[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 6, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9843-9845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3659]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-26709; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-202-AD; 
Amendment 39-14968; AD 2007-05-07]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. This AD requires 
inspecting the carbon-fiber reinforced plastic main landing gear (MLG) 
door to determine whether certain part numbers are installed. For 
airplanes having certain doors, this AD requires inspecting the MLG 
outboard door for cracks, play, and loose sealant/bolts/nuts, and 
related

[[Page 9844]]

investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also 
requires, for airplanes having certain doors, modifying the rod bracket 
attachment of the MLG outboard door. This AD results from a report of a 
rod bracket of the MLG door detaching during flight. We are issuing 
this AD to detect and correct cracks in the rod bracket attachment 
bolts, which could result in the rod brackets detaching from the MLG 
door and blocking the proper functioning of the MLG.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 10, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of April 10, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
    Contact Fokker Services B.V., Technical Services Dept., P.O. Box 
231, 2150 AE Nieuw-Vennep, the Netherlands, for service information 
identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
227-1137; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the airworthiness directive (AD) docket on the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management 
Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Management Facility office 
(telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif 
Building at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to all Fokker Model F.28 
Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal 
Register on December 28, 2006 (71 FR 78099). That NPRM proposed to 
require inspecting the carbon-fiber reinforced plastic main landing 
gear (MLG) door to determine whether certain part numbers are 
installed. For airplanes having certain doors, that NPRM proposed to 
require inspecting the MLG outboard door for cracks, play, and loose 
sealant/bolts/nuts, and related investigative and corrective actions if 
necessary. That NPRM also proposed to require, for airplanes having 
certain doors, modifying the rod bracket attachment of the MLG outboard 
door.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the 
determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
to comply with this AD.

                                                                     Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                          Number of U.S.-
                         Action                             Work hours     Average labor       Parts         Cost per       registered      Fleet cost
                                                                           rate per hour                     airplane        airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspections.............................................               2             $80              $0            $160               7          $1,120
Modification............................................               6              80           1,066           1,546               7          10,822
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 have determined that this AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES 
section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2007-05-07 Fokker Services B.V: Amendment 39-14968. Docket No. FAA-
2006-26709; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-202-AD.

[[Page 9845]]

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 10, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 
airplanes, certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report of a rod bracket of the main 
landing gear (MLG) door detaching during flight. We are issuing this 
AD to detect and correct cracks in the rod bracket attachment bolts, 
which could result in the rod brackets detaching from the MLG door 
and blocking the proper functioning of the MLG.

Compliance

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

Inspections

    (f) Within 9 months after the effective date of this AD, inspect 
the carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) MLG doors to determine if 
any MLG door having a part number (P/N) D13312-401 through -410 
inclusive is installed. A review of airplane maintenance records is 
acceptable in lieu of this inspection if the part number of the CFRP 
MLG doors can be conclusively determined from that review. If the 
CFRP MLG doors have any part number other than P/N D13312-401 
through -410 inclusive installed, no further action is required by 
this AD.
    (g) If any CFRP MLG door having any P/N D13312-401 through -410 
inclusive is found during the inspection required by paragraph (f) 
of this AD: Within 9 months after the effective date of this AD, do 
a detailed inspection of the MLG outboard door for cracks, play, and 
loose sealant/bolts/nuts as specified in Part 1 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-52-
080, dated December 12, 2005, including Fokker Manual Change 
Notification--Maintenance Documentation MCNM-F100-103, dated 
November 15, 2005, and do all applicable related investigative and 
corrective actions, by doing all the applicable actions specified in 
Part 1 of the Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin, 
except as provided by paragraphs (i), (j), and (k) of this AD. Do 
all applicable related investigative and corrective actions before 
further flight.

    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is: 
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or 
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available 
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good 
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as 
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning 
and elaborate procedures may be required.''

Modification

    (h) If any CFRP MLG door having any P/N D13312-401 through -410 
inclusive is found during the inspection required by paragraph (f) 
of this AD: Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, 
modify the MLG outboard door operating rod bracket attachment and do 
all applicable related investigative and corrective actions by doing 
all the applicable actions specified in Part 2 of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-52-080, dated 
December 12, 2005, including Fokker Manual Change Notification--
Maintenance Documentation MCNM-F100-103, dated November 15, 2005, 
except as provided by paragraph (i) of this AD. Do all applicable 
related investigative and corrective actions before further flight.

Exceptions to the Service Bulletin

    (i) Where Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-52-080, dated December 
12, 2005, including Fokker Manual Change Notification--Maintenance 
Documentation MCNM-F100-103, dated November 15, 2005, specifies to 
contact the manufacturer for repair, before further flight, repair 
using a method approved by either the Manager, International Branch, 
ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the European 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) (or its delegated agent).
    (j) If any loose sealant or any delamination is found during any 
inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD, before further 
flight, do the corrective action specified in paragraph C.(3) of 
Part 1 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin 
SBF100-52-080, dated December 12, 2005, including Fokker Manual 
Change Notification--Maintenance Documentation MCNM-F100-103, dated 
November 15, 2005.
    (k) Although the service bulletin referenced in this AD 
specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD 
does not include that requirement.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (l)(1) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for 
this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 
CFR 39.19.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

Related Information

    (m) Dutch airworthiness directive NL-2006-001, dated January 5, 
2006, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (n) You must use Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-52-080, dated 
December 12, 2005, including Fokker Manual Change Notification--
Maintenance Documentation MCNM-F100-103, dated November 15, 2005, to 
perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD 
specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approved 
the incorporation by reference of this document in accordance with 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Fokker Services B.V., 
Technical Services Dept., P.O. Box 231, 2150 AE Nieuw-Vennep, the 
Netherlands, for a copy of this service information. You may review 
copies at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, 
S.W., Renton, Washington; or at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 22, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-3659 Filed 3-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P