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

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 189 (Monday, September 29, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56452-56454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22210]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0675; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-192-AD; 
Amendment 39-15682; AD 2008-20-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD), which applies to certain Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 
airplanes. That AD currently requires a one-time inspection of the main 
landing gear (MLG) main fitting for cracks, and repair if necessary. 
The existing AD also currently requires installing a placard and 
revising the airplane flight manual to include procedures to prohibit 
the application of brakes during backward movement of the airplane. 
This new AD requires repetitive eddy current inspections of the MLG 
main fitting and rework before further flight as applicable. This AD 
results from reports that a final solution eliminating the cause of the 
crack initiation mechanism is not yet available and that repetitive 
inspections are necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct 
cracks in the MLG main fitting, which could result in reduced 
structural integrity of the MLG main fitting.

DATES: This AD becomes effective November 3, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of November 3, 
2008.
    On April 26, 2006 (71 FR 14363, March 22, 2006), the Director of 
the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of 
Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin F100-32-106, including Appendices A 
through C and excluding Appendix D, dated February 18, 2005.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Fokker Services B.V., Technical Services Dept., P.O. Box 231, 2150 AE 
Nieuw-Vennep, the Netherlands.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; 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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The address for the 
Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is the Document Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 56453]]

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that supersedes AD 2006-06-07, amendment 
39-14516 (71 FR 14363, March 22, 2006). The existing AD applies to 
certain Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. That NPRM was 
published in the Federal Register on July 2, 2008 (73 FR 37903). That 
NPRM proposed to continue to require a one-time inspection of the main 
landing gear (MLG) main fitting for cracks, and repair if necessary. 
That NPRM also proposed to continue to require installing a placard and 
revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to include procedures to 
prohibit the application of brakes during backward movement of the 
airplane. That NPRM also proposed to require repetitive eddy current 
inspections of the MLG main fitting and rework before further flight as 
applicable.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. No comments have been received 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
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                                                                                                                          Number of U.S.-
              Action                  Work hours     Average labor                  Parts                    Cost per       registered      Fleet cost
                                                     rate per hour                                           airplane        airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection (required by AD 2006-06-              2             $80  None................................            $160              11          $1,760
 07).
AFM Revision and Placard                         1              80  None................................              80              11             880
 Installation (required by AD 2006-
 06-07).
Inspection (new required action)..               6              80  $540 ($270 per fitting).............           1,020              12          12,240
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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 
removing amendment 39-14516 (71 FR 14363, March 22, 2006) and by adding 
the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2008-20-03 Fokker Services B.V.: Amendment 39-15682. Docket No. FAA-
2008-0675; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-192-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective November 3, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2006-06-07.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0070 and Mark 0100 
airplanes, certificated in any category, equipped with Messier-Dowty 
main landing gears (MLGs).

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports that a final solution 
eliminating the cause of the crack initiation mechanism is not yet 
available and that repetitive inspections are necessary. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the MLG main 
fitting, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the 
MLG main fitting.

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.

Restatement of Requirements of AD 2006-06-07

Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Revision and Placard Installation

    (f) Within 14 days after April 26, 2006 (the effective date of 
AD 2006-06-07), amend the Limitations section of the Fokker F.28 AFM 
to prohibit application of brakes during backward movement of the 
airplane. This

[[Page 56454]]

may be done by inserting a copy of this AD in the AFM.

    Note 1: When a statement to prohibit application of brakes 
during backward movement of the airplane has been included in the 
general revisions of the AFM, the general revisions may be inserted 
into the AFM, and the copy of this AD may be removed from the AFM.

    (g) Within 14 days after April 26, 2006, affix a placard on the 
pedestal, next to the parking brake handle, having the following 
wording: ``APPLICATION OF BRAKES DURING BACKWARD MOVEMENT IS 
PROHIBITED.''

Inspection and Corrective Action

    (h) At the applicable time specified in paragraph (h)(1) or 
(h)(2) of this AD: Do an eddy current inspection of the MLG main 
fittings and repair before further flight as applicable, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Messier-Dowty 
Service Bulletin F100-32-106, including Appendices A through C and 
excluding Appendix D, dated February 18, 2005, except as provided by 
paragraphs (i) and (j) of this AD.
    (1) For airplanes on which an inspection has not been done in 
accordance with Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin F100-32-104, Revision 
2, dated October 30, 2003: Within 3 months after April 26, 2006.
    (2) For airplanes on which an inspection has been done in 
accordance with Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin F100-32-104, Revision 
2, dated October 30, 2003: Within 2,000 flight cycles since the last 
inspection done in accordance with the service bulletin or within 3 
months after April 26, 2006, whichever occurs later.

Exceptions to the Service Bulletin

    (i) Where Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin F100-32-106, including 
Appendices A through C and excluding Appendix D, dated February 18, 
2005, specifies contacting 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 Civil Aviation Authority--The Netherlands 
(CAA-NL) (or its delegated agent).
    (j) Although Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin F100-32-106, 
including Appendices A through C and excluding Appendix D, dated 
February 18, 2005, specifies to submit certain information to the 
manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.

Parts Installation

    (k) As of April 26, 2006, and until the effective date of this 
AD, no person may install, on any airplane, a Messier-Dowty MLG, 
unless it has been inspected/repaired according to paragraph (h) of 
this AD.

New Requirements of This AD

Inspection and Repair

    (l) At the applicable times specified in paragraphs (l)(1), 
(l)(2), and (l)(3) of this AD: Do an eddy current inspection of the 
MLG main fitting for cracks, and rework the MLG main fitting if 
applicable, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin F100-32-111, including Appendices A 
through C and excluding Appendix D, dated December 20, 2005; except 
as provided by paragraph (m) of this AD. The rework must be done 
before further flight.
    (1) For all MLG main fittings, except those units identified in 
paragraph (l)(2) of this AD: Inspect within the next 2,000 flight 
cycles since the last inspection required by paragraph (h) of this 
AD, or within 4 months after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs later.
    (2) For new MLG main fittings and MLG main fittings on which 
both bores have been repaired (reworked) in accordance with 
paragraph (h) of this AD: Inspect within 4,000 flight cycles since 
new (installation) or repaired (rework) in accordance with paragraph 
(h) of this AD, as applicable.
    (3) For all MLGs: Repeat the eddy current inspection thereafter 
at intervals not to exceed 2,000 flight cycles.

Exception to Service Bulletin F100-32-111

    (m) Although Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin F100-32-111, 
including Appendices A through C and excluding Appendix D, dated 
December 20, 2005, specifies to submit certain information to the 
manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.

Parts Installation

    (n) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install, 
on any airplane, a Messier-Dowty MLG, unless it has been inspected 
and reworked in accordance with paragraph (l) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (o) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Tom 
Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-1137; fax (425) 227-1149. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.

Related Information

    (p) Dutch airworthiness directive NL-2006-003, dated February 7, 
2006, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (q) You must use Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin F100-32-106, 
including Appendices A through C and excluding Appendix D, dated 
February 18, 2005; and Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin F100-32-111, 
including Appendices A through C and excluding Appendix D, dated 
December 20, 2005; as applicable; to perform the actions that are 
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin F100-
32-111, including Appendices A through C and excluding Appendix D, 
dated December 20, 2005, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 
CFR part 51.
    (2) On April 26, 2006 (71 FR 14363, March 22, 2006), the 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin F100-32-106, including 
Appendices A through C and excluding Appendix D, dated February 18, 
2005.
    (3) 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.
    (4) You may review copies at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 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 September 11, 2008.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-22210 Filed 9-26-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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