Rule2025-02446
Airworthiness Directives; Saab AB Airplanes
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 12, 2025
Effective
March 19, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-21- 05, which applied to certain Saab AB Model 340A (SAAB/SF340A) and SAAB 340B airplanes. AD 2017-21-05 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate airworthiness limitations, including new inspection tasks for the drag brace support fitting of the main landing gear (MLG) and tasks related to the corrosion prevention and control program (CPCP). This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2017-21-05 and requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference (IBR). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 28 (Wednesday, February 12, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 12, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9375-9377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-02446]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2024-2016; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00111-T;
Amendment 39-22948; AD 2025-02-15]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Saab AB Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-21-
05, which applied to certain Saab AB Model 340A (SAAB/SF340A) and SAAB
340B airplanes. AD 2017-21-05 required revising the existing
maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate
airworthiness limitations, including new inspection tasks for the drag
brace support fitting of the main landing gear (MLG) and tasks related
to the corrosion prevention and control program (CPCP). This AD was
prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness
limitations are necessary. This AD continues to require the actions in
AD 2017-21-05 and requires revising the existing maintenance or
inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more
restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in a European Union
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference
(IBR). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products.
DATES: This AD is effective March 19, 2025.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of March 19,
2025.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of
November 27, 2017 (82 FR 48917, October 23, 2017).
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2024-2016; 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 final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The
address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation,
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
<bullet> For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA,
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999
000; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c38287b083a6a2b0a2eda6b6b1acb3a2eda6b6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d69792a596b3b7a5b7f8b3a3a4b9a6b7f8b3a3">[email protected]</span></a>; website easa.europa.eu. You may find
this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
<bullet> For Saab AB material identified in this AD, contact Saab
AB, SE-581 88, Link[ouml]ping, Sweden; telephone +46 13 18 5591; fax
+46 13 18 4874; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f586949497c6c1c58190969d868085859a8781b58694949792879a8085db969a98"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0b786a6a69383f3b7f6e6863787e7b7b64797f4b786a6a696c79647e7b25686466">[email protected]</span></a>; website
<a href="http://saab.com/products/air/regional-aircraft">saab.com/products/air/regional-aircraft</a>.
<bullet> You may view this material 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. It is also available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2024-2016.
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#bbe8d3dad3c9dad695ffdad5dec8d3d6dad5dfd2fbdddada95dcd4cd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c596ada4adb7a4a8eb81a4aba0b6ada8a4aba1ac85a3a4a4eba2aab3">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2017-21-05, Amendment 39-19076 (82 FR
48917, October 23, 2017) (AD 2017-21-05). AD 2017-21-05 applied to
certain Saab AB Model 340A (SAAB/SF340A) and SAAB 340B airplanes. AD
2017-21-05 required revising the maintenance or inspection program, as
applicable, to incorporate airworthiness limitations, including new
inspection tasks for the drag brace support fitting of the MLG and to
implement CPCP-related tasks. The FAA issued AD 2017-21-05 to prevent
reduced structural integrity of the airplane.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on August 12, 2024 (89
FR 65568). The NPRM was prompted by
[[Page 9376]]
AD 2024-0042, dated February 13, 2024, issued by EASA, which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union (EASA AD
2024-0042) (also referred to as the MCAI). The MCAI states that new or
more restrictive airworthiness limitations have been developed.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to continue to require the actions
required in AD 2017-21-05. In the NPRM, the FAA also proposed to
require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as
applicable, to incorporate additional new or more restrictive
airworthiness limitations, as specified in EASA AD 2024-0042. The FAA
is issuing this AD to prevent reduced structural integrity of the
airplane.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2024-2016.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received a comment from an individual who supported the
NPRM without change.
Conclusion
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to
the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI
referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the
comment received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this
AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on this product. Except for minor editorial changes,
this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will
increase the economic burden on any operator.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2024-0042. This material specifies new or
more restrictive airworthiness limitations for airplane structures and
safe life limits.
This AD also requires SAAB 340 Airworthiness Limitation Manual,
Revision 1, dated December 1, 2016, which the Director of the Federal
Register approved for incorporation by reference as of November 27,
2017 (82 FR 48917, October 23, 2017).
This material is reasonably available because the interested
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by
the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 81 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
The FAA estimates the total cost per operator for the retained
actions from AD 2017-21-05 to be $7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per work-
hour).
The FAA has determined that revising the existing maintenance or
inspection program takes an average of 90 work-hours per operator,
although the agency recognizes that this number may vary from operator
to operator. Since operators incorporate maintenance or inspection
program changes for their affected fleet(s), the FAA has determined
that a per-operator estimate is more accurate than a per-airplane
estimate.
The FAA estimates the total cost per operator for the new actions
to be $7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per work-hour).
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 because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to
exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
The Amendment
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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-21-05, Amendment 39-19076
(82 FR 48917, October 23, 2017); and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:
2025-02-15 Saab AB (Formerly Known as Saab AB, Support and
Services): Amendment 39-22948; Docket No. FAA-2024-2016; Project
Identifier MCAI-2024-00111-T.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective March 19, 2025.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD replaces AD 2017-21-05, Amendment 39-19076 (82 FR 48917,
October 23, 2017) (AD 2017-21-05).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Saab AB (formerly known as Saab AB,
Support and Services) Model 340A (SAAB/SF340A) and SAAB 340B
airplanes, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 05, Time Limits/
Maintenance Checks.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more
restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The FAA is
issuing this AD to prevent reduced structural integrity of the
airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Retained Revision of the Existing Maintenance or Inspection
Program, With No Changes
This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD
2017-21-05, with no changes. For airplanes with an original
certificate of airworthiness or original export
[[Page 9377]]
certificate of airworthiness issued on or before December 1, 2016.
Within 30 days after November 27, 2017 (the effective date of AD
2017-21-05): Revise the maintenance or inspection program, as
applicable, to incorporate airworthiness limitations, including
inspection tasks for the drag brace support fitting of the main
landing gear (MLG) and corrosion prevention and control (CPCP)
related tasks, specified in SAAB 340 Airworthiness Limitation
Manual, Revision 1, dated December 1, 2016. The compliance time for
the initial airworthiness limitation tasks is at the applicable
compliance time specified in SAAB 340 Airworthiness Limitation
Manual, Revision 1, dated December 1, 2016, or within 30 days after
November 27, 2017, whichever occurs later. Accomplishing the
revision of the existing maintenance or inspection program required
by paragraph (i) of this AD terminates the requirements of this
paragraph.
(h) Retained Restrictions on Alternative Actions, Intervals, and
Critical Design Configuration Control Limitations (CDCCLs), With a New
Exception
This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (h) of AD
2017-21-05, with a new exception. Except as required by paragraph
(i) of this AD, after the maintenance or inspection program, as
applicable, has been revised as required by paragraph (g) of this
AD, no alternative actions (e.g., inspections), intervals, and/or
CDCCLs may be used unless the actions, intervals, and/or CDCCLs are
approved as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) in accordance
with the procedures specified in paragraph (l)(1) of this AD.
(i) New Revision of the Existing Maintenance or Inspection Program
Except as specified in paragraph (j) of this AD: Comply with all
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD
2024-0042, dated February 13, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0042).
Accomplishing the revision of the existing maintenance or inspection
program required by this paragraph terminates the requirements of
paragraph (g) of this AD.
(j) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0042
(1) This AD does not adopt the requirements specified in
paragraphs (1) and (2) of EASA AD 2024-0042.
(2) Paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2024-0042 specifies revising ``the
approved AMP'' within 12 months after its effective date, but this
AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program,
as applicable, within 90 days after the effective date of this AD.
(3) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in
paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2024-0042 is at the applicable
``limitations'' and ``associated thresholds'' as incorporated by the
requirements of paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2024-0042, or within 90
days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later.
(4) This AD does not adopt the provisions specified in
paragraphs (4) and (5) of EASA AD 2024-0042.
(5) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD
2024-0042.
(k) New Provisions for Alternative Actions, Intervals, and CDCCLs
After the existing maintenance or inspection program has been
revised as required by paragraph (i) of this AD, no alternative
actions (e.g., inspections), intervals, and CDCCLs are allowed
unless they are approved as specified in the provisions of the
``Ref. Publications'' section of EASA AD 2024-0042.
(l) Additional AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
International Validation Branch, 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 responsible Flight Standards Office, as
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the
International Validation Branch, mail it to the address identified
in paragraph (m) of this AD. Information may be emailed to:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5d1c10121e1d3b3c3c733a322b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a6e7ebe9e5e6c0c7c788c1c9d0">[email protected]</span></a>. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your
appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector,
the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD
to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International
Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Saab AB's EASA Design
Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval
must include the DOA-authorized signature.
(m) Additional 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#27744f464f55464a0963464942544f4a4649434e6741464609404851"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a0f3c8c1c8d2c1cd8ee4c1cec5d3c8cdc1cec4c9e0c6c1c18ec7cfd6">[email protected]</span></a>.
(n) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the material listed in this
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions
required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
(3) The following material was approved for IBR on March 19,
2025.
(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0042,
dated February 13, 2024.
(ii) [Reserved]
(4) The following material was approved for IBR on November 27,
2017 (82 FR 48917, October 23, 2017).
(i) SAAB 340 Airworthiness Limitation Manual, Revision 1, dated
December 1, 2016.
(ii) [Reserved]
(5) For the EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA,
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221
8999 000; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#37767344775256445619524245584756195242"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="85c4c1f6c5e0e4f6e4abe0f0f7eaf5e4abe0f0">[email protected]</span></a>; website easa.europa.eu. You may
find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
(6) For Saab AB material identified in this AD, contact Saab AB,
SE-581 88, Link[ouml]ping, Sweden; telephone +46 13 18 5591; fax +46
13 18 4874; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4d3e2c2c2f7e797d39282e253e383d3d223f390d3e2c2c2f2a3f22383d632e2220"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cdbeacacaffef9fdb9a8aea5beb8bdbda2bfb98dbeacacafaabfa2b8bde3aea2a0">[email protected]</span></a>; website
<a href="http://saab.com/products/air/regional-aircraft">saab.com/products/air/regional-aircraft</a>.
(7) You may view this material 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.
(8) You may view this material at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability
of this material at NARA, visit <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations</a> or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0264702c6b6c71726761766b6d6c426c6370632c656d74"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7412065a1d1a07041117001d1b1a341a1506155a131b02">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on January 24, 2025.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-02446 Filed 2-11-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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