[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 169 (Thursday, September 1, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52041-52043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-17404]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22255; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-106-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Saab Model SAAB 2000 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Saab Model SAAB 2000 airplanes. This proposed AD would 
require modifying the manual feather-and-unfeather system for the 
propellers to make the design of the system more robust. This proposed 
AD results from reports of in-flight engine shutdown caused by 
uncommanded operation of the feather pump of the propeller. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent uncommanded feathering of the propeller, 
which could result in the shutdown of an engine during flight and 
consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 3, 2005.

[[Page 52042]]


ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
    <bullet> DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    <bullet> Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Contact Saab Aircraft AB, SAAB Aircraft Product Support, S-581.88, 
Link[ouml]ping, Sweden, for service information identified in this 
proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Borfitz, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2677; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2005-
22255; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-106-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of 
that Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the Docket Management System 
receives them.

Discussion

    The Luftfartsstyrelsen (LFS), which is the airworthiness authority 
for Sweden, notified us that an unsafe condition may exist on certain 
Saab Model SAAB 2000 airplanes. The LFS has received reports of in-
flight engine shutdown due to uncommanded operation of the feather pump 
of the propeller, which caused the propeller to feather. The 
uncommanded activation of the feather pump has been attributed to an 
uncommanded operation of the remote control circuit breaker (RCCB) 
within the manual feather-and-unfeather system. This condition, if not 
corrected, could result in the shutdown of an engine during flight and 
consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    Saab has issued Service Bulletin 2000-61-006, Revision 01, dated 
February 17, 2005. The service bulletin describes procedures for 
modifying the manual feather-and-unfeather system for the propellers to 
make the design of the system more robust. The modification involves 
replacing the RCCBs with relays, installing new wiring, and making 
associated structural modifications to the left and right wing 
fairings. Accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information is intended to adequately address the unsafe condition. The 
LFS mandated the service information and issued Swedish airworthiness 
directive 1-198, dated February 14, 2005, to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of these airplanes in Sweden.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    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 LFS has kept the FAA informed of 
the situation described above. We have examined the LFS's findings, 
evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that we need to 
issue an AD for airplanes of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States.
    Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which would require 
accomplishing the actions specified in the service information 
described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would affect about 3 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The proposed actions would take about 50 work hours per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts would cost 
about $13,571 per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost 
of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is $50,463, or $16,821 per 
airplane.

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 have 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 that the 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

[[Page 52043]]

    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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the 
ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

Saab Aircraft AB: Docket No. FAA-2005-22255; Directorate Identifier 
2005-NM-106-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by October 
3, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to SAAB Model SAAB 2000 airplanes, 
certificated in any category, serial numbers -004 through -063 
inclusive.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of in-flight engine shutdown 
caused by uncommanded operation of the feather pump of the 
propeller. We are issuing this AD to prevent uncommanded feathering 
of the propeller, which could result in the shutdown of an engine 
during flight and consequent reduced controllability of the 
airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Modification

    (f) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the manual feather-and-unfeather system of the propellers by doing 
all actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Saab 
Service Bulletin 2000-61-006, Revision 01, dated February 17, 2005.

Actions Accomplished Previously

    (g) A modification accomplished before the effective date of 
this AD in accordance with Saab Service Bulletin 2000-61-006, dated 
December 20, 2004, is acceptable for compliance with paragraph (f) 
of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for 
this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 
CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (i) Swedish airworthiness directive 1-198, dated February 14, 
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 24, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-17404 Filed 8-31-05; 8:45 am]
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