[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 2, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60073-60075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24173]
[[Page 60073]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-1032; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-079-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems Model SAAB 2000 airplanes. This proposed AD
was prompted by reports of chafing on the bottom panel of the center
cabin. This proposed AD would require doing a general visual inspection
to determine if certain fasteners are installed, and related
investigative and corrective actions. We are proposing this AD to
detect and correct any chafing on the bottom panel of the center cabin,
which could affect the structural integrity of the affected wing-to-
fuselage connection.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 16,
2012.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Saab AB, Saab Aeronautics, SE-581 88, Link[ouml]ping, Sweden; telephone
+46 13 18 5591; fax +46 13 18 4874; email
[email protected]; Internet http://www.saabgroup.com.
You may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-
227-1221.
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 this proposed AD, 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shahram Daneshmandi, Aerospace
Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane
Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356;
telephone 425-227-1112; fax 425-227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2012-1032;
Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-079-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD based on those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2012-0068, dated April 25, 2012 (referred to
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products. The MCAI states:
On two SAAB 2000 aeroplanes, signs of chafing have been found on
the bottom panel of the centre cabin between fuselage station (STA)
562 and STA 622. The investigation results have shown that the
chafing is caused by certain Hi Lok fasteners, installed as a repair
during production, through the upper wing skin panel.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could affect the
structural integrity of the affected wing-to-fuselage connection.
To address this potential unsafe condition, SAAB issued Service
Bulletin (SB) 2000-53-057 to provide instructions for a general
visual inspection to detect chafing in the area between the upper
wing skin and the cabin centre bottom panel and to verify if there
are Hi Lok fasteners installed with the collar up.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-
time inspection of the designated area, the accomplishment of
corrective action(s) [repair], depending on findings, and the
reporting of all inspection results * * *.
This [EASA] AD is considered an interim action and further AD
action may follow.
Related investigative actions include measuring the distance between
the fastener and bottom panel and a boroscope inspection for chafing
and damage of the bottom panel. You may obtain further information by
examining the MCAI in the AD docket.
Relevant Service Information
Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems has issued Service Bulletin 2000-53-057,
dated November 22, 2011. The actions described in this service
information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in
the MCAI.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same
type design.
Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information
Saab Service Bulletin 2000-53-057, dated November 22, 2011,
specifies to contact the manufacturer for repair instructions, but this
proposed AD would require doing the repair using a method that we
approve.
Costs of Compliance
Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD
would affect about 10 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that
it would take about 4 work-hours per product to comply with the basic
requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per
work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed
AD on U.S. operators to be $3,400, or $340 per product.
[[Page 60074]]
We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide
a cost estimate for the on-condition actions specified in this proposed
AD.
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 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 this proposed
regulation:
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);
3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and
4. 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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, 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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems: Docket No. FAA-2012-1032; Directorate
Identifier 2012-NM-079-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by November 16, 2012.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems Model SAAB 2000
airplanes, certificated in any category, all serial numbers.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.
(e) Reason
This AD was prompted by reports of chafing on the bottom panel
of the center cabin. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct
any chafing on the bottom panel of the center cabin, which could
affect the structural integrity of the affected wing-to-fuselage
connection.
(f) Compliance
You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD
performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions
have already been done.
(g) Inspection
Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, do a
general visual inspection of the area between the upper part of the
wing skin and the center bottom panel to determine if any Hi Lok
fasteners are installed with the collar up, and do all applicable
related investigative actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Saab Service Bulletin 2000-53-057, dated November
22, 2011.
(h) Repair
If any chafing or damage is found during any inspection required
by paragraph (g) of this AD: Before further flight, repair in
accordance with a method approved by the Manager, International
Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) (or its delegated agent).
(i) Reporting
Submit a report of the findings (both positive and negative) of
the inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD to Saab AB, Saab
Aerosystems, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of
Saab Service Bulletin 2000-53-057, dated November 22, 2011, at the
applicable time specified in paragraph (h)(1) or (h)(2) of this AD.
The report must include the inspection results, the airplane serial
number, and the number of landings and flight hours on the airplane.
(1) If the inspection was done on or after the effective date of
this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the inspection.
(2) If the inspection was done before the effective date of this
AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the effective date of
this AD.
(j) Other FAA AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using
the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR
39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information
directly to the International Branch, send it to ATTN: Shahram
Daneshmandi, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116,
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
WA 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-1112; fax 425-227-1149. Information
may be emailed to: [email protected]. Before using any
approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or
lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight
standards district office/certificate holding district office. The
AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
(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: A federal agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a
person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a
collection of information subject to the requirements of the
Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information
displays a current valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number
for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public reporting for
this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 5
minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions,
completing and reviewing the collection of information. All
responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Comments
concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing
the burden should be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave.
SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: Information Collection Clearance
Officer, AES-200.
(k) Related Information
(1) Refer to MCAI EASA Airworthiness Directive 2012-0068, dated
April 25, 2012;
[[Page 60075]]
and Saab Service Bulletin 2000-53-057, dated November 22, 2011; for
related information.
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Saab
AB, Saab Aeronautics, SE-581 88, Link[ouml]ping, Sweden; telephone
+46 13 18 5591; fax +46 13 18 4874; email
[email protected]; Internet http://www.saabgroup.com. You may review copies of the referenced service
information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind
Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 21, 2012.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-24173 Filed 10-1-12; 8:45 am]
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