01-27067. Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 Series Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 series airplanes, that requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate life limits for certain items and inspections to detect fatigue cracking in certain structures. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by this AD are intended to ensure that fatigue cracking of certain structural elements is detected and corrected; such fatigue cracking could adversely affect the structural integrity of these airplanes. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES:

Effective December 4, 2001.

The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of December 4, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

The service information referenced in this AD may be obtained from Fokker Services B.V., P.O. Box 231, 2150 AE Nieuw-Vennep, the Netherlands. This information may be examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

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 [phone]; fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to all Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on October 13, 2000 (65 FR 60897). That action proposed to require revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate life limits for certain items and inspections to detect fatigue cracking in certain structures.

Comments

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to the two comments received.

Requests To Revise the Cost Estimate

On behalf of one of its members, the Air Transport Association (ATA) of America states that it considers that the inspections require access to multiple areas of the airplane and are scheduled at different time intervals. Therefore, the 1-hour time estimate in the proposed AD is not valid and needs to be adjusted. The member airline also made that same statement.

The FAA does not concur that the proposed cost estimate should be revised. We based our estimate on the fact that the action in paragraph (a) of the proposed AD requires only a revision to the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness by incorporating certain instructions into the ALS. This action should take no longer than 1 hour to accomplish. Although this AD requires only a revision to the ALS, we point out that the inspections included in the ALS will then be required by 14 CFR parts 43 and 91. Because operators must comply with the inspections included in the ALS to maintain the airplane properly, it is unnecessary for our cost estimate to include the time required for such inspections. Of course, operators that have previously incorporated the ALS revision into their maintenance programs are given credit for having previously accomplished the requirements of this AD, as allowed by the phrase, “unless accomplished previously.” No change to the cost estimate in the final rule is necessary in this regard.

Request To Revise the Compliance Time for the Inspections

The ATA and the same member airline state that the proposed AD must include provisions for airplanes that have exceeded the limits specified in Report SE-623, “Airworthiness Limitation Items and Safe Life Items,” of Appendix 1 of the Fokker 70/100 Maintenance Review Board Document. The provisions should be such that the tests can be accomplished during a normally scheduled out-of-service maintenance.

The FAA does not concur that a grace period needs to be included in the proposed AD for compliance with the Fokker report. Although we agree that some airplanes may have exceeded certain inspection thresholds in the report, the 30-day compliance time for revising the ALS of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness allows operators sufficient time to accomplish the revision to the ALS. However, if scheduling conflicts occur and adjustments must be made for airplanes that exceed certain thresholds, operators may request an alternative method of compliance, as specified in paragraph (c) of this AD. No change to the final rule is necessary in this regard.

Conclusion

After careful review of the available data, including the comments noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 131 Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 series airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the required actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $7,860, or $60 per airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted. The cost impact figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it is determined that this final rule does not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Incorporation by reference
• Safety

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness directive:

2001-21-04 Fokker Services B.V.: Amendment 39-12475. Docket 98-NM-122-AD.

Applicability: All Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 series airplanes, certificated in any category.

Note 1:

This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously.

To ensure continued structural integrity of these airplanes, accomplish the following:

Airworthiness Limitations Revision

(a) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness by incorporating Report SE-623, “Fokker 70/100 Airworthiness Limitation Items and Safe Life Items,” of Appendix 1 of Fokker 70/100 Maintenance Review Board Document, both dated June 1, 2000.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this AD: After the actions specified in paragraph (a) of this AD have been accomplished, no alternative inspections or inspection intervals may be approved for the structural elements specified in the document listed in paragraph (a) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used if approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116.

Note 2:

Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116.

Special Flight Permits

(d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

Incorporation by Reference

(e) The ALS revision shall be done in accordance with Fokker Services B.V. Report SE-623, “Fokker 70/100 Airworthiness Limitation Items and Safe Life Items,” dated June 1, 2000. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from Fokker Services B.V., P.O. Box 231, 2150 AE Nieuw-Vennep, the Netherlands. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

Note 3:

The subject of this AD is addressed in Dutch airworthiness directive BLA No. 1997-065 (A), dated July 31, 1997.

Effective Date

(f) This amendment becomes effective on December 4, 2001.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 22, 2001.

Ali Bahrami,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.