[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 184 (Thursday, September 23, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51486-51488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24848]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 99-NM-197-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Saab Model SAAB 2000 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Saab Model SAAB 2000
series airplanes. This proposal would require modification of the
airplane by coldworking fastener holes at the front and rear wing spars
and by installing modified support angles for the lower trailing edge
panel of the wing. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory
continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness
authority. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to
prevent fatigue cracking in the lower spar cap of the wing rear spar
and in the lower skin at the wing front spar, just outside the nacelle,
on the left-hand and right-hand side of the airplane, which could
result in fuel leakage and consequent fire in or around the wing.
DATES: Comments must be received by October 25, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-NM-197-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this
location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Saab Aircraft AB, SAAB Aircraft Product Support, S-
581.88, Linkoping, Sweden. This information may be examined at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norman B. Martenson, Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
227-2110; fax (425) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact
[[Page 51487]]
concerned with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the
Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 99-NM-197-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 99-NM-197-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
The Luftfartsverket (LFV), which is the airworthiness authority for
Sweden, recently notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on
certain Saab Model SAAB 2000 series airplanes. The LFV advises that,
during full-scale fatigue testing of the airplane, cracks were detected
at some fastener holes in the lower spar cap of the wing rear spar and
in the lower skin at the wing front spar, just outside the nacelle, on
the left-hand and right-hand sides of the airplane. This condition, if
not corrected, could result in fuel leakage and consequent fire in or
around the wing.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
Saab has issued Service Bulletin 2000-57-029, dated June 4, 1999,
which describes procedures for modification of the airplane by
coldworking fastener holes at the front and rear wing spars and by
installing modified support angles for the lower trailing edge panel of
the wing. The modification also involves nondestructive test (NDT) and
detailed visual inspections of holes for discrepancies, and repairs, if
necessary. Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service
bulletin is intended to adequately address the identified unsafe
condition. The LFV classified this service bulletin as mandatory and
issued Swedish airworthiness directive SAD 1-142, dated June 4, 1999,
in order to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in
Sweden.
FAA's Conclusions
This airplane model is manufactured in Sweden and is type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the LFV has kept the FAA informed of
the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of the
LFV, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action
is necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for
operation in the United States.
Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design registered
in the United States, the proposed AD would require accomplishment of
the actions specified in the service bulletin described previously,
except as discussed below.
Differences Between Proposed Rule and Service Bulletin
Operators should note that, although the service bulletin specifies
that the manufacturer may be contacted for repair instructions for
certain damage conditions, this proposal would require the repair of
those conditions to be accomplished in accordance with a method
approved by either the FAA, or the LFV (or its delegated agent). In
light of the type of repair that would be required to address the
identified unsafe condition, and in consonance with existing bilateral
airworthiness agreements, the FAA has determined that, for this
proposed AD, a repair approved by either the FAA or the LFV would be
acceptable for compliance with this proposed AD.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 3 airplanes of U.S. registry would be
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 180 work
hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. The manufacturer states that
necessary parts would be provided at no cost to operators. Based on
these figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is
estimated to be $32,400, or $10,800 per airplane.
The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in
the future if this AD were not adopted.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein would 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
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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);
and (3) if promulgated, 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 copy of the draft
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Saab Aircraft AB: Docket 99-NM-197-AD.
Applicability: Model SAAB 2000 series airplanes, as listed in
Saab Service Bulletin 2000-57-029, dated June 4, 1999; 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 request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or
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repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the
unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include
specific proposed actions to address it.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent fatigue cracking in the lower spar cap of the wing
rear spar and in the lower skin at the wing front spar, just outside
the nacelle, on the left-hand and right-hand side of the airplane,
which could result in fuel leakage and consequent fire in or around
the wing, accomplish the following:
(a) Prior to the accumulation of 13,000 total flight cycles, or
within 500 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD,
whichever occurs later, modify the airplane by coldworking the
fastener holes at the front and rear wing spar (including all
applicable nondestructive test and detailed visual inspections and
repairs of holes) and installing modified support angles for the
lower trailing edge panel of the wing, in accordance with the
instructions of Saab Service Bulletin SAAB 2000-57-029, dated June
4, 1999.
(b) Where Saab Service Bulletin 2000-57-029, dated June 4, 1999,
specifies that Saab be contacted for repair instructions for certain
damage conditions, this AD requires that such damage conditions must
be repaired in accordance with a method approved by either the
Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate; or the Luftfartsverket (LFV) (or its delegated agent).
For a repair method to be approved by the Manager, International
Branch, ANM-116, as required by this paragraph, the Manager's
approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, 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, International
Branch, ANM-116.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116.
Special Flight Permits
(d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 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.
Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Swedish
airworthiness directive SAD 1-142, dated June 4, 1999.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 17, 1999.
D.L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-24848 Filed 9-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P