Federal Register/Vol. 76, No. 71/Wednesday, April 13, 2011
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 71 / Wednesday, April 13, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 20493 classified as ‘‘catastrophic’’ may be the Fokker 50 and Fokker 60 type design, in this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe shown by analysis, and appropriate response to these regulations, revealed that condition for the specified products. testing in combination with simulation the clearance between parts of the main The MCAI states: to validate the analysis. Very limited landing gear (MLG) and the fuel pipes may be insufficient. * * * [T]he Federal Aviation flight tests in combination with This condition, if not detected and Administration (FAA) has published Special simulation are used as a part of a corrected, could lead to chafing, possibly Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 88, and showing of compliance for resulting in fuel leakage and, in combination the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) has ‘‘catastrophic’’ failure conditions. Flight with other factors, a fuel fire. published Interim Policy INT/POL/25/12. The review conducted by Fokker Services on tests are performed only in This AD requires actions that are circumstances that use operational the Fokker 50 and Fokker 60 type design, in intended to address the unsafe response to these regulations, revealed that variations, or extrapolations from other condition described in the MCAI. the clearance between parts of the main flight performance aspects to address DATES: This AD becomes effective April landing gear (MLG) and the fuel pipes may flight safety. be insufficient. These special conditions require that 28, 2011. The Director of the Federal Register This condition, if not detected and the Hoh AP/SAS system installed on a corrected, could lead to chafing, possibly approved the incorporation by reference Eurocopter model AS350B, AS350BA, resulting in fuel leakage and, in combination of certain publications listed in the AD AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, with other factors, a fuel fire. as of April 28, 2011. EASA issued AD 2010–0182 to require and EC130 helicopter, Type Certificate We must receive comments on this Number H9EU, meet these requirements actions to ensure that a minimum clearance AD by May 31, 2011. is maintained between the parts of the MLG to adequately address the failure effects ADDRESSES: You may send comments by and the fuel pipes in both nacelles. identified by the FHA, and subsequently Since that AD was issued, it was verified by the SSA, within the defined any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to discovered that aeroplane serial numbers design system integrity requirements. http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 20133 through 20142 were erroneously Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 31, omitted in the original Fokker Service instructions for submitting comments. Bulletins (SB) and consequently the AD did 2011. • Fax: 202–493–2251. • not apply to those aeroplanes. The two SB’s Scott A. Horn, Mail: U.S. Department of (some typographical errors in part numbers Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Transportation, Docket Operations, M– were also found) have now been revised to Aircraft Certification Service. 30, West Building Ground Floor, Room correct this omission. [FR Doc. 2011–8294 Filed 4–12–11; 8:45 am] W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., For the reasons described above, this new BILLING CODE 4910–13–P Washington, DC 20590. AD retains the requirements of AD 2010– • Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of 0182, which is superseded, and expands the Transportation, Docket Operations, M– Applicability to add the 10 missing serial DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 30, West Building Ground Floor, Room numbers. W12–40, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., The required actions include an Federal Aviation Administration Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 inspection to determine fuel pipe part p.m., Monday through Friday, except numbers, a general visual inspection to 14 CFR Part 39 Federal holidays. determine the clearance between certain fuel pipes and parts of the main landing [Docket No. FAA–2011–0262; Directorate Examining the AD Docket Identifier 2010–NM–215–AD; Amendment gear, and replacement of certain pipes 39–16649; AD 2011–07–12] You may examine the AD docket on with insufficient main landing gear the Internet at http:// clearance. The required actions also RIN 2120–AA64 www.regulations.gov; or in person at the include revising the maintenance Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. program to incorporate a fuel limitation Airworthiness Directives; Fokker and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and a critical design configuration Services B.V. Model F.27 Mark 050 except Federal holidays. The AD docket control limitation (CDCCL). You may Airplanes contains this AD, the regulatory obtain further information by examining AGENCY: Federal Aviation evaluation, any comments received, and the MCAI in the AD docket. Administration (FAA), Department of other information. The street address for The FAA has examined the Transportation (DOT). the Docket Operations office (phone: underlying safety issues involved in fuel 800–647–5527) is in the ADDRESSES tank explosions on several large ACTION: Final rule; request for section. Comments will be available in transport airplanes, including the comments. the AD docket shortly after receipt. adequacy of existing regulations, the SUMMARY: We are adopting a new FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom service history of airplanes subject to airworthiness directive (AD) for the Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, those regulations, and existing products listed above. This AD results International Branch, ANM–116, maintenance practices for fuel tank from mandatory continuing Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, systems. As a result of those findings, airworthiness information (MCAI) 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, we issued a regulation titled ‘‘Transport originated by an aviation authority of Washington 98057–3356; phone: 425– Airplane Fuel Tank System Design another country to identify and correct 227–1137; fax: 425–227–1149. Review, Flammability Reduction and an unsafe condition on an aviation SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Maintenance and Inspection product. The MCAI describes the unsafe Requirements’’ (66 FR 23086, May 7, Discussion condition as: 2001). In addition to new airworthiness The European Aviation Safety Agency standards for transport airplanes and * * * [T]he Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published Special (EASA), which is the Technical Agent new maintenance requirements, this Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 88, and for the Member States of the European rule included Special Federal Aviation the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) has Community, has issued EASA Regulation No. 88 (‘‘SFAR 88,’’ published Interim Policy INT/POL/25/12. Airworthiness Directive 2010–0197, Amendment 21–78, and subsequent The review conducted by Fokker Services on dated October 1, 2010 (referred to after Amendments 21–82 and 21–83). VerDate Mar<15>2010 21:27 Apr 12, 2011 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\13APR1.SGM 13APR1 emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with RULES 20494 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 71 / Wednesday, April 13, 2011 / Rules and Regulations Among other actions, SFAR 88 unsafe condition identified in the received by the closing date and may requires certain type design (i.e., type MCAI. amend this AD because of those certificate (TC) and supplemental type comments. FAA’s Determination and Requirements certificate (STC)) holders to substantiate We will post all comments we of This AD that their fuel tank systems can prevent receive, without change, to http:// ignition sources in the fuel tanks. This This product has been approved by www.regulations.gov, including any requirement applies to type design the aviation authority of another personal information you provide. We holders for large turbine-powered country, and is approved for operation will also post a report summarizing each transport airplanes and for subsequent in the United States. Pursuant to our substantive verbal contact we receive modifications to those airplanes. It bilateral agreement with the State of about this AD. Design Authority, we have been notified requires them to perform design reviews Authority for This Rulemaking and to develop design changes and of the unsafe condition described in the maintenance procedures if their designs MCAI and service information Title 49 of the United States Code do not meet the new fuel tank safety referenced above. We are issuing this specifies the FAA’s authority to issue standards. As explained in the preamble AD because we evaluated all pertinent rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, to the rule, we intended to adopt information and determined the unsafe section 106, describes the authority of airworthiness directives to mandate any condition exists and is likely to exist or the FAA Administrator. ‘‘Subtitle VII: ’’ changes found necessary to address develop on other products of the same Aviation Programs, describes in more unsafe conditions identified as a result type design. detail the scope of the Agency’s of these reviews. There are no products of this type authority. We are issuing this rulemaking under In evaluating these design reviews, we currently registered in the United States. However, this rule is necessary to the authority described in ‘‘Subtitle VII, have established four criteria intended Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: to define the unsafe conditions ensure that the described unsafe condition is addressed if any of these General requirements.’’ Under