AD 2000-18-04 - Airworthiness Directives; Aviointeriors S.p.A. Seat Model 312

Unsafe Condition

Cracks in the seat center crossmember that could lead to loss of structural integrity of the seat.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Required Actions

Initial inspection within 20 days or 80 hours time-in-service (TIS), whichever occurs first, after the effective date. Repetitive inspections within 650 hours TIS after the last inspection. Replace the seat center crossmember with a new one if cracks are found.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Compliance Time

Within 20 days or 80 hours TIS, whichever occurs first, after the effective date.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Affected Aircraft

Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN) Model 312 seats, used on but not limited to Fokker 50 airplanes.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Federal Register Abstract

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN), Seat Model 312. This AD requires initial and repetitive inspections of the seat center crossmember for cracks, and if necessary, replacing the crossmember with a new crossmember. This amendment is prompted by reports of cracks in the crossmember that were found during normal maintenance. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the loss of the structural integrity of the seat due to cracks in the seat center crossmember.

Applicability Source Text

Show captured applicability text from the source AD

(c) Applicability                                               Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN) Model 312
                                                                 Seats. These seats are used on, but are not
                                                                 limited to, Fokker 50 airplanes.
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Document Text

Show stored source text (verify against official source)

[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 27, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58178-58180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 00-23578]

[[Page 58177]]

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Part III

Department of Transportation

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Federal Aviation Administration

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14 CFR Part 39

Airworthiness Directives; Aviointeriors S.p.A. Seat Model 312; Final
Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 /
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 58178]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NE-09-AD; Amendment 39-11889; AD 2000-18-04]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Aviointeriors S.p.A. Seat Model 312

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that
applies to Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN), Seat Model 312. This
AD requires initial and repetitive inspections of the seat center
crossmember for cracks, and if necessary, replacing the crossmember
with a new crossmember. This amendment is prompted by reports of cracks
in the crossmember that were found during normal maintenance. The FAA
is issuing this AD to prevent the loss of the structural integrity of
the seat due to cracks in the seat center crossmember.

DATES: Effective October 12, 2000. The incorporation by reference of
certain publications listed in the rule is approved by the Director of
the Federal Register as of October 12, 2000.
The FAA must receive any comments on this rule by November 27,
2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to Docket number 2000-NE-09-AD in one of the
following ways:
<bullet> Mail comments to the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, New England Region, Attention:
Rules Docket number 2000-NE-09-AD, 12 New England Executive Park,
Burlington, MA 01803-5299. You may also send a request for a copy of
the AD or regulatory evaluation from that address. If you want us to
acknowledge receipt of your comments, you must include a self-
addressed, stamped postcard on which the Docket Number is written. We
will date-stamp your postcard and mail it back to you.
<bullet> E-mail comments to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#625b4f030c074f0306010d0f0f070c16220403034c050d14"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e5dcc8848b80c88481868a8888808b91a5838484cb828a93">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Be sure to
include Docket number 2000-NE-09-AD in the subject line.
You can get the service information referenced in this AD from
Aviointeriors S.p.A., Via Appia Km. 66.4--04013 Latina, Italy;
telephone: 39-0773-6891; fax: 39-0773-631546. You may examine the AD
Docket (including any comments and service information) at the FAA, New
England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England
Executive Park, Burlington, MA, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also examine the
service information at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North
Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Murphy, Aerospace Engineer,
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299;
telephone: 781-238-7739; fax: 781-238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Ente Nazionale per l'Aviaazione Civile
(ENAC), which is the airworthiness authority for Italy, recently
notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on the crossmembers
of Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN) model 312 seats. The ENAC has
advised the FAA that cracks were found in three seat center
crossmembers during routine maintenance.

Manufacturer's Service Information

Aviointeriors has issued alert service bulletin (ASB) No. 312/912-
01, Revision 1, dated October 7, 1999, that specifies procedures for
inspecting the center crossmember, part number (P/N) DM03437-1, of the
seat for cracks and, if necessary, replacing the crossmember with a
serviceable part. The ENAC classified this service bulletin as
mandatory and issued AD 99-421 in order to assure the airworthiness of
these seats in Italy.

Bilateral Airworthiness Agreement

This seat is manufactured in Italy, and is approved for use on
airplanes that are type certificated for operation in the United States
under the provisions of Sec. 21.617 of the Federal Aviation Regulations
(14 CFR 21.617) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement.
Under this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the ENAC has kept the FAA
informed of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the
findings of the ENAC, reviewed all available information, and
determined that AD action is necessary for seats of this design that
are used on airplanes that are certificated for operation in the United
States.

Requirements of this AD

The FAA has identified an unsafe condition that is likely to exist
or develop on other seats of this same design. This AD is being issued
to prevent the loss of the structural integrity of the seat due to
cracks in the seat center crossmember. This AD requires an initial
inspection within 20 days or 80 hours time-in-service (TIS), whichever
occurs first, after the effective date of this AD, repetitive
inspections within 650 hours TIS after the last inspection, and if
necessary, the replacement of the seat center crossmember with a new
crossmember. These actions must to be done in accordance with the
service bulletin described previously.

Immediate Adoption

Since a situation exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this regulation, it is found that notice and opportunity for prior
public comment are impracticable, and that good cause exists for making
this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

Although this AD is in the form of a final rule that involves
requirements affecting flight safety and was not preceded by notice and
an opportunity for public comment, the FAA invites you to submit any
written relevant data, views, or arguments. Submit your comments as
specified under the ``ADDRESSES'' caption. Be sure to include the Rules
Docket number 2000-NE-09-AD in the communication. We specifically
invite comments on the overall regulatory economic, environmental, and
energy aspects of the rule that might suggest a need to modify it. We
will file a report in the AD Docket that summarizes each FAA contact
with the public that is related to the substantive part of this rule.
The FAA is examining the writing style we currently use in regulatory
documents, in response to the presidential memorandum of June 1, 1998.
That memorandum requires federal agencies to communicate more clearly
with the public. You can get more information about the presidential
memorandum and the plain language initiative at <a href="http://www.plainlanguage.gov">http://www.plainlanguage.gov</a>. We also specifically invite comments on the
chart-type format used to publish the actions required by this AD. This
format was developed in consultation with the Office of the Federal
Register, and the FAA is considering using this format, when
appropriate, for future AD's. We will consider all comments received by
the closing date, and may amend the rule.
If you want the FAA to acknowledge receipt of your comments, send a
self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is
made: ``Comments to Docket Number 2000-NE-09-AD.'' We will date stamp
the postcard and return it to you.

[[Page 58179]]

Regulatory Impact

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. Therefore, the FAA has determined that this AD does not
have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. Accordingly,
the FAA has not consulted with state authorities before publication of
this rule.
The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency
regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe
condition in aircraft, and is not a ``significant regulatory action''
under Executive Order 12866. Further, the FAA has determined that this
AD involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If a determination is made
that this AD otherwise would be significant under DOT Regulatory
Policies and Procedures, the FAA will prepare a final regulatory
evaluation and place it in the AD Docket. You can get a copy of this
evaluation, if one has been prepared, by sending a request to the FAA
at the mailing address listed under the caption ``ADDRESSES.'' Your
request must reference ``AD Docket Number 2000-NE-09-AD.''

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 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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive:

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2000-18-04
Docket No. 2000-NE-09-AD, Amendment 39-11889
Aviointeriors S.p.A.
Subject: Inspection of Seat Center Crossmember for Cracks
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(a) Effective Date October 12, 2000.
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(b) Affected Documents None.
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(c) Applicability Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN) Model 312
Seats. These seats are used on, but are not
limited to, Fokker 50 airplanes.
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(d) Unsafe Condition The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the loss
of the structural integrity of the seat due to
cracks in the seat center crossmember.
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(e) Compliance Initial inspection within 20 days or 80 hours
time-in-service (TIS), whichever occurs first
after the effective date of this AD, unless
already done, and repetitive inspections within
650 hours TIS after last inspection.
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(f) Required Actions (1) Inspect seat crossmember P/N DM03437-1 in
accordance with Section 2. Inspection Procedure
of Aviointeriors Alert Service Bulletin (ASB)
312/912-01, Revision 1, dated October 7, 1999.
(2) If you find cracks, replace the crossmember
with a new crossmember P/N DM03437-1 in
accordance with Section 3 Crossmember
Replacement Procedure, Step 3.1 through 3.9 of
ASB 312/912-01, Revision 1, dated October 7,
1999.
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[[Page 58180]]

(g) Other Provisions (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance:
(i) You may use an alternative method of
complying or adjust the time you take to meet
the requirements of this AD if your alternative
provides an acceptable level of safety, and the
Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), approves your alternative.
(ii) Submit your request for approval through an
FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may
add comments and then send it to the Manager,
Boston ACO.
(iii) You can get information about the
existence of already approved alternatives from
the FAA, Boston ACO.
(2) Modifications, Alterations, or Repairs:
This AD applies to each seat identified in the
applicability paragraph, even if it has been
modified, altered, or repaired in the area
subject to this AD. If that change in any way
affects accomplishing the required actions, you
must request FAA approval for an alternative
method of compliance (AMOC). Your request
should assess the effect of the change on the
unsafe condition addressed by this AD.
(3) Special Flight Permits:
The FAA can issue you a special flight permit
under 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate your
airplane to a location where you can comply
with this AD.
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(h) Incorporation by Reference You must do the inspections and replacements in
accordance with Aviointeriors ASB No 312/912-
01, Revision 1, dated October 7, 1999. The
Director of the Federal Register approved this
incorporation by reference under 5 U.S.C.
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. If you need a copy of
the service bulletin, contact Aviointeriors
S.p.A, Via Appia Km. 66.4-04013 Latina, Italy;
telephone: 39-0773-6891; fax: 39-0773-631546.
You may review a copy of the service bulletin
at the FAA, New England Region, Office of the
Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive
Park, Burlington, MA or at the Office of the
Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW,
suite 700, Washington, DC.
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(i) Related Information Ente Nazionale per L'Aviaazione Civile AD 99-421
has required these inspections and replacements
in Italy.
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Issued in Burlington, MA on August 30, 2000.
David A. Downey,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-23578 Filed 9-26-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-S