[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 73 (Thursday, April 15, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19952-19954]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8537]


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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: 
[email protected]. 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