AD 2017-17-14

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Saab AB, Saab Aeronautics Model 340A (SAAB/SF340A) airplanes. This AD was prompted by the discovery of circuit breakers of unsuitable strength that fail to protect the system from an overcurrent. This AD requires replacing certain circuit breakers. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Final rule.

Adoption of 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

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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]

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2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):

2017-17-14 Saab AB, Saab Aeronautics (Formerly Known as Saab AB,
Saab Aerosystems): Amendment 39-19004; Docket No. FAA-2017-0479;
Product Identifier 2016-NM-202-AD.

(a) Effective Date

This AD is effective October 2, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to Saab AB, Saab Aeronautics Model 340A (SAAB/
SF340A) airplanes, certificated in any category, serial numbers 004
through 138 inclusive; except those on which Saab Service Bulletin
340-33-053 (modification/removal for cargo/freighter configuration)
has been embodied.

(d) Subject

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 33, Lights.

(e) Reason

This AD was prompted by the discovery of circuit breakers of
unsuitable strength that fail to protect the system from an
overcurrent. We are issuing this AD to prevent such conditions,
which could lead to overheating of the wires and possibly result in
smoke or fire in the airplane.

(f) Compliance

Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.

(g) Replacement

Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD: Replace any
circuit breaker having part number (P/N) MS3320-10 installed at
position 2LJ (L25) and position 4LJ (L26) with a circuit breaker
having P/N MS3320-7-5, in accordance with the Accomplishment

[[Page 40690]]

Instructions of Saab Service Bulletin 340-33-058, Revision 01, dated
October 21, 2016.

(h) Parts Installation Prohibition

As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a
circuit breaker having P/N MS3320-10 on any passenger reading light
system at position 2LJ (L25) or position 4LJ (L26), 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 340-33-058,
dated May 30, 2016.

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions

The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
International Section, Transport Standards 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 local Flight
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information
directly to the manager of the International Section, send it to the
attentionof the person identified in paragraph (k)(2) of this AD.
Information may be emailed to: 9-ANM-116-AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov.
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.
(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International
Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA; or the European Aviation
Safety Agency (EASA); or Saab AB, Saab Aeronautics' EASA Design
Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval
must include the DOA-authorized signature.

(k) Related Information

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information
(MCAI) EASA Airworthiness Directive 2016-0234, dated November 24,
2016, for related information. This MCAI may be found in the AD
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0479.
(2) For more information about this AD, contact Shahram
Daneshmandi, Aerospace Engineer, International Section, Transport
Standards Branch, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356;
telephone 425-227-1112; fax 425-227-1149.
(3) Service information identified in this AD that is not
incorporated by reference is available at the addresses specified in
paragraphs (l)(3) and (l)(4) of this AD.

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Saab Service Bulletin 340-33-058, Revision 01, dated October
21, 2016.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact Saab
AB, Saab Aeronautics, SE-581 88, Link[ouml]ping, Sweden; telephone
+46 13 18 5591; fax +46 13 18 4874; email
saab340techsupport@saabgroup.com; Internet http://www.saabgroup.com.
(4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Transport
Standards Branch, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
(5) You may view this 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: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Saab AB, Saab
Aeronautics Model 340A (SAAB/SF340A) airplanes. The NPRM published in
the Federal Register on May 22, 2017 (82 FR 23158) (``the NPRM'').
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2016-0234, dated November 24, 2016 (referred to
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for Saab AB, Saab
Aeronautics Model 340A (SAAB/SF340A) airplanes. The MCAI states:

Circuit breakers of an unsuitable strength have been found
installed on SAAB SF340A aeroplanes, failing in protecting the
system from an overcurrent.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to the overheating
of wires, possibly resulting in smoke or fire on the aeroplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition, Saab issued [service
bulletin] SB 340-33-058 (later revised) to provide instructions for
replacement of circuit breakers.
For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires
replacement of circuit

[[Page 40689]]

breakers of unsuitable strength in the passenger reading light
system.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
0479.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting this AD as proposed except for
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Saab Service Bulletin 340-33-058, Revision 01, dated
October 21, 2016. The service information describes procedures for
replacing any circuit breaker having part number (P/N) MS3320-10
installed at position 2LJ (L25) and position 4LJ (L26) with a circuit
breaker having P/N MS3320-7-5. This service information 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

We estimate that this AD affects 19 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Replacement........................ 2 work-hours x $85 per hour $220 $390 $7,410
= $170.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the
authority to issue ADs applicable to transport category airplanes tothe Director of the System Oversight Division.

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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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