69836 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 230 / Wednesday, December 1, 2004 / Proposed Rules 

Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a 

detailed inspection is ‘‘an intensive 

examination of a specific item, installation, 

or assembly to detect damage, failure, or 

irregularity. Available lighting is normally 

supplemented with a direct source of good 

lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. 

Inspection aids such as mirrors magnifying 

lenses, etc. may be necessary. Surface 

cleaning and elaborate procedures may be 

required.’’

(g) If any corrosion outside the limits 

defined in the service bulletin is detected: 

Before further flight, repair the corrosion 

according to a method approved by either the 

Manager, International Branch, ANM–116, 

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate; or the 

Civil Aviation Authority (or its delegated 

agent). 

Repetitive Inspection 

(h) Repeat the inspection and do applicable 

corrective actions required by paragraph (f) of 

this AD at intervals not to exceed 24 months. 

No Reporting 

(i) Although the service bulletins 

referenced in this AD specify to submit 

inspection reports to the manufacturer, this 

AD does not include that requirement. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(j) The Manager, International Branch, 

ANM–116, FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, FAA, has the authority to 

approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 

accordance with the procedures found in 14 

CFR 39.19. 

Related Information 

(k) British airworthiness directive 003–01–

2002 also addresses the subject of this AD.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

November 17, 2004. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 04–26496 Filed 11–30–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

(DOT) 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA–2004–19752; Directorate 

Identifier 2004–NM–170–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Saab Model 

SAAB SF340A and SAAB 340B Series 

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for 

certain Saab Model SAAB SF340A and 

SAAB 340B series airplanes. This 

proposed AD would require repetitive 

inspections for wear of the brushes and 

leads and for loose rivets of the direct 

current (DC) starter generator, and 

related investigative/corrective actions 

if necessary. This proposed AD is 

prompted by reports of premature 

failures of the DC starter generator prior 

to scheduled overhaul. We are 

proposing this AD to prevent failure of 

the starter generator, which could cause 

a low voltage situation in flight and 

result in increased pilot workload and 

reduced redundancy of the electrical 

powered systems.

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by January 3, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to submit comments on this 

proposed AD. 

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to http:/

/dms.dot.gov and follow the instructions 

for sending your comments 

electronically. 

• Government-wide rulemaking Web 

site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov

and follow the instructions for sending 

your comments electronically. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility, 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, 

room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590. 

• By fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• 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. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Saab Aircraft 

AB, SAAB Aircraft Product Support, S–

581.88, Linko ̈ping, Sweden. 

You can examine the contents of this 

AD docket on the Internet at http://

dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket 

Management Facility, U.S. Department 

of Transportation, 400 Seventh SW., 

room PL–401, on the plaza level of the 

Nassif Building, Washington, DC. This 

docket number is FAA–2004–19752; the 

directorate identifier for this docket is 

2004–NM–170–AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Technical information: Dan Rodina, 

Aerospace Engineer, International 

Branch, ANM–116, FAA, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–2125; 

fax (425) 227–1149. 

Plain language information: Marcia 

Walters, marcia.walters@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Docket Management System (DMS) 

The FAA has implemented new 

procedures for maintaining AD dockets 

electronically. As of May 17, 2004, new 

AD actions are posted on DMS and 

assigned a docket number. We track 

each action and assign a corresponding 

directorate identifier. The DMS AD 

docket number is in the form ‘‘Docket 

No. FAA–2004–99999.’’ The Transport 

Airplane Directorate identifier is in the 

form ‘‘Directorate Identifier 2004–NM–

999–AD.’’ Each DMS AD docket also 

lists the directorate identifier (‘‘Old 

Docket Number’’) as a cross-reference 

for searching purposes. 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to submit any relevant 

written data, views, or arguments 

regarding this proposed AD. Send your 

comments to an address listed under 

ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA–

2004–19752; Directorate Identifier 

2004–NM–170–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of the proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments submitted by the 

closing date and may amend the 

proposed AD in light of 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 with FAA 

personnel concerning this proposed AD. 

Using the search function of our docket 

Web site, anyone can find and read the 

comments in any of our dockets, 

including the name of the individual 

who sent the comment (or signed the 

comment on behalf of an association, 

business, labor union, etc.). You can 

review the DOT’s complete Privacy Act 

Statement in the Federal Register

published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 

19477–78), or you can visit http://

dms.dot.gov.

We are reviewing the writing style we 

currently use in regulatory documents. 

We are interested in your comments on 

whether the style of this document is 

clear, and your suggestions to improve 

the clarity of our communications that 

affect you. You can get more 

information about plain language at 

http://www.faa.gov/language and http://

www.plainlanguage.gov.

Examining the Docket 

You can examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in 

person at the Docket Management 

Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. The Docket 

Management Facility office (telephone 

(800) 647–5227) is located on the plaza 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 230 / Wednesday, December 1, 2004 / Proposed Rules 69837

level of the Nassif Building at the DOT 

street address stated in the ADDRESS

section. Comments will be available in 

the AD docket shortly after the DMS 

receives them. 

Discussion 

The Luftfartsverket (LFV), which is 

the airworthiness authority for Sweden, 

notified us 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 premature failures of 

the direct current (DC) starter generator. 

Failure of the starter generator could 

cause a low voltage situation in flight 

and result in increased pilot workload 

and reduced redundancy of the 

electrical powered systems. 

Relevant Service Information 

Saab has issued Service Bulletin 340–

24–035, dated July 5, 2004. The service 

bulletin describes procedures for 

repetitive visual inspections for wear of 

the brushes and leads and for loose 

rivets of the DC starter generator. The 

service bulletin also specifies replacing 

the starter generator with a new or 

serviceable starter generator for brush 

wear that is outside certain specified 

limits or if any loose rivet is found. The 

LFV mandated the service information 

and issued Swedish airworthiness 

directive 1–196 R1, effective July 15, 

2004, to ensure the continued 

airworthiness of these airplanes in 

Sweden. 

The Saab service bulletin references 

Goodrich Service Information Letter 

23080–03X–24–01, dated July 1, 2004, 

as an additional source of service 

information. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of the Proposed AD 

These airplane models are 

manufactured in Sweden and are type 

certificated for operation in the United 

States under the provisions of § 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. We have 

examined the LFV’s findings, evaluated 

all pertinent information, and 

determined that we need to issue an AD 

for products of this type design that are 

certificated for operation in the United 

States. 

Therefore, we are proposing this AD, 

which would require accomplishing the 

actions specified in the Saab service 

information described previously. 

Interim Action 

This is considered to be interim 

action until final action is identified, at 

which time we may consider further 

rulemaking. 

Costs of Compliance 

This proposed AD would affect about 

170 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 

proposed actions would take about 1 

work hour per airplane, at an average 

labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based 

on these figures, the estimated cost of 

the proposed AD for U.S. operators is 

$11,050, per inspection cycle, or $65 per 

airplane, per inspection cycle. 

Regulatory Findings 

We have 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 that the 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. See the ADDRESSES

section for a location to examine the 

regulatory evaluation.

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.

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD):

SAAB Aircraft AB: Docket No. FAA–2004–

19752; Directorate Identifier 2004–NM–

170–AD. 

Comments Due Date 

(a) The Federal Aviation Administration 

must receive comments on this AD action by 

January 3, 2005.

Applicability 

(b) This AD applies to Saab Model SAAB 

SF340A series airplanes having serial 

numbers 004 through 159 inclusive, and 

model SAAB 340B series airplanes having 

serial numbers 160 through 367 inclusive; 

certificated in any category; on which Saab 

Service Bulletin SB 340–24–026 

(Modification 2533) has not been 

implemented. 

Unsafe Condition 

(c) This AD was prompted by reports of 

premature failures of the direct current (DC) 

starter generator prior to scheduled overhaul. 

We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of 

the starter generator, which could cause a 

low voltage situation in flight and result in 

increased pilot workload and reduced 

redundancy of the electrical powered 

systems. 

Compliance 

(d) You are responsible for having the 

actions required by this AD performed within 

the compliance times specified, unless the 

actions have already been done. 

Inspections for Wear of the DC Starter 

Generator Brushes and Leads 

(e) For generators overhauled in 

accordance with Maintenance Review Board 

(MRB) Task 243104: Before 800 flight hours 

since the last overhaul or within 100 flight 

hours after the effective date of this AD, 

whichever occurs later, perform a general 

visual inspection for wear of the DC starter 

generator brushes and leads, in accordance 

with Saab Service Bulletin 340–24–0035, 

dated July 5, 2004.

Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a 

general visual inspection is ‘‘a visual 

examination of an interior or exterior area, 

installation or assembly to detect obvious 

damage, failure or irregularity. This level of 

inspection is made from within touching 

distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror 

may be necessary to ensure visual access to 

all surfaces in the inspection area. This level 

of inspection is made under normal available 

lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar 

lighting, flashlight or drop-light and may 

require removal or opening of access panels 

or doors. Stands, ladders or platforms may be 

required to gain proximity to the area being 

checked.’’

Note 2: Saab Service Bulletin 340–24–035, 

dated July 5, 2004, references Goodrich 

Service Information Letter 23080–30X–24–

01, dated July 1, 2004, as an additional 

source of service information.

(1) If the tops of the brush sets are above 

the top of the brush box, repeat the 

inspection at intervals not to exceed 800 

flight hours. 

(2) If the tops of the brush sets are below 

the top of the brush box, before further flight, 

measure the brushes and determine the 

remaining amount of brush life remaining, in 

accordance with the service bulletin. 

69838 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 230 / Wednesday, December 1, 2004 / Proposed Rules 

(i) If the brush wear is within the limits 

specified in the service bulletin, repeat the 

inspection at intervals not to exceed 800 

flight hours. 

(ii) If the brush wear is outside the limits 

specified in the service bulletin, before 

further flight, replace the starter generator 

with a new or serviceable starter generator, 

in accordance with the service bulletin. 

Inspections for Loose Rivets 

(f) For generators overhauled in accordance 

with MRB task 243104: Before 800 flight 

hours since last overhaul or within 100 flight 

hours after the effective date of this AD, 

whichever occurs later, perform a general 

visual inspection of each leading wafer brush 

for loose rivets, in accordance with Saab 

Service Bulletin 304–24–035, dated July 5, 

2004. Repeat the inspections at intervals not 

to exceed 800 flight hours. If any rivet is 

loose, before further flight, replace the DC 

starter generator with a new or serviceable 

starter generator, in accordance with the 

service bulletin. 

MRB Task 243103 or 243101

(g) For generators overhauled or with brush 

replacement accomplished in accordance 

with MRB Task 243103 or 243101, no action 

is required by this AD. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(h) The Manager, International Branch, 

ANM–116, FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, FAA, has the authority to 

approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 

accordance with the procedures found in 14 

CFR 39.19. 

Related Information 

(i) Swedish airworthiness directive 1–196 

R1, effective July 15, 2004, also addresses the 

subject of this AD.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

November 17, 2004. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 04–26495 Filed 11–30–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA–2004–19753; Directorate 

Identifier 2002–NM–264–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing 

Model 767–200, –300, and –300F Series 

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to 

supersede an existing airworthiness 

directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 

767–200, –300, and –300F series 

airplanes. That AD currently requires 

inspections for fatigue cracking of the 

horizontal stabilizer pivot bulkhead, 

and repetitive inspections or other 

follow-on actions. That action also 

provides a permanent repair, which is 

optional for airplanes with no cracks, 

and, if accomplished, ends the 

repetitive inspections. This proposed 

AD would require, for airplanes on 

which the permanent repair is not 

installed, repetitive inspections of the 

same and additional inspection 

locations at new inspection intervals; a 

one-time torque test; and related 

investigative and corrective actions. For 

airplanes on which the permanent 

repair is installed, this proposed AD 

would require repetitive inspections of 

the repaired area and, if necessary, 

corrective action. This proposed AD is 

prompted by reports of loose tension 

bolts and crack indications in the 

fuselage skin. We are proposing this AD 

to find and fix fatigue cracking of the 

horizontal stabilizer pivot bulkhead and 

adjacent structure, which could result in 

loss of the horizontal stabilizer.

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by January 18, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to submit comments on this 

proposed AD. 

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to

http://dms.dot.gov and follow the 

instructions for sending your comments 

electronically. 

• Government-wide rulemaking Web 

site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov

and follow the instructions for sending 

your comments electronically. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility; 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, 

room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• 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. 

You can get the service information 

identified in this proposed AD from 

Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 

3707, Seattle, Washington 98124–2207. 

You may examine the contents of this 

AD docket on the Internet at http://

dms.dot.gov, or at the Docket 

Management Facility, U.S. Department 

of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street 

SW., room PL–401, on the plaza level of 

the Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Technical information: Suzanne 

Masterson, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, 

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98055–4056; telephone 

(425) 917–6441; fax (425) 917–6590. 

Plain language information: Marcia 

Walters, marcia.walters@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Docket Management System (DMS) 

The FAA has implemented new 

procedures for maintaining AD dockets 

electronically. As of May 17, 2004, new 

AD actions are posted on DMS and 

assigned a docket number. We track 

each action and assign a corresponding 

directorate identifier. The DMS AD 

docket number is in the form ‘‘Docket 

No. FAA–2004–99999.’’ The Transport 

Airplane Directorate identifier is in the 

form ‘‘Directorate Identifier 2004–NM–

999–AD.’’ Each DMS AD docket also 

lists the directorate identifier (‘‘Old 

Docket Number’’) as a cross-reference 

for searching purposes. 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to submit any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments 

regarding this proposed AD. Send your 

comments to an address listed under 

ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA–

2004–19753; Directorate Identifier 

2002–NM–264–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of the proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend the 

proposed AD in light of 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 with FAA 

personnel concerning this proposed AD. 

Using the search function of our docket 

Web site, anyone can find and read the 

comments in any of our dockets, 

including the name of the individual 

who sent the comment (or signed the 

comment on behalf of an association, 

business, labor union, etc.). You may 

review the DOT’s complete Privacy Act 

Statement in the Federal Register

published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 

19477–78), or you may visit http://

dms.dot.gov.

We are reviewing the writing style we 

currently use in regulatory documents. 

We are interested in your comments on 

whether the style of this document is 

clear, and your suggestions to improve 

the clarity of our communications that 

affect you. You can get more 

information about plain language at