38 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 1 / Monday, January 4, 2016 / Proposed Rules 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–8137; Directorate 

Identifier 2014–NM–104–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 supersede 

Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008–05– 

18 R1 for certain Fokker Services B.V. 

Model F.27 Mark 050, 200, 300, 400, 

500, 600, and 700 airplanes. AD 2008– 

05–18 R1 currently requires revising the 

Airworthiness Limitations Section 

(ALS) of the Instructions for Continued 

Airworthiness to incorporate new 

limitations for fuel tank systems. Since 

we issued AD 2008–05–18 R1, revised 

service information has been issued to 

update the Fuel Airworthiness 

Limitations Items (ALIs) and critical 

design configuration control limitations 

(CDCCLs) that address fuel tank system 

ignition sources. This proposed AD 

would require a new maintenance or 

inspection program revision to 

incorporate the revised ALIs and 

CDCCLs. This proposed AD would add 

certain airplanes to the applicability. 

We are proposing this AD to prevent the 

potential of ignition sources inside fuel 

tanks, which, in combination with 

flammable fuel vapors, could result in 

fuel tank explosions and consequent 

loss of the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by February 18, 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: 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 

technicalservices@fokker.com; Internet 

http://www.myfokkerfleet.com. You may 

view this 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 by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

8137; 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 (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, WA 

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–2015–8137; Directorate Identifier 

2014–NM–104–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 

On October 26, 2009, we issued AD 

2008–05–18 R1, Amendment 39–16083 

(74 FR 57402, November 6, 2009) for 

certain Model F.27 Mark 050, 200, 300, 

400, 500, 600, and 700 airplanes. AD 

2008–05–18 R1 requires revising the 

Airworthiness Limitations Section 

(ALS) of the Instructions for Continued 

Airworthiness to incorporate new 

limitations for fuel tank systems. 

Since we issued AD 2008–05–18 R1, 

Amendment 39–16083 (74 FR 57402, 

November 6, 2009), revised service 

information has been issued to update 

the fuel ALIs and CDCCLs. The revised 

service information applies to all Model 

F.27 Mark 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 

700 airplanes. 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA Airworthiness 

Directive 2015–0029, dated February 24, 

2015 (referred to after this as the 

Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness 

Information, or ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct 

an unsafe condition for all Fokker 

Services B.V. Model F.27 Mark 200, 300, 

400, 500, 600, and 700 airplanes. The 

MCAI states: 

* * * [T]he FAA published Special 

Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 88, and 

the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) 

published Interim Policy INT/POL/25/12. 

The review conducted by Fokker Services on 

the Fokker F27 design in response to these 

regulations identified a number of Fuel 

Airworthiness Limitation Items (ALI) and 

Critical Design Configuration Control 

Limitations (CDCCL) items to prevent the 

development of unsafe conditions within the 

fuel system. 

To introduce these Fuel ALI and CDCCL 

items, Fokker Services published Service 

Bulletin (SB) F27/28–070. Consequently, 

EASA issued AD 2006–0207, requiring the 

implementation of these Fuel ALI and 

CDCCL items. That [EASA] AD was later 

revised to make reference to SBF27–28– 

070R1 and to specify that the use of later SB 

revisions was acceptable. 

In 2014, Fokker Services issued Revision 2 

of SBF27–28–070 to update the Fuel ALI and 

CDCCL items and to consolidate Fuel ALI 

and CDCCL items contained in a number of 

other SBs. Consequently, EASA issued AD 

2014–0105, superseding AD 2006–0207R1 

and requiring the implementation of the 

updated Fuel ALI and CDCCL items. 

Since that [EASA] AD was issued, Fokker 

Services issued Revision 3 of SBF27–28–070, 

primarily to introduce 2 additional CDCCL 

items. 

For the reason described above, this 

[EASA] AD retains the requirements of EASA 

AD 2014–0105, which is superseded, and 

requires implementation of the updated Fuel 

ALI and CDCCL items. 

More information on this subject can be 

found in Fokker Services All Operators 

Message AOF27.043#05. 

The unsafe condition is the potential of 

ignition sources inside fuel tanks. Such 

ignition sources, in combination with 

flammable fuel vapors, could result in 

fuel tank explosions and consequent 

loss of the airplane. You may examine 

the MCAI in the AD docket on the 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 1 / Monday, January 4, 2016 / Proposed Rules 39 

Internet at http://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating it in 

Docket No. FAA–2015–8137. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

Fokker Services B.V. has issued 

Service Bulletin SBF27–28–070, 

Revision 3, dated December 11, 2014. 

The service information describes tasks 

for revising the maintenance or 

inspection program to update the fuel 

ALIs and CDCCLs that address fuel tank 

system ignition sources. 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 of this NPRM. 

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. 

This proposed AD would require 

implementation of certain maintenance 

requirements and airworthiness 

limitations. This proposed AD would 

also require accomplishing the actions 

specified in the service information 

described previously. 

This proposed AD would require 

revisions to certain operator 

maintenance documents to include new 

actions (e.g., inspections) and CDCCLs. 

Compliance with these actions and 

CDCCLs is required by 14 CFR 

91.403(c). For airplanes that have been 

previously modified, altered, or repaired 

in the areas addressed by these actions, 

the operator may not be able to 

accomplish the actions described in the 

revisions. In this situation, to comply 

with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator 

must request approval for an alternative 

method of compliance according to the 

procedures specified in paragraph 

(m)(1) of this AD. The request should 

include a description of changes to the 

required actions that will ensure the 

continued operational safety of the 

airplane. 

Notwithstanding any other 

maintenance or operational 

requirements, components that have 

been identified as airworthy or installed 

on the affected airplanes before 

accomplishing the revision of the 

airplane maintenance or inspection 

program, or before accomplishing the 

revision of the Airworthiness Limitation 

Section (ALS) of the Instructions for 

Continued Airworthiness, as specified 

in this AD, do not need to be reworked 

in accordance with the CDCCLs. 

However, once the airplane 

maintenance or inspection program, or 

ALS, has been revised as required by 

this AD, future maintenance actions on 

these components must be done in 

accordance with the CDCCLs 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 16 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

The actions that are required by AD 

2008–05–18 R1, Amendment 39–16083 

(74 FR 57402, November 6, 2009), take 

about 1 work-hour per product, at an 

average labor rate of $85 per work-hour. 

Required parts cost about $0 per 

product. Based on these figures, the 

estimated cost of the actions required by 

AD 2008–05–18 R1 is $85 per product. 

We also estimate that it would take 

about 1 work-hour per product to 

comply with the new basic 

requirements of this proposed AD. The 

average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. 

Required parts would cost about $0 per 

product. Based on these figures, we 

estimate the cost of this proposed AD on 

U.S. operators to be $1,360, or $85 per 

product. 

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 

removing airworthiness directive (AD) 

2008–05–18 R1, Amendment 39–16083 

(74 FR 57402, November 6, 2009), and 

adding the following new AD: 

Fokker Services B.V.: Docket No. FAA– 

2015–8137; Directorate Identifier 2014– 

NM–104–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by February 

18, 2016. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD replaces AD 2008–05–18 R1, 

Amendment 39–16083 (74 FR 57402, 

November 6, 2009). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Fokker Services B.V. 

Model F.27 Mark 050, 200, 300, 400, 500, 

600, and 700 airplanes; certificated in any 

category; all serial numbers. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 28, Fuel. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by the issuance of 

revised service information to update the 

Fuel Airworthiness Limitations Items (ALIs) 

and critical design configuration control 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
40 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 1 / Monday, January 4, 2016 / Proposed Rules 

limitations (CDCCLs) that address fuel tank 

system ignition sources. We are issuing this 

AD to prevent the potential of ignition 

sources inside fuel tanks, which, in 

combination with flammable fuel vapors, 

could result in fuel tank explosions and 

consequent loss of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Retained Revision of the ALS of the 

Instructions for Continued Airworthiness To 

Incorporate Limits (Inspections, Thresholds, 

and Intervals), With Revised Table 

Reference 

This paragraph restates the actions 

required by paragraph (f)(1) of AD 2008–05– 

18 R1, Amendment 39–16083 (74 FR 57402, 

November 6, 2009), with revised table 

reference. For Model F.27 Mark 050, 200, 

300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 airplanes, serial 

numbers 10102 through 10692 inclusive: 

Within 3 months after April 16, 2008 (the 

effective date of AD 2008–05–18, 

Amendment 39–15412 (73 FR 13071, March 

12, 2008)), revise the ALS of the Instructions 

for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate 

the limits (inspections, thresholds, and 

intervals) specified in Fokker 50/60 Fuel 

Airworthiness Limitation Items (ALI) and 

Critical Design Configuration Control 

Limitations (CDCCL) Report SE–671, Issue 2, 

dated December 1, 2006; or Fokker Service 

Bulletin SBF27–28–070, Revision 1, dated 

January 8, 2008; as applicable. For all tasks 

identified in Fokker 50/60 Fuel 

Airworthiness Limitation Items (ALI) and 

Critical Design Configuration Control 

Limitations (CDCCL) Report SE–671, Issue 2, 

dated December 1, 2006; or Fokker Service 

Bulletin SBF27–28–070, Revision 1, dated 

January 8, 2008; the initial compliance times 

are as specified in Table 1 to paragraph (g) 

of this AD, as applicable. The repetitive 

inspections must be accomplished thereafter 

at the intervals specified in Fokker 50/60 

Fuel Airworthiness Limitation Items (ALI) 

and Critical Design Configuration Control 

Limitations (CDCCL) Report SE–671, Issue 2, 

dated December 1, 2006; or Fokker Service 

Bulletin SBF27–28–070, Revision 1, dated 

January 8, 2008; as applicable, except as 

provided by paragraphs (i) and (n)(1) of this 

AD. 

TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (g) OF THIS AD—INITIAL COMPLIANCE TIMES FOR ALS REVISION

For— The later of— 

Model F.27 Mark 050 airplanes: 

Task 280000-01.

102 months after April 16, 2008 (the effective date of AD 2008–05–18, Amendment 39–15412 (73 FR 

13071, March 12, 2008)); or 102 months after the date of issuance of the original Dutch standard airworthiness certificate or the date of issuance of the original Dutch export certificate of airworthiness. 

Model F.27 Mark 050 airplanes: 

Task 280000–02.

30 months after April 16, 2008 (the effective date of AD 2008–05–18, Amendment 39–15412 (73 FR 

13071, March 12, 2008)); or 30 months after the date of issuance of the original Dutch standard airworthiness certificate or the date of issuance of the original Dutch export certificate of airworthiness. 

Model F.27 Mark 200, 300, 400, 

500, 600, and 700 airplanes: 

Task 280000-01.

78 months after April 16, 2008 (the effective date of AD 2008–05–18, Amendment 39–15412 (73 FR 

13071, March 12, 2008)); or 78 months after the date of issuance of the original Dutch standard airworthiness certificate or the date of issuance of the original Dutch export certificate of airworthiness. 

Model F.27 Mark 200, 300, 400, 

500, 600, and 700 airplanes: 

Task 280000–02.

18 months after April 16, 2008 (the effective date of AD 2008–05–18, Amendment 39–15412 (73 FR 

13071, March 12, 2008)); or 18 months after the date of issuance of the original Dutch standard airworthiness certificate or the date of issuance of the original Dutch export certificate of airworthiness. 

(h) Retained Revision of the ALS of the 

Instructions for Continued Airworthiness To 

Incorporate CDCCLs, With No Changes 

This paragraph restates the actions 

required by paragraph (f)(2) of AD 2008–05– 

18 R1, Amendment 39–16083 (74 FR 57402, 

November 6, 2009), with no changes. For 

Model F.27 Mark 050, 200, 300, 400, 500, 

600, and 700 airplanes, serial numbers 10102 

through 10692 inclusive: Within 3 months 

after April 16, 2008 (the effective date of AD 

2008–05–18, Amendment 39–15412 (73 FR 

13071, March 12, 2008)), revise the ALS of 

the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness 

to incorporate the CDCCLs as defined in 

Fokker 50/60 Fuel Airworthiness Limitations 

Items (ALI) and Critical Design Configuration 

Control Limitations (CDCCL) Report SE–671, 

Issue 2, dated December 1, 2006; or Fokker 

Service Bulletin SBF27–28–070, Revision 1, 

dated January 8, 2008; as applicable. 

(i) Retained Exceptional Short-Term 

Extensions Provision, With No Changes 

This paragraph restates the exceptional 

short-term extensions provision specified in 

paragraph (f)(3) of AD 2008–05–18 R1, 

Amendment 39–16083 (74 FR 57402, 

November 6, 2009), with no changes. Where 

Fokker 50/60 Fuel Airworthiness Limitation 

Items (ALI) and Critical Design Configuration 

Control Limitations (CDCCL) Report SE–671, 

Issue 2, dated December 1, 2006; or Fokker 

Service Bulletin SBF27–28–070, Revision 1, 

dated January 8, 2008; as applicable; allow 

for exceptional short-term extensions, an 

exception is acceptable to the FAA if it is 

approved by the appropriate principal 

inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 

Certificate Holding District Office. 

(j) Retained No Alternative Actions, 

Intervals, and/or CDCCLs, With New 

Exception 

This paragraph restates the requirement 

specified in paragraph (f)(4) of AD 2008–05– 

18 R1, Amendment 39–16083 (74 FR 57402, 

November 6, 2009), with a new exception. 

Except as required by paragraph (l) of this 

AD, after accomplishing the actions specified 

in paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD, no 

alternative inspections, inspection intervals, 

or CDCCLs may be used, unless the 

inspections, inspection intervals, or CDCCLs 

are approved as an alternative method of 

compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the 

procedures specified in paragraph (m)(1) of 

this AD. 

(k) Retained Credit for Previous Actions, 

With No Changes 

This paragraph restates the credit provided 

in paragraph (f)(5) of AD 2008–05–18 R1, 

Amendment 39–16083 (74 FR 57402, 

November 6, 2009), with no changes. Actions 

done before April 16, 2008 (the effective date 

of AD 2008–05–18, Amendment 39–15412 

(73 FR 13071, March 12, 2008)), in 

accordance with Fokker 50/60 Fuel 

Airworthiness Limitation Items (ALI) and 

Critical Design Configuration Control 

Limitations (CDCCL) Report SE–671, Issue 1, 

dated January 31, 2006; and Fokker Service 

Bulletin SBF27/28–070, dated June 30, 2006; 

are acceptable for compliance with the 

corresponding requirements of this AD. 

(l) New Requirements of This AD: Revise the 

Maintenance or Inspection Program 

For Model F.27 Mark 200, 300, 400, 500, 

600, and 700 airplanes: Within 3 months 

after the effective date of this AD, revise the 

maintenance or inspection program, as 

applicable, by incorporating the Fuel 

Airworthiness Limitation Items and CDCCLs 

identified in the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin 

SBF27–28–070, Revision 3, dated December 

11, 2014. Accomplishing the actions required 

by this paragraph ends the requirements 

specified in paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD 

for that airplane. The initial compliance time 

for the Fuel Airworthiness Limitation Items 

identified in Fokker Service Bulletin SBF27– 

28–070, Revision 3, dated December 11, 

2014, is at the initial compliance time 

specified in Fokker Service Bulletin SBF27– 

28–070, Revision 3, dated December 11, 

2014, or within 3 months after the effective 

date of this AD, whichever occurs later. 

(m) No Alternative Actions, Intervals, or 

Critical Design Configuration Control 

Limitations (CDCCLs) 

After accomplishing the revision required 

by paragraph (l) of this AD, no alternative 

actions (e.g., inspections), intervals, or 

CDCCLs may be used; unless the actions, 

intervals, or CDCCLs are approved as an 

alternative method of compliance (AMOC) in 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 1 / Monday, January 4, 2016 / Proposed Rules 41 

1Public Law 113–295, § 201, 128 Stat. 4010, 4064. 

accordance with the procedures specified in 

paragraph (n)(1) of this AD. 

(n) 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 425–227–1137; fax 425–227–1149. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-ANM-116- 

AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. 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. 

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: As of the 

effective date of this AD, 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 

the European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA); or Fokker B.V. Service’s EASA 

Design Organization Approval (DOA). If 

approved by the DOA, the approval must 

include the DOA-authorized signature. 

(o) Related Information 

(1) Refer to MCAI EASA Airworthiness 

Directive 2015–0029, dated February 24, 

2015, 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– 

2015–8137. 

(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 technicalservices@

fokker.com; Internet http://

www.myfokkerfleet.com. You may view this 

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 

December 21, 2015. 

Michael Kaszycki, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–32904 Filed 12–31–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 

20 CFR Part 404 

[Docket No. SSA–2015–0018] 

RIN 0960–AH85 

Extension of the Workers’ 

Compensation Offset From Age 65 to 

Full Retirement Age—Achieving a 

Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act 

AGENCY: Social Security Administration. 

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to amend our 

regulations to incorporate changes made 

by the ABLE Act to section 224(a) of the 

Social Security Act. The ABLE Act 

amends section 224(a) by changing the 

age at which disability insurance 

benefits (DIB) are no longer subject to 

reduction (offset) based on receipt of 

workers’ compensation or public 

disability benefits (WC/PDB), from age 

65 to the day the individual attains full 

retirement age. This change will make 

our rules consistent with the provisions 

of the Act, as amended by the ABLE 

Act. 

DATES: To ensure that we consider your 

comments, we must receive them by no 

later than February 3, 2016. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, 

by any one of three methods—Internet, 

fax, or mail. Do not submit the same 

comments multiple times or by more 

than one method. Regardless of which 

method you choose, please state that 

your comments refer to Docket No. 

SSA–2015–0018 so that we may 

associate your comments with the 

correct regulation. 

Caution: You should be careful to 

include in your comments only 

information you wish to make publicly 

available. We strongly urge you not to 

include in your comments any personal 

information, such as Social Security 

numbers or medical information. 

1. Internet: We strongly recommend 

this method for submitting your 

comments. Visit the Federal 

eRulemaking portal at http://

www.regulations.gov. Use the Web 

page’s Search function to find docket 

number SSA–2015–0018. Once you 

submit your comment, the system will 

issue you a tracking number to confirm 

your submission. You will not be able 

to view your comment immediately 

because we post each comment 

manually. It may take up to a week for 

your comment to be viewable. 

2. Fax: Fax comments to (410) 966– 

2830. 

3. Mail: Address your comments to 

the Office of Regulations and Reports 

Clearance, Social Security 

Administration, 3100 West High Rise 

Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, 

Baltimore, Maryland 21235–6401. 

Comments are available for public 

viewing on the Federal eRulemaking 

portal at http://www.regulations.gov or 

in person, during regular business 

hours, by arranging with the contact 

person identified below. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Dean Dwight, Office of Income Security 

Programs, Social Security 

Administration, 6401 Security 

Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235–6401, 

(410) 966–7161. For information on 

eligibility or filing for benefits, call our 

national toll-free number, 1–800–772– 

1213 or TTY 1–800–325–0778, or visit 

our Internet site, Social Security Online, 

at http://www.socialsecurity.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

We propose amending our regulations 

to incorporate changes made to section 

224(a) of the Social Security Act by the 

ABLE Act 1. The ABLE Act extends the 

WC/PDB offset to full retirement age 

(i.e. ‘‘retirement age’’ as defined in 

section 216(l)(1) of the Social Security 

Act and ‘‘full retirement age’’ as 

discussed in 20 CFR 404.409). As a 

result of the changes made by the ABLE 

act, we will no longer terminate the WC/ 

PDB offset at age 65. The provision 

applies to any individual whose DIB 

payment is offset for WC/PDB and who 

attains age 65 on December 19, 2015 or 

later. 

Explanation of Changes 

We propose amending section 

404.408 of our rules to reflect the 

changes mandated by section 201 of the 

ABLE Act. We also propose to make a 

conforming change to section 

404.401(a)(4) of our rules. We are not 

making any other changes to our rules. 

Workers’ Compensation/Public 

Disability Benefit 

Before the ABLE Act, WC/PDB offset 

ended at age 65. Under the ABLE Act, 

the WC/PDB offset will apply until a 

beneficiary attains full retirement age. 

Clarity of This Proposed Rule 

Executive Order 12866, as 

supplemented by Executive Order 

13563, requires each agency to write all 

rules in plain language. In addition to 

your substantive comments on these 

proposed rules, we invite your 

comments on how to make them easier 

to understand. 

For example: 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS