Airworthiness Directives; Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems Model SAAB 2000 Airplanes, 52877-52880 [E9-24542]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 198 (Thursday, October 15, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52877-52880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-24542]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0909; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-172-AD; 
Amendment 39-16045; AD 2007-23-05 R1]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems Model SAAB 
2000 Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above that would revise an existing AD. This AD results 
from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated 
by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an 
unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 
condition as:


[[Page 52878]]


    Subsequent to accidents involving Fuel Tank System explosions in 
flight * * * and on ground, * * * Special Federal Aviation 
Regulation 88 (SFAR88) * * * required a safety review of the 
aircraft Fuel Tank System * * *.
* * * * *
    Fuel Airworthiness Limitations are items arising from a systems 
safety analysis that have been shown to have failure mode(s) 
associated with an `unsafe condition' * * *. These are identified in 
Failure Conditions for which an unacceptable probability of ignition 
risk could exist if specific tasks and/or practices are not 
performed in accordance with the manufacturers' requirements.

    This AD requires actions that are intended to address the unsafe 
condition described in the MCAI.

DATES: This AD becomes effective October 30, 2009.
    On December 11, 2007 (72 FR 62564, November 6, 2007), the Director 
of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of 
certain publications listed in the AD.
    We must receive comments on this AD by November 30, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://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 W12-40, 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 AD, contact Saab 
Aircraft AB, SAAB Aerosystems, SE 581 88, Link[ouml]ping, Sweden; 
telephone +46 13 18 5591; fax +46 13 18 4874; e-mail 
saab2000.techsupport@saabgroup.com; Internet https://www.saabgroup.com.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at https://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 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, Washington 98057-3356; 
telephone (425) 227-1112; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On October 27, 2007, we issued AD 2007-23-05, Amendment 39-15251 
(72 FR 62564, November 6, 2007). That AD applied to all Saab Model SAAB 
2000 airplanes. That AD required revising the Airworthiness Limitations 
Section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness.
    Critical design configuration control limitations (CDCCLs) are 
limitation requirements to preserve a critical ignition source 
prevention feature of the fuel tank system design that is necessary to 
prevent the occurrence of an unsafe condition. The purpose of a CDCCL 
is to provide instruction to retain the critical ignition source 
prevention feature during configuration change that may be caused by 
alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions. A CDCCL is not a periodic 
inspection.
    Since we issued that AD, we have determined that it is necessary to 
clarify the AD's intended effect on spare and on-airplane fuel tank 
system components, regarding the use of maintenance manuals and 
instructions for continued airworthiness.
    Section 91.403(c) of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 
91.403(c)) specifies the following:

    No person may operate an aircraft for which a manufacturer's 
maintenance manual or instructions for continued airworthiness has 
been issued that contains an airworthiness limitation section unless 
the mandatory * * * procedures * * * have been complied with.

    Some operators have questioned whether existing components affected 
by the new CDCCLs must be reworked. We did not intend for the AD to 
retroactively require rework of components that had been maintained 
using acceptable methods before the effective date of the AD. Owners 
and operators of the affected airplanes therefore are not required to 
rework affected components identified as airworthy or installed on the 
affected airplanes before the required revisions of the ALS. But once 
the CDCCLs are incorporated into the ALS, future maintenance actions on 
components must be done in accordance with those CDCCLs.

FAA's Determination

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States.

Differences Between the AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in 
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it 
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the 
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these 
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information 
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
    We might also have required different actions in this AD from those 
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are 
highlighted in a note within the AD.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    This revision merely clarifies the intended effect on spare and on-
airplane fuel tank system components, and makes no substantive change 
to the AD's requirements. For this reason, it is found that notice and 
opportunity for prior public comment for this action are unnecessary, 
and good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 
30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public 
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2009-0909; Directorate 
Identifier 2009-NM-172-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of 
those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this 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

[[Page 52879]]

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 AD will not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 AD:
    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. 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 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.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing amendment 39-15251 (72 FR 
62564, November 6, 2007) and adding the following new AD:

2007-23-05 R1 Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems: Amendment 39-16045. Docket 
No. FAA-2009-0909; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-172-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective October 
30, 2009.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD revises AD 2007-23-05.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems Model SAAB 
2000 airplanes, certificated in any category, all serial numbers.

    Note 1: This AD requires revisions to certain operator 
maintenance documents to include new inspections. Compliance with 
these inspections is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes 
that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the 
areas addressed by these inspections, the operator may not be able 
to accomplish the inspections described in the revisions. In this 
situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must 
request approval for an alternative method of compliance according 
to paragraph (g) of this AD. The request should include a 
description of changes to the required inspections that will ensure 
the continued operational safety of the airplane.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 28: Fuel.

Reason

    (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states:
    Subsequent to accidents involving Fuel Tank System explosions in 
flight * * * and on ground, the FAA published Special Federal 
Aviation Regulation 88 (SFAR 88) in June 2001. SFAR 88 required a 
safety review of the aircraft Fuel Tank System to determine that the 
design meets the requirements of FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation) 
Sec.  25.901 and Sec.  25.981(a) and (b).
    A similar regulation has been recommended by the JAA (Joint 
Aviation Authorities) to the European National Aviation Authorities 
in JAA letter 04/00/02/07/03-L024 of 3 February 2003. The review was 
requested to be mandated by NAA's (National Aviation Authorities) 
using JAR (Joint Aviation Regulation) Sec.  25.901(c), Sec.  
25.1309.
    In August 2005 EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) published 
a policy statement on the process for developing instructions for 
maintenance and inspection of Fuel Tank System ignition source 
prevention (EASA D 2005/CPRO, www.easa.eu.int/home/cert_policy_statements_en.html) that also included the EASA expectations with 
regard to compliance times of the corrective actions on the unsafe 
and the not unsafe part of the harmonised design review results. On 
a global scale the TC (type certificate) holders committed 
themselves to the EASA published compliance dates (see EASA policy 
statement). The EASA policy statement has been revised in March 
2006: the date of 31-12-2005 for the unsafe related actions has now 
been set at 01-07-2006.
    Fuel Airworthiness Limitations are items arising from a systems 
safety analysis that have been shown to have failure mode(s) 
associated with an `unsafe condition' as defined in FAA's memo 2003-
112-15 `SFAR 88--Mandatory Action Decision Criteria'. These are 
identified in Failure Conditions for which an unacceptable 
probability of ignition risk could exist if specific tasks and/or 
practices are not performed in accordance with the manufacturers' 
requirements.
    This EASA Airworthiness Directive mandates the Fuel System 
Airworthiness Limitations (comprising maintenance/inspection tasks 
and Critical Design Configuration Control Limitations (CDCCL)) for 
the type of aircraft, that resulted from the design reviews and the 
JAA recommendation and EASA policy statement mentioned above.
    The corrective action is revising the Airworthiness Limitations 
Section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to 
incorporate new limitations for fuel tank systems.

Restatement of AD 2007-23-05, With No Changes

Actions and Compliance

    (f) Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) Within 3 months after December 11, 2007 (the effective date 
of AD 2007-23-05), revise the ALS of the Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness to incorporate the maintenance and inspection 
instructions in Part 1 of Saab Fuel Airworthiness Limitations 2000 
LKS 009032, dated February 14, 2006. For all tasks identified in 
Part 1 of Saab Fuel Airworthiness Limitations 2000 LKS 009032, dated 
February 14, 2006, the initial compliance times start from December 
11, 2007, and the repetitive inspections must be accomplished 
thereafter at the interval specified in Part 1 of Saab Fuel 
Airworthiness Limitations 2000 LKS 009032, dated February 14, 2006.
    (2) Within 12 months after December 11, 2007, revise the ALS of 
the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate the 
CDCCLs as defined in Part 2 of Saab Fuel Airworthiness Limitations 
2000 LKS 009032, dated February 14, 2006.
    (3) Except as provided by paragraph (g) of this AD: After 
accomplishing the actions specified in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) 
of this AD, no alternative inspection, inspection intervals, or 
CDCCLs may be used.
    (4) Where Saab Fuel Airworthiness Limitations 2000 LKS 009032, 
dated February 14, 2006, allows for exceptional short-term 
extensions, an exception is acceptable to the FAA if it is approved 
by the appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

New Information:

Explanation of CDCCL Requirements

    Note 2: Notwithstanding any other maintenance or operational 
requirements, components that have been identified as airworthy or 
installed on the affected airplanes before the revision of the 
airworthiness limitations section (ALS), as required by paragraph 
(f) of this AD, do not need to be reworked in accordance with the

[[Page 52880]]

CDCCLs. However, once the airworthiness limitations section has been 
revised, future maintenance actions on these components must be done 
in accordance with the CDCCLs.

FAA AD Differences

    Note 3: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information 
as follows: No differences.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (g) 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. Send information to ATTN: 
Shahram Daneshmandi, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-
116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-1112; fax (425) 
227-1149. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which 
the AMOC applies, notify your principal maintenance inspector (PMI) 
or principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a 
principal inspector, your local Flight Standards 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: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information 
collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-
0056.

Related Information

    (h) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 
Directive 2006-0199, dated July 11, 2006; and Saab Fuel 
Airworthiness Limitations 2000 LKS 009032, dated February 14, 2006; 
for related information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Saab Fuel Airworthiness Limitations 2000 LKS 
009032, dated February 14, 2006, to do the actions required by this 
AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register previously approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information on December 
11, 2007 (72 FR 62564, November 6, 2007).
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Saab 
Aircraft AB, SAAB Aerosystems, SE 581 88, Link[ouml]ping, Sweden; 
telephone +46 13 18 5591; fax +46 13 18 4874; e-mail 
saab2000.techsupport@saabgroup.com; Internet https://www.saabgroup.com.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington. For information on the availability of this material at 
the FAA, call 425-227-1221 or 425-227-1152.
    (4) You may also review copies of the service information that 
is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 18, 2009.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-24542 Filed 10-14-09; 8:45 am]
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