[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 164 (Friday, August 23, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52465-52467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20585]



[[Page 52465]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0699; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-198-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Services B.V. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Fokker Services B.V. Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. 
This proposed AD was prompted by three reports of cracking in the rear 
pressure bulkhead (RPBH) web. This proposed AD would require inspecting 
the RPBH web for cracking, and repairing if necessary. We are proposing 
this AD to detect and correct cracking of the RPBH web, which could 
result in in-flight decompression of the airplane and possible injury 
to the occupants.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 7, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Fokker Services B.V., Technical Services Dept., P.O. Box 1357, 2130 EL 
Hoofddorp, the Netherlands; telephone +31 (0)88-6280-350; fax +31 
(0)88-6280-111; email [email protected]; Internet http://www.myfokkerfleet.com. You may review copies of the referenced service 
information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the MCAI, the 
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. 
The street address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 
647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in 
the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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 send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2013-0699; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-198-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD based on those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive 2012-0219, dated October 19, 2012 (referred to 
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states:

    Three reports have been received of a crack in the rear pressure 
bulkhead (RPBH) web, just below the horizontal beam XI between 
buttock lines BL425L and BL425R, in the centre web bay below the 
pressure relief valves.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in 
an exponential crack growth rate, possibly leading to failure of the 
affected RPBH web, resulting in in-flight decompression of the 
aeroplane and possible injury to occupants.
    A repetitive inspection requirement has been published in issue 
10 of Fokker Services [Airworthiness Limitations Section] ALS Report 
SE-623 under task number 534106-00-05. The threshold to start this 
ALS-task is 30,000 [total] flight cycles (FC). However, it is known 
that many aeroplanes have already exceeded this threshold.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-
time inspection [detailed visual or high frequency eddy current 
inspection] of the affected RPBH web for cracks and, depending on 
findings, accomplishment of a repair. The repair can also be applied 
at any time as a modification, thereby exempting the aeroplane from 
(further) repetitive ALS task 534106-00-05 inspections.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Fokker Services B.V. has issued Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-53-
120, dated May 15, 2012; and Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-53-121, 
dated May 15, 2012. The actions described in this service information 
are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have 
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service 
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we 
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition 
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same 
type design.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service 
Information

    The EASA AD 2012-0219, dated October 19, 2012, permits, under 
certain conditions, postponement of crack repair. This proposed AD 
would require repair before further flight for all cracking.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 4 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

[[Page 52466]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         Cost per   Cost on U.S.
                 Action                              Labor cost             Parts cost    product     operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection..............................  5 work-hours x $85 per hour =            $0        $425        $1,700
                                           $425.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary repairs that 
would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. We 
have no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need these 
repairs:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Cost per
                    Action                                    Labor cost                Parts cost     product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On-condition inspection and repair............  16 work-hours x $85 per hour = $1,360.         $0        $1,360
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 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 this 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);
    3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and
    4. 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

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 adding the following new AD:

Fokker Services B.V.: Docket No. FAA-2013-0699; Directorate 
Identifier 2012-NM-198-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by October 7, 2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Fokker Services B.V. Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 
0100 airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in 
Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-53-120, dated May 15, 2012.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by three reports of cracking in the rear 
pressure bulkhead (RPBH) web. We are issuing this AD to detect and 
correct cracking of the RPBH web, which could result in in-flight 
decompression of the airplane and possible injury to the occupants.

(f) Compliance

    You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD 
performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions 
have already been done.

(g) Inspection

    Before the accumulation of 30,000 total flight cycles, or within 
12 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
later: Do the actions specified in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of 
this AD.
    (1) Do a detailed inspection for cracking of the rear side of 
the RPBH web below beam XI between buttock line (BL) 425L and BL 
425R, in accordance with PART 1 of the Accomplishment Instructions 
of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-53-120, dated May 15, 2012.
    (2) Do a high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection for 
cracking of the forward side of the RPBH web below beam XI between 
BL 425L and BL 425R, in accordance with PART 2 of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-53-120, dated May 15, 
2012.

    Note 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD: Fokker Services All 
Operators Message AOF100.176, dated May 15, 2012; and AOF100.178, 
dated September 10, 2012; provide additional information concerning 
the subject addressed by this AD.

(h) On-condition Inspection and Repair

    (1) If any cracking is found during the inspections specified in 
paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD: Before further flight, repair 
the cracking, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-53-121, dated May 15, 2012.
    (2) For any airplane inspected as specified in paragraph (g)(1) 
of this AD and no cracking was found: Within 12 months after that 
inspection, do the HFEC inspection specified in PART 2 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-53-
120, dated May 15, 2012. If any cracking is found: Before further 
flight, repair

[[Page 52467]]

the cracking, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-53-121, dated May 15, 2012.

(i) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using 
the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 
39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the International Branch, send it to ATTN: 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. 
Information may be emailed to: [email protected]. 
Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal 
inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the 
local flight standards district office/certificate holding district 
office. The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this 
AD.
    (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.

(j) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Airworthiness 
Directive 2012-0219, dated October 19, 2012, for related 
information, which can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at 
http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Fokker Services B.V., Technical Services Dept., P.O. Box 1357, 2130 
EL Hoofddorp, the Netherlands; telephone +31 (0)88-6280-350; fax +31 
(0)88-6280-111; email [email protected]; Internet http://www.myfokkerfleet.com. You may review copies of the referenced 
service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 16, 2013.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-20585 Filed 8-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P