[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 3, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63968-63970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-24543]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19496; Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-181-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Model CL-215-6B11 (CL215T 
Variant) and CL-215-6B11 (CL415 Variant) Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Bombardier Model CL-215-6B11 (CL215T variant) and CL-215-
6B11 (CL415 variant) series airplanes. This proposed AD would require 
replacing the mounting pad studs of the auxiliary feather pump with 
new, longer studs, and installing a pressure relief valve. This 
proposed AD is prompted by a few incidents of external oil leaks from 
the oil pump of the power control unit due to a malfunction of the 
pressure regulating valve. We are proposing this AD to prevent 
fracturing of the pump body, which could result in loss of engine oil, 
and consequent inability to maintain engine oil pressure and to feather 
the propeller.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 3, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     By fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You can get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from Bombardier, Inc., Canadair, Aerospace Group, P.O. Box 6087, 
Station Centre-ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3G9, Canada.
    You may examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://

[[Page 63969]]

dms.dot.gov, or at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL-401, on the plaza 
level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Fiesel, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe and Propulsion Branch, ANE-171, FAA, New York Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Westbury, suite 410, New 
York 11590; telephone (516) 228-7304; fax (516) 794-5531.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Docket Management System (DMS)

    The FAA has implemented new procedures for maintaining AD dockets 
electronically. As of May 17, 2004, new AD actions are posted on DMS 
and assigned a docket number. We track each action and assign a 
corresponding directorate identifier. The DMS AD docket number is in 
the form ``Docket No. FAA-2004-99999.'' The Transport Airplane 
Directorate identifier is in the form ``Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
999-AD.'' Each DMS AD docket also lists the directorate identifier 
(``Old Docket Number'') as a cross-reference for searching purposes.

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2004-19496; 
Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-181-AD `` at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of our 
docket Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    We are reviewing the writing style we currently use in regulatory 
documents. We are interested in your comments on whether the style of 
this document is clear, and your suggestions to improve the clarity of 
our communications that affect you. You can get more information about 
plain language at http://www.faa.gov/language and http://www.plainlanguage.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the AD docket in person at the Docket Management 
Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Management Facility office 
(telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif 
Building at the DOT street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS 
receives them.

Discussion

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the airworthiness 
authority for Canada, notified us that an unsafe condition may exist on 
certain Bombardier Model CL-215-6B11 (CL215T variant) and CL-215-6B11 
(CL415 variant) series airplanes. The TCCA advises that there have been 
a few incidents of external oil leaks from the oil pump of the 
propeller control unit due to a malfunction of the pressure regulating 
valve, on Pratt & Whitney Model PW120 series engines. The resulting 
high internal oil pressure may cause a fracture of the pump body. This 
condition, if not corrected, could result in loss of engine oil, and 
consequent inability to maintain engine oil pressure and to feather the 
propeller.

Relevant Service Information

    Bombardier has issued Service Bulletin 215-3108, dated March 28, 
2001 (for Model CL-215-6B11 (CL215T variant) series airplanes); and 
Bombardier Service Bulletin 215-4234, dated March 28, 2001 (for Model 
CL-215-6B11 (CL415 variant) series airplanes). The service bulletins 
describe procedures for replacing the mounting pad studs of the 
auxiliary feather pump with new, longer studs, and installing a 
pressure relief valve. Accomplishing the actions specified in the 
service information will adequately address the unsafe condition. TCCA 
mandated the service information and issued Canadian airworthiness 
directive CF-2002-14, dated February 13, 2002, to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of these airplanes in Canada.
    The service bulletins refer to Pratt & Whitney Canada Service 
Bulletin PW100-72-21636, Revision 2, dated June 26, 2002, as an 
additional source of service information for doing the replacement of 
the mounting pad studs.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    These airplane models 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 this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement, TCCA has kept the FAA informed of 
the situation described above. We have examined the TCCA's findings, 
evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that AD action is 
necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States.
    Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which would require replacing 
the mounting pad studs of the auxiliary feather pump with new, longer 
studs, and installing a pressure relief valve. The proposed AD would 
require you to use the Bombardier service information described 
previously to perform these actions, except as discussed under 
``Difference Between Proposed Rule and Referenced Service Bulletins.''

Difference Between Proposed Rule and Referenced Service Bulletins

    Operators should note that, although the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the referenced Bombardier service bulletins describe 
procedures for submitting a sheet recording compliance with the service 
bulletin, this proposed AD would not require that action. We do not 
need this information from operators.

Costs of Compliance

    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
to comply with this proposed AD.

[[Page 63970]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Number of U.S.-
            Action               Work     Average labor     Parts      Cost per     registered      Fleet cost
                                 hours    rate per hour                airplane      airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement..................         2             $65  Free......         $130               3            $390
Installation.................         4              65  Free......          260               3             780
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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. 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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Bombardier, Inc. (Formerly Canadair): Docket No. FAA-2004-19496; 
Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-181-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration must receive comments on 
this AD action by December 3, 2004.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Bombardier Model CL-215-6B11 (CL215T 
variant) having serial numbers (S/N) 1056 through 1125 inclusive, 
and Model CL-215-6B11 (CL415 variant) series airplanes, having S/Ns 
2001 through 2053 inclusive; certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a few incidents of external oil 
leaks from the oil pump of the power control unit due to a 
malfunction of the pressure regulating valve. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent fracturing of the pump body, which could result in loss 
of engine oil, and consequent inability to maintain engine oil 
pressure and to feather the propeller.

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.

Replacement

    (f) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, 
replace the mounting pad studs of the auxiliary feather pump with 
new, longer studs, and install a pressure relief valve; in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier 
Service Bulletin 215-3108, dated March 28, 2001 (for Model CL-215-
6B11 (CL215T variant) series airplanes); or Bombardier Service 
Bulletin 215-4234, dated March 28, 2001 (for Model CL-215-6B11 
(CL415 variant) series airplanes); as applicable.

    Note 1: Bombardier Service Bulletin 215-3108 and Bombardier 
Service Bulletin 215-4234 refer to Pratt & Whitney Canada Service 
Bulletin PW100-72-21636, Revision 2, dated June 26, 2002, as an 
additional source of service information for accomplishing the 
replacement of the mounting pad studs.

No Reporting

    (g) Although the service bulletin refers to a reporting 
requirement in paragraph 2.B, that reporting is not required by this 
AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) The Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using 
the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (i) Canadian airworthiness directive CF-2002-14, dated February 
13, 2002, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 21, 2004.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-24543 Filed 11-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P