- Effective
- October 30, 1997
- Published
- September 25, 1997 · 62 FR 50250–50251
- Amendment
- 39-10144
- Docket
- 96-NM-213-AD
- Issued as
- Final rule
Unofficial copy from the Federal Register text, document 97-25166. Only the govinfo PDF is the legal edition.
Copies of the files this page was built from, with their SHA-256. Retrieved October 18, 2026.
| File | Size | SHA-256 | Original |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official PDF | 116 KB | 77fd200c…fed8c23 | 97-25166.pdf on govinfo.gov |
| Federal Register text | 10 KB | 435322ba…cfc6344 | 97-25166.txt on federalregister.gov |
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Summary
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Saab Model SAAB 2000 series airplanes, that requires deactivation of certain floormat heaters in the cabin area. In addition, this amendment provides for optional terminating action for that deactivation. This amendment is prompted by a report indicating that a flight attendant's floormat heater became overheated as a result of a short circuit between a floormat heater and a floor panel that was made of conductive material; this condition resulted in smoke in the cabin area. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent such short circuiting, which could cause overheating of the floormat heater and lead to smoke or fire in the airplane cabin.
The airworthiness directive
97-20-06 Saab Aircraft AB: Amendment 39-10144. Docket 96-NM-213-AD.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
PDF page 22. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness directive:
Applicability: Model SAAB 2000 series airplanes, serial numbers -004 through -039 inclusive, on which Saab Modification No. 5780, as specified in Saab Service Bulletin 2000-53-020, Revision 02, dated October 18, 1996, has not been accomplished; certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously.
To prevent short circuiting between the floormat heater and the floor panel, which could cause overheating of the floormat heater and lead to smoke or fire in the airplane cabin, accomplish the following:
(a)
PDF page 2(a) Within 14 days after the effective date of the AD, deactivate the flight attendant's floormat heater by either disconnecting electrical cable HW71-20 between the floormat heater and the floor panel, or by removing fuse 17HW (1) on panel 306VU, in accordance with Saab Service Bulletin 2000-A25-022, Revision 01, dated January 23, 1996.
(b)
PDF page 2(b) Installation of a floormat heater, floor covering, and a new floor panel made of non-conductive material, in accordance with Saab Service Bulletin 2000-53-020, Revision 02, dated October 18, 1996, constitutes terminating action for the deactivation required by paragraph (a) of this AD.
(c)
PDF page 2(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used if approved by the Manager, Standardization Branch, ANM-113. Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Standardization Branch, ANM-113.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.
(d)
PDF page 2(d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(e)
PDF page 2(e) The modification shall be done in accordance with Saab Service Bulletin 2000-A25-022, Revision 01, dated January 23, 1996. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from SAAB Aircraft AB, SAAB Aircraft Product Support, S-581.88, Linkoping, Sweden. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
(f)
PDF page 2(f) This amendment becomes effective on October 30, 1997.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 17, 1997. James V. Devany, Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
Rule preamble
The FAA’s background, reasoning and cost estimate, published with the AD.
DatesPage 1
Effective October 30, 1997.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of October 30, 1997.
AddressesPage 1
The service information referenced in this AD may be obtained from SAAB Aircraft AB, SAAB Aircraft Product Support, S-581.88, Linkoing, Sweden. This information may be examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
For further information contactPage 1
Ruth Harder, Aerospace Engineer, Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-1721; fax (425) 227-1149.
Supplementary informationPage 1
A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Saab Model SAAB 2000 series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on May 22, 1997 (62 FR 27987). That action proposed to require deactivation of certain floormat heaters in the cabin area. In addition, that action proposed to provide for optional terminating action for that deactivation.
Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to the single comment received.
The commenter supports the proposed rule.
ConclusionPage 1
After careful review of the available data, including the comment noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed.
Cost impactPage 1
The FAA estimates that 3 Saab Model SAAB 2000 series airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the required deactivation, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $180, or $60 per airplane.
The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.
Should an operator elect to accomplish the optional terminating action that would be provided by this AD action, it would take approximately 2 work hours to accomplish it, at an average labor rate of $60 per work hour. Required parts would be supplied by the manufacturer to the operators at no cost. Based on these figures, the cost impact of this optional terminating action is estimated to be $120 per airplane.
Regulatory impactPage 1
The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct effects 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. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under 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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39Page 2
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety.
Adoption of the AmendmentPage 2
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:
Adoption of the amendmentPage 2
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.