2012-3892. Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc. Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702) airplanes; Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) airplanes; and Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of aileron control stiffness. This AD requires revising the maintenance program to incorporate the discard task for outboard wing aileron pulleys. We are issuing this AD to prevent aileron control stiffness during flight, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

DATES:

This AD becomes effective April 4, 2012.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 4, 2012.

ADDRESSES:

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Cesar Gomez, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe and Mechanical Systems Branch, ANE-171, FAA, New York Aircraft Certification Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, New York 11590; telephone [phone]; fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on November 8, 2011 (76 FR 69161). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

A number of reports of aileron control stiffness have been received on Bombardier Regional Jet aeroplanes. Bombardier has reviewed the current maintenance tasks for the aileron control system and determined that an additional maintenance task is required.

This directive mandates revision of the approved maintenance schedule to incorporate the discard task for outboard wing aileron pulleys to prevent aileron control stiffness during flight which could result in reduced controllability of the aeroplane.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We considered the comment received. The commenter, Air Line Pilots Association, International, supports the NPRM (76 FR 69161, November 8, 2011).

Conclusion

We reviewed the available data, including the comment received, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the 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 (76 FR 69161, November 8, 2011) for correcting the unsafe condition; and
• Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed in the NPRM (76 FR 69161, November 8, 2011).

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 398 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1 work-hour per product to comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the U.S. operators to be $33,830, or $85 per product.

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 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 this 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);

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.

We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov;​; or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains the NPRM (76 FR 69161, November 8, 2011), the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations office (telephone [phone]) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Incorporation by reference
• Safety

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

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2012-04-02 Bombardier, Inc.: Amendment 39-16957. Docket No. FAA-2011-1227; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-100-AD.

(a) Effective Date

This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective April 4, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to all Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702) airplanes; Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) airplanes; and Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes; certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27: Flight controls.

(e) Reason

This AD was prompted by reports of aileron control stiffness. We are issuing this AD to prevent aileron control stiffness during flight, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done.

(g) Actions

Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD: Revise the maintenance program to incorporate Task 271000-218, Discard of the Outboard Wing Aileron Pulleys, as specified in Bombardier Temporary Revision (TR) 1-41, dated October 22, 2010, to Section 2—Systems/Powerplant Program of Part 1 of the Bombardier CL-600-2C10, CL-600-2D15, CL-600-2D24, CL-600-2E25 Maintenance Requirements Manual (MRM). For this task, the initial compliance time starts at the applicable time specified in paragraphs (g)(1), (g)(2), (g)(3), or (g)(4) of this AD. Thereafter, operate the airplane according to the procedures and compliance times in Bombardier TR 1-41, dated October 22, 2010.

(1) For airplanes with 10,000 or less total flight hours as of the effective date of this AD: Prior to the outboard wing aileron pulley accumulating 12,000 total flight hours.

(2) For airplanes with more than 10,000 total flight hours but with 16,000 total flight hours or less as of the effective date of this AD: Prior to the outboard wing aileron pulley accumulating 17,300 total flight hours, or within 2,000 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, whichever is earlier.

(3) For airplanes with more than 16,000 total flight hours but with 20,000 total flight hours or less as of the effective date of this AD: Prior to the outboard wing aileron pulley accumulating 20,800 total flight hours, or within 1,300 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, whichever is earlier.

(4) For airplanes with more than 20,000 total flight hours as of the effective date of this AD: Within 800 flight hours after the effective date of this AD.

Note 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD:

The actions required by paragraph (g) of this AD may be done by inserting a copy of Bombardier TR 1-41, dated October 22, 2010, into Section 2—Systems/Powerplant Program of Part 1 of the Bombardier CL-600-2C10, CL-600-2D15, CL-600-2D24, CL-600-2E25 MRM. When this TR has been included in the general revisions of the MRM, the general revisions may be inserted in the MRM, and the TR may be removed from the MRM, provided that the relevant information in the general revision is identical to that in Bombardier TR 1-41, dated October 22, 2010.

(h) No Alternative Actions or Intervals

After accomplishing the revision required by paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., inspections) or intervals may be used unless the actions or intervals are approved as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD.

(i) Other FAA AD Provisions

The following provisions also apply to this AD:

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), ANE-170, 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 ACO, send it to ATTN: Program Manager, Continuing Operational Safety, FAA, New York ACO, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, New York 11590; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]. 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. The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service.

(j) Related Information

Refer to MCAI Transport Canada Civil Aviation Airworthiness Directive CF-2011-07, dated April 26, 2011; and Bombardier TR 1-41, dated October 22, 2010, to Section 2—Systems/Powerplant Program of Part 1 of the Bombardier CL-600-2C10, CL-600-2D15, CL-600-2D24, CL-600-2E25 MRM; for related information.

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

(1) You must use the following service information to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the following service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51:

(i) Bombardier Temporary Revision 1-41, dated October 22, 2010, to Section 2—Systems/Powerplant Program of Part 1 of the Bombardier CL-600-2C10, CL-600-2D15, CL-600-2D24, CL-600-2E25 Maintenance Requirements Manual, approved for IBR April 4, 2012.

(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Bombardier, Inc., 400 Côte-Vertu Road West, Dorval, Québec H4S 1Y9, Canada; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]; email [e-mail]; Internet http://www.bombardier.com.

(3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

(4) You may also review copies of the service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at an NARA facility, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/​federal_​register/​code_​of_​federal_​regulations/​ibr_​locations.html.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 9, 2012.

Ali Bahrami,

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.