Airworthiness Directives; Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 86 (Thursday, May 3, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26158-26160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10469]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-1410; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-033-AD; 
Amendment 39-17038; AD 2012-09-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems Model SAAB 2000 airplanes. This AD was 
prompted by reports of hydraulic accumulator failure. This AD requires 
replacing certain hydraulic accumulators with stainless steel hydraulic 
accumulators, and structural modifications in the nose landing gear 
bay. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of hydraulic 
accumulators, which may result in damage to the airplane and injury to 
occupants.

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 7, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 7, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West

[[Page 26159]]

Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC.

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

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2011 
(76 FR 81889). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for 
the specified products. The MCAI states:

    Three cases of failure have been reported, affecting the same 
type of hydraulic accumulator as installed on SAAB 2000 aeroplanes, 
although all occurred on other aeroplane types. The reported cause 
of these failures has been traced to corrosion. Any of the end parts 
on the accumulator may depart from the pressure vessel if they are 
affected by corrosion.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, may lead to 
fatigue failure of a hydraulic accumulator, possibly resulting in 
damage to the aeroplane and injury to occupants. In addition, a 
quality issue during the replacement of the base material in the end 
parts of the accumulator may have affected the service life of the 
accumulator.
    To address this unsafe condition, SAAB has introduced a new type 
of hydraulic accumulator, which is made of stainless steel.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires the 
replacement of all Part Number (P/N) 08 8423 030 1 hydraulic 
accumulators with stainless steel P/N 40800-2050 hydraulic 
accumulators and associated structural modifications in the nose 
landing gear bay.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We have considered the comment received.

Request To Include a Statement From the Service Information

    Saab AB (the commenter) requested that we revise the NPRM (76 FR 
81889, December 29, 2011) to include a statement as follows: ``In 
addition, a quality issue during the replacement of the base material 
in the end parts of the accumulator may have affected the service life 
of the accumulator.''
    We infer that the commenter requested that we add the statement to 
the Discussion section of the NPRM (76 FR 81889, December 29, 2011). We 
agree that Saab Service Bulletin 2000-29-024, Revision 01, dated 
November 5, 2010, states, ``In addition, a qualification issue during 
the change of the base material, for the end parts of the accumulator 
back in 1993, can have affected the life limit of the accumulator.'' 
However, we have not included the statement in the final rule because 
we do not restate the Discussion section in the final rule. We have not 
changed the AD in this regard.

Explanation of Additional Change Made to This AD

    We have revised the heading and wording in paragraph (i) of this 
AD; this change has not changed the intent of that paragraph.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data, including the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the 
AD with the changes described previously--except for minor editorial 
changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (76 FR 81889, December 29, 2011) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (76 FR 81889, December 29, 2011).

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 8 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it will take about 12 work-hours per product to 
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate 
is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $9,995 per 
product. Where the service information lists required parts costs that 
are covered under warranty, we have assumed that there will be no 
charge for these parts. As we do not control warranty coverage for 
affected parties, some parties may incur costs higher than estimated 
here. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the 
U.S. operators to be $88,120, or $11,015 per product.

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 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 that 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);
    3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and
    4. 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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://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 the NPRM (76 FR 81889, December 29, 
2011), 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

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

[[Page 26160]]

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 adding the following new AD:

2012-09-03 Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems: Amendment 39-17038. Docket No. 
FAA-2011-1410; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-033-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective June 7, 
2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

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

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 29: Hydraulic 
Power.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of hydraulic accumulator 
failure. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of hydraulic 
accumulators, which may result in damage to the airplane and injury 
to occupants.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Actions

    Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, replace 
all hydraulic accumulators having part number (P/N) 08 8423 030 1, 
with stainless steel hydraulic accumulators having P/N 40800-2050, 
and do the structural modifications in the nose landing gear bay, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Saab Service 
Bulletin 2000-29-024, Revision 01, dated November 5, 2010.

(h) Parts Installation

    After replacing hydraulic accumulators having P/N 08 8423 030 1 
with hydraulic accumulators having P/N 40800-2050, and doing the 
structural modifications in the nose landing gear bay, as required 
by paragraph (g) of this AD, no person may install any hydraulic 
accumulator having P/N 08 8423 030 1 on any airplane.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for the actions required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this AD using Saab Service Bulletin 2000-29-024, 
dated November 18, 2009.

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, ANM-
116, International Branch, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, has 
the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the International Branch, send it 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. 
Information may be emailed to:  [email protected]. 
Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal 
inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the 
local flight standards district office/certificate holding 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.

(k) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 
Directive 2011-0004, dated January 17, 2011; and Saab Service 
Bulletin 2000-29-024, Revision 01, dated November 5, 2010; for 
related information.

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) You must use the following service information to do the 
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference (IBR) of the following service information under 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51:
    (i) Saab Service Bulletin 2000-29-024, Revision 01, dated 
November 5, 2010. (2) For service information identified in this AD, 
contact Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems, SE-581 88, Link[ouml]ping, 
Sweden; telephone +46 13 18 5591; fax +46 13 18 4874; email 
[email protected]; Internet http://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.
    (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 an NARA facility, call 202-741-6030, or go to  http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 23, 2012.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-10469 Filed 5-2-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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