2016-26324. 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 Fokker Services B.V. Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes equipped with Rolls-Royce TAY 650-15 engines. This AD was prompted by reports of uncontained engine fan blade failures in Rolls-Royce TAY 650-15 engines. The fan blade failures occurred due to cracking of the fan blades, which was initiated under conditions of fan blade flutter during engine ground operation. This proposed AD would require installation of a caution placard in the flight compartment. We are proposing this AD to prevent certain engine thrust settings during ground operation, which can cause the fan blades to flutter and fail, resulting in damage to the airplane and possible injury to personnel.

DATES:

We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 16, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: [phone].
• 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Fokker Services B.V., Technical Services Dept., P.O. Box 1357, 2130 EL Hoofddorp, the Netherlands; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail]; Internet http://www.myfokkerfleet.com. You may view this 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-9302; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations office (telephone [phone]) 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, WA 98057-3356; telephone [phone]; fax [phone].

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-2016-9302; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-037-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 Union, has issued EASA Airworthiness Directive Airworthiness Directive 2013-0141, dated July 12, 2013 (referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or “the MCAI”), to correct an unsafe condition for Fokker Services B.V. Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes equipped with Rolls-Royce TAY 650-15 engines. The MCAI states:

In the past, two F28 [Mark] 0100 aeroplanes with TAY [650-15] engines were involved in incidents as a result of uncontained engine fan blade failures. The fan blade failures occurred due to cracking of the fan blades, which was initiated under conditions of fan blade flutter. This fan blade flutter can occur during stabilized reverse thrust operation within a specific N1 RPM-range [revolutions per minute], known as Keep Out Zone (KOZ), which has been identified to be between 57% and 75% N1 RPM.

To address this potential unsafe condition [which can result in damage to the airplane and possible injury to personnel], CAA-NL issued AD (BLA) nr. 2002-119 for the aeroplane, while Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) Germany issued AD (LTA) 2002-090 (later revised) for the Rolls-Royce Tay [650-15] engines. More recently, LBA AD 2002-090R1 was superseded by EASA AD 2013-0070.

During stabilized forward thrust operation of an engine with the aeroplane stationary on the ground (e.g. maintenance engine ground running), the same type of fan blade flutter can occur. To ensure maintenance personnel awareness of the engine speed KOZ when performing engine ground running (in forward or reverse thrust), a caution placard must be introduced in the flight compartment.

For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires the installation of a caution placard in the flight compartment, between the Standby Engine Indicator (SEI) and the Multi-Functional Display Unit (MFDU).

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-9302.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-11-027, dated April 18, 2013. This service information describes procedures for the installation of a caution placard.

This service information is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

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.

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:

Estimated Costs

Action	Labor cost	Parts cost	Cost per product	Cost on U.S. operators
Install Placard	1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85	$46	$131	$524

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.

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

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. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

Fokker Services B.V.: Docket No. FAA-2016-9302; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-037-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

We must receive comments by December 16, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to Fokker Services B.V. Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes, certificated in any category, all serial numbers if equipped with Rolls-Royce TAY 650-15 engines.

(d) Subject

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 11, Placards and Markings.

(e) Reason

This AD was prompted by reports of uncontained engine fan blade failures in Rolls-Royce TAY 650-15 engines. The fan blade failures occurred due to cracking of the fan blades, which was initiated under conditions of fan blade flutter during engine ground operation. We are issuing this AD to prevent certain engine thrust settings during ground operation, which can cause the fan blades to flutter and fail, resulting in damage to the airplane and possible injury to personnel.

(f) Compliance

Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.

(g) Install Caution Placard

Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, install a caution placard in the flight compartment, between the standby engine indicator (SEI) and the multi-functional display unit (MFDU), in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-11-027, dated April 18, 2013.

Note 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD: Additional information can be found in Fokker All Operators Message AOF100.177 #05, dated April 18, 2013.

(h) 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, WA 98057-3356; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]. Information may be emailed to: [e-mail]. 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) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or EASA; or Fokker Services B.V.'s EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.

(i) Related Information

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information (MCAI) EASA Airworthiness Directive 2013-0141, dated July 12, 2013, for related information. This MCAI may be found in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-9302.

(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: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail]; Internet http://www.myfokkerfleet.com. You may view this 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 October 25, 2016.

Dionne Palermo,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.