[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 237 (Monday, December 11, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63470-63472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-30076]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 95-NM-86-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Model F28 Mark 0100 Series
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Fokker Model F28 Mark 0100
series airplanes. This proposal would require inspection(s) to verify
that the position indicator of the fuel balance transfer valve (FBTV)
is in the closed position, and closing the FBTV, if necessary; and
deactivation of the fuel balance transfer system (FBTS). This proposal
is prompted by a report that, under certain failure conditions, the
actuator of the FBTV could remain in the open position without a flight
deck indication. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended
to ensure that the FBTV is not in the open position during flight,
which could lead to the reduction of fuel supply to the engines during
cross-feed operation and consequent engine fuel starvation.
DATES: Comments must be received by January 22, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-NM-86-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this location
between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Fokker Aircraft USA, Inc., 1199 North Fairfax Street,
Alexandria, Virginia 22314. This information may be examined at the
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Dulin, Aerospace Engineer,
Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206)
227-2141; fax (206) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
[[Page 63471]]
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 95-NM-86-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 95-NM-86-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
The Rijksluchtvaartdienst (RLD), which is the airworthiness
authority for the Netherlands, recently notified the FAA that an unsafe
condition may exist on certain Fokker Model F28 Mark 0100 series
airplanes. The RLD advises that it has received a report that, under
certain failure conditions, the actuator of the fuel balance transfer
valve (FBTV) could remain in the open position after maintenance
without a flight deck indication. The FBTV is part of the fuel balance
transfer system (FBTS) that prevents inadvertent and uncontrolled
transfer of fuel. The FBTS is used during maintenance activities to
move the center of gravity of the airplane forward, as required, and
allows fuel to be transferred from the main tanks to the center tanks
through the cross-feed system. If the FBTV remains in the open position
during flight, the fuel supply to the engines during cross-feed
operation may be reduced, which could lead to engine fuel starvation.
Fokker has issued Service Bulletin SBF100-28-030, Revision 1, dated
December 5, 1994, which describes procedures for inspection(s) to
verify that the position indicator of the FBTV is in the closed
position, and closing the FBTV, if necessary; and deactivation of the
FBTS. For all airplanes, the deactivation involves disconnecting the
power supply to the FBTV. In addition, for certain airplanes, the
deactivation involves removing the FBTV actuator, and installing a
locking device. The RLD classified this service bulletin as mandatory
and issued Dutch airworthiness directive BLA 94-146 (A), dated
September 30, 1994, in order to assure the continued airworthiness of
these airplanes in the Netherlands.
This airplane model is manufactured in the Netherlands and is 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 RLD has kept the FAA informed of
the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of the
RLD, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action
is necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for
operation in the United States.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design registered
in the United States, the proposed AD would require inspection(s) to
verify that the position indicator of the FBTV is in the closed
position, and closing the FBTV, if necessary; and deactivation of the
FBTS. The actions would be required to be accomplished in accordance
with the service bulletin described previously.
The FAA estimates that 4 airplanes of U.S. registry would be
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 4 work
hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts would cost
approximately $250 per airplane. Based on these figures, the cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $1,960,
or $490 per airplane.
The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in
the future if this AD were not adopted.
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects 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, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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);
and (3) if promulgated, 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 copy of the draft
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
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 USC 106(g), 40101, 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Fokker: Docket 95-NM-86-AD.
Applicability: Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes, as listed
in Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-28-030, Revision 1, dated December
5, 1994; 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 use the authority
provided in paragraph (c) of this AD to request approval from the
FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current
configuration eliminates the unsafe condition; or different actions
necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such
a request should include an
[[Page 63472]]
assessment of the effect of the changed configuration on the unsafe
condition addressed by this AD. In no case does the presence of any
modification, alteration, or repair remove any airplane from the
applicability of this AD.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent the reduction of fuel supply to the engines during
cross-feed operation, which could lead to engine fuel starvation,
accomplish the following:
(a) After the effective date of this AD, whenever the fuel
balance transfer system (FBTS) is used during maintenance, prior to
further flight, perform an inspection to verify that the position
indicator of the fuel balance transfer valve (FBTV) is in the closed
position, in accordance with Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-28-030,
Revision 1, dated December 5, 1994. The inspection requirements of
this paragraph must be accomplished until the deactivation required
by paragraph (b) of this AD is accomplished.
(1) If the position indicator is in the closed position, no
further action is required by this paragraph.
(2) If the position indicator is in the open position, close the
FBTV in accordance with the service bulletin.
(b) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD,
deactivate the FBTS in accordance with either Part 2 or Part 3 of
the Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-
28-030, Revision 1, dated December 5, 1994, as applicable.
Accomplishment of the deactivation constitutes terminating action
for the repetitive inspection requirements of paragraph (a) of this
AD.
(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, Standardization Branch, ANM-113,
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,
Standardization Branch, ANM-113.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.
(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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 5, 1995.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-30076 Filed 12-8-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
