[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 38 (Tuesday, February 27, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8615-8617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2974]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-25391; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-097-AD; 
Amendment 39-14956; AD 2007-04-23]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 
Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD), which applies to certain Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 
airplanes. That AD currently requires a one-time inspection of the 
sliding members in the main landing gear (MLG) for cracking and 
replacement of the sliding members with serviceable parts if necessary. 
This new AD adds repetitive magnetic particle inspections of the 
sliding members of the MLG for cracking and corrective actions as 
necessary. This AD results from inspection findings that have shown 
repetitive inspections are needed to establish fleet safety. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the sliding 
member, which could result in possible separation of the MLG from the 
airplane and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane upon 
landing and possible injury to passengers.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 3, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of April 3, 2007.
    On May 19, 2004 (69 FR 19759, April 14, 2004), the Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of Fokker 
Service Bulletin SBF100-32-133, dated April 1, 2002.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the 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., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
    Contact Fokker Services B.V., Technical Services Dept., 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, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
227-1137; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the airworthiness directive (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 street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that supersedes AD 2004-08-01, 
amendment 39-13570 (69 FR 19759, April 14, 2004). The existing AD 
applies to certain Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. That 
supplemental NPRM was published in the Federal Register on December 28, 
2006 (71 FR 78107). That supplemental NPRM

[[Page 8616]]

proposed to continue to require a one-time inspection of the sliding 
members in the main landing gear (MLG) for cracking, and replacement of 
the sliding members with serviceable parts if necessary. That 
supplemental NPRM also proposed to require repetitive magnetic particle 
inspections of the sliding members of the MLG for cracking and 
corrective actions as necessary. That supplemental NPRM also revised 
the original NPRM by correcting a certain part number in the 
applicability.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. No comments have been received on the 
supplemental NPRM 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 
by the supplemental NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD affects about 37 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The inspection that is required by AD 2004-08-01 and retained in 
this AD takes either about 4 or 12 work hours per airplane, depending 
on airplane configuration, at an average labor rate of $80 per work 
hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the currently 
required actions for U.S. operators is $11,840 or $35,520, or $320 or 
$960 per airplane, depending on airplane configuration.
    The new required inspections take about 2 work hours per airplane, 
at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, 
the estimated cost of the new inspections specified in this AD for U.S. 
operators is $5,920, or $160 per airplane, per inspection cycle.

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 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

    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 
removing amendment 39-13570 (69 FR 19759, April 14, 2004) and by adding 
the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2007-04-23 Fokker Services B.V.: Amendment 39-14956. Docket No. FAA-
2006-25391; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-097-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 3, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2004-08-01.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 
airplanes, certificated in any category; equipped with any Dowty or 
Messier-Dowty main landing gear (MLG) listed in Table 1 of this AD.

                        Table 1.--Affected Parts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Equipped with sliding member
          MLG part number (P/N)--                       P/N--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
201072011.................................  201072301 or 201072305
201072012.................................  201072301 or 201072305
201072013.................................  201072301 or 201072305
201072014.................................  201072301 or 201072305
201072015.................................  201072301 or 201072305
201072016.................................  201072301 or 201072305
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Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from inspection findings that have shown 
repetitive inspections are needed to establish fleet safety. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the 
sliding member, which could result in possible separation of the MLG 
from the airplane and consequent reduced controllability of the 
airplane upon landing and possible injury to passengers.

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.

Requirements of AD 2004-08-01

Inspection and Replacement if Necessary

    (f) Within 1,000 flight cycles or 6 months after May 19, 2004 
(the effective date of AD 2004-08-01), whichever occurs first, 
perform a magnetic inspection of the sliding members of the MLG for 
cracking, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-32-133, dated April 1, 2002. If any 
crack is found during the inspection, before further flight, replace 
the sliding members with serviceable parts in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin.

    Note 1: Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-32-133, dated April 1, 
2002, refers to Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin F100-32-103, dated 
March 11, 2002, as an additional source of service information.

Parts Installation With Accomplishment of New Service Bulletins

    (g) As of May 19, 2004, no person may install a sliding member 
of the MLG, P/N 201072301 or P/N 201072305, on any airplane, unless 
it has been inspected in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-32-133, dated April 
1, 2002; Fokker

[[Page 8617]]

Service Bulletin SBF100-32-139, dated March 5, 2004; or Fokker 
Service Bulletin SBF100-32-144, dated September 19, 2005; and found 
to be serviceable.

    Note 2: Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-32-139, dated March 5, 
2004, refers to Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin F100-32-105, dated 
March 2, 2004, as an additional source of service information for 
accomplishing a magnetic inspection.


    Note 3: Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-32-144, dated September 
19, 2005, refers to Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin F100-32-110, 
dated August 25, 2005, as an additional source of service 
information for accomplishing a magnetic inspection.

Reporting Requirement Difference

    (h) Although Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-32-133, dated April 
1, 2002, specifies to submit certain information to the 
manufacturer, this AD does not include such a requirement.

New Requirements of this AD

Repetitive Inspections

    (i) At the later of the compliance times specified in paragraphs 
(i)(1) and (i)(2) of this AD: Do a magnetic inspection of the 
sliding members of the left and right MLG for cracking, and do all 
corrective actions before further flight after the inspection, by 
accomplishing all of the applicable actions specified in the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-32-
144, dated September 19, 2005. Repeat the inspection thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 2,000 flight cycles.
    (1) Within 2,000 flight cycles after accomplishing paragraph (f) 
of this AD.
    (2) Within 4 months after the effective date of this AD.

Credit for Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-32-139

    (j) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-32-139, dated March 
5, 2004, are acceptable for compliance with the corresponding 
requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (k)(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

    (l) Dutch airworthiness directive NL-2005-012, dated October 17, 
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (m) You must use the service information identified in Table 2 
of this AD, as applicable, to perform the actions that are required 
by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.

              Table 2.--Material Incorporated by Reference
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Fokker service bulletin                       Date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SBF100-32-133.............................  April 1, 2002.
SBF100-32-139.............................  March 5, 2004.
SBF100-32-144.............................  September 19, 2005.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-32-139, 
dated March 5, 2004; and Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-32-144, 
dated September 19, 2005; in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 
CFR part 51.
    (2) On May 19, 2004 (69 FR 19759, April 14, 2004), the Director 
of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of 
Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-32-133, dated April 1, 2002.
    (3) Contact Fokker Services B.V., Technical Services Dept., P.O. 
Box 231, 2150 AE Nieuw-Vennep, the Netherlands, for a copy of this 
service information. You may review copies at the FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; 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/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 13, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-2974 Filed 2-26-07; 8:45 am]
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