3516 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 10 / Tuesday, January 16, 2001 / Proposed Rules

the nylon straps with new straps; as

applicable. Accomplishment of the

actions specified in the service bulletin

is intended to adequately address the

identified unsafe condition.

Explanation of Requirements of

Proposed Rule

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other products of this same

type design, the proposed AD would

require accomplishment of the actions

specified in the service bulletin

described previously.

Cost Impact

There are approximately 321 Model

767 series airplanes of the affected

design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA

estimates that 136 airplanes of U.S.

registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 1 work hour per airplane

to accomplish the proposed actions, and

that the average labor rate is $60 per

work hour. Required parts would cost

approximately $4,718 per airplane.

Based on these figures, the cost impact

of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $649,808, or $4,778 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 proposed AD were not adopted. The

cost impact figures discussed in AD

rulemaking actions represent only the

time necessary to perform the specific

actions actually required by the AD.

These figures typically do not include

incidental costs, such as the time

required to gain access and close up,

planning time, or time necessitated by

other administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein

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. Therefore,

it is determined that this proposal

would not have federalism implications

under Executive Order 13132.

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:

Boeing: Docket 2000–NM–116–AD.

Applicability: Model 767 series airplanes,

as listed in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin

767–25A0265, dated May 27, 1999;

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 (b) 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 ensure that flight crew members safely

reach the ground from a flight compartment

window in the event of an emergency

evacuation, accomplish the following:

Replacement

(a) Within 18 months after the effective

date of this AD, do the actions specified in

paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this AD, as

applicable, per Boeing Alert Service Bulletin

767–25A0265, dated May 27, 1999.

(1) For all airplanes: Remove the two

existing escape ropes and install new escape

ropes, bags, and placards, as applicable, in

the flight compartment.

(2) For airplanes having serial numbers 1

through 107 inclusive; on which Boeing

Service Bulletin 767–25–0149, dated March

7, 1991 has been accomplished; or on which

neither Boeing Service Bulletin 767–25–

0149, dated March 7, 1991, nor 767–

25A0242, dated October 31, 1996, has been

accomplished: Replace the nylon straps with

new straps.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(b) 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, Seattle

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA.

Operators shall submit their requests through

an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, Seattle ACO.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Seattle ACO.

Special Flight Permit

(c) 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.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on January

9, 2001.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–1238 Filed 1–12–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–NM–178–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Saab Model

SAAB 2000 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 2000 series

airplanes. This proposal would require

a modification involving nondestructive

test inspections of the 34 fastener holes

in each rear wing spar, corrective action,

if necessary, and cold working of the

holes to increase fatigue life of the rear

spar web. This proposal is prompted by

issuance of mandatory continuing

airworthiness information by a foreign

civil airworthiness authority. The

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 10 / Tuesday, January 16, 2001 / Proposed Rules 3517

actions specified by the proposed AD

are intended to prevent fatigue cracking,

which could result in fuel leakage and

reduced structural integrity of the

wings.

DATES: Comments must be received by

February 15, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000–NM–

178–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, except Federal

holidays. Comments may be submitted

via fax to (425) 227–1232. Comments

may also be sent via the Internet using

the following address: 9-anmnprmcomment@faa.gov. Comments sent

via fax or the Internet must contain

‘‘Docket No. 2000–NM–178–AD’’ in the

subject line and need not be submitted

in triplicate. Comments sent via the

Internet as attached electronic files must

be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for

Windows or ASCII text.

The service information referenced in

the proposed rule may be obtained from

Saab Aircraft AB, SAAB Aircraft

Product Support, S–581.88, Linkping,

Sweden. This information may be

examined at the FAA, Transport

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–2110;

fax (425) 227–1149.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan

Rodina, Aerospace Engineer,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–2125;

fax (425) 227–1149.

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 shall

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 action may be changed in light

of the comments received.

Submit comments using the following

format:

• Organize comments issue-by-issue.

For example, discuss a request to

change the compliance time and a

request to change the service bulletin

reference as two separate issues.

• For each issue, state what specific

change to the proposed AD is being

requested.

• Include justification (e.g., reasons or

data) for each request.

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

summarizing 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 action

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket Number 2000–NM–178–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, Transport Airplane Directorate,

ANM–114, Attention: Rules Docket No.

2000–NM–178–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

The Luftfartsverket (LFV), which is

the airworthiness authority for Sweden,

notified the FAA that an unsafe

condition may exist on certain Saab

Model SAAB 2000 series airplanes. The

LFV advises that, during fatigue tests,

cracks have been detected at some

fastener holes in the lower trailing edge

support angles on both wings. This

cracking condition, if not corrected,

could result in fuel leakage and reduced

structural integrity of the wing.

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information

Saab has issued Service Bulletin

2000–57–037, dated April 13, 2000,

which describes procedures for a

modification involving nondestructive

test inspections of the 34 fastener holes

in each rear wing spar to detect

discrepancies (including cracking,

scratches, or other damage, and

incorrect hole size) and cold working of

the holes to increase fatigue life.

Accomplishment of the actions

specified in the service bulletin is

intended to adequately address the

identified unsafe condition. The LFV

classified this service bulletin as

mandatory and issued Swedish

airworthiness directive 1–157, dated

April 13, 2000, in order to assure the

continued airworthiness of these

airplanes in Sweden.

FAA’s Conclusions

This airplane model is manufactured

in Sweden 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 LFV has kept the FAA informed of

the situation described above. The FAA

has examined the findings of the LFV,

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, except as discussed below.

Differences Between Proposed Rule and

Service Bulletin

Operators should note that, although

the service bulletin specifies that the

manufacturer may be contacted for

disposition of certain repair conditions,

this proposal would require the repair of

those conditions to be accomplished in

accordance with a method approved by

either the FAA, or the LFV (or its

delegated agent). In light of the type of

repair that would be required to address

the identified unsafe condition, and in

consonance with existing bilateral

airworthiness agreements, the FAA has

determined that, for this proposed AD,

a repair approved by either the FAA or

the LFV would be acceptable for

compliance with this proposed AD.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 3 airplanes of

U.S. registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 64 work hours per

airplane to accomplish the proposed

inspections and modification, and that

the average labor rate is $60 per work

hour. Required parts would be supplied

by the manufacturer without cost to the

operators. Based on these figures, the

cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S.

operators is estimated to be $11,520, or

$3,840 per airplane.

3518 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 10 / Tuesday, January 16, 2001 / Proposed Rules

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 proposed AD were not adopted. The

cost impact figures discussed in AD

rulemaking actions represent only the

time necessary to perform the specific

actions actually required by the AD.

These figures typically do not include

incidental costs, such as the time

required to gain access and close up,

planning time, or time necessitated by

other administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein

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. Therefore,

it is determined that this proposal

would not have federalism implications

under Executive Order 13132.

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:

Saab Aircraft AB: Docket 2000–NM–178–AD.

Applicability: Model SAAB 2000 series

airplanes, certificated in any category, serial

numbers –003 through –063 inclusive.

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 (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 fuel leakage and reduced

structural integrity of the wings due to

fatigue cracking, accomplish the following:

Modification

(a) Except as required by paragraph (b) of

this AD: Prior to the accumulation of 13,000

total flight cycles, accomplish the

modification of the rear spar on both wings

[including applicable nondestructive test

inspections to detect discrepancies

(including cracking, scratches, or other

damage, and incorrect hole size) and cold

working of fastener holes] in accordance with

Saab Service Bulletin 2000–57–037, dated

April 13, 2000.

Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a

detailed visual inspection is defined as: ‘‘An

intensive visual examination of a specific

structural area, system, installation, or

assembly to detect damage, failure, or

irregularity. Available lighting is normally

supplemented with a direct source of good

lighting at intensity deemed appropriate by

the inspector. Inspection aids such as mirror,

magnifying lenses, etc., may be used. Surface

cleaning and elaborate access procedures

may be required.’’

Repair

(b) If any discrepancy is found during any

inspection required by paragraph (a) of this

AD, prior to further flight, repair in

accordance with a method approved by the

Manager, International Branch, ANM–116,

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, or the

Luftfartsverket (LFV) (or its delegated agent).

For a repair method to be approved by the

Manager, International Branch, ANM–116, as

required by this paragraph, the Manager’s

approval letter must specifically reference

this AD.

Methods of Compliance

(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. Operators

shall submit their requests through an

appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and who

will then send the requests and comments to

the Manager, International Branch, ANM–

116.

Note 3: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the International Branch,

ANM–116.

Special Flight Permits

(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 4: The subject of this AD is addressed

in Swedish airworthiness directive 1–157,

dated April 13, 2000.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on January

9, 2001.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–1237 Filed 1–12–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–NM–290–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Fokker

Model F.28 Mark 0070 and Mark 0100

Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

supersedure of an existing airworthiness

directive (AD), applicable to all Fokker

Model F.28 Mark 0070 and Mark 0100

series airplanes, that currently requires

revising the Airplane Flight Manual

(AFM) to provide the flightcrew with

instructions not to arm the liftdumper

system prior to commanding the landing

gear to extend. For Model F.28 Mark

0100 series airplanes, the existing AD

also requires modification of the

grounds of the shielding of the

wheelspeed sensor wiring of the main

landing gear (MLG) and installation of

new electrical grounds for the

wheelspeed sensor channel of the antiskid control box of the MLG. The

proposed AD would remove the

previous revision of the AFM and

would require a new limitation and a

new warning. This proposal is

prompted by issuance of mandatory

continuing airworthiness information by