[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 51 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12981-12982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5295]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20628; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-51-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Model DHC-8-301, -311, and -
315 Airplanes

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-301, -311, and -315 airplanes. This 
proposed AD would require replacing the pressure control valve of the 
Type 1 emergency door. This proposed AD is prompted by reports that the 
pressure control valve of the Type 1 emergency door is susceptible to 
freezing. We are proposing this AD to ensure that the pressure control 
valve does not freeze and prevent the door seal from deflating, which 
could result in the inability to open the door in an emergency.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 18, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment 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.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Bombardier, Inc., Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division, 123 Garratt 
Boulevard, Downsview, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada.
    You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person 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. This docket 
number is FAA-2005-20628; the directorate identifier for this docket is 
2004-NM-51-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ezra Sasson, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANE-171, FAA, New York Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, New 
York 11590; telephone (516) 228-7320; fax (516) 794-5531.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send us any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-20628; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-51-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 can review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
can visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or 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 DHC-8-301, -311, and -315 airplanes. TCCA 
advises that field reports indicate that several operators experienced 
difficulties with the operation of the Type 1 emergency door. The 
existing pressure control valve of the Type 1 emergency door is 
susceptible to freezing. A frozen valve could prevent the door seal 
from deflating, which could result in the inability to open the door in 
an emergency.

Relevant Service Information

    Bombardier has issued Service Bulletin 8-52-60, dated August 28, 
2002. The service bulletin describes procedures for replacing the 
pressure control valve of the Type 1 emergency door with a new pressure 
control valve by incorporating ModSum 8Q101159. The replacement 
includes additional rework to the door actuation mechanism. 
Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is 
intended to adequately address the unsafe condition. TCCA mandated the 
service information and issued Canadian airworthiness directive CF-
2003-04, dated February 3, 2003, to ensure the continued airworthiness 
of these airplanes in Canada.

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. In keeping with this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement, TCCA has kept the FAA informed of 
the situation described above. We have examined 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 
accomplishing the actions specified in the service information 
described previously.

[[Page 12982]]

Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would affect about 13 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The proposed actions would take about 6 work hours per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts would cost 
about $700 per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of 
the proposed AD for U.S. operators is $14,170, or $1,090 per airplane.

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 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 de Havilland, Inc.): Docket No. FAA-2005-
20628; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-51-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration must receive comments on 
this AD action by April 18, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Bombardier Model DHC-8-301, -311, and -
315 airplanes, certificated in any category, serial numbers 100 
through 593 inclusive.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by reports that the pressure control 
valve of the Type 1 emergency door is susceptible to freezing. We 
are issuing this AD to ensure that the pressure control valve does 
not freeze and prevent the door seal from deflating, which could 
result in the inability to open the door in an emergency.

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.

Replace Pressure Control Valve

    (f) Within 30 months after the effective date of this AD, 
replace the pressure control valve of the Type 1 emergency door by 
incorporating ModSum 8Q101159 in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-52-60, dated August 
28, 2002.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

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

Related Information

    (h) Canadian airworthiness directive CF-2003-04, dated February 
3, 2003, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 8, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-5295 Filed 3-16-05; 8:45 am]
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