[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 193 (Monday, October 6, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57611-57613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24679]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-NM-143-AD; Amendment 39-13321; AD 2003-20-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional 
Jet Series 100 & 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 Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) 
airplanes, that requires revising the airworthiness limitations section 
of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness by incorporating new 
structural inspection intervals for the vertical beams of the pressure 
bulkheads at fuselage stations 409+128 and 559; repairing the vertical 
beams if necessary; and submitting inspection findings to the airplane 
manufacturer. This action is necessary to detect and correct, in a 
timely manner, fatigue cracks in the vertical beams of the pressure 
bulkheads at fuselage stations 409+128 and 559, which could result in 
the reduced structural integrity of the airplane. This action is 
intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Effective November 10, 2003.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of November 10, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from Bombardier, Inc., Canadair, Aerospace Group, P.O. Box 
6087, Station Centre-ville, 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: Serge Napoleon, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe and Propulsion Branch, ANE-171, FAA, New York Aircraft 
Certification Office, 10 Fifth Street, Third Floor, Valley Stream, New 
York

[[Page 57612]]

11581; telephone (516) 256-7512; 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 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes was published in the 
Federal Register on July 9, 2003 (68 FR 40829). That action proposed to 
require revising the airworthiness limitations section of the 
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness by incorporating new 
structural inspection intervals for the vertical beams of the pressure 
bulkheads at fuselage stations 409+128 and 559; repairing the vertical 
beams if necessary; and submitting inspection findings to the airplane 
manufacturer.

Comments

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were submitted in response 
to the proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    The FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest 
require the adoption of the rule as proposed.

Interim Action

    This is considered to be interim action. The inspection reports 
required by this AD will enable the manufacturer to obtain better 
insight into the cause of the fatigue cracks in the vertical beams of 
the pressure bulkheads at fuselage stations 409+128 and 559. Once final 
action has been identified, the FAA may consider further rulemaking.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 533 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 actions, and that the average labor 
rate is $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of 
the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $34,645, or $65 per 
airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed 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:

2003-20-03 Bombardier, Inc. (Formerly Canadair): Amendment 39-13321. 
Docket 2003-NM-143-AD.

    Applicability: Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet series 100 & 440) 
airplanes, serial numbers 7003 through 7999 inclusive; certificated 
in any category.

    Note 1: This AD requires revisions to certain operator 
maintenance documents to include new inspections. Compliance with 
these inspections is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes 
that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the 
areas addressed by these inspections, the operator may not be able 
to accomplish the inspections described in the revisions. In this 
situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must 
request approval for an alternative method of compliance from the 
office identified in paragraph (d) of this AD and Sections 39.19 and 
39.21 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 39.19 and 39.21). 
The request should include a description of changes to the required 
inspections that will ensure the continued damage tolerance of the 
affected structure. The FAA has provided guidance for this 
determination in Advisory Circular (AC) 25-1529.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To detect and correct, in a timely manner, fatigue cracks in the 
vertical beams of the pressure bulkheads at fuselage stations 
409+128 and 559, which could result in the reduced structural 
integrity of the airplane, accomplish the following:

Revise Airworthiness Limitations (AWL) Section

    (a) Within 14 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the AWL section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness by 
incorporating the contents of Canadair Temporary Revision (TR) 2B-
1566, dated January 31, 2003, to the Canadair Regional Jet 
Maintenance Requirements Manual, Part 2, Appendix B, ``Airworthiness 
Limitations,'' into the AWL section. Thereafter, except as provided 
in paragraph (d) of this AD, no alternative structural inspection 
intervals may be approved for the vertical beams on the pressure 
bulkheads at fuselage stations 409+128 and 559.

    Note 2: When the contents of TR 2B-1566 have been included in 
the general revisions of the AWL section, the general revisions may 
be incorporated into the AWL section, and the TR may be removed from 
the AWL section.

Repair and Revise AWL Section

    (b) If any crack is found during any inspection done according 
to the AWL section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness 
specified in paragraph (a) of this AD, do the actions specified in 
paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this AD.
    (1) Before further flight: Repair per a method approved by 
either the Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA; or Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) (or its delegated 
agent).
    (2) Within 14 days after receiving the new AWL associated with a 
repair: Revise the AWL section of the Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness by inserting a copy of the new airworthiness 
limitation and inspection requirements associated with the FAA- or 
TCCA-approved repair referred to in paragraph (b)(1) of this AD into 
the Canadair Regional Jet Maintenance Requirements Manual, Part 2, 
Appendix B, ``Airworthiness Limitations'' section. Thereafter, 
except as provided in paragraph (d) of this AD, no alternative 
structural inspection intervals specified in the FAA- or TCCA-
approved repair may be approved for the vertical beams on the 
pressure bulkheads at fuselage stations 409+128 and 559.

[[Page 57613]]

Reporting

    (c) Submit a report of the findings (both positive and negative) 
of the inspection required by paragraph (a) of this AD to 
Bombardier, Inc., Canadair, Aerospace Group, CRJ Technical Help 
Desk, P.O. Box 6087, Station Centre-ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3G9, 
Canada; fax (514) 855-8501; at the applicable time specified in 
paragraph (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this AD. Information collection 
requirements contained in this AD have been approved by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) under the provision of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and have been 
assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056.
    (1) If the inspection was done after the effective date of this 
AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the inspection.
    (2) If the inspection was done prior to the effective date of 
this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the effective date 
of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (d) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, New York ACO, 
FAA, is authorized to approve alternative methods of compliance for 
this AD.

Incorporation by Reference

    (e) Unless otherwise specified in this AD, the actions shall be 
done in accordance with Canadair Temporary Revision 2B-1566, dated 
January 31, 2003, to the Canadair Regional Jet Maintenance 
Requirements Manual, Part 2, Appendix B, ``Airworthiness 
Limitations.'' 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 Centre-ville, 
Montreal, Quebec H3C 3G9, Canada. Copies may be inspected at the 
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 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.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Canadian 
airworthiness directive CF-2003-08, dated April 23, 2003.

Effective Date

    (f) This amendment becomes effective on November 10, 2003.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 24, 2003.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-24679 Filed 10-3-03; 8:45 am]
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