[Federal Register: April 15, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 73)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 19952-19954]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ap04-16]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2002-NM-182-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Saab Model SAAB SF340A and SAAB 340B
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 SF340A and
SAAB 340B series airplanes. This proposal would require replacement of
the retract actuator bracket attachment bolt (RABAB) of the main
landing gear (MLG) with a new RABAB, and reidentification of the MLG
shock strut. This action is necessary to prevent failure of the RABAB,
which could result in loosening of the actuator bracket and consequent
failure of the MLG to retract, with considerable damage to other
landing gear parts, including the MLG trunnion fitting. This action is
intended to address the identified unsafe condition.
DATES: Comments must be received by May 17, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-NM-182-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this
location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232.
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address:
9-anm-nprmcomment@faa.gov. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must
contain ``Docket No. 2002-NM-182-AD'' in the subject line and need not
be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached
electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 or 2000 or
ASCII text.
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: Rosanne Ryburn, Aerospace Engineer;
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
227-2139; 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
[[Page 19953]]
for comments, specified above, will be considered before taking action
on the proposed rule. The proposals contained in this action may be
changed in light of the comments received.
Submit comments using the following format:
Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example,
discuss a request to change the compliance time and a request to change
the service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
For each issue, state what specific change to
the proposed AD is being requested.
Include justification (e.g., reasons or data)
for each request.
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 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 action must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 2002-NM-182-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. 2002-NM-182-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
The Luftfartsverket (LFV), which is the airworthiness authority for
Sweden, notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on certain
Saab Model SAAB SF340A and SAAB 340B series airplanes. The LFV advises
that it has received reports of failures of the retract actuator
bracket attachment bolt (RABAB) of the main landing gear (MLG) due to
hydrogen embrittlement. This can be caused by failure to fully de-
embrittle after electroplating the RABAB during manufacture. This
condition, if not corrected, could result in loosening of the retract
actuator bracket and consequent failure of the MLG to retract, with
considerable damage to other landing gear parts, including the MLG
trunnion fitting.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
Saab has issued Service Bulletin 340-32-124, Revision 01, dated May
21, 2002, including as Attachments 1 and 2, APPH Ltd. Service Bulletins
AIR83022-32-28 and AIR83064-32-08, both dated January 2002, which
describes procedures for replacement of the RABAB with a new RABAB.
Saab has also issued Service Bulletin 340-32-125, dated April 29,
2002, including as Attachments 1 and 2, APPH Ltd. Service Bulletins
AIR83022-32-29 and AIR83064-32-09, both dated April 2002, which
describes procedures for reidentification of the MLG shock strut.
Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletins is
intended to adequately address the identified unsafe condition. The LFV
classified these service bulletins as mandatory and issued Swedish
airworthiness directive 1-173, dated March 4, 2002, to ensure the
continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Sweden.
FAA's Conclusions
These airplane models are manufactured in Sweden and are 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 Saab service bulletins described
previously.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 281 airplanes of U.S. registry would be
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 7 work
hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the
average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts would be
supplied at no cost by the manufacturer. Based on these figures, the
cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be
$127,855, or $455 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. The cost impact figures
discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to
perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures
typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to
gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other
administrative actions.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein 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. Therefore, it
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132.
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.
[[Page 19954]]
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Saab Aircraft AB: Docket 2002-NM-182-AD.
Applicability: Model SAAB SF340A series airplanes, serial
numbers (S/Ns) 004 through 159 inclusive; and Model SAAB 340B series
airplanes, S/Ns 160 through 459 inclusive; certificated in any
category.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent failure of the retract actuator bracket attachment
bolt (RABAB) and in loosening of the retract actuator bracket and
consequent failure of the MLG to retract, with considerable damage
to other landing gear parts, including the MLG trunnion fitting,
accomplish the following:
Replacement/Reidentification
(a) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD,
perform the actions specified in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of
this AD.
(1) Replace the existing RABAB with a new RABAB in accordance
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Saab Service Bulletin 340-
32-124, Revision 01, dated May 21, 2002, including Attachments 1 and
2, both dated January 2002.
Note 1: APPH Ltd. Service Bulletins AIR83022-32-28 and AIR83064-
32-08, both dated January 2002, comprising Attachments 1 and 2, are
incorporated into Saab Service Bulletin 340-32-124 as additional
sources of service information.
(2) Reidentify the MLG shock strut by replacing the nameplate
with a new nameplate, or adding the Source Control Number to the
existing nameplate; in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Saab Service Bulletin 340-32-125, dated April 29,
2002, including Attachments 1 and 2, both dated April 2002.
Note 2: APPH Ltd. Service Bulletins AIR83022-32-29 and AIR83064-
32-09, both dated April 2002, comprising Attachments 1 and 2, are
incorporated into Saab Service Bulletin 340-32-125 as additional
sources of service information.
Parts Installation
(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a
RABAB, part number (P/N) AIR83022-5 through -18, or P/N AIR83064
(any suffix), on any airplane.
Special Flight Permits
(c) Special flight permits are not allowed as specified in
section 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199).
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(d) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, International
Branch, ANM-116, FAA, is authorized to approve alternative methods
of compliance (AMOCs) for this AD.
Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Swedish
airworthiness directive 1-173, dated March 4, 2002.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 6, 2004.
Kevin M. Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-8537 Filed 4-14-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P