Proposed Rule2024-02433
Airworthiness Directives; Saab AB, Support and Services (Formerly Known as Saab AB, Saab Aeronautics) Airplanes
Primary source
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Published
February 9, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to remove Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023- 13-07, which applies to certain Saab AB, Support and Services Model SAAB 340B airplanes. AD 2023-13-07 requires amending the applicable airplane flight manual (AFM) by incorporating a temporary revision (TR) to reduce the maximum take-off weight (MTOW). AD 2023-13-07 is no longer necessary, because of a determination that affected airplanes can be safely operated up to the initially published MTOW. Accordingly, the FAA proposes to remove AD 2023-13-07.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 28 (Friday, February 9, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 28 (Friday, February 9, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9077-9078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02433]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2024-0220; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00760-T]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Saab AB, Support and Services (Formerly
Known as Saab AB, Saab Aeronautics) Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to remove Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-
13-07, which applies to certain Saab AB, Support and Services Model
SAAB 340B airplanes. AD 2023-13-07 requires amending the applicable
airplane flight manual (AFM) by incorporating a temporary revision (TR)
to reduce the maximum take-off weight (MTOW). AD 2023-13-07 is no
longer necessary, because of a determination that affected airplanes
can be safely operated up to the initially published MTOW. Accordingly,
the FAA proposes to remove AD 2023-13-07.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 25,
2024.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2024-0220; or in person at Docket Operations between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD
docket contains this NPRM, mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Related Service Information:
<bullet> For service information identified in this NPRM, contact
EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221
8999 000; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#abeaefd8ebcecad8ca85ceded9c4dbca85cede"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="69282d1a290c081a08470c1c1b061908470c1c">[email protected]</span></a>; website easa.europa.eu. You may
find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
<bullet> You may view this service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South
216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shahram Daneshmandi, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
telephone 206-231-3220; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#66150e070e14070b4802070803150e0b0708020f2600070748010910"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1b68737a73697a76357f7a757e6873767a757f725b7d7a7a357c746d">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2024-0220; Project Identifier
MCAI-2023-00760-T'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
the proposal because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to
Shahram Daneshmandi, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart
Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 206-231-3220; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#45362d242d3724286b21242b20362d28242b212c052324246b222a33"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d1a2b9b0b9a3b0bcffb5b0bfb4a2b9bcb0bfb5b891b7b0b0ffb6bea7">[email protected]</span></a>. Any commentary that the FAA receives that
is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public
docket for this rulemaking.
Background
The FAA issued AD 2023-13-07, Amendment 39-22492 (88 FR 43052, July
6, 2023) (AD 2023-13-07), for certain Saab AB, Support and Services
Model SAAB 340B airplanes. AD 2023-13-07 was prompted by an MCAI
originated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which
is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union.
EASA issued AD 2023-0121, dated June 13, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0121) (also
referred to as the MCAI), to identify and correct an unsafe condition.
AD 2023-13-07 requires amending the applicable AFM by incorporating
a TR to reduce the MTOW. AD 2023-13-07 was prompted by a determination
that the affected airplanes must not be operated at a MTOW above 29,000
pounds. The FAA issued AD 2023-13-07 to address the possibility of
flight in an uncertified envelope, which could result in reduced
structural capability and reduced controllability of the airplane.
Actions Since AD 2023-13-07 Was Issued
Since the FAA issued AD 2023-13-07, EASA issued AD Cancellation
Notice 2023-0121-CN, dated December 8, 2023 (EASA AD Cancellation
Notice 2023-0121-CN), to cancel EASA AD 2023-0121. EASA AD Cancellation
Notice 2023-0121-CN states that since EASA AD 2023-0121 was issued,
Saab provided evidence demonstrating that affected airplanes can be
operated safely
[[Page 9078]]
up to the initially published MTOW of 30,000 pounds.
FAA's Conclusions
Upon further consideration, the FAA has determined that AD 2023-13-
07 is no longer necessary. Accordingly, this proposed AD would remove
AD 2023-13-07. Removal of AD 2023-13-07 would not preclude the FAA from
issuing another related action or commit the FAA to any course of
action in the future. This proposed AD would remove all actions of AD
2023-13-07. Therefore, this proposed AD would terminate all
requirements of AD 2023-13-07.
Related Costs of Compliance
This proposed AD would add no cost. This proposed AD would remove
AD 2023-13-07 from 14 CFR part 39; therefore, operators would no longer
be required to show compliance with that 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 detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
The FAA is 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.
Regulatory Findings
The FAA has 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, 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
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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-13-07, Amendment 39-22492
(88 FR 43052, July 6, 2023), and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:
Saab AB, Support and Services (formerly known as Saab AB, Saab
Aeronautics): Docket No. FAA-2024-0220; Project Identifier MCAI-
2023-00760-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by March 25, 2024.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD replaces AD 2023-13-07, Amendment 39-22492 (88 FR 43052,
July 6, 2023) (AD 2023-13-07).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Saab AB, Support and Services (formerly known
as Saab AB, Saab Aeronautics) Model SAAB 340B airplanes,
certificated in any category, as identified in European Union
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2023-0121, dated June 13, 2023:
airplanes not having SAAB modification 2571 (extended wingtip
modification) embodied and having GE Aviation Systems LTD (Dowty
Propellers) installed.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 51, Standard
practices/structures.
(e) Terminating Action
This AD terminates all requirements of AD 2023-13-07.
(f) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Shahram Daneshmandi,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 206-231-3220; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#93e0fbf2fbe1f2febdf7f2fdf6e0fbfef2fdf7fad3f5f2f2bdf4fce5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d5a6bdb4bda7b4b8fbb1b4bbb0a6bdb8b4bbb1bc95b3b4b4fbb2baa3">[email protected]</span></a>.
(g) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
Issued on February 1, 2024.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-02433 Filed 2-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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