47930 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 177 / Friday, September 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96–NM–229–AD; Amendment

39–10125; AD 97–19–05]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Saab Model

SAAB 2000 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to certain Saab Model SAAB

2000 series airplanes. This amendment

requires replacement of the ignition

exciter in the auxiliary power unit

(APU) with a part that is designed to

operate better in cold weather. This

amendment is prompted by two

occurrences of the APU failing to start

after flight in cold soak conditions. The

actions specified by this AD are

intended to prevent such APU failure,

which could result in the inability of the

APU to restart the engines in the event

both engines quit operating during

flight.

DATES: Effective October 17, 1997.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of October 17,

1997.

ADDRESSES: The service information

referenced in this AD may be obtained

from SAAB Aircraft AB, SAAB Aircraft

Product Support, S–581.88, Linko ̈ping,

Sweden. This information may be

examined at the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington; or at the Office of the

Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ruth Harder, Aerospace Engineer,

Standardization Branch, ANM–113,

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington 98055–4056; telephone

(425) 227–1721; fax (425) 227–1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A

proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to

include an airworthiness directive (AD)

that is applicable to certain Saab Model

SAAB 2000 series airplanes was

published in the Federal Register on

May 8, 1997 (62 FR 25151). That action

proposed to require replacement of the

ignition exciter in the auxiliary power

unit with a part that is designed to

operate better in cold weather.

Interested persons have been afforded

an opportunity to participate in the

making of this amendment. Due

consideration has been given to the

single comment received.

The commenter supports the

proposed rule.

Conclusion

After careful review of the available

data, including the comment noted

above, the FAA has determined that air

safety and the public interest require the

adoption of the rule as proposed.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 3 Saab Model

SAAB 2000 series airplanes of U.S.

registry will be affected by this AD, that

it will take approximately 1 work hour

per airplane to accomplish the required

replacement, and that the average labor

rate is $60 per work hour. Required

parts will be provided by the

manufacturer at no cost to operators.

Based on these figures, the cost impact

of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated

to be $180, or $60 per airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed

above is based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished the

modification required by this AD action,

and that no operator would accomplish

this modification in the future if this AD

were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations adopted herein will

not have substantial direct effects 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, in

accordance with Executive Order 12612,

it is determined that this final rule does

not have sufficient federalism

implications to warrant the preparation

of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this action (1) is not a

‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under

Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a

‘‘significant rule’’ under 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. A final evaluation has

been prepared for this action and it is

contained in the Rules Docket. A copy

of it may be obtained from the Rules

Docket at the location provided under

the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Incorporation by reference,

Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration amends 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.

§39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding the following new airworthiness

directive:

97–19–05 SAAB Aircraft AB: Amendment

39–10125. Docket 96–NM–229–AD.

Applicability: Model SAAB 2000 series

airplanes, equipped with an auxiliary power

unit (APU) having part number 4500090,

serial numbers SP–E941224, and SP–

E941228 through SP–E951259 inclusive;

certificated in any category.

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 (c) 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 auxiliary power unit (APU)

failure, which could result in the inability of

the APU to restart the engines in the event

both engines quit operating during flight,

accomplish the following:

(a) Within 60 days after the effective date

of this AD: Replace the ignition exciter, part

number 4950787, with an ignition exciter

having part number 179420–2, in accordance

with Saab Service Bulletin 2000–49–005,

dated December 19, 1995, including

Attachment 1, dated November 30, 1995.

(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no

person shall install an ignition exciter having

part number 4950787 on any airplane.

(c) 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,

Standardization Branch, ANM–113, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators

shall submit their requests through an
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 177 / Friday, September 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 47931

appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, Standardization

Branch, ANM–113.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Standardization Branch,

ANM–113.

(d) 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.

(e) The modification shall be done in

accordance with Saab Service Bulletin 2000–

49–005, dated December 19, 1995, including

Attachment 1, dated November 30, 995. This

incorporation by reference was approved by

the Director of the Federal Register in

accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR

part 51. Copies may be obtained from SAAB

Aircraft AB, SAAB Aircraft Product Support,

S–581.88, Linko ̈ping, Sweden. Copies may be

inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington; or at the Office of the Federal

Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite

700, Washington, DC.

(f) This amendment becomes effective on

October 17, 1997.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on

September 3, 1997.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aricraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–23859 Filed 9–11–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–NM–182–AD; Amendment

39–10127; AD 97–19–07]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Dassault

Model Falcon 2000 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for

comments.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD) that is

applicable to all Dassault Model Falcon

2000 series airplanes. This action

requires installing new placards that

stipulate the use of certain types of

fuels, and revising the Airplane Flight

Manual to specify the appropriate types

of fuels for use in the affected airplanes.

This amendment is prompted by a

report indicating that, due to use of

certain fuels, engine flame-out may

occur. The actions specified in this AD

are intended to ensure that certain fuels

are prohibited from use; use of these

fuels could cause an engine flame-out

during a rapid throttle reduction.

DATES: Effective September 29, 1997.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of October 14,

1997.

Comments for inclusion in the Rules

Docket must be received on or before

November 12, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–103,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–NM–

182–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

The service information referenced in

this AD may be obtained from Dassault

Falcon Jet Corporation, Teterboro

Airport, P.O. Box 2000, South

Hackensack, New Jersey 07606. This

information may be examined at the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington; or at the FAA, Engine and

Propeller Directorate, 12 New England

Executive Park, Burlington,

Massachusetts; or at the Office of the

Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom

Groves, Aerospace Engineer,

Standardization Branch, ANM–113,

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington 98055–4056, telephone

(425) 227–1503, fax (425) 227–1149; or

Eugene Triozzi, Aerospace Engineer,

Engine Certification Branch, ANE–141,

FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate,

12 New England Executive Park,

Burlington, Massachusetts 01803,

telephone (617) 238–7148, fax (617)

238–7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Direction Ge ́ne ́rale de l’Aviation Civile

(DGAC), which is the airworthiness

authority for France, notified the FAA

that an unsafe condition may exist on

all Dassault Model Falcon 2000 series

airplanes. The DGAC advises that

results of bench testing revealed that the

use of JET B or JP4 fuel (or equivalent

fuels) could result in an engine flameout during rapid throttle reduction.

Such engine flame-out during rapid

throttle reduction.

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information

Dassault has issued Service Bulletin

F2000–80 (F2000–28–3), dated

December 11, 1996, which describes

procedures for installing new placards

stipulating the use of certain types of

fuels. The service bulletin also describes

procedures for incorporating Temporary

Change No. 34 (undated) to the Falcon

2000 Airplane Flight Manual (AFM),

into the AFM. Temporary Change No.

34 specifies the appropriate types of

fuels in Model Falcon 2000 series

airplanes. The DGAC classified this

service bulletin as mandatory, and

issued French airworthiness directive

96–290–001(B), dated December 4,

1996, in order to assure the continued

airworthiness of these airplanes in

France.

FAA’s Conclusions

This airplane model is manufactured

in France and is 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 DGAC has kept the FAA informed

of the situation described above. The

FAA has examined the findings of the

DGAC, 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 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, this AD is being issued to

prevent an engine flame-out during a

rapid throttle reduction. This AD

requires installing new placards that

stipulate the use of certain types of

fuels, and revising the Limitations and

Abnormal Procedures Sections of the

FAA-approved AFM to specify the

appropriate types of fuels for use in the

affected airplanes. Those actions are

required to be accomplished in

accordance with the service bulletin

described previously.

Determination of Rule’s Effective Date

Since a situation exists that requires

the immediate adoption of this

regulation, it is found that notice and

opportunity for prior public comment

hereon are impracticable, and that good

cause exists for making this amendment

effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

Although this action is in the form of

a final rule that involves requirements

affecting flight safety and, thus, was not

preceded by notice and an opportunity

for public comment, comments are

invited on this rule. Interested persons