[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 136 (Friday, July 16, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38365-38368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17536]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-NM-148-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Saab Model SAAB SF340A, SAAB 340B, and 
SAAB 2000 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Saab Model SAAB SF340A, 
SAAB 340B, and SAAB 2000 series airplanes. This proposal would require 
revising the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to include requirements for 
activation of the airframe pneumatic deicing boots. This proposal is 
prompted by reports of inflight incidents and an accident that occurred 
in icing conditions where the airframe pneumatic deicing boots were not 
activated. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to 
ensure that flightcrews activate the pneumatic wing and tail deicing 
boots at the first signs of ice accumulation. This action will prevent 
reduced controllability of the aircraft due to adverse aerodynamic 
effects of ice adhering to the airplane prior to the first deicing 
cycle.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 16, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-NM-148-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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norman Martenson, Aerospace Engineer, 
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 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-148-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 99-NM-148-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-
4056.

Discussion

    On January 9, 1997, an Empresa Brazileira de Aeronautica, S.A. 
(EMBRAER) Model EMB-120RT series airplane was involved in an 
uncommanded roll excursion and consequent rapid descent that resulted 
in an accident near Monroe, Michigan. The post-accident investigation 
conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded 
that the airplane had accumulated a thin, rough layer of ice on its 
lifting surfaces. That accumulation of ice, in combination with the 
slowing of the airplane to an airspeed inappropriate for the icing 
conditions in which the airplane was

[[Page 38366]]

flying, resulted in loss of control that was not corrected before the 
airplane impacted the ground. The NTSB also concluded that the flight 
crew did not activate the wing and tail pneumatic deicing boots. An 
NTSB recommendation related to this accident requested that the FAA 
mandate that pneumatic deicing boots be turned on as soon as the 
airplane enters icing conditions.
    The FAA has reviewed the icing-related incident history of certain 
airplanes, and has determined that icing incidents may have occurred 
because pneumatic deicing boots were not activated at the first 
evidence of ice accretion. As a result, the handling qualities or the 
controllability of the airplane may have been reduced due to the 
accumulated ice. That factor was present in the accident discussed 
previously and, as such, constitutes an unsafe condition.

Request for Information

    On October 1, 1998, the FAA sent letters to certain manufacturers 
of airplanes certified in accordance with part 25 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 25). The letters requested certain 
icing system design information and operational procedures applicable 
to their airplanes concerning flight during icing conditions. The 
letters also requested that manufacturers provide data showing that the 
aircraft has safe operating characteristics with ice accreted on the 
protected surfaces (boots). The manufacturers were asked to provide 
data using the following assumptions: The most adverse ice accumulation 
possible during operation in the icing envelope specified in part 25, 
Appendix C of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 25), and 
that recommended procedures for deicing boot operation were used. 
Additionally, the manufacturers were asked to provide information 
related to operation of the autopilot during icing conditions, and for 
information related to appropriate operating speeds for icing 
operations.
    No information received, as a result of that request, has caused 
the FAA to reconsider the previous conclusion that an unsafe condition 
may exist.

Public Meeting

    Subsequent to the collection of those design and operational data, 
the FAA held an international conference on ``Inflight Operations in 
Icing Conditions'', in Washington, DC, on February 2-4, 1999. The 
purpose of the conference was to discuss the status of the FAA Icing 
Plan and other related efforts. Additionally, the conference provided a 
forum for representatives of industry to express their viewpoints on 
current information related to activation of deicing boots, minimum 
airspeeds, autopilot operation in icing conditions, flightcrew 
information needs, and flightcrew training. Certain information 
presented at that meeting is discussed in this proposed rule in the 
following section.

Delayed Activation of Pneumatic Deicing Boots

    In accordance with manufacturer instructions and FAA-approved 
airplane flight manual (AFM) procedures, the flightcrews of most 
airplanes equipped with pneumatic deicing boots delay the initial 
activation of the boots until a certain quantity of ice has accumulated 
on the protected surfaces (boots). Some crews routinely wait for \1/4\ 
to \1/2\ inch of ice to accumulate, and at least one airplane type is 
routinely flown with up to 1 \1/2\ inches of ice on the protected 
surfaces before the initial activation of the deicing boots.

Ice Bridging

    In the past, concern about ``ice bridging'' on early pneumatic 
deicing boot designs resulted in the common practice of delaying 
activation of ice protection. Ice bridging of pneumatic deicing boots 
occurred when a thin layer of ice is sufficiently plastic to deform to 
the shape of the inflated deicing boot tube without being fractured and 
shed during the ensuing tube deflation. As the deformed ice hardens and 
accretes additional ice, the deicing boot becomes ineffective in 
shedding the ``sheath'' of ice. However, ice accumulation resulting 
from delayed activation may pose an unsafe condition due to the 
resultant adverse aerodynamic effects on the airplane's performance or 
handling qualities.
    In November 1997, the FAA and the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration (NASA) co-sponsored an international workshop on 
aircraft deicing boot ice bridging. The objective of the workshop was 
to provide an open forum for investigating the existence of deicing 
boot bridging and other concerns related to activating ice protection 
systems at the initial detection of inflight icing. Sixty-seven 
representatives from airframe and deicing boot manufacturers, various 
airlines, the pilot community, NASA, the National Transportation Safety 
Board, non-US civil aviation authorities, and the FAA participated. At 
the workshop no evidence was presented to substantiate that aircraft 
with modern deicing boot designs experience ice bridging. The general 
consensus of the workshop participants was that ice bridging is not a 
problem for modern pneumatic deicing boot designs due to the use of 
higher air supply pressures, faster boot inflation and deflation 
cycles, and smaller boot chambers. Icing wind tunnel and flight testing 
of these newer design features with automatic cycling have demonstrated 
successful shedding of ice when activated at the onset of ice 
accretion, with ice not shed on the initial deicing boot cycle 
continuing to increase in thickness and being shed during subsequent 
cycles.
    During the previously discussed November 1997 international 
workshop, the inability of flightcrews to accurately gauge wing and 
control surfaces ice accretion thickness before activating the deicing 
boots was recognized. Also, increased airplane drag resulting from ice 
accretion was recognized as a potential contributing cause of 
inadvertent airspeed loss that characterized most in-flight icing 
related accidents and incidents. Two airframe manufacturers, whose 
products comprise a substantial percentage of the turbopropeller 
transport fleet, reported that, because of these concerns they 
recommend activating the automatic airframe deicing system at first 
onset of airframe icing. Those manufacturers have received no reports 
of deicing boot ice bridging events for these airplanes.
    The FAA considers that ice accumulation on protected surfaces due 
to delayed boot activation constitutes a potential safety concern. 
However, the FAA recognizes that not all airplanes may be equipped with 
``modern'' deicing boots (as that term is used in this NPRM). The FAA 
specifically invites the submission of comments and other data 
regarding the effects of this proposed AD on airplanes equipped with 
older pneumatic deicing boots, including arguments for the retention of 
existing activation delays for these older-style deicing boots.

Residual Ice

    During the February conference, the attendees agreed that the 
airplane is at risk while the airplane is accreting ice, and that the 
airplane must be adequately protected to ensure that no adverse 
handling and performance characteristics develop. An additional concern 
discussed at the conference was the possibility that early activation 
of the ice protection system might degrade the ice shedding 
effectiveness of the deicing boots, resulting in increased residual 
ice, i.e., there would be more ice fragments remaining on the deicing 
boots than would exist if a more substantial quantity of ice was 
allowed to form before the first ice shedding

[[Page 38367]]

cycle. However, the FAA does not concur. No data has been provided that 
shows that the presence of residual ice following an earlier activation 
of the deicing boots is more hazardous than delaying cycling of the 
boots until the ice accretes to a larger, specific thickness. In fact, 
testing in icing conditions has shown that residual ice remaining on 
the boots after the initial boot cycle is removed during subsequent 
cycles.
    As reported during the November 1997 international workshop, 
manufacturers of a substantial percentage of the turbopropeller 
transport fleet have reported satisfactory in-flight icing operations 
of their products with recommended procedures to activate operation of 
the deicing boots in the automatic mode at the onset of airframe icing.
    Therefore, the FAA considers that the activation of pneumatic wing 
and tail deicing boots at the first signs of ice accumulation is 
warranted. The FAA specifically invites the submission of data to 
substantiate that operating the deicing boots at the first sign of ice 
accretions is more hazardous than delaying boot activation until a 
specific thickness of ice has accumulated.

Other Considerations

    The FAA recognizes that there may be some phases of flight during 
which use of the deicing boots may be inappropriate. For example, a 
deicing boot inflation cycle that begins immediately before or during 
the landing flare or the takeoff rotation may cause unexpected loss of 
lift or other adverse aerodynamic events. This proposed AD explicitly 
does not supersede procedures in the AFM that specify not using deicing 
boots for certain phases of flight (e.g., during take-off, final 
approach, and landing).
    The FAA specifically invites the submission of comments and other 
data regarding adverse effects that may occur during specific phases of 
flight, including takeoff, final approach, or landing. Any recommended 
speed restrictions or other operational procedures that would be 
necessary in order to mitigate any adverse aerodynamic effects of 
deicing boot inflation during critical phases of flight should be fully 
explained and documented.

FAA's Determinations

    The FAA is aware that, based on previous procedures provided to 
flightcrews of many airplanes equipped with deicing boots, an 
historical precedent has been set that permits waiting to activate the 
deicing equipment. In light of this information and based on reports 
received, the FAA considers that certain procedures should be included 
in the Limitations Section of the AFM for Saab SAAB SF340A, SAAB 340B, 
and SAAB 2000 series airplanes to require immediate activation of the 
ice protection systems when any ice accumulation is detected on the 
airplane.
    This proposed action is one of a number of proposed ADs being 
issued on airplanes that have been determined to be subject to the same 
identified unsafe conditions. Additionally, certain other airplanes are 
also being reviewed by the Small Airplane Directorate to determine 
specifically which airplanes may be subject to the identified unsafe 
condition. Currently proposed AD's for other airplanes that are 
equipped with pneumatic deicing boots address the following airplanes:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Airplane models                        Docket No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cessna Aircraft Company, Models 500, 550,     99-NM-136-AD.
 and 560 Series Airplanes.
Sabreliner Corporation, Models 40, 60, 70,    99-NM-137-AD.
 and 80 Series Airplanes.
Gulfstream Aerospace, Model G-159 Series      99-NM-138-AD.
 Airplanes.
McDonnell Douglas, Models DC-3 and DC-4       99-NM-139-AD.
 Series Airplanes.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Model YS-11 and  99-NM-140-AD.
 YS-11A Series Airplanes.
Frakes Aviation, Model G-73 (Mallard) and G-  99-NM-141-AD.
 73T Series Airplanes.
Lockheed, Models L-14 and L-18 Series         99-NM-142-AD.
 Airplanes.
Fairchild, Models F27 and FH227 Series        99-NM-143-AD.
 Airplanes.
Aerospatiale, Models ATR-42/ATR-72 Series...  99-NM-144-AD.
Jetstream, Model BAe ATP Airplanes..........  99-NM-145-AD.
Jetstream, Model 4101 Airplanes.............  99-NM-146-AD.
British Aerospace, Model HS 748 Series        99-NM-147-AD.
 Airplanes.
Saab, Model SF340A/SAAB 340B/SAAB 2000        99-NM-148-AD.
 Series Airplanes.
CASA, Model C-212/CN-235 Series Airplanes...  99-NM-149-AD.
Dornier, Model 328-100 Series Airplanes.....  99-NM-150-AD.
Lockheed, Model 1329-23 and 1329-25           99-NM-151-AD.
 (Lockheed Jetstar) Series Airplanes.
de Havilland Model DHC-7/DHC-8 Series         99-NM-152-AD.
 Airplanes.
Fokker, Model F27 Mark 100/200/300/400/500/   99-NM-153-AD.
 600/700/050 Series Airplanes.
Short Brothers, Model SD3-30/SD3-60/SD3-      99-NM-154-AD.
 SHERPA Airplanes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other products of this same type design, the 
proposed AD would require revising the Limitations Section of the AFM 
to include requirements for activation of pneumatic deicing boots at 
the first indication of ice accumulation on the airplane.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 224 airplanes of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD.
    The FAA estimates that it would take approximately 1 work hour per 
airplane to accomplish the proposed AFM revisions, at the average labor 
rate of $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of 
the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $13,440, or $60 
per airplane.
    The cost impact figures discussed above are 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

[[Page 38368]]

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-148-AD.

    Applicability: Model SAAB SF340A, SAAB 340B, and SAAB 2000 
series airplanes equipped with pneumatic deicing boots, certificated 
in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To ensure that flightcrews activate the wing and tail pneumatic 
deicing boots at the first signs of ice accumulation on the 
airplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 10 days after the effective date of this AD: Revise 
the Limitations Section of the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual 
(AFM) to include the following requirements for activation of the 
ice protection systems. This may be accomplished by inserting a copy 
of this AD in the AFM.
    `` Except for certain phases of flight where the AFM 
specifies that deicing boots should not be used (e.g., take-off, 
final approach, and landing), compliance with the following is 
required.
     Wing and Tail Leading Edge Pneumatic Deicing Boot 
System, if installed, must be activated:

--At the first sign of ice formation anywhere on the aircraft, or 
upon annunciation from an ice detector system, whichever occurs 
first; and
--The system must either be continued to be operated in the 
automatic cycling mode, if available; or the system must be manually 
cycled as needed to minimize the ice accretions on the airframe.

     The wing and tail leading edge pneumatic deicing boot 
system may be deactivated only after leaving icing conditions and 
after the airplane is determined to be clear of ice.''
    (b) 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, Manager, International Branch, ANM-
116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. The request shall be 
forwarded through an appropriate FAA Operations Inspector, who may 
add comments and then send it to the Manager, International Branch, 
ANM-116 ACO.

    Note 1: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116 ACO.

    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Secs. 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 30, 1999.
D.L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-17536 Filed 7-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P