Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 40 / Friday, February 28, 1997 / Proposed Rules 9113

AD, modify the electrical system in the

electrical equipment bay in accordance with

British Aerospace Service Bulletin SB.24–

113–01532A, dated March 12, 1996, or

Revision 1, dated June 18, 1996.

(b) 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.

(c) 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 February

21, 1997.

James V. Devany,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–4948 Filed 2–27–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94–NM–117–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Fokker

Model F28 Mark 0100 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of

proposed rulemaking; reopening of

comment period.

SUMMARY: This document revises an

earlier proposed airworthiness directive

(AD), applicable to certain Fokker

Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes,

that would have required installation of

additional ‘‘EXIT’’ signs at the overwing

emergency exits. That proposal was

prompted by a report indicating that the

‘‘EXIT’’ signs for the overwing

emergency exits, as currently installed,

would not be visible to passengers

during an emergency evacuation when

the emergency exit doors are open. This

action revises the proposed rule by

expanding the applicability of the

proposed rule to include additional

airplanes. The actions specified by this

proposed AD are intended to ensure the

‘‘EXIT’’ signs for overwing emergency

exits are clearly visible during an

evacuation.

DATES: Comments must be received by

March 14, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–103,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 94–NM–

117–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 Services B.V., Technical Support

Department, P.O. Box 75047, 1117 ZN

Schiphol Airport, The Netherlands. 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

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 94–NM–117–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.

94–NM–117–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

A proposal to amend part 39 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

part 39) to add an airworthiness

directive (AD), applicable to certain

Fokker Model F28 Mark 0100 series

airplanes, was published as a notice of

proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the

Federal Register on January 18, 1995

(60 FR 3585). That NPRM would have

required installation of two additional

‘‘EXIT’’ signs, one above and between

the left-hand overwing emergency exits,

and one above and between the righthand overwing emergency exits. That

NPRM was prompted by a report

indicating that the ‘‘EXIT’’ signs for the

overwing emergency exits, as currently

installed, would not be visible to

passengers during an emergency

evacuation when the emergency exit

doors are open. That condition, if not

corrected, could delay or impede the

evacuation of passengers during an

emergency.

Actions Since Issuance of Previous

Proposal

One comment that was submitted in

response to the NPRM raised questions

concerning the applicability of the

proposed AD. The commenter, a U.S.

operator, noted that the proposal would

apply to only 20 of the 40 Fokker F28

Model Mark 0100 series airplanes in its

fleet. However, this operator pointed out

that all 40 of its Model F28 Mark 0100

series airplanes have the same overwing

emergency exit sign configuration (i.e.,

emergency exit signs on the covers of

the operating handles), and do not have

the emergency exit signs above the

overwing emergency exits, was

proposed by this AD. This operator also

pointed out that, if the effectivity listing

in Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100–33–

015, Revision 1, dated March 21, 1994

(which was referenced as the

appropriate source of service

information in the proposal) is

incorrect, then other operators’ fleets

also could be affected.

Based on this comment, the FAA

worked in consultation with the

Rijksluchtvaartdienst (RLD), which is

the airworthiness authority for the

Netherlands, and Fokker, to determine

that 20 Model F28 Mark 0100 series

airplanes were excluded inadvertently

from the effectivity listing of the
9114 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 40 / Friday, February 28, 1997 / Proposed Rules

referenced service bulletin. Those 20

airplanes had provisions for the new

exit signs incorporated during

production; however, in accordance the

operators’ request, the airplanes were

delivered with the old exit sign

configuration. In light of this, those 20

airplanes are subject to the same unsafe

condition addressed in the original

proposal.

Accordingly, the FAA has revised the

applicability and the cost impact

information of this supplemental NPRM

to include the additional 20 airplanes.

Conclusion

Since this change expands the scope

of the originally proposed rule, the FAA

has determined that it is necessary to

reopen the comment period to provide

additional opportunity for public

comment.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 40 Fokker

Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes of

U.S. registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 71 work hours per

airplane to accomplish the proposed

installation, and that the average labor

rate is $60 per work hour. Required

parts would cost approximately $1,600

per airplane. Based on these figures, the

cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S.

operators is estimated to be $234,400, or

$5,860 per airplane.

Note: For the additional 20 airplanes that

have been added to the applicability of this

supplemental NPRM, the estimated work

hours, above, may be overstated, since many

of the steps relevant to the installation have

already been accomplished during

production.

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.

Regulatory Impact

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 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding the following new airworthiness

directive:

Fokker: Docket 94–NM–117–AD.

Applicability: Model F28 Mark 0100 series

airplanes, having the following serial

numbers, certificated in any category:

Serial Numbers

11244

11245

11248 through 11256 inclusive

11261

11268 through 11283 inclusive

11286

11289

11290

11291

11293

11295 through 11297 inclusive

11300

11303

11306 through 11308 inclusive

11310 through 11315 inclusive

11331

11333

11334

11337

11338

11345

11346

11349

11357

11358

11365

11366

11372

11373

11379

11380

11391

11392

11398, and

11399.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

otherwise 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 (b) 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 that the ‘‘EXIT’’ signs for the

overwing emergency exit are clearly visible

during an evacuation, accomplish the

following:

(a) Within 8 months after the effective date

of this AD, install two additional ‘‘EXIT’’

signs, one above and between the left-hand

overwing emergency exits, and one above

and between the right-hand overwing

emergency exits, in accordance with Fokker

Service Bulletin SBF100–33–015, Revision 1,

dated March 21, 1994.

(b) 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.

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.

(c) 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 February

21, 1997.

James V. Devany,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–4949 Filed 2–27–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U