Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Model F28 Mark 0100 Series Airplanes

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