[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 51 (Friday, March 16, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12576-12578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4862]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27595; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-248-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Saab Model SAAB 2000 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation 
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe 
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 
condition as:

    It has been revealed that the control surface balancing 
procedure in the * * * SAAB 2000 SRM (structural repair manual) * * 
* is incorrect.
* * * * *
    Incorrect balance, outside the tolerance of the aileron control 
surface, may lead to vibrations that in [the] worst case can result 
in flutter.

    The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address 
the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 16, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     DOT Docket Web Site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 
docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any 
comments received, and other information. The street address for the 
Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Borfitz, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
227-2677; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Streamlined Issuance of AD

    The FAA is implementing a new process for streamlining the issuance 
of ADs related to MCAI. This streamlined process will allow us to adopt 
MCAI safety requirements in a more efficient manner and will reduce 
safety risks to the public. This process continues to follow all FAA AD 
issuance processes to meet legal, economic, Administrative Procedure 
Act, and Federal Register requirements. We also continue to meet our 
technical decision-making responsibilities to identify and correct 
unsafe conditions on U.S.-certificated products.
    This proposed AD references the MCAI and related service 
information that we considered in forming the engineering basis to 
correct the unsafe condition. The proposed AD contains text copied from 
the MCAI and for this reason might not follow our plain language 
principles.

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2007-
27595; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-248-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD based on those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
Emergency Airworthiness Directive 2006-0053-E, dated February 22, 2006 
(referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe 
condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

    It has been revealed that the control surface balancing 
procedure in the web and CD/DVD versions of the SAAB 2000 SRM 
(structural repair manual) Chapter 51-60-00, Control Surface 
Balancing Procedure is incorrect. The incorrect Calculation formula 
(pages 1, 4 and 7) was incorporated in Revision 21 of the SRM dated 
April 01/05 and was distributed in 4 July 2005 on the CD/DVD issue 
Apr. 01/05.
    In the incorrect formula, an ``x'' (multiplication) has been 
replaced with a ``+'' (addition) when the data was converted in the 
system and if this formula is followed, you may receive a result 
outside of the allowed tolerance.
    Incorrect balance, outside the tolerance of the aileron control 
surface, may lead to vibrations that in [the] worst case can result 
in flutter.
    The hard copy of the manual, SAAB 2000 SRM, is correct.

[[Page 12577]]

    The CD/DVD dated Oct 01/05, marked ``Reissue'', includes a 
correct SAAB SRM revision 22.

    The corrective action includes identifying ailerons that have been 
balanced after July 4, 2005. If balanced incorrectly, they must be 
rebalanced. You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in 
the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Saab has issued Service Bulletin 2000-57-040, dated February 23, 
2006. The actions described in this service information are intended to 
correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, we have 
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service 
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we 
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition 
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same 
type design.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in 
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it 
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the 
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these 
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information 
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
    We might also have proposed different actions in this AD from those 
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are 
described in a separate paragraph of the proposed AD. These 
requirements, if ultimately adopted, will take precedence over the 
actions copied from the MCAI.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD 
would affect about 3 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that 
it would take about 1 work-hour per product to identify ailerons that 
have been balanced after July 4, 2005. The average labor rate is $80 
per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the 
proposed AD for U.S. operators to be $240, or $80 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 20 work-hours, for a cost of $1,600 per product. We have no 
way of determining the number of products that may need these actions.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. ``Subtitle VII: Aviation 
Programs,'' describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's 
authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
``Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify 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. 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Saab Aircraft AB: Docket No. FAA-2007-27595; Directorate Identifier 
2006-NM-248-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by April 16, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Saab Model SAAB 2000 airplanes, 
certificated in any category, ranging from serial number -004 
through -063, on which aileron, P/N (part number) 7357600-501/502, 
P/N 7357600-503/504, P/N 7357600-505/506, P/N 7357600-507/508, P/N 
7357991-601/602, P/N 7357991-603/604, P/N 7357991-605/606, P/N 
7357995-843/844, or P/N 7357995-927/928, is installed.

Subject

    (d) Wings.

Reason

    (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states:
    It has been revealed that the control surface balancing 
procedure in the web and CD/DVD versions of the SAAB 2000 SRM 
(Structural Repair Manual) Chapter 51-60-00, Control Surface 
Balancing Procedure is incorrect. The incorrect Calculation formula 
(page 1, 4 and 7) was incorporated in Revision 21 of the SRM dated 
April 01/05 and was distributed in 4 July 2005 on the CD/DVD issue 
Apr. 01/05.
    In the incorrect formula, an ``x'' (multiplication) has been 
replaced with a ``+'' (addition) when the data was converted in the 
system and if this formula is followed, you may receive a result 
outside of the allowed tolerance.
    Incorrect balance, outside the tolerance of the aileron control 
surface, may lead to vibrations that in [the] worst case can result 
in flutter.
    The hard copy of the manual, SAAB 2000 SRM, is correct.
    The CD/DVD dated Oct 01/05, marked ``Reissue'', includes a 
correct SAAB SRM revision 22.
    The corrective action includes identifying ailerons that have 
been balanced after July 4, 2005 until the effective date of this 
AD. If balanced incorrectly, they must be rebalanced.

[[Page 12578]]

Actions and Compliance

    (f) Within one month after the effective date of this AD, unless 
already done, do the following actions.
    (1) Identify ailerons that have been balanced after July 4, 
2005. If balanced incorrectly, they must be rebalanced before 
further flight in accordance with Saab Service Bulletin 2000-57-040, 
dated February 23, 2006.
    (2) As of the effective date of this AD, the aileron balancing 
procedure contained in he CD/DVD ``Issue Date: Apr 01/05'' including 
the Saab SAAB 2000 SRM at Revision 21 and the CD/DVD ``Issue Date: 
Oct 01/05'' including SRM at Revision 22 may not be used.

FAA AD Differences

    Note:  This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information 
as follows: No differences.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, ATTN: Mike Borfitz, Aerospace 
Engineer, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356, has 
the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Before using any AMOC approved in 
accordance with Sec.  39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify the appropriate principal inspector in the FAA 
Flight Standards Certificate Holding District Office.
    (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information 
collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-
0056.

Related Information

    (h) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Emergency 
Airworthiness Directive 2006-0053-E, dated February 22, 2006, and 
Saab Service Bulletin 2000-57-040, dated February 23, 2006.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 9, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-4862 Filed 3-15-07; 8:45 am]
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