Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 216 / Friday, November 7, 1997 / Proposed Rules 60189

has examined the findings of the LBA,

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 service bulletin described

previously.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 7 Dornier

Model 328–100 series airplanes of U.S.

registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 2 work hours per

airplane to accomplish the proposed

actions, and that the average labor rate

is $60 per work hour. Required parts

would be provided by the manufacturer

at no cost to operators. Based on these

figures, the cost impact of the proposed

AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be

$840, or $120 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.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein

would 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

proposal would not have sufficient

federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

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.

§39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding the following new airworthiness

directive:

Dornier: Docket 97–NM–113–AD.

Applicability: Model 328–100 series

airplanes, serial numbers 3005 through 3015

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 loose electrical connections

from causing an increase in electrical

resistance, which could result in overheating

at the electrical terminals and consequent

smoke/fire in the airplane passenger cabin,

accomplish the following:

(a) Within 100 flight hours after the

effective date of this AD, replace the

electrical terminals in the passenger cabin

with new electrical terminals, in accordance

with Dornier Service Bulletin SB–328–24–

188, dated September 11, 1996.

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

person shall install an electrical terminal

having part number 001A903A8010002,

001A903A8020002, or 001A903A8030002 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,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators

shall submit their requests through an

appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, International Branch,

ANM–116.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the International Branch,

ANM–116, FAA.

(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.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in German airworthiness directive 96–291,

dated November 7, 1996.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on October

31, 1997.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–29413 Filed 11–6–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–CE–77–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA—

Groupe AEROSPATIALE Models TB9,

TB10, TB20, TB21, and TB200

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes to

adopt a new airworthiness directive

(AD) that would apply to certain

SOCATA—Groupe AEROSPATIALE

(Socata) Models TB9, TB10, TB20,

TB21, and TB200 airplanes. The

proposed AD would require inspecting

the bolts and spacers of the upper

attachments of the front belts for cracks,

dents, etc. (damage); replacing any

damaged bolts or spacers; incorporating

a front belts upper attachment

reinforcement kit; and reconditioning

the belts. The proposed AD is the result

of mandatory continuing airworthiness

information (MCAI) issued by the

airworthiness authority for France. The

actions specified by the proposed AD

are intended to prevent failure of the

upper seat belt attachment caused by

excessive loads on the upper attachment

of the belt, which could result in bodily

injury to the occupants during landing.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before December 15, 1997.
60190 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 216 / Friday, November 7, 1997 / Proposed Rules

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region,

Office of the Regional Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–CE–77–

AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments

may be inspected at this location

between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday

through Friday, holidays excepted.

Service information that applies to the

proposed AD may be obtained from the

SOCATA—Groupe AEROSPATIALE,

Socata Product Support, Aeroport

Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes, B P 930, 65009

Tarbes Cedex, France; telephone

62.41.74.26; facsimile 62.41.74.32; or

the Product Support Manager,

SOCATA—Groupe AEROSPATIALE,

North Perry Airport, 7501 Pembroke

Road, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023;

telephone (954) 964–6877; facsimile

(954) 964–1668. This information also

may be examined at the Rules Docket at

the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer,

FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201

Walnut Street, suite 900, Kansas City,

Missouri 64106; telephone (816) 426–

6934; facsimile (816) 426–2169.

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

should identify the Rules Docket

number and be submitted in triplicate to

the address specified above. All

communications received on or before

the closing date for comments, specified

above, will be considered before taking

action on the proposed rule. The

proposals contained in this notice may

be changed in light of the comments

received.

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 that

summarizes 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 notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket No. 97–CE–77–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, Central Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 97–CE–77–AD, Room 1558,

601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri

64106.

Discussion

The Direction Ge ́ne ́rale de l’Aviation

Civile (DGAC), which is the

airworthiness authority for France,

recently notified the FAA that an unsafe

condition may exist on certain Socata

Models TB9, TB10, TB20, TB21, and

TB200 airplanes. The DGAC advises

that the upper attachment of the seat

belts could exceed maximum load

requirements during an emergency

landing condition, causing failure of

these seat belt upper attachments. This

condition, if not detected and corrected,

could result in bodily injury to the

occupants during landing.

Relevant Service Information

Socata has issued Service Bulletin No.

SB 10–103 and Service Bulletin No. SB

10–104, both dated June 1996. These

service bulletins specify procedures for

inspecting the bolts and spacers of the

upper attachments of the front belts for

cracks, dents, etc. (damage); replacing

any damaged bolts or spacers;

incorporating a front belts upper

attachment reinforcement kit; and

reconditioning the belts. Service

Bulletin No. SB 10–103 applies to

Socata Models TB10, TB20, TB21, and

TB200 airplanes, and Model TB9

airplanes equipped with upholstering

on the upper duct posts. Service

Bulletin No. SB 10–104 applies to

Socata Model TB9 airplanes not

equipped with upholstering on the

upper duct posts.

The DGAC classified these service

bulletins as mandatory and issued

French AD 96–142(A) and French AD

96–143(A), both dated July 17, 1996, in

order to assure the continued

airworthiness of these airplanes in

France.

The FAA’s Determination

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, including the service

information referenced above; and

determined that AD action is necessary

for products of this type design that are

certificated for operation in the United

States.

Explanation of the Provisions of the

Proposed AD

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop in other Socata Models TB9,

TB10, TB20, TB21, and TB200 airplanes

of the same type design registered in the

United States, the FAA is proposing AD

action. The proposed AD would require

inspecting the bolts and spacers of the

upper attachments of the front belts for

cracks, dents, etc. (damage); replacing

any damaged bolts or spacers;

incorporating a front belts upper

attachment reinforcement kit; and

reconditioning the belts.

Accomplishment of the proposed

actions would be in accordance with the

service bulletins previously referenced.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 320 airplanes

in the U.S. registry would be affected by

the proposed AD.

Accomplishing the proposed

replacement would take approximately

3 workhours per airplane, at an average

labor rate of approximately $60 an hour.

Parts to accomplish the proposed AD

cost approximately $300. Based on these

figures, the total cost impact of the

proposed AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $153,600 or $480 per

airplane.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein

would 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

proposal would 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) 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
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 216 / Friday, November 7, 1997 / Proposed Rules 60191

regulatory evaluation prepared for this

action has been placed 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.

§39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding a new airworthiness directive

(AD) to read as follows:

SOCATA—Groupe Aerospatiale: Docket No.

97–CE–77–AD.

Applicability: Models TB9, TB10, TB20,

TB21, and TB200 airplanes, serial numbers 1

through 1701; 1707 to 1750; 1758 to 1763;

1767, 1768, and 1769, certificated in any

category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

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 (e) 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 in the

body of this AD, unless already

accomplished.

To prevent failure of the upper seat belt

attachment caused by excessive loads on the

upper attachment of the belt, which could

result in bodily injury to the occupants

during landing, accomplish the following:

(a) Within the next 50 hours time-inservice (TIS) after the effective date of this

AD, inspect the bolts and spacers of the

upper attachments of the front belts for

cracks, dents, etc. (damage), in accordance

with the ACCOMPLISHMENT

INSTRUCTIONS section of one of the

following service bulletins, as applicable:

(1) Socata Service Bulletin No. SB 10–103,

dated June 1996, which applies to Socata

Models TB10, TB20, TB21, and TB200

airplanes, and Model TB9 airplanes equipped

with upholstering on the upper duct posts.

(2) Socata Service Bulletin No. SB 10–104,

dated June 1996, which applies to Socata

Model TB9 airplanes not equipped with

upholstering on the upper duct posts.

(b) Prior to further flight, replace any

damaged bolts or spacers found during the

inspection required by paragraph (a) of this

AD.

(c) Within the next 50 hours TIS after the

effective date of this AD, incorporate either

front belts upper attachment reinforcement

kit No. OPT10 921000 or OPT10 920900 and

recondition the belts in accordance with the

ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS

section of the applicable service bulletin

referenced in paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this

AD.

(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) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an equivalent level of safety may be

approved by the Manager, Small Airplane

Directorate, FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106. The request

shall be forwarded through an appropriate

FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add

comments and then send it to the Manager,

Small Airplane Directorate.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Small Airplane

Directorate.

(f) All persons affected by this directive

may obtain copies of the documents referred

to herein upon request to SOCATA—Groupe

AEROSPATIALE, Socata Product Support,

Aeroport Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes, B P 930,

65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; or Perry

Airport, 7501 Pembroke Road, Pembroke

Pines, Florida 33023. These documents may

also be examined at the FAA, Central Region,

Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558,

601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri

64106.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in French AD 96–142(A) and French AD 96–

143(A), both dated July 17, 1996.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on

October 31, 1997.

James E. Jackson,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–29422 Filed 11–6–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–NM–236–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).

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 inspections to

detect discrepancies of the support

straps of the flaps and adjacent areas,

and corrective action, if necessary; it

would also require replacement of the

support straps with new straps made of

steel. This proposal is prompted by the

issuance of mandatory continuing

airworthiness information by a foreign

civil airworthiness authority. The

actions specified by the proposed AD

are intended to prevent fatigue cracking

of the support straps of the flaps, which

could result in further damage to the

flap structure, and consequently lead to

reduced controllability of the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received by

December 8, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–103,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–NM–

236–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

The service information referenced in

the proposed rule may be obtained from

SAAB Aircraft AB, SAAB Aircraft

Product Support, S–581.88, Linko ̈ping,

Sweden. This information may be

examined at the FAA, Transport

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

International Branch, ANM–116,

FAA,Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington 98055–4056; telephone

(425) 227–2110; fax (425) 227–1149.