2018-09729. Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc., Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracking at the fastener holes of the left-hand-side support bracket of the elevator bell crank for the control linkage in the vertical stabilizer. This proposed AD would require an eddy current inspection on certain support brackets of the elevator bell crank for any cracking at the fastener holes, a measurement to confirm that the fastener hole diameters are within tolerance, and replacement with a new support bracket of the elevator bell crank if necessary. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES:

We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 22, 2018.

ADDRESSES:

You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: [phone].
• 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

For service information identified in this NPRM, 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. You may view this service information at the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0397; 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 NPRM, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Neil Doh, Aerospace Engineer, Aviation Safety Section, FAA, Boston ACO Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

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-2018-0397; Product Identifier 2017-NM-163-AD” at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM based on 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 NPRM.

Discussion

Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation authority for Canada, has issued Canadian AD CF-2017-32, dated October 10, 2017 (referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or “the MCAI”), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes. The MCAI states:

During a repair on an aircraft in-service, cracking was observed at the fastener holes of the left hand side elevator bell crank support bracket for the control linkage in the vertical stabilizer. Further investigation confirmed the presence of similar cracking on other aircraft on both the left and right hand side brackets. An investigation found that the fastener holes on some brackets did not conform to the required tolerance and fastener installation resulted in fastener hole cracks.

This [Canadian] AD requires an inspection of both elevator bell crank support brackets, and replacement if they are found cracked or do not meet the required fastener hole tolerance. Left unrepaired, cracking of an elevator bell crank support bracket could lead to detachment of the bracket and loss of functionality of the elevator on the affected side, resulting in reduced controllability of the aircraft. Failure of both brackets could result in loss of pitch control of the aircraft.

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-2018-0397.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Bombardier, Inc., has issued Service Bulletin 700-27-5009, Revision 01, dated July 18, 2017; and Service Bulletin 700-27-6009, Revision 01, dated July 18, 2017. This service information describes an eddy current inspection on certain support brackets of the elevator bell crank for any cracking at the fastener holes, a measurement to confirm that the fastener hole diameters are within tolerance, and replacement with a new support bracket of the elevator bell crank. These documents are distinct since they apply to different airplane models. 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.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD affects 109 airplanes of U.S. registry.

We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs

Action	Labor cost	Parts cost	Cost per product	Cost on U.S. operators
Inspection and measurement	10 work-hours × $85 per hour = $850	$19	$869	$94,721

We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacement that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. We have no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need this replacement:

On-Condition Costs

Action	Labor cost	Parts cost	Cost per product
Replacement	2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170	$4,798	$4,968

According to the manufacturer, all of the costs of this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost estimate.

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 proposed 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 to the Director of the System Oversight Division.

Regulatory Findings

We 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 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

§ 39.13

[Amended]

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

Bombardier, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2018-0397; Product Identifier 2017-NM-163-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

We must receive comments by June 22, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes, certificated in any category, serial numbers 9492 through 9711 inclusive, 9713 through 9717 inclusive, 9719 through 9726 inclusive, 9728, 9730, 9732, 9733, 9743, and 9751.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Reason

This AD was prompted by a report of cracking at the fastener holes of the left-hand-side support bracket of the elevator bell crank for the control linkage in the vertical stabilizer. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct any cracking in the support bracket of the elevator bell crank, which could lead to detachment of the bracket and loss of functionality of the elevator on the affected side, and result in reduced controllability of the airplane. Failure of both brackets could result in loss of pitch control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspection, Measurement, and Corrective Action

Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, or before accumulating 7,500 total flight cycles, whichever occurs first: Do an eddy current inspection of the support brackets of the elevator bell crank, part number (P/N) GD248-8750-3 and P/N GD248-8750-4, for any cracking at the fastener holes, and do a measurement to confirm that the fastener hole diameters are within tolerance, as applicable, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-27-5009, Revision 01, dated July 18, 2017 (for Model BD-700-1A11 airplanes), or Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-27-6009, Revision 01, dated July 18, 2017 (for Model BD-700-1A10 airplanes). If any cracking is found or if any fastener hole is out of tolerance, before further flight, replace with a new support bracket, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-27-5009, Revision 01, dated July 18, 2017 (for Model BD-700-1A11 airplanes), or Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-27-6009, Revision 01, dated July 18, 2017 (for Model BD-700-1A10 airplanes).

(h) Credit for Previous Actions

This paragraph provides credit for actions required by paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective date of this AD using Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-27-5009, dated May 29, 2017, or Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-27-6009, dated May 29, 2017, as applicable.

(i) Other FAA AD Provisions

The following provisions also apply to this AD:

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, New York ACO 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 certification office, send it to ATTN: Program Manager, Continuing Operational Safety, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 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.

(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, New York ACO Branch, FAA; or Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA); or Bombardier, Inc.'s TCCA Design Approval Organization (DAO). If approved by the DAO, the approval must include the DAO-authorized signature.

(j) Related Information

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information (MCAI) Canadian AD CF-2017-32, dated October 10, 2017, 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-2018-0397.

(2) For more information about this AD, contact Neil Doh, Aerospace Engineer, Aviation Safety Section, FAA, Boston ACO Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

(3) For information about AMOCs, contact Aziz Ahmed, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, New York 11590; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

(4) 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. You may view this service information at the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.

Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on April 30, 2018.

Dionne Palermo,

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft Certification Service.