[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 59 (Monday, March 27, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16154-16157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7459]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-NM-354-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the supersedure of an existing 
airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Saab Model SAAB 
340B and SAAB 2000 series airplanes, that currently requires an 
inspection of the fluorescent lamps in the cabin area to ensure correct 
installation, and correction, if necessary; and an inspection of the 
lampholders to identify any discrepancies and to ensure the security of 
the back covers, and replacement of discrepant lampholders with new 
lampholders; installation of retaining clips on certain Page Aerospace 
lampholders; and reinspection of the lamps to ensure correct 
installation after replacement or reinstallation of the lamps or 
lampholders, and corrections, if necessary. This action would add a 
requirement for replacement of the electronic light ballasts with 
improved ballasts, which would terminate the reinspections. This action 
would also expand the applicability of the existing AD. 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 electrical arcing 
between the fluorescent tube pins and the lampholders, which could burn 
the surrounding area and lead to smoke and fumes in the passenger 
compartment or lavatory area.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 26, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-NM-354-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 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-354-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-354-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    On June 13, 1997, the FAA issued AD 97-13-06, amendment 39-10052 
(62 FR 33545, June 20, 1997), applicable to certain Saab Model SAAB 
340B and SAAB 2000 series airplanes, to require an inspection of the 
fluorescent lamps in the cabin area to ensure correct installation, and 
corrections, if necessary. That AD also requires an inspection of the 
lampholders to identify any discrepancies and to ensure the security of 
the back covers, and replacement of discrepant lampholders with new 
lampholders; installation of retaining clips on certain Page Aerospace 
lampholders; and reinspection of the lamps to ensure correct 
installation after replacement or reinstallation of the lamps or 
lampholders, and corrections, if necessary. That action was prompted by 
reports indicating that loose back covers on the lampholders and 
incorrect lamp installations have led to electrical arcing between 
fluorescent tube pins and lampholders and consequent charring or 
melting of the affected areas. The requirements of that AD are intended 
to prevent such electrical arcing, which could burn the surrounding 
area and lead to smoke and fumes in the passenger compartment or 
lavatory area.

Actions Since Issuance of Previous Rule

    Since the issuance of that AD, the Luftfartsverket (LFV), which is 
the airworthiness authority for Sweden, has advised the FAA that 
additional Model SAAB 340B and SAAB 2000 series airplanes may be 
subject to fluorescent lampholder charring due to the incorrect 
installation of fluorescent lamps in their holders. Additionally, the 
LFV has advised the FAA that a modification is now available that will 
eliminate the need for reinspecting the fluorescent lamps following 
each replacement or reinstallation of the lamps or lampholders.

[[Page 16155]]

    In the preamble to AD 97-13-06, the FAA indicated that the actions 
required by that AD were considered ``interim action'' and that further 
rulemaking action was being considered. The FAA now has determined that 
further rulemaking action is indeed necessary, and this proposed AD 
follows from that determination.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Saab has issued Service Bulletins 340-33-048, Revision 01, dated 
January 21, 1999 (for Model SAAB 340B series airplanes), and 2000-33-
015 (for Model SAAB 2000 series airplanes), dated January 29, 1999. 
These service bulletins describe procedures for replacement of the 
electronic light ballasts with improved ballasts, which would eliminate 
the need for reinspection of the fluorescent lampholders. Additionally, 
Service Bulletin 340-33-048, Revision 01, references Service Bulletin 
340-33-049, dated January 21, 1999, which describes procedures for 
concurrent modification of the ballasts to ensure sufficient clearance 
between the ballast and certain transistors.
    Saab also has issued Service Bulletin 340-33-047, Revision 01, 
dated June 26, 1998. The procedures in Revision 01 are identical to 
those in the original issue of the service bulletin, which is cited as 
the appropriate source of service information in AD 97-13-06 for Model 
SAAB 340B series airplanes. However, Revision 01 specifies additional 
airplanes in the effectivity of the service bulletin, and adds a 
reference to Saab Service Bulletin 340-33-048 (Saab Modification No. 
2936), which would eliminate the need for reinspections of the lamps.
    The LFV classified Service Bulletin 340-33-047, Revision 01, as 
mandatory, and approved Service Bulletins 340-33-048, Revision 01; 340-
33-049; and 2000-33-015; and issued Swedish airworthiness directives 1-
113R1 and 1-114R1, both dated September 8, 1998, in order to assure 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 supersede AD 97-13-06 to 
continue to require the actions specified in that AD, and to add a 
requirement for replacement of the electronic light ballasts with 
improved ballasts, which would terminate the requirement for 
reinspections of the lamps. The proposed AD would also expand the 
applicability of the existing AD to include additional Model SAAB 340B 
and SAAB 2000 series airplanes that are also subject to the identified 
unsafe condition. The actions would be required to be accomplished in 
accordance with the service bulletins described previously, except as 
discussed below.

Differences Between Proposed Rule and Service Bulletin

    Operators should note that this AD proposes to mandate, within 18 
months, the replacement of the light ballasts with improved ballasts as 
terminating action for the reinspections. (Incorporation of the 
terminating action specified in this service bulletin is optional in 
Swedish airworthiness directives 1-113R1 and 1-114R1.)
    The FAA has determined that long-term continued operational safety 
will be better assured by design changes to remove the source of the 
problem, rather than by repetitive inspections. Long-term inspections 
may not be providing the degree of safety assurance necessary for the 
transport airplane fleet. This, coupled with a better understanding of 
the human factors associated with numerous continual inspections, has 
led the FAA to consider placing less emphasis on inspections and more 
emphasis on design improvements. The proposed replacement requirement 
is consistent with these conditions.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 78 airplanes of U.S. registry that would be 
affected by this proposed AD.
    The actions that are currently required by AD 97-13-06 take 
approximately 7 work hours per airplane to accomplish, at an average 
labor rate of $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost 
impact of the currently required actions on U.S. operators is estimated 
to be $420 per airplane.
    The new actions that are proposed in this AD action would take as 
much as 9 work hours per airplane to accomplish, at an average labor 
rate of $60 per work hour. Required parts would be provided free of 
charge by the manufacturer. Based on these figures, the cost impact of 
the proposed requirements of this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to 
be $42,120, or $540 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 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:

[[Page 16156]]

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 removing amendment 39-10052 (62 FR 
33545, June 20, 1997), and by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD), to read as follows:

SAAB Aircraft AB:  Docket 99-NM-354-AD. Supersedes AD 97-13-06, 
Amendment 39-10052.

    Applicability: This AD applies to the following airplanes:
     Model SAAB 340B series airplanes having serial numbers 
-342 and -359 through -460 inclusive, certificated in any category; 
except those on which Saab Service Bulletin 340-33-048, Revision 01, 
dated January 21, 1999 (Saab Modification No. 2936), has been 
incorporated; and
     Model SAAB 2000 series airplanes having serial numbers 
-004 through -063 inclusive, certificated in any category; except 
those on which Saab Service Bulletin 2000-33-015, dated January 29, 
1999 (Saab Modification No. 6148), has been incorporated.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
otherwise 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 (f)(1) 
of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect 
of the modification, alteration, or 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 electrical arcing between the fluorescent tube pins 
and the lampholders, which could burn the surrounding area and lead 
to smoke and fumes in the passenger compartment or lavatory area, 
accomplish the following:

Restatement of Requirements of AD 97-13-06

Inspections

    (a) For Model SAAB 340B series airplanes having serial numbers -
342 and -359 through -439 inclusive; and Model SAAB 2000 series 
airplanes having serial numbers -004 through -059 inclusive: Within 
30 days after July 7, 1997 (the effective date of AD 97-13-06, 
amendment 39-10052), accomplish the actions required by paragraphs 
(a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(3), as applicable.
    (1) For all airplanes: Inspect the fluorescent lamps installed 
in the ceiling/window of the lavatory and passenger compartment to 
ensure correct installation; and inspect the lampholders for 
discrepancies such as discoloration, evidence of electrical arcing 
at the light tube pins, charring or melting, or insecure back 
covers; in accordance with Saab Service Bulletin 340-33-047, dated 
May 16, 1997 (for Model SAAB 340B series airplanes); or Saab Service 
Bulletin 2000-33-014, dated May 16, 1997 (for Model SAAB 2000 series 
airplanes); as applicable.
    (i) If any lamp is installed incorrectly, prior to further 
flight, install the lamp correctly in accordance with the applicable 
service bulletin.
    (ii) If any discrepancy is found, prior to further flight, 
replace the lampholder with a new lampholder in accordance with the 
applicable service bulletin.
    (2) For Model SAAB 340B series airplanes on which a Page 
Aerospace lampholder having part number (P/N) D756-02-001 is 
installed: Install a retaining clip in accordance with Saab Service 
Bulletin 340-33-040, Revision 02, dated February 20, 1997.

    Note 2: Installation of retaining clips on Page Aerospace 
lampholders that was accomplished prior to July 7, 1997, in 
accordance with Saab Service Bulletin 340-33-040, Revision 01, dated 
January 31, 1997, also is considered acceptable for compliance with 
the requirement of paragraph (a)(2) of this AD.

    (3) For Model SAAB 2000 series airplanes on which a Page 
Aerospace lampholder having P/N C756-10-001 is installed: Install a 
retaining clip in accordance with Saab Service Bulletin 2000-33-009, 
dated June 19, 1996.

Reinspections Following Replacement or Reinstallation

    (b) Following the accomplishment of the requirements of 
paragraph (a) or paragraph (c) of this AD: If any fluorescent lamp 
or lampholder is replaced or reinstalled, within 7 days after 
accomplishing such replacement or reinstallation, reinspect the lamp 
to ensure it is still in the correct position, in accordance with 
Saab Service Bulletin 340-33-047, dated May 16, 1997, or Revision 
01, dated June 26, 1998 (for Model SAAB 340B series airplanes); or 
Saab Service Bulletin 2000-33-014, dated May 16, 1997 (for Model 
SAAB 2000 series airplanes); as applicable. If any lamp is installed 
incorrectly, prior to further flight, make corrections to ensure 
correct installation in accordance with the applicable service 
bulletin.

New Requirements of This AD

Inspections for Additional Airplanes

    (c) For airplanes other than those specified in paragraph (a) of 
this AD: Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, 
accomplish the requirements of paragraph (a) of this AD, and 
thereafter accomplish the requirements of paragraph (b) of this AD.

Terminating Modification

    (d) For all airplanes: Within 18 months after the effective date 
of this AD, accomplish the requirements of paragraph (d)(1) or 
(d)(2) of this AD, as applicable. Accomplishment of the actions 
required by the applicable paragraph constitutes terminating action 
for the requirements of this AD.
    (1) For Model SAAB 340B series airplanes: Replace the electronic 
light ballasts with improved ballasts, in accordance with Saab 
Service Bulletin 340-33-048, Revision 01, dated January 21, 1999. 
Concurrent with the replacement, modify the ballasts to ensure 
sufficient clearance between the ballast and certain transistors, in 
accordance with Saab Service Bulletin 340-33-049, dated January 21, 
1999.
    (2) For Model SAAB 2000 series airplanes: Replace the electronic 
light ballasts with improved ballasts, in accordance with Saab 
Service Bulletin 2000-33-015, dated January 29, 1999.

Spares

    (e) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install 
a fluorescent lampholder having Page Aerospace P/N D756-02-001 or 
Page Aerospace P/N C756-10-001 on any Model SAAB 340B or SAAB 2000 
series airplane, unless the lampholder has been modified in 
accordance with the requirements of paragraph (a)(2) or (a)(3) of 
this AD, as applicable.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (f)(1) 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.
    (2) Alternative methods of compliance, approved previously in 
accordance with AD 97-13-06, amendment 39-10052, are approved as

[[Page 16157]]

alternative methods of compliance with this AD.

    Note 3: 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

    (g) 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 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in Swedish 
airworthiness directives 1-113R1 and 1-114R1, both dated September 
8, 1998.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 21, 2000.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-7459 Filed 3-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P