AD 2008-04-22

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

Reports have been received from Fokker 100 (F28 Mark 0100) operators where the crew experienced difficulties with roll control. Analysis suggests that these phenomena are due to frozen water on the aileron pulleys that are installed on the Center Wing Spar and located in the Main Landing Gear (MLG) wheel bays. Investigation has confirmed that improper closure of the aerodynamic seals of the wing-to-fuselage fairings above the MLG wheel bays can cause rainwater, wash-water or de-icing fluid to leak onto the affected aileron pulleys. This condition, if not corrected, can lead to further incidents of frozen water on aileron pulleys during operation of the aircraft, resulting in restricted roll control and/ or higher control forces. * * *

We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

Final rule.

2008-04-22 Fokker Services B.V.: Amendment 39-15394. Docket No. FAA- 2007-0300; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-191-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective April 3, 2008.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes, certificated in any category, all serial numbers.

Subject

(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53: Fuselage.

Reason

(e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) states:
Reports have been received from Fokker 100 (F28 Mark 0100) operators where the crew experienced difficulties with roll control. Analysis suggests that these phenomena are due to frozen water on the aileron pulleys that are installed on the Center Wing Spar and located in the Main Landing Gear (MLG) wheel bays. Investigation has confirmed that improper closure of the aerodynamic seals of the wing-to-fuselage fairings above the MLG wheel bays can cause rainwater, wash-water or de-icing fluid to leak onto the affected aileron pulleys. [The aileron pulleys on Model F.28 Mark 0070 airplanes are identical to those installed on the Model F.28 Mark 0100 airplanes. Therefore, those Model F.28 Mark 0070 airplanes may be subject to the unsafe condition revealed on the Model F.28 Mark 0100 airplanes.] This condition, if not corrected, can lead to further incidents of frozen water on aileron pulleys during operation of the aircraft, resulting in restricted roll control and/ or higher control forces. Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to exist or develop on other aircraft of the same type design, this Airworthiness Directive requires the inspection of the wing-to-fuselage fairings and, if necessary, the accomplishment of appropriate corrective action(s).

The inspection is intended to find indications of incorrect fit, damage, or wear. Corrective actions include a related investigative action (inspecting for incorrect fit, damage, or wear of the aerodynamic seal of the fairings, and inspecting for damage or wear of the abrasion resistant coating on the mating surface of the fuselage skin), restoring damaged abrasion-resistant coatings, correcting fairing positions, and replacing damaged fairing seals, as applicable.

Actions and Compliance

(f) Unless already done, do the following actions.
(1) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, inspect the wing-to-fuselage fairings for indications of incorrect fit, damage or wear, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-53-101, dated September 30, 2005.
(i) If no indications of incorrect fit, damage or wear are found, no further action is required by this AD.
(ii) If any incorrect fit, damage or wear is found, before next flight, do related investigative actions and applicable corrective actions in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin.
(2) When incorrect fit, damage or wear is found, within 30 days after the inspection or within 30 days after the effective date of the AD, whichever occurs later, report the findings to Fokker Services B.V., Technical Services Dept., P.O. Box 231, 2150 AE Nieuw-Vennep, The Netherlands.

FAA AD Differences

Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows: No differences.

Other FAA AD Provisions

(g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): 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.
(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service.
(3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120- 0056.

Related Information

(h) Refer to MCAI Dutch Airworthiness Directive NL-2005-013, dated October 17, 2005, and Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-53-101, dated September 30, 2005, for related information.Material Incorporated by Reference

(i) You must use Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-53-101, dated September 30, 2005, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on December 11, 2007 (72 FR 70249). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

Reports have been received from Fokker 100 (F28 Mark 0100) operators where the crew experienced difficulties with roll control. Analysis suggests that these phenomena are due to frozen water on the aileron pulleys that are installed on the Center Wing Spar and located in the Main Landing Gear (MLG) wheel bays. Investigation has confirmed that improper closure of the aerodynamic seals of the wing-to-fuselage fairings above the MLG wheel bays can cause rainwater, wash-water or de-icing fluid to leak onto the affected aileron pulleys. [The aileron pulleys on Model F.28 Mark 0070 airplanes are identical to those installed on the Model F.28 Mark 0100 airplanes. Therefore, those Model F.28 Mark 0070 airplanes may be subject to the unsafe condition revealed on the Model F.28 Mark 0100 airplanes.] This condition, if not corrected, can lead to further incidents of frozen water on aileron pulleys during operation of the aircraft, resulting in restricted roll control and/ or higher control forces. Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to exist or develop on other aircraft of the same type design, this Airworthiness Directive requires the inspection of the wing-to-fuselage fairings and, if necessary, the accomplishment of appropriate corrective action(s).

The inspection is intended to find indications of incorrect fit, damage, or wear. Corrective actions include a related investigative action (inspecting for incorrect fit, damage, or wear of the aerodynamic seal of the fairings, and inspecting for damage or wear of the abrasion resistant coating on the mating surface of the fuselage skin), restoring damaged abrasion-resistant coatings, correcting fairing positions, and replacing damaged fairing seals. You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information provided in the MCAI and related service information.
We might also have required different actions in this AD from those in the MCAI in order to follow our FAA policies. Any such differences are highlighted in a NOTE within the AD.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect about 12 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1 work-hour per product to comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the U.S. operators to be $960, or $80 per product.

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 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 this AD:
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); and3. 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.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http:// www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains the NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD: