EASA AD No.: 20 15

- 0129

TE. CAP.0011 0

- 00 4 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. 1 / 3 Proprietary document. Copies are not controlled. Confirm revision status through the EASA

- Internet/Intranet. 

## EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AD No.: 20 15
- 0129

Date: 06 July 2015

Note: This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued by EASA, acting in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 on behalf of the European Community, its Member States and of the European third countries that participate in the activities of EASA under Article 66 of that Regulation.
This AD is issued in accordance with EU 748/2012, Part 21.A.3B. In accordance with EU 1321/2014 Annex I, Part M.A.301, the continuing airworthiness of an aircraft shall be ensured by accomplishing any applicable ADs. Consequently, no person may operate an aircraft to which an AD applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that AD, unless otherwise specified by the Age ncy [EU 1321/2014 Annex I, Part M.A.303] or agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry [EC 216/2008, Article 14(4) exemption]. 

### Design Approval Holder’s Name: SAAB AB, AERONAUTICS Type/Model designation(s): SF340A and 340B aeroplanes

TCDS Number: EASA. A.068

F oreign AD: Not applicable

Supersedure: None



### ATA 30 Ice and Rain Protection

– Horizontal Stabilizer De
- I c ing Boots

– Inspection / Airplane Flight Manual

– Amendment

Manufacturer(s): SAAB AB, Aeronautics (formerly SAAB Aerosystems).
Applicability: Model SF340A aeroplanes , s erial numbers (s/n) 004 to 138 inclusive, if SAAB Mod ification (Mod) 1462 has been embodied in production, or SAAB Service Bulletin ( SB ) 340

- 55

- 008 has been embodied in service , except those that have also embodied SAAB Mod 1793 in production, or SAAB SB 340

- 55

- 010 in service ( s ee Note) ; and SF340A aeroplanes s /n 139 to 159 inclusive. Note: Applicable SF340A aeroplanes s/n 004

- 138, Post Mod No 1462 but Pre Mod No 1793 , have a maximum flap setting of 35 degrees instead of 20 degrees, and horizontal stabilizer boots with spanwise tubes instead of chordwise tubes. Model 340B aeroplanes , s/n 160 to 459 inclusive

. Reason: There have been some reported events of ruptured hor izontal stabilizer de

- icing boots. In

- flight rupture of a de

- ic ing boot will result in complete loss of the de

icing function within its associated zone. In addition, in some of the se events , the de

- ic ing boot ha d formed a large open scoop. This condition , if not detected and corrected , could lead to severe vibrations , possibly resulting in reduced control of the aeroplane

. To address this potential unsafe condition, SAAB issued Alert Operations Bulletin (AOB) No.12 and AOB No. 23 as a temporary measure, recommending performing a flap 0 landing in the event of a suspected rupture of the de

- ic ing boot on the horizontal stabilizer.EASA AD No.: 20 15

- 0129

TE. CAP.0011 0

- 00 4 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. 2 / 3 Proprietary document. Copies are not controlled. Confirm revision status through the EASA

- Internet/Intranet. In addit i on , SAAB issued SB 340

- 30

- 094 to provide instructions to inspect the affected de

- icing boots

. For the reasons described above, this AD requires an amendment of the applicable Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) and, pending the development of a modification by SAAB, repetitive inspections of the horizontal stabilizer de

- icing boots and, depending on findings, accomplishment of ap plicable corrective action(s). This AD is considered to be an interim action and further AD action may follow

.
Effective Date: 20 July 2015
Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s): Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously: (1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD , amend the applicable SAAB 340 AFM to incorporate the revision stated in Appendix 1 of this AD, as applicable, inform all flight crews and, thereafter, operate the aeroplane accordingly. (2) Within 400 f light h ours (FH) or 6 months , whichever occurs first afte r the effective date of this AD , and , thereafter , at intervals not to exceed 400 FH , accomplish a detailed inspect ion of the horizontal stabilizer de

- ic ing boots in accordance with the instructions of SAAB SB 340

- 30

- 094. (3) If , during any inspection as required by paragraph (2) of this AD, any damage outside the limits as specified in SAAB SB 340

- 30

- 094 is found, before next flight , repair or replace the horizontal stabilizer de

- ic ing boots in accordance with the instructions of SAAB SB 340

- 30

- 094. (4) Repair or replacement on an aeroplane of horizontal stabilizer de

- ic ing boots , as required by paragraph (3) of this AD , does not constitute terminatin g action for the repetitive inspecti ons require d by paragraph (2) of this AD for that aeroplane

. Ref. Public ations: SAAB SB 340

- 30

- 094 original issue dated 27 March 201 5

. SAAB AOB No. 12 original issue dated 14 March 201 4

. SAAB AOB No. 23 original issue dated 14 March 201 4

. The use of later approved revisions of these documents is acceptable for compliance with the requirements of this AD.

Remarks: 1. If requested and appropriately substantiated, EASA can approve Alternative Methods of Compliance for this AD.
2. This AD was posted on 23 April 2015 as PAD 15

- 050 for consultation until 21 May 2015. The Comment Response Document can be found at http://ad.easa.europa.eu

. 3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the Safety Information Section, Certification Directorate, EASA. E

- mail: ADs@easa.europa.eu

. 4. For any question concerning the technical content of the requirements i n this AD, please contact: Saab AB, Support and Services , SE

- 581 88 Linköping, Sweden Fax: +46 13 184874 , E

- mail: saab340.techsupport@saabgroup.com

.EASA AD No.: 20 15

- 0129

TE. CAP.0011 0

- 00 4 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. 3 / 3 Proprietary document. Copies are not controlled. Confirm revision status through the EASA

- Internet/Intranet. 

### Appendix 1

– AFM Changes

Model AFM Doc No AFM Revision (see Note 3) Revision date

SF340A 340A 000 Revision 65

Mar ch 27 , 20 15 SF340A 340A 001 Revision 57
SF340A 340A 003 Revision 37
SF340A 340A 005 (see Note 1 )

340B 340B 000 Revision 39
March 27, 2015 340B 340B 001 Revision 35

340B 340B 003 Revision 29

340B 340B 005 (see Note 2 )

340B 340B 010 Revision 28 March 27, 2015

340B 340B 015 (see Note 2 )
Note 1: Amending 340A 005 as required by paragraph (1) of this AD can be accomplished by inserting a copy of AOB No. 23 into the AFM, or by incorporating a later revision of 340A 005 which contain the amended Abnormal Procedures. Note 2: Amending 340B 005 and 340B 015 as required by paragraph (1) of this AD can be accomplished by inserting a copy of AOB No. 12 into the AFM, or by incorporatin g a later revision of 340B 005 or 340B 015 which contain the amended Abnormal Procedures.

Note 3: The use of later approved revisions than those listed in Appendix 1 of this AD is acceptable for compliance with the requirements of paragraph (1) of this AD

.