FR Doc E6-16894

[Federal Register: October 12, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 197)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 60085-60087]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12oc06-16]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-26044; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-098-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Model F.28 Mark 1000, 2000,
3000, and 4000 Airplanes

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for all Fokker Model F.28 Mark 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 airplanes.
This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection of the left- and
right-hand main landing gear (MLG) downlock actuators or a review of
the airplane maintenance records to determine the part number of each
downlock actuator installed, and replacement of identified MLG downlock
actuators with modified MLG downlock actuators. This proposed AD
results from a report of a failed downlock actuator, which resulted in
the left MLG collapsing during taxi after landing. We are proposing
this AD to prevent failure of the downlock actuator, which could
prevent the MLG side stay from locking properly, resulting in collapse
of the MLG during ground maneuvers or upon landing.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 13,
2006.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed AD.
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow

the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your

comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Contact Fokker Services B.V., Technical Services Dept., P.O. Box
231, 2150 AE Nieuw-Vennep, the Netherlands, for service information
identified in this proposed AD.

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:

Comments Invited

We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2006-
26044; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-098-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the
proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will

also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of
that Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union,
etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR

[[Page 60086]]

19477-78), or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

You may examine the 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 DOT
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after the Docket Management System
receives them.

Discussion

The Civil Aviation Authority--The Netherlands (CAA-NL), which is
the airworthiness authority for the Netherlands, notified us that an
unsafe condition may exist on certain Fokker Model F.28 Mark 1000,
2000, 3000, and 4000 airplanes. The CAA-NL advises that it received a
report that a flightcrew of a Model F.28 Mark 3000 airplane received a
``LH MLG UNSAFE'' warning during approach to landing. The flightcrew
made an uneventful landing, but during taxi after landing the left main
landing gear (MLG) collapsed. Investigation into the cause of the
collapse revealed a failed downlock actuator. The failed downlock
actuator prevented the MLG side stay assembly from locking properly,
causing the MLG collapse. Investigators determined that the use of an
improved (modified) version of the downlock assembly could prevent this
condition. Failure of the downlock actuator, if not corrected, could
prevent the MLG side stay from locking properly, resulting in collapse
of the MLG during ground maneuvers or upon landing.
The MLG downlock actuators installed on Model F.28 Mark 1000, 2000,
and 4000 airplanes are identical to those installed on the Model F.28
Mark 3000 airplanes. Therefore, all of these models may be subject to
the identified unsafe condition.

Relevant Service Information

Fokker Services B.V. has issued Service Bulletin F28/32-163, dated
March 8, 2004. The service bulletin describes procedures for removing
the MLG downlock actuator, sending it to an approved Dowty Aerospace
Hydraulics workshop for modification, and reinstalling the modified
downlock actuator. The modification includes replacing certain parts
(i.e., spring carrier, nuts, sub-assembly, certain end fittings, and
bush inserts) and re-identifying certain other parts. Accomplishing the
actions specified in the service information is intended to adequately
address the unsafe condition. The CAA-NL mandated the service
information and issued Dutch airworthiness directive 2004-047, dated
April 20, 2004, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these
airplanes in the Netherlands.
Fokker Service Bulletin F28/32-163 refers to Dowty Aerospace
Hydraulics--Cheltenham Service Bulletin 32-501R, Revision 1, dated
September 3, 1998, as an additional source of service information for
modifying the MLG downlock actuator.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

These airplane models are manufactured in the Netherlands and are
type certificated for operation in the United States under the
provisions of section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR
21.29) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant
to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the CAA-NL has kept the FAA
informed of the situation described above. We have examined the CAA-
NL's findings, evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that
we need to issue an AD for airplanes of this type design that are
certificated for operation in the United States.
Therefore, we are proposing this AD to require a one-time
inspection of the left- and right-hand MLG downlock actuators or a
review of the airplane maintenance records to determine the part number
(P/N) of each MLG downlock actuator installed, and replacement of
identified MLG downlock actuators with modified MLG downlock actuators.

Costs of Compliance

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

Estimated Costs
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Number of U.S.-
Action Work Average labor Parts Cost per registered Fleet cost
hours rate per hour airplane airplanes
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Inspection of both MLG downlock actuators 1 $80 $0 $80 6 As much as $480.
(2 per airplane).
Review of the airplane maintenance records 1 80 0 80 6 As much as $480.
in lieu of the inspection to determine P/
N.
Replacement of the MLG downlock actuators \1\ 4 80 \1\ 33,662 6 As much as $201,972.
(2 per airplane). 16,511
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\1\ Per actuator.

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 proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 the proposed
regulation:

[[Page 60087]]

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. 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 proposed 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, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

Fokker Services B.V.: Docket No. FAA-2006-26044; Directorate
Identifier 2006-NM-098-AD.

Comments Due Date

(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by November
13, 2006.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

Unsafe Condition

(d) This AD results from a report of a failed downlock actuator,
which resulted in the left MLG collapsing during taxi after landing.
We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the downlock actuator,
which could prevent the MLG side stay from locking properly,
resulting in collapse of the MLG during ground maneuvers or upon
landing.

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.

Determination of the Part Number (P/N) of the MLG Downlock Actuators

(f) Within 66 months after the effective date of this AD:
Inspect the left- and right-hand MLG downlock actuators to determine
if P/N 200497005 or 200498005 is installed. A review of airplane
maintenance records is acceptable in lieu of this inspection if the
P/N of the MLG downlock actuators can be conclusively determined
from that review. If an MLG downlock actuator does not have a
subject P/N, no further action is required by this AD for that MLG
only, except as provided by paragraph (h) of this AD.

Replacement of Subject MLG Downlock Actuators

(g) For any MLG downlock actuator identified during the
inspection or maintenance records review required by paragraph (f)
of this AD, or for which the P/N cannot be determined: Within 66
months after the effective date of this AD, replace the MLG downlock
actuator with a modified MLG downlock actuator in accordance with
the Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin F28/32-
163, dated March 8, 2004.

Note 1: Fokker Service Bulletin F28/32-163 refers to Dowty
Aerospace Hydraulics--Cheltenham Service Bulletin 32-501R, Revision
1, dated September 3, 1998, as an additional source of service
information for modifying the MLG downlock actuator.

Parts Installation

(h) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install
an MLG downlock actuator, P/N 200497005 or 200498005, on any
airplane.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(i)(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

(j) Dutch airworthiness directive 2004-047, dated April 20,
2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 3, 2006.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-16894 Filed 10-11-06; 8:45 am]

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