Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 191 / Tuesday, October 2, 2012 / Proposed Rules 60073 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–1032; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–NM–079–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Saab AB, 

Saab Aerosystems Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all Saab 

AB, Saab Aerosystems Model SAAB 

2000 airplanes. This proposed AD was 

prompted by reports of chafing on the 

bottom panel of the center cabin. This 

proposed AD would require doing a 

general visual inspection to determine if 

certain fasteners are installed, and 

related investigative and corrective 

actions. We are proposing this AD to 

detect and correct any chafing on the 

bottom panel of the center cabin, which 

could affect the structural integrity of 

the affected wing-to-fuselage 

connection. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 16, 

2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://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: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

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 AB, 

Saab Aeronautics, SE–581 88, 

Linko ̈ping, Sweden; telephone +46 13 

18 5591; fax +46 13 18 4874; email 

saab2000.techsupport@saabgroup.com; 

Internet http://www.saabgroup.com. 

You may review copies of the 

referenced service information at the 

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. 

For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 425–227– 

1221. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov; or in person at the 

Docket Operations office 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 Operations 

office (telephone (800) 647–5527) is in 

the ADDRESSES section. Comments will 

be available in the AD docket shortly 

after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Shahram Daneshmandi, Aerospace 

Engineer, International Branch, ANM– 

116, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

WA 98057–3356; telephone 425–227– 

1112; fax 425–227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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–2012–1032; Directorate Identifier 

2012–NM–079–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:// 

www.regulations.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 

Airworthiness Directive 2012–0068, 

dated April 25, 2012 (referred to after 

this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe 

condition for the specified products. 

The MCAI states: 

On two SAAB 2000 aeroplanes, signs of 

chafing have been found on the bottom panel 

of the centre cabin between fuselage station 

(STA) 562 and STA 622. The investigation 

results have shown that the chafing is caused 

by certain Hi Lok fasteners, installed as a 

repair during production, through the upper 

wing skin panel. 

This condition, if not detected and 

corrected, could affect the structural integrity 

of the affected wing-to-fuselage connection. 

To address this potential unsafe condition, 

SAAB issued Service Bulletin (SB) 2000–53– 

057 to provide instructions for a general 

visual inspection to detect chafing in the area 

between the upper wing skin and the cabin 

centre bottom panel and to verify if there are 

Hi Lok fasteners installed with the collar up. 

For the reasons described above, this 

[EASA] AD requires a one-time inspection of 

the designated area, the accomplishment of 

corrective action(s) [repair], depending on 

findings, and the reporting of all inspection 

results * * *. 

This [EASA] AD is considered an interim 

action and further AD action may follow. 

Related investigative actions include 

measuring the distance between the 

fastener and bottom panel and a 

boroscope inspection for chafing and 

damage of the bottom panel. You may 

obtain further information by examining 

the MCAI in the AD docket. 

Relevant Service Information 

Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems has 

issued Service Bulletin 2000–53–057, 

dated November 22, 2011. 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 the 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 

Saab Service Bulletin 2000–53–057, 

dated November 22, 2011, specifies to 

contact the manufacturer for repair 

instructions, but this proposed AD 

would require doing the repair using a 

method that we approve. 

Costs of Compliance 

Based on the service information, we 

estimate that this proposed AD would 

affect about 10 products of U.S. registry. 

We also estimate that it would take 

about 4 work-hours per product to 

comply with the basic requirements of 

this proposed AD. The average labor 

rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on 

these figures, we estimate the cost of the 

proposed AD on U.S. operators to be 

$3,400, or $340 per product. 


wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
60074 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 191 / Tuesday, October 2, 2012 / Proposed Rules 

We have received no definitive data 

that would enable us to provide a cost 

estimate for the on-condition actions 

specified in this proposed AD. 

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); 

3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in 

Alaska; and 

4. 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, 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 AD: 

Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems: Docket No. 

FAA–2012–1032; Directorate Identifier 

2012–NM–079–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by November 

16, 2012. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Saab AB, Saab 

Aerosystems Model SAAB 2000 airplanes, 

certificated in any category, all serial 

numbers. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 53, Fuselage. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

chafing on the bottom panel of the center 

cabin. We are issuing this AD to detect and 

correct any chafing on the bottom panel of 

the center cabin, which could affect the 

structural integrity of the affected wing-tofuselage connection. 

(f) Compliance 

You are responsible for having the actions 

required by this AD performed within the 

compliance times specified, unless the 

actions have already been done. 

(g) Inspection 

Within 12 months after the effective date 

of this AD, do a general visual inspection of 

the area between the upper part of the wing 

skin and the center bottom panel to 

determine if any Hi Lok fasteners are 

installed with the collar up, and do all 

applicable related investigative actions, in 

accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Saab Service Bulletin 2000– 

53–057, dated November 22, 2011. 

(h) Repair 

If any chafing or damage is found during 

any inspection required by paragraph (g) of 

this AD: Before further flight, repair in 

accordance with a method approved by the 

Manager, International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) (or 

its delegated agent). 

(i) Reporting 

Submit a report of the findings (both 

positive and negative) of the inspection 

required by paragraph (g) of this AD to Saab 

AB, Saab Aerosystems, in accordance with 

the Accomplishment Instructions of Saab 

Service Bulletin 2000–53–057, dated 

November 22, 2011, at the applicable time 

specified in paragraph (h)(1) or (h)(2) of this 

AD. The report must include the inspection 

results, the airplane serial number, and the 

number of landings and flight hours on the 

airplane. 

(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. 

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 

Branch, ANM–116, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 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 local 

Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the International Branch, send it to ATTN: 

Shahram Daneshmandi, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356; 

telephone 425–227–1112; fax 425–227–1149. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-ANM-116- 

AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. Before using 

any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 

principal inspector, or lacking a principal 

inspector, the manager of the local flight 

standards district office/certificate holding 

district office. The AMOC approval letter 

must specifically reference this AD. 

(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: 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 5 minutes per response, 

including the time for reviewing instructions, 

completing and reviewing the collection of 

information. All responses to this collection 

of information are mandatory. Comments 

concerning the accuracy of this burden and 

suggestions for reducing the burden should 

be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence 

Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 

Information Collection Clearance Officer, 

AES–200. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) Refer to MCAI EASA Airworthiness 

Directive 2012–0068, dated April 25, 2012; 


wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 191 / Tuesday, October 2, 2012 / Proposed Rules 60075 

and Saab Service Bulletin 2000–53–057, 

dated November 22, 2011; for related 

information. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Saab AB, Saab Aeronautics, 

SE–581 88, Linko ̈ping, Sweden; telephone 

+46 13 18 5591; fax +46 13 18 4874; email 

saab2000.techsupport@saabgroup.com; 

Internet http://www.saabgroup.com. You 

may review copies of the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

WA. For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

September 21, 2012. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–24173 Filed 10–1–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–1033; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–NM–266–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede an 

existing airworthiness directive (AD) 

that applies to all Airbus Model A330– 

200 and –300 series airplanes, and 

Model A340–200 and –300 series 

airplanes. The existing AD currently 

requires repetitive inspections to detect 

discrepancies of the transfer tubes and 

the collar of the ball nut of the 

trimmable horizontal stabilizer actuator 

(THSA), and corrective action if 

necessary; repetitive inspections for 

discrepancies of the ball screw 

assembly, and corrective action if 

necessary; repetitive greasing of the 

THSA ball nut, and replacement of the 

THSA if necessary; and modification or 

replacement (as applicable) of the ball 

nut assembly, which would end certain 

repetitive inspections. Since we issued 

that AD, we have determined the 

repetitive inspections of the ball screw 

assembly (and corrective action if 

necessary) and repetitive greasing is 

needed for additional THSA nuts. This 

proposed AD would remove certain 

inspections, revise certain actions, and 

add airplanes to the applicability. We 

are proposing this AD to prevent 

degraded operation of the THSA, which 

could result in reduced controllability 

of the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 16, 

2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://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: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For Airbus service information 

identified in this proposed AD, contact 

Airbus SAS—Airworthiness Office— 

EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 

31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone 

+33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 

80; email airworthiness.A330-A340@

airbus.com; Internet: http://www.airbus.

com. For TRW Aeronautical Systems, 

SAMM Avionique, and Lucas Aerospace 

service information identified in this 

proposed AD, contact Goodrich 

Corporation, Actuation Systems, 

Stafford Road, Fordhouses, 

Wolverhampton WV10 7EH, England; 

telephone +44 (0) 1902 624938; fax +44 

(0) 1902 788100; email techpubs.wolver

hampton@goodrich.com; Internet http:// 

www.goodrich.com/TechPubs.Y. You 

may review copies of the referenced 

service information at the FAA, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 

Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov; or in person at the 

Docket Operations office 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 Operations 

office (telephone: (800) 647–5527) is in 

the ADDRESSES section. Comments will 

be available in the AD docket shortly 

after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 

98057–3356; telephone 425–227–1138; 

fax 425–227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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–2012–1033; Directorate Identifier 

2010–NM–266–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:// 

www.regulations.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 

On March 17, 2005, we issued AD 

2005–07–04, Amendment 39–14028 (70 

FR 16104, March 30, 2005). That AD 

required actions intended to address an 

unsafe condition on the products listed 

above. Since we issued AD 2005–07–04, 

the European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, has issued EASA 

Airworthiness Directive 2010–0192 

(corrected), dated October 11, 2010; and 

EASA Airworthiness Directive 2010– 

0193 (corrected), dated October 11, 

2010; (referred to after this as ‘‘the 

MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe condition 

for the specified products. The MCAI 

states: 

Several cases of transfer tube 

disconnection from the ball-nut of the 

trimmable horizontal stabilizer actuator 

(THSA) part number (P/N) 47172 and 47147– 

400 were detected on the ground during 

greasing and maintenance. 

This condition is caused by water ingress 

into the ball-nut resulting in the jamming of 

the ball transfer circuit when the water 

freezes. 

If the three (independent) ball circuits fail, 

then the THSA will operate on a fail-safe nut. 

This nut (which operates without balls) 

would then jam after several movements on 

the screw of the THSA. 

This degraded operation is not detectable 

in the cockpit by the crew as long as the 

THSA does not jam and could damage the 

ball screw and the fail-safe nut. 

To detect this unsafe condition, [Direccio ́n 

General de Aviacio ́n Civil] DGAC France AD 

F–2001–356 [and F–2001–357] was issued to 

require repetitive inspections of the transfer 

tubes and their collars in order to detect at 


wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS