11180 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 35 / Wednesday, February 24, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Type 

Certificate Previously Held by C Series 

Aircraft Limited Partnership (CSALP); 

Bombardier, Inc.): Docket No. FAA– 

2021–0019; Project Identifier MCAI– 

2020–01388–T. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments by April 

12, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Canada Limited 

Partnership Model BD–500–1A10 and BD– 

500–1A11 airplanes, certificated in any 

category, as identified in Canadian AD CF– 

2020–36, dated October 8, 2020 (TCCA AD 

CF–2020–36). 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 27, Flight control system. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

deficiencies in the primary flight control 

computer (PFCC) and remote electronics unit 

(REU) software. The FAA is issuing this AD 

to address software deficiencies that, if not 

corrected, could impact flight control 

functions, which could prevent continued 

safe flight and landing. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Requirements 

Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this 

AD: Comply with all required actions and 

compliance times specified in, and in 

accordance with, TCCA AD CF–2020–36. The 

pre-requisites specified in the service 

information referenced in TCCA AD CF– 

2020–36 must be met prior to accomplishing 

the required actions. 

(h) Exception and Clarification of TCCA AD 

CF–2020–36 

(1) Where TCCA AD CF–2020–36 refers to 

its effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(2) The compliance time for the actions 

required by paragraph (g) of this AD is the 

earliest of the times specified in paragraphs 

(h)(2)(i) through (iii) of this AD. 

(i) Prior to the accumulation of 12,000 total 

flight hours. 

(ii) Within 56 months after the effective 

date of this AD. 

(iii) Within 9,350 flight hours after the 

effective date of this AD. 

(i) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, New York ACO 

Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 

AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 

procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In 

accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 

request to your principal inspector or 

responsible Flight Standards Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the certification office, 

send it to ATTN: Program Manager, 

Continuing Operational Safety, FAA, New 

York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, 

Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 

516–228–7300; fax 516–794–5531. Before 

using any approved AMOC, notify your 

appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a 

principal inspector, the manager of the 

responsible Flight Standards Office. 

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any 

requirement in this AD to obtain instructions 

from a manufacturer, the instructions must 

be accomplished using a method approved 

by the Manager, New York ACO Branch, 

FAA; or Transport Canada Civil Aviation 

(TCCA); or Airbus Canada Limited 

Partnership’s TCCA Design Approval 

Organization (DAO). If approved by the DAO, 

the approval must include the DAOauthorized signature. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) For TCCA AD CF–2020–36, contact 

Transport Canada National Aircraft 

Certification, 159 Cleopatra Drive, Nepean, 

Ontario, K1A 0N5 CANADA; phone 888– 

663–3639; email AD-CN@tc.gc.ca; internet 

https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation. You may 

view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 

Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 

2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 206–231–3195. This 

material may be found in the AD docket on 

the internet at https://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0019. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Thomas Niczky, Aerospace Engineer, 

Avionics and Electrical Systems Section, 

FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart 

Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 

telephone 516–228–7347; fax 516–794–5531; 

email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov. 

Issued on January 28, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–03602 Filed 2–23–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0093; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–01213–T] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, 

Inc., 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 all 

Bombardier, Inc., Model BD–700–1A10 

and BD–700–1A11 airplanes. This 

proposed AD was prompted by reports 

indicating that the left- and right-hand 

elevator torque tube bearings were 

contaminated with sand and corrosion, 

restricting free rotation. This proposed 

AD would require repetitive general 

visual inspections of the left- and righthand elevator torque tube bearings for 

any sand, dust, or corrosion; repetitive 

functional tests of the elevator control 

system; and replacement of the elevator 

torque tube bearings if necessary. The 

FAA is proposing this AD to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: The FAA must receive comments 

on this proposed AD by April 12, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this NPRM, contact Bombardier, Inc., 

200 Coˆte-Vertu Road West, Dorval, 

Que ́bec H4S 2A3, Canada; North 

America toll-free telephone 1–866–538– 

1247 or direct-dial telephone 1–514– 

855–2999; email ac.yul@

aero.bombardier.com; internet http://

www.bombardier.com. You may view 

this service information at the FAA, 

Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 206–231–3195. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2021– 

0093; or in person at Docket Operations 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

The AD docket contains this NPRM, any 

comments received, and other 

information. The street address for 

Docket Operations is listed above. 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 35 / Wednesday, February 24, 2021 / Proposed Rules 11181 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Siddeeq Bacchus, Aerospace Engineer, 

Mechanical Systems and Administrative 

Services Section, FAA, New York ACO 

Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 

410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 

516–228–7362; fax 516–794–5531; email 

9-avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

The FAA invites you to send any 

written relevant data, views, or 

arguments about this proposal. Send 

your comments to an address listed 

under ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0093; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2020–01213–T’’ at the beginning 

of your comments. The most helpful 

comments reference a specific portion of 

the proposal, explain the reason for any 

recommended change, and include 

supporting data. The FAA will consider 

all comments received by the closing 

date and may amend the proposal 

because of those comments. 

Except for Confidential Business 

Information (CBI) as described in the 

following paragraph, and other 

information as described in 14 CFR 

11.35, the FAA will post all comments 

received, without change, to https://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. The 

agency will also post a report 

summarizing each substantive verbal 

contact received about this proposed 

AD. 

Confidential Business Information 

CBI is commercial or financial 

information that is both customarily and 

actually treated as private by its owner. 

Under the Freedom of Information Act 

(FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt 

from public disclosure. If your 

comments responsive to this NPRM 

contain commercial or financial 

information that is customarily treated 

as private, that you actually treat as 

private, and that is relevant or 

responsive to this NPRM, it is important 

that you clearly designate the submitted 

comments as CBI. Please mark each 

page of your submission containing CBI 

as ‘‘PROPIN.’’ The FAA will treat such 

marked submissions as confidential 

under the FOIA, and they will not be 

placed in the public docket of this 

NPRM. Submissions containing CBI 

should be sent to Siddeeq Bacchus, 

Aerospace Engineer, Mechanical 

Systems and Administrative Services 

Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 

1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 

Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516– 

228–7362; fax 516–794–5531; email 9- 

avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov. Any 

commentary that the FAA receives 

which is not specifically designated as 

CBI will be placed in the public docket 

for this rulemaking. 

Background 

Transport Canada Civil Aviation 

(TCCA), which is the aviation authority 

for Canada, has issued TCCA AD CF– 

2020–29, dated August 21, 2020 

(referred to after this as the Mandatory 

Continuing Airworthiness Information, 

or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe 

condition for all Bombardier, Inc., 

Model BD–700–1A10 and BD–700– 

1A11 airplanes. You may examine the 

MCAI in the AD docket on the internet 

at https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0093. 

This proposed AD was prompted by 

reports indicating that the left- and 

right-hand elevator torque tube bearings 

were contaminated with sand and 

corrosion, restricting free rotation. The 

FAA is proposing this AD to address 

sand contamination and corrosion of the 

elevator torque tube bearings, which 

could lead to binding or seizure of the 

bearings, and potentially lead to a 

reduction in or loss of airplane pitch 

control. See the MCAI for additional 

background information. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

Bombardier has issued the following 

service information. 

• Bombardier Service Bulletin 700– 

1A11–27–041, Revision 1, dated 

December 7, 2020. 

• Bombardier Service Bulletin 700– 

27–083, Revision 1, dated December 7, 

2020. 

• Bombardier Service Bulletin 700– 

27–5012, Revision 1, dated December 7, 

2020. 

• Bombardier Service Bulletin 700– 

27–5503, Revision 1, dated December 7, 

2020. 

• Bombardier Service Bulletin 700– 

27–6012, Revision 1, dated December 7, 

2020. 

• Bombardier Service Bulletin 700– 

27–6503, Revision 1, dated December 7, 

2020. 

This service information describes 

procedures for repetitive general visual 

inspections of the left- and right-hand 

elevator torque tube bearings for any 

sand, dust, or corrosion; repetitive 

functional tests of the elevator control 

system; and corrective actions including 

replacement of the elevator torque tube 

bearings if necessary. These documents 

are distinct since they apply to different 

airplane models and serial numbers. 

This service information is reasonably 

available because the interested parties 

have access to it through their normal 

course of business or by the means 

identified in the ADDRESSES section. 

FAA’s Determination 

This product has been approved by 

the aviation authority of another 

country, and is approved for operation 

in the United States. Pursuant to the 

FAA’s bilateral agreement with the State 

of Design Authority, the FAA has been 

notified of the unsafe condition 

described in the MCAI and service 

information referenced above. The FAA 

is proposing this AD because the FAA 

evaluated all the relevant information 

and determined the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop on other products of the same 

type design. 

Proposed Requirements of This NPRM 

This proposed AD would require 

accomplishing the actions specified in 

the service information described 

previously. This proposed AD also 

would require sending the inspection 

results to Bombardier. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this proposed 

AD affects 392 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

The FAA estimates the following costs 

to comply with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REQUIRED ACTIONS * 

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. 

operators 

22 work-hours × $85 per hour = $1,870 .......... Up to $4 (for four cotter pins) ** ...................... Up to $1,874 .............. Up to $734,608.

* Table does not include estimated costs for reporting. 

** Parts cost include replacement parts where necessary. 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
11182 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 35 / Wednesday, February 24, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

The FAA estimates that it would take 

about 1 work-hour per product to 

comply with the proposed reporting 

requirement in this proposed AD. The 

average labor rate is $85 per hour. Based 

on these figures, the FAA estimates the 

cost of reporting the inspection results 

on U.S. operators to be $33,320, or $85 

per product. 

The FAA estimates the following 

costs to do any necessary on-condition 

action that would be required based on 

the results of any required actions. The 

FAA has no way of determining the 

number of aircraft that might need this 

on-condition action: 

ESTIMATED COSTS OF ON-CONDITION ACTIONS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

5 work-hours × $85 per hour = $425 ........................................................................... $271 (for four bearings) ............................ $696 

According to the manufacturer, some 

or all of the costs of this proposed AD 

may be covered under warranty, thereby 

reducing the cost impact on affected 

operators. The FAA does not control 

warranty coverage for affected operators. 

As a result, the FAA has included all 

known costs in the cost estimate. 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

A federal agency may not conduct or 

sponsor, and a person is not required to 

respond to, nor shall a person be subject 

to penalty for failure to comply with a 

collection of information subject to the 

requirements of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act unless that collection of 

information displays a current valid 

OMB control number. The control 

number for the collection of information 

required by this proposed AD is 2120– 

0056. The paperwork cost associated 

with this proposed AD has been 

detailed in the Costs of Compliance 

section of this document and includes 

time for reviewing instructions, as well 

as completing and reviewing the 

collection of information. Therefore, all 

reporting associated with this proposed 

AD is mandatory. Comments concerning 

the accuracy of this burden and 

suggestions for reducing the burden 

should be directed to Information 

Collection Clearance Officer, Federal 

Aviation Administration, 10101 

Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 

76177–1524. 

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. 

The FAA is 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 

The FAA 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) Would not affect intrastate 

aviation in Alaska, and 

(3) Would not have a significant 

economic impact, positive or negative, 

on a substantial number of small entities 

under the criteria of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

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: 

Bombardier, Inc.: Docket No. FAA–2021– 

0093; Project Identifier MCAI–2020– 

01213–T. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments by April 

12, 2021. 

(b) Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs) 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all Bombardier, Inc., 

Model BD–700–1A10 and BD–700–1A11 

airplanes, certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 27, Flight controls. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by reports 

indicating that the left- and right-hand 

elevator torque tube bearings were 

contaminated with sand and corrosion, 

restricting free rotation. The FAA is issuing 

this AD to address sand contamination and 

corrosion of the elevator torque tube 

bearings, which could lead to binding or 

seizure of the bearings, and potentially lead 

to a reduction in or loss of airplane pitch 

control. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Inspection and Corrective Actions 

Within 36 months from the effective date 

of this AD or within 63 months from the date 

of airplane manufacture, as identified on the 

identification plate of the airplane, 

whichever occurs later: Do a general visual 

inspection of the left- and right-hand elevator 

torque tube bearings for any sand, dust, or 

corrosion; perform a functional test of the 

elevator control system; and do all applicable 

corrective actions; in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of paragraphs 

2.B., 2.C., and 2.D. of the applicable service 

information specified in figure 1 to paragraph 

(g) of this AD. Applicable corrective actions 

must be done before further flight. Repeat the 

general visual inspection and functional test 

thereafter at intervals not to exceed 63 

months. 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 35 / Wednesday, February 24, 2021 / Proposed Rules 11183 

(h) Reporting Requirement 

At the applicable time specified in 

paragraph (h)(1) or (2) of this AD, submit a 

report of all findings, positive and negative, 

of each of the first three inspections required 

by paragraph (g) of this AD. Submit the 

report to Bombardier, in accordance with the 

details specified in the applicable service 

information specified in figure 1 to paragraph 

(g) of this AD. 

(1) If the inspection was done on or after 

the effective date of this AD: Submit the 

report within 30 days after the inspection. 

(2) If the inspection was done before the 

effective date of this AD: Submit the report 

within 30 days after the effective date of this 

AD. 

(i) Credit for Previous Actions 

This paragraph provides credit for actions 

required by paragraph (g) of this AD, if those 

actions were performed before the effective 

date of this AD using the applicable service 

information in paragraphs (i)(1) through (6). 

(1) Bombardier Service Bulletin 700– 

1A11–27–041, dated July 23, 2020. 

(2) Bombardier Service Bulletin 700–27– 

083, dated July 23, 2020. 

(3) Bombardier Service Bulletin 700–27– 

5012, dated July 23, 2020. 

(4) Bombardier Service Bulletin 700–27– 

5503, dated July 23, 2020. 

(5) Bombardier Service Bulletin 700–27– 

6012, dated July 23, 2020. 

(6) Bombardier Service Bulletin 700–27– 

6503, dated July 23, 2020. 

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, New York ACO 

Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 

AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 

procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In 

accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 

request to your principal inspector or 

responsible Flight Standards Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the certification office, 

send it to ATTN: Program Manager, 

Continuing Operational Safety, FAA, New 

York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, 

Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 

516–228–7300; fax 516–794–5531. Before 

using any approved AMOC, notify your 

appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a 

principal inspector, the manager of the 

responsible Flight Standards Office. 

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any 

requirement in this AD to obtain instructions 

from a manufacturer, the instructions must 

be accomplished using a method approved 

by the Manager, New York ACO Branch, 

FAA; or Transport Canada Civil Aviation 

(TCCA); or Bombardier Inc.’s TCCA Design 

Approval Organization (DAO). If approved by 

the DAO, the approval must include the 

DAO-authorized signature. 

(3) Reporting Requirements: A federal 

agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a 

person is not required to respond to, nor 

shall a person be subject to a penalty for 

failure to comply with a collection of 

information subject to the requirements of 

the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that 

collection of information displays a current 

valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 

Control Number for this information 

collection is 2120–0056. Public reporting for 

this collection of information is estimated to 

be approximately 1 hour per response, 

including the time for reviewing instructions, 

searching existing data sources, gathering 

and maintaining the data needed, and 

completing and reviewing the collection of 

information. All responses to this collection 

of information are mandatory as required by 

this AD. Send comments regarding this 

burden estimate or any other aspect of this 

collection of information, including 

suggestions for reducing this burden to 

Information Collection Clearance Officer, 

Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 

Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177– 

1524. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) TCCA AD 

CF–2020–29, dated August 21, 2020, for 

related information. This MCAI may be 

found in the AD docket on the internet at 

https://www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2021–0093. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Siddeeq Bacchus, Aerospace 

Engineer, Mechanical Systems and 

Administrative Services Section, FAA, New 

York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, 

Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 

516–228–7362; fax 516–794–5531; email 9- 

avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov. 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Bombardier, Inc., 200 CoˆteVertu Road West, Dorval, Que ́bec H4S 2A3, 

Canada; North America toll-free telephone 1– 

866–538–1247 or direct-dial telephone 1– 

514–855–2999; email ac.yul@

aero.bombardier.com; internet http://

www.bombardier.com. You may view this 

service information at the FAA, 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALSEP24FE21.002</GPH>
11184 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 35 / Wednesday, February 24, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

Airworthiness Products Section, Operational 

Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 

Moines, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

206–231–3195. 

Issued on February 9, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–03588 Filed 2–23–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0023; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–01407–T] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Saab AB, 

Support and Services (Formerly 

Known as Saab AB, Saab Aeronautics) 

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 all 

Saab AB, Support and Services Model 

SAAB 2000 airplanes. This proposed 

AD was prompted by a report indicating 

that the left-hand main landing gear 

(MLG) collapsed after touchdown, 

causing severe damage to the airplane. 

This proposed AD would require 

modifying the MLG hydraulic transfer 

valve, as specified in a European Union 

Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, 

which is proposed for incorporation by 

reference. The FAA is proposing this 

AD to address the unsafe condition on 

these products. 

DATES: The FAA must receive comments 

on this proposed AD by April 12, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For material that will be incorporated 

by reference (IBR) in this AD, contact 

the EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 

50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 

221 8999 000; email ADs@

easa.europa.eu; internet 

www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

IBR material on the EASA website at 

https://ad.easa.europa.eu. You may 

view this IBR material at the FAA, 

Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 206–231–3195. 

It is also available in the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2021– 

0023. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2021– 

0023; or in person at Docket Operations 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

The AD docket contains this NPRM, any 

comments received, and other 

information. The street address for 

Docket Operations is listed above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Shahram Daneshmandi, Aerospace 

Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, 

International Validation Branch, FAA, 

2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 

98198; telephone and fax 206–231– 

3220; email Shahram.Daneshmandi@

faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

The FAA invites you to send any 

written relevant data, views, or 

arguments about this proposal. Send 

your comments to an address listed 

under ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0023; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2020–01407–T’’ at the beginning 

of your comments. The most helpful 

comments reference a specific portion of 

the proposal, explain the reason for any 

recommended change, and include 

supporting data. The FAA will consider 

all comments received by the closing 

date and may amend the proposal 

because of those comments. 

Except for Confidential Business 

Information (CBI) as described in the 

following paragraph, and other 

information as described in 14 CFR 

11.35, the FAA will post all comments 

received, without change, to https://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. The 

agency will also post a report 

summarizing each substantive verbal 

contact received about this proposed 

AD. 

Confidential Business Information 

CBI is commercial or financial 

information that is both customarily and 

actually treated as private by its owner. 

Under the Freedom of Information Act 

(FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt 

from public disclosure. If your 

comments responsive to this NPRM 

contain commercial or financial 

information that is customarily treated 

as private, that you actually treat as 

private, and that is relevant or 

responsive to this NPRM, it is important 

that you clearly designate the submitted 

comments as CBI. Please mark each 

page of your submission containing CBI 

as ‘‘PROPIN.’’ The FAA will treat such 

marked submissions as confidential 

under the FOIA, and they will not be 

placed in the public docket of this 

NPRM. Submissions containing CBI 

should be sent to Shahram 

Daneshmandi, Aerospace Engineer, 

Large Aircraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 

telephone and fax 206–231–3220; email 

Shahram.Daneshmandi@faa.gov. Any 

commentary that the FAA receives 

which is not specifically designated as 

CBI will be placed in the public docket 

for this rulemaking. 

Background 

The EASA, which is the Technical 

Agent for the Member States of the 

European Union, has issued EASA AD 

2020–0233, dated October 14, 2020 

(EASA AD 2020–0233) (also referred to 

as the Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information, or the 

MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition 

for all Saab AB, Support and Services 

Model SAAB 2000 airplanes. 

This proposed AD was prompted by 

a report indicating that the left-hand 

MLG collapsed after touchdown, 

causing severe damage to the airplane. 

The FAA is proposing this AD to 

address abnormal behavior of the MLG 

hydraulic transfer valve due to a 

restriction in hydraulic flow, which 

could cause the MLG hydraulic transfer 

valve to not function properly and fail 

to retract, extend, or lock the MLG, and 

possibly result in MLG collapse 

following landing and consequent 

damage to the airplane and injury to 

occupants. See the MCAI for additional 

background information. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2020–0233 describes 

procedures for modifying the MLG 

hydraulic transfer valve. This 


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