[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 153 (Monday, August 10, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42598-42600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21261]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 98-NM-190-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 supersedure of an existing
airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Saab Model SAAB
2000 series airplanes, that currently requires deactivation of certain
floormat heaters in the cabin area. In addition, that AD provides for
optional terminating action for that deactivation. This action would
remove the optional terminating action of the existing AD and would add
airplanes to the applicability of the existing AD.
[[Page 42599]]
This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing
airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent short
circuiting between the flight attendant's floormat heater and the floor
panel, which could cause overheating of the floormat heater and lead to
smoke or fire in the airplane cabin.
DATES: Comments must be received by September 9, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-NM-190-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, Linkoping, Sweden. This information may be examined at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norman B. Martenson, Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
227-2110; 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 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 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 notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 98-NM-190-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. 98-NM-190-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
On September 17, 1997, the FAA issued AD 97-20-06, amendment 39-
10144 (62 FR 50250, September 25, 1997), applicable to certain Saab
Model SAAB 2000 series airplanes, to require deactivation of certain
floormat heaters in the cabin area. In addition, that AD provides for
optional terminating action for that deactivation. That action was
prompted by a report indicating that a flight attendant's floormat
heater became overheated as a result of a short circuit between a
floormat heater and a floor panel that was made of conductive material;
this condition resulted in smoke in the cabin area. The requirements of
that AD are intended to prevent such short circuiting, which could
cause overheating of the floormat heater and lead to smoke or fire in
the airplane cabin.
Actions Since Issuance of Previous Rule
Since the issuance of that AD, the manufacturer has advised that
the optional terminating action provided by AD 97-20-06 (reference Saab
Service Bulletin 2000-53-020, Revision 02, dated October 18, 1996) does
not eliminate the potential for a short circuit between the floormat
heater and the floor panel. That optional terminating action involves
the installation of a floor panel made of nonconductive material.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
Saab has issued Alert Service Bulletin 2000-A25-080, Revision 01,
dated April 3, 1998, which describes procedures for deactivation of
certain floormat heaters in the cabin area. In addition, Revision 01 of
the alert service bulletin revises the effectivity of the original
issue to increase the number of airplanes affected by the identified
unsafe condition. Accomplishment of the action specified in the alert
service bulletin is intended to adequately address the identified
unsafe condition. The Luftfartsverket (LFV), which is the airworthiness
authority for Sweden, classified this alert service bulletin as
mandatory and issued Swedish airworthiness directive 1-124, dated March
30, 1998, 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 supersede AD 97-20-06 to
continue to require deactivation of certain floormat heaters in the
cabin area. This action would remove the optional terminating action of
the existing AD and would add airplanes to the applicability of the
existing AD. The actions would be required to be accomplished in
accordance with the alert service bulletin described previously in this
proposed AD, or in accordance with Saab Service Bulletin 2000-A25-022,
Revision 01, dated January 23, 1996, as specified in AD 97-20-06.
Cost Impact
There are approximately 3 airplanes of U.S. registry that would be
affected by this proposed AD.
The deactivation that is currently required by AD 97-20-06 takes
approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish, at an average
labor rate of $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost
impact of the deactivation currently required by AD 97-20-06 on U.S.
operators is estimated to be $180, or $60 per airplane.
The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that
no operator has yet accomplished any of the current or proposed
requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish
those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.
[[Page 42600]]
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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing amendment 39-10144 (62 FR
50250, September 25, 1997), and by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD), to read as follows:
SAAB Aircraft AB: Docket 98-NM-190-AD. Supersedes AD 97-20-06,
Amendment 39-10144.
Applicability: Model SAAB 2000 series airplanes, serial numbers
-004 through -064 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
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)(1)
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 short circuiting between the flight attendant's
floormat heater and the floor panel, which could cause overheating
of the floormat heater and lead to smoke or fire in the airplane
cabin, accomplish the following:
Restatement of the Requirements of AD 97-20-06:
(a) For airplanes having serial numbers -004 through -039
inclusive, on which Saab Modification No. 5780, as specified in Saab
Service Bulletin 2000-53-020, Revision 02, dated October 18, 1996,
has not been accomplished: Within 14 days after October 30, 1997
(the effective date of AD 97-20-06, amendment 39-10144), deactivate
the flight attendant's floormat heater by either disconnecting
electrical cable HW71-20 between the floormat heater and the floor
panel, or by removing fuse 17HW (1) on panel 306VU, in accordance
with Saab Service Bulletin 2000-A25-022, Revision 01, dated January
23, 1996, or Saab Alert Service Bulletin 2000-A25-080, Revision 01,
dated April 3, 1998.
New Requirements of This AD:
(b) For airplanes other than those identified in paragraph (a)
of this AD: Within 14 days after the effective date of this AD,
deactivate the flight attendant's floormat heater by either
disconnecting electrical cable HW71-20 between the floormat heater
and the floor panel, or by removing fuse 17HW (1) on panel 306VU, in
accordance with Saab Service Bulletin 2000-A25-022, Revision 01,
dated January 23, 1996, or Saab Alert Service Bulletin 2000-A25-080,
Revision 01, dated April 3, 1998.
(c)(1) 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, 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.
(2) Alternative methods of compliance relating to the
deactivation, approved previously in accordance with AD 97-20-06,
amendment 39-10144, are approved as alternative methods of
compliance with paragraph (a) of this AD.
(3) Alternative methods of compliance relating to the optional
terminating action of AD 97-20-06, amendment 39-10144, approved
previously in accordance with that AD, are not considered to be
approved as alternative methods of compliance with this AD.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116.
(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 Swedish
airworthiness directive 1-124, dated March 30, 1998.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 3, 1998.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-21261 Filed 8-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
