[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 183 (Monday, September 22, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54994-54996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23671]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-NM-176-AD; Amendment 39-13307; AD 2003-19-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional 
Jet Series 100 and 440) Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to certain Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 
100 and 440) airplanes, that requires, for certain airplanes, a one-
time inspection to detect chafing or other damage of the integrated 
drive generator (IDG) cables and the firewall separators of the pylon, 
and corrective action if necessary. For other airplanes, this AD 
requires identification of the part number of the clamps, and 
replacement with new clamps if necessary. The actions specified by this 
AD are intended to prevent electrical arcing between the IDG cables and 
the firewall separators due to chafing, which could result in an in-
flight fire and/or loss of electrical power. This action is intended to 
address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Effective October 27, 2003.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of October 27, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from Bombardier, Inc., Canadair, Aerospace Group, P.O. Box 
6087, Station Centreville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3G9, Canada. 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 FAA, New York Aircraft Certification 
Office, 10 Fifth Street, Third Floor, Valley Stream, New York; or at 
the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., 
suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Luciano L. Castracane, Aerospace 
Engineer, Systems and Flight Test Branch, ANE-172, FAA, New York 
Aircraft Certification Office, 10 Fifth Street, Third Floor, Valley 
Stream, New York 11581; telephone (516) 256-7535; fax (516) 568-2716.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 Bombardier Model CL-600-
2B19 series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on June 18, 
2002 (67 FR 41357). That action proposed to require, for certain 
affected airplanes, a one-time inspection to detect chafing or other 
damage of the integrated drive generator (IDG) cables and the firewall 
separators of the pylon, and corrective action if necessary. For other 
affected airplanes, that action proposed to require identification of 
the part number of the clamps, and replacement with new clamps if 
necessary.

Comments

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the comments received.

Request To Revise Service Information Citation

    One commenter requests that the FAA revise paragraph (a) of the 
proposed AD

[[Page 54995]]

to cite only Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A601R-24-091, dated 
March 9, 2000; and Revision A, dated May 10, 2000; as the appropriate 
sources of service information for reinspecting for proper clamp part 
numbers. The commenter notes that Revision B of the alert service 
bulletin, dated September 14, 2000, was issued to, among other things, 
specify the proper clamp installations. The commenter agrees, however, 
that use of Revision B was correctly addressed in Note 2 of the 
proposed AD.
    The FAA agrees. Paragraph (a) has been revised accordingly in this 
final rule.

Request To Remove ``Spares'' Paragraph

    This same commenter requests that paragraph (c) of the proposed AD 
be removed. Paragraph (c) of the proposed AD stated that only those IDG 
cable clamps having part number TA121010R14-04 (P/N ``-R'') may be 
installed on affected airplanes. The commenter describes other 
legitimate installations for another part number, TA121010L14-04 (P/N 
``-L''), for securing IDG cables elsewhere on the airplane. The 
commenter suggests revising the proposed AD to prohibit installation of 
P/N ``-L'' during accomplishment of Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin 
A601R-24-091, but to specify that P/N ``-R'' must be used to obtain the 
proper IDG cable orientation/clearance from the pylon separator panel.
    The FAA concurs. Paragraph (c) has been revised in this final rule 
to prohibit installation of P/N ``-L'' during incorporation of Revision 
``C'' of Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A601R-24-091.

Conclusion

    After careful review of the available data, including the comments 
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public 
interest require the adoption of the rule with the changes described 
previously. The FAA has determined that these changes will neither 
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of 
the AD.

Changes to Proposed AD

    The identity of affected airplanes has been changed in this final 
rule to ``Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet series 100 and 
440) airplanes'' to match the type certificate data sheet for these 
airplanes.
    Paragraph (a)(2) has been revised in this final rule to identify 
the source of service information to clarify the required method for 
the clamp replacement.

Changes to 14 CFR Part 39/Effect on the AD

    On July 10, 2002, the FAA issued a new version of 14 CFR part 39 
(67 FR 47997, July 22, 2002), which governs the FAA's airworthiness 
directives system. The regulation now includes material that relates to 
altered products, special flight permits, and alternative methods of 
compliance. However, for clarity and consistency in this final rule, we 
have retained the language of the NPRM regarding that material.

Revised Labor Rate

    We have reviewed the figures we have used over the past several 
years to calculate AD costs to operators. To account for various 
inflationary costs in the airline industry, we find it necessary to 
increase the labor rate used in these calculations from $60 per work 
hour to $65 per work hour. The cost impact information, below, reflects 
this increase in the specified hourly labor rate.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 160 airplanes of U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD.
    It will take approximately 7 work hours per airplane to accomplish 
the inspection, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on 
these figures, the cost impact of this action is estimated to be $455 
per airplane.
    It will take approximately 1 work hour per airplane to determine 
the part number of the clamp, at an average labor rate of $65 per work 
hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of this action is 
estimated to be $65 per airplane.
    The cost impact figures discussed above are 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. The cost impact figures discussed 
in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to perform 
the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures 
typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to 
gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other 
administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    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 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

0
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:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2003-19-04 Bombardier, Inc. (Formerly Canadair): Amendment 39-13307. 
Docket 2001-NM-176-AD.
    Applicability: Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet series 100 and 
440) airplanes, serial numbers 7003 through 7269 inclusive, 
certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
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 (e) 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.


[[Page 54996]]


    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent electrical arcing between the integrated drive 
generator (IDG) cables and the firewall separators due to IDG cable 
chafing, which could result in an in-flight fire and/or loss of 
electrical power, accomplish the following:

Part Number Identification

    (a) For airplanes that have been repaired or modified before the 
effective date of this AD in accordance with Bombardier Alert 
Service Bulletin A601R-24-091, dated March 9, 2000; or Revision 
``A,'' dated May 10, 2000: Within 550 flight hours or 2 months after 
the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, determine the 
part numbers (P/Ns) of the clamps that hold the IDG cables on the 
left and right pylons.
    (1) If the P/N of all clamps is TA121010R14-04: No further 
action is required by this paragraph.
    (2) If the P/N of any clamp is NOT TA121010R14-04: Before 
further flight, replace the discrepant clamp with a clamp having P/N 
TA121010R14-04, in accordance with Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin 
A601R-24-091, Revision `C,' dated February 1, 2001.

Inspection

    (b) For airplanes not identified in paragraph (a) of this AD: 
Within 550 flight hours or 2 months after the effective date of this 
AD, whichever occurs first, perform a one-time general visual 
inspection to detect chafing and other damage of the IDG cables and 
the firewall separators of the pylon, in accordance with Bombardier 
Alert Service Bulletin A601R-24-091, Revision `C,' dated February 1, 
2001. Prior to further flight thereafter, perform all applicable 
corrective actions and install a clamp, a conduit, and Teflon 
strips, in accordance with the alert service bulletin. If a 
temporary repair is performed, replace the harnesses with new parts 
within 4,000 flight hours after the repair, in accordance with the 
alert service bulletin.
    (c) Accomplishment of an inspection and applicable corrective 
actions before the effective date of this AD in accordance with 
Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A601R-24-091, Revision `B,' dated 
September 14, 2000, is acceptable for compliance with the 
requirements of paragraph (b) of this AD.

    Note 2:
    For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection is 
defined as: ``A visual examination of an interior or exterior area, 
installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or 
irregularity. This level of inspection is made under normally 
available lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, 
flashlight, or drop-light, and may require removal or opening of 
access panels or doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be 
required to gain proximity to the area being checked.''

Part Installation

    (d) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install 
an IDG cable clamp, P/N TA121010L14-04, during incorporation of 
Revision `C' of Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A601R-24-091.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (e) 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, New York Aircraft Certification 
Office (ACO), FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through an 
appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add 
comments and then send it to the Manager, New York ACO.

    Note 3:
    Information concerning the existence of approved alternative 
methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the 
New York ACO.

Special Flight Permits

    (f) 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.

Incorporation by Reference

    (g) Unless otherwise specified in this AD, the actions must be 
done in accordance with Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A601R-24-
091, Revision `C,' dated February 1, 2001. 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 Bombardier, Inc., Canadair, Aerospace Group, P.O. Box 
6087, Station Centreville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3G9, Canada. 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.

    Note 4:
    The subject of this AD is addressed in Canadian airworthiness 
directive CF-2000-17R1, dated October 30, 2000.

Effective Date

    (h) This amendment becomes effective on October 27, 2003.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 11, 2003.
Vi L. Lipski,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-23671 Filed 9-18-03; 12:01 pm]
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