[Federal Register: January 24, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 16)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 4125-4127]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24ja08-36]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0047; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-295-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional
Jet Series 100 & 440) Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness
directive (AD) that applies to certain Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19
(Regional Jet Series 100 & 400) airplanes. The existing AD currently
requires revising the airworthiness limitations section of the
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness of the maintenance
requirements manual (MRM) by incorporating procedures for repetitive
functional tests of the pilot input lever of the pitch feel simulator
(PFS) units. That AD also requires new repetitive functional tests of
the pilot input lever of the PFS unit, and corrective actions if
necessary; and after initiating the new tests, requires removal of the
existing procedures for the repetitive functional tests from the MRM.
This new action would require revised procedures for the functional
tests. This proposed AD results from a report that the shear pin
located in the input lever of two PFS units failed due to fatigue. We
are proposing this AD to prevent undetected failure of the shear pins
of both PFS units simultaneously, which could result in loss of pitch
feel forces and consequent reduced control of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 25,
2008.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
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.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this AD, contact Bombardier,
Inc., Canadair, Aerospace Group, P.O. Box 6087, Station Centre-ville,
Montreal, Quebec H3C 3G9, Canada.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Parrillo, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Flight Test Branch, ANE-172, New York Aircraft
Certification Office, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury,
New York 11590; telephone 516-228-7305; fax 516-794-5531.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2008-0047;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-295-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
On March 21, 2006, we issued AD 2006-05-11 R1, amendment 39-14528
(71 FR 15323, March 28, 2006), for certain Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19
(Regional Jet Series 100 & 400) airplanes. That AD requires revising
the airworthiness limitations section of the Instructions for Continued
Airworthiness of the maintenance requirements manual (MRM) by
incorporating procedures for repetitive functional tests of the pilot
input lever of the pitch feel simulator (PFS) units. That AD also
requires new repetitive functional tests of the pilot input lever of
the PFS unit, and corrective actions if necessary; and after initiating
the new tests, requires removal of the existing procedures for the
repetitive functional tests from the MRM. That AD resulted from a
report that the shear pin located in the input lever of two PFS units
failed due to fatigue. We issued that AD to prevent undetected failure
of the shear pin of both PFS units simultaneously, which could result
in loss of pitch feel forces and consequent reduced control of the
airplane.
Relevant Service Information
AD 2006-05-11 R1 cited Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A601R-27-
144, Revision A, dated February 14, 2006, as the appropriate source of
service information for the functional tests and associated corrective
actions and reporting requirements. Since we issued that AD, Bombardier
has revised the service bulletin. Revision B, dated December 20, 2006,
revises the column check procedures by specifying ambient temperature
conditions for performing the check. Remaining actions are unchanged.
Revision B of the service bulletin contains an additional
requirement. So we must supersede AD 2006-05-11 R1 to require the
revised procedures specified in Revision B of the service bulletin.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
These airplanes are manufactured in Canada and are type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to
[[Page 4126]]
this bilateral airworthiness agreement, TCCA has kept the FAA informed
of the situation described above. We have examined TCCA's findings,
evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that AD action is
necessary for airplanes of this type design that are certificated for
operation in the United States.
This proposed AD would supersede AD 2006-05-11 R1 and retain its
requirements, but in accordance with revised procedures for the
functional tests.
Interim Action
This is considered to be interim action. The inspection reports
that are required by this AD will enable the manufacturer to obtain
better insight into the nature, cause, and extent of the failures of
the shear pins of the PFS units, and eventually to develop final action
to address the unsafe condition. Once final action has been identified,
we might consider further rulemaking.
Costs of Compliance
The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators
to comply with this proposed AD.
Estimated Costs
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Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours Average labor Cost per airplane registered Fleet cost
rate per hour airplanes
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Revise MRM..................... 1 $80 $80................................ 684 $54,720.
Functional tests............... 1 $80 $80, per test cycle................ 684 $54,720, per test cycle.
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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 have 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. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the
ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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
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]
2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
removing amendment 39-14528 (71 FR 15323, March 28, 2006) and adding
the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
Bombardier, Inc. (Formerly Canadair): Docket No. FAA-2008-0047;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-295-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by February
25, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2006-05-11 R1.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional
Jet Series 100 & 400) airplanes, certificated in any category,
serial numbers 7003 through 7990 inclusive, and 8000 and subsequent.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report that the shear pin located in
the input lever of two pitch feel simulator (PFS) units failed due
to fatigue. We are issuing this AD to prevent undetected failure of
the shear pins of both PFS units simultaneously, which could result
in loss of pitch feel forces and consequent reduced control of the
airplane.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Restatement of Requirements of AD 2006-05-11 R1
Revise Airworthiness Limitations (AWL) Section of Maintenance
Requirements Manual
(f) For airplanes having serial numbers 7003 through 7990
inclusive: Within 14 days after February 13, 2004 (the effective
date of AD 2004-02-07, which was superseded by AD 2006-05-11 R1),
revise the AWL section of the Instructions for Continued
Airworthiness of the maintenance requirements manual by
incorporating the functional check of the PFS pilot input lever,
Task R27-31-A024-01, as specified in Bombardier Temporary Revision
(TR) 2B-1784, dated October 24, 2003, to the CL-600-2B19 Canadair
Regional Jet Maintenance Requirements Manual, Part 2, Appendix B,
``Airworthiness Limitations,'' into the AWL section.
New Repetitive Functional Tests and Corrective Actions
(g) Before the accumulation of 4,000 total flight hours, or
within 100 flight hours after March 27, 2006 (the effective date of
AD 2006-05-11 R1), whichever occurs later: Do a functional test of
the pilot input lever of the PFS units to determine if the lever is
disconnected, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of
Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A601R-27-144, Revision A, dated
February 14, 2006,
[[Page 4127]]
including Appendix A, dated September 15, 2005, except as required
by paragraph (j) of this AD. Repeat the test at intervals not to
exceed 100 flight hours. Accomplishing the initial functional test
terminates the requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD and the
repetitive functional checks of the PFS pilot input lever, Task R27-
31-A024-01, as specified in the AWL section of the Instructions for
Continued Airworthiness of CL-600-2B19 Canadair Regional Jet
Maintenance Requirements Manual.
(h) If any lever is found to be disconnected during any
functional test required by paragraph (g) of this AD, do the actions
specified in paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(2) of this AD in accordance
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Alert Service
Bulletin A601R-27-144, Revision A, dated February 14, 2006,
including Appendix A, dated September 15, 2005, except as required
by paragraph (j) of this AD.
(1) Before further flight, replace the defective PFS with a
serviceable PFS in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions
of the alert service bulletin; and
(2) Within 30 days after removing the defective PFS, submit a
test report to the manufacturer in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of the alert service bulletin. Under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.),
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the
information collection requirements contained in this AD and has
assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056.
Previously Accomplished Actions
(i) Actions done before March 27, 2006, in accordance with
Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A601R-27-144, including Appendix
A, dated September 15, 2005, are acceptable for compliance with the
requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD.
New Requirements of This AD
New Service Bulletin for Functional Tests
(j) As of the effective date of this AD, Bombardier Alert
Service Bulletin A601R-27-144, Revision B, dated December 20, 2006,
including Appendix A, Revision A, dated December 20, 2006, must be
used for the actions required by paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(k)(1) The Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if
requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
(2) To request a different method of compliance or a different
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19.
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local
FSDO.
Related Information
(l) Canadian airworthiness directive CF-2005-41, dated December
22, 2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 14, 2008.
Stephen P. Boyd,
Assistant Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-1167 Filed 1-23-08; 8:45 am]
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