlock 
actuator with a modified MLG downlock actuator in accordance with 
the Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin F28/32-
163, dated March 8, 2004.


    Note 1: Fokker Service Bulletin F28/32-163 refers to Dowty 
Aerospace Hydraulics--Cheltenham Service Bulletin 32-501R, Revision 
1, dated September 3, 1998, as an additional source of service 
information for modifying the MLG downlock actuator.

Parts Installation

    (h) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install 
an MLG downlock actuator, P/N 200497005 or 200498005, on any 
airplane.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(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

    (j) Dutch airworthiness directive 2004-047, dated April 20, 
2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 3, 2006.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-16894 Filed 10-11-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P