Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Model F28 Mark 0100 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 28, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10801-10803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3357]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-NM-128-AD; Amendment 39-9146; AD 95-03-09]


Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Model F28 Mark 0100 Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to all Fokker F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes, that requires 
inspecting the teleflex cable of the landing gear to detect corrosion, 
moisture, or improper greasing, and replacing discrepant teleflex 
cables with serviceable parts. This amendment is prompted by reports of 
difficulties with the operation of the selector handle of the landing 
gear when ``gear down'' is selected, due to improper greasing of the 
teleflex cable of the landing gear during production. The actions 
specified by this AD are intended to prevent moisture from accumulating 
on the teleflex cable, which could result in corrosion of the teleflex 
cable that could inhibit operation of the selector handle of the 
landing gear.

DATES: Effective March 30, 1995.-
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of March 30, 1995.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from Fokker Aircraft USA, Inc., 1199 North Fairfax Street, 
Alexandria, Virginia 22314. This information may be examined at the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, 
Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the 
Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 
700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [[Page 10802]] 
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) 227-1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to all Fokker Model F28 Mark 0100 
series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on October 18, 
1994 (59 FR 52479). That action proposed to require removing the 
teleflex cable of the landing gear, part number D76351-001, and 
inspecting it to detect corrosion, moisture, or improper greasing. If 
no discrepancies are detected, the cable would be cleaned, greased, and 
reassembled. If any discrepancy is detected, the cable would be 
replaced with a serviceable part.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the single comment received.
    The commenter supports the proposed rule.
    As a result of recent communications with the Air Transport 
Association (ATA) of America, the FAA has learned that, in general, 
some operators may misunderstand the legal effect of AD's on airplanes 
that are identified in the applicability provision of the AD, but that 
have been altered or repaired in the area addressed by the AD. The FAA 
points out that all airplanes identified in the applicability provision 
of an AD are legally subject to the AD. If an airplane has been altered 
or repaired in the affected area in such a way as to affect compliance 
with the AD, the owner or operator is required to obtain FAA approval 
for an alternative method of compliance with the AD, in accordance with 
the paragraph of each AD that provides for such approvals. A note has 
been added to this final rule to clarify this requirement.
    Additionally, the applicability of the final rule has been revised 
to clarify that only airplanes equipped with a teleflex cable of the 
landing gear, having part number D76351-001, are applicable to the 
requirements of the AD.
    The FAA has recently reviewed the figures it has used over the past 
several years in calculating the economic impact of AD activity. In 
order to account for various inflationary costs in the airline 
industry, the FAA has determined that it is necessary to increase the 
labor rate used in these calculations from $55 per work hour to $60 per 
work hour. The economic impact information, below, has been revised to 
reflect this increase in the specified hourly labor rate.
    After careful review of the available data, including the comments 
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public 
interest require the adoption of the rule with the change previously 
described. The FAA has determined that this change will neither 
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of 
the AD.
    The FAA estimates that 119 airplanes of U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 10.9 work hours 
per airplane to accomplish the required actions, and that the average 
labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts will be supplied by the 
manufacturer at no cost to the operators. Based on these figures, the 
total cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$77,826, or $654 per airplane.
    The total cost impact figure discussed above is based on 
assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the 
requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish 
those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.
    The regulations adopted herein will 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 final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

95-03-09 Fokker: Amendment 39-9146. Docket 94-NM-128-AD.

    Applicability: Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes; equipped 
with a teleflex cable of the landing gear, having part number 
D76351-001; 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 (b) 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 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 moisture from accumulating on the teleflex cable, 
which could result in corrosion of the teleflex cable that could 
inhibit operation of the selector handle of the landing gear, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 4 months after the effective date of this AD, remove 
the teleflex cable of the landing gear, part number D76351-001, and 
perform an inspection of it to detect corrosion, moisture, or 
improper greasing, in accordance with Fokker Service Bulletin 
SBF100-32-071, dated June 22, 1993.
    (1) If no discrepancies are found, prior to further flight, 
clean, grease, and reinstall the teleflex cable, in accordance with 
the service bulletin.
    (2) If any discrepancy is found, prior to further flight, 
replace the teleflex cable with a serviceable part in accordance 
with the service bulletin.
    (b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
[[Page 10803]] 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 
Secs. 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.
    (d) The actions shall be done in accordance with Fokker Service 
Bulletin SBF100-32-071, dated June 22, 1993. This incorporation by 
reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be 
obtained from Fokker Aircraft USA, Inc., 1199 North Fairfax Street, 
Alexandria, Virginia 22314. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North 
Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (e) This amendment becomes effective on March 30, 1995.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 6, 1995.
S.R. Miller,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-3357 Filed 2-27-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U

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