[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 12, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59243-59244]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19941]



[[Page 59243]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20848; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-02-AD; 
Amendment 39-14323; AD 2005-20-26]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN), 
Series 312 Box Mounted Seats

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN), series 312 box mounted seats. 
This AD requires initial and repetitive inspections of the seat 
attachments for cracks, and if necessary, replacing the attachments. 
This AD results from 10 reports of cracked attachments of series 312 
box mounted seats. We are issuing this AD to prevent series 312 box 
mounted seats from detaching from the passenger compartment floor, 
which could result in injury to the occupant of the seat, and prevent 
evacuation of passengers in the event of an emergency.

DATES: This AD becomes effective November 16, 2005. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in the regulations as of November 16, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Contact Aviointeriors S.p.A., Via Appia Km. 66.4--04013 
Latina, Italy; telephone: 39-0773-6891; fax: 39-0773-631546 for the 
service information identified in this AD.
    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov 
or in Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Lee, Aerospace Engineer, 
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; 
telephone: 781-238-7161; fax: 781-238-7170.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a proposed airworthiness directive (AD). The proposed AD applies 
to Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN), series 312 box mounted seats. 
We published the proposed AD in the Federal Register on April 11, 2005 
(70 FR 18322). That action proposed to require initial and repetitive 
inspections of the seat attachments for cracks, and if necessary, 
replacing the attachments.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the AD, any comments 
received, and any final disposition in person at the Docket Management 
Facility Docket Offices between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 
647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Department of 
Transportation Nassif Building at the street address stated in 
ADDRESSES. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
the DMS receives them.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We received no comments on the proposal 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

    There are about 68 Aviointeriors S.p.A. series 312 box mounted 
seats installed on airplanes of U.S. registry that are affected by this 
AD. We estimate that it will take about 0.5 work hour per seat to 
perform the inspections, and about 0.5 work hour per seat to perform 
the replacement of an attachment. The average labor rate is $65 per 
work hour. Required parts will cost about $297.50 per seat. Based on 
these figures, we estimate the total cost of one inspection and total 
parts replacement to U.S. operators to be $24,650.

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 summary of the costs to comply with this AD and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary at the 
address listed under ADDRESSES.

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 Federal Aviation Administration 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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2005-20-06 Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN): Amendment 39-
14323. Docket No. FAA-2005-20848; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-02-
AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective November 
16, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN), 
series 312 box mounted

[[Page 59244]]

seats, part number (P/N) 312( )( )27-( )( )( ) ( )( ) and P/N 312( 
)( )36-( )( )( )( )( ). These seats are installed in, but not 
limited to, Fokker Model F27 Mark 050, Mark 500, and Mark 600 
airplanes.
    (d) The parentheses appearing in the seat P/N indicate the 
presence or absence of an additional letter(s), or number(s), that 
varies the basic seat configuration. This AD still applies 
regardless of whether these letters, or numbers, are present or 
absent in the seat P/N designation.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD results from 10 reports of cracked attachments of 
series 312 box mounted seats. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
series 312 box mounted seats from detaching from the passenger 
compartment floor, which could result in injury to the occupant of 
the seat, and prevent evacuation of passengers in the event of an 
emergency.

Compliance

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

Attachments That Have Already Accumulated 8,000 Hours Time-In-Service 
(TIS) or More

    (g) For attachments that have already accumulated 8,000 hours 
TIS or more on the effective date of this AD, do the following:
    (1) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, replace 
attachments with new attachments of the same P/N, using Section 2., 
Replacement Procedure, Steps 2.4 though 2.6 of Aviointeriors Service 
Bulletin No. 312/912-05, Revision 1, dated August 24, 2001.
    (2) Perform repetitive visual inspections as specified in 
paragraph (i) of this AD.

Initial Visual Inspection

    (h) Perform an initial visual inspection of the seat outboard 
and inboard attachments for cracks, within 90 days after the 
effective date of this AD, as follows:
    (1) Inspect seat outboard attachment, part number (P/N) DM03313-
1, and seat inboard attachment, P/N DM03314-1, using Section 2., 
Inspection Procedure, Steps 2.1 through 2.5 of Aviointeriors Service 
Bulletin (SB) No. 312/912-05, Revision 1, dated August 24, 2001.
    (2) Replace any cracked attachment with a new attachment of the 
same P/N, using Section 2., Replacement Procedure, Steps 2.4 though 
2.6 of Aviointeriors SB No. 312/912-05, Revision 1, dated August 24, 
2001.
    (3) Replace attachments when they have accumulated 8,000 hours 
time-in-service (TIS), with new attachments of the same P/N, using 
Section 2., Replacement Procedure, Steps 2.4 though 2.6 of 
Aviointeriors SB No. 312/912-05, Revision 1, dated August 24, 2001.

Repetitive Visual Inspections

    (i) Within 650 hours TIS after the last inspection, or within 
650 hours TIS after attachment was replaced, and whenever the seat 
is being installed or removed, perform repetitive visual inspections 
for cracks, and replace cracked seat outboard and inboard 
attachments. Use paragraphs (h)(1) through (h)(3) of this AD to 
inspect and disposition the attachments.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (j) The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, has the 
authority to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD 
if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (k) Ente Nazionale per l'Aviazione Civile airworthiness 
directive AD 2001-479, dated November 12, 2001, also addresses the 
subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (l) You must use Aviointeriors Service Bulletin No. 312/912-05, 
Revision 1, dated August 24, 2001, to perform the actions required 
by this AD. The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service bulletin in accordance 
with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Aviointeriors 
S.p.A., Via Appia Km. 66.4--04013 Latina, Italy; telephone: 39-0773-
6891; fax: 39-0773-631546, for a copy of this service information. 
You may review copies at the Docket Management Facility; U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif 
Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-0001, on the internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, 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 Burlington, Massachusetts, on September 30, 2005.
Francis A. Favara,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 05-19941 Filed 10-11-05; 8:45 am]
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