[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 217 (Thursday, November 10, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68377-68379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22445]



[[Page 68377]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22917; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-157-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), 
CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-
604) 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 CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-
601), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, & CL-604) airplanes. This 
proposed AD would require modifying the rudder balance spring assembly 
by installing a new adjustable balance spring, and rigging the assembly 
to suit the rudder of each airplane. This proposed AD results from 
production inspections that showed that the spring assembly that 
controls rudder balance may not have the correct pre-load on some 
airplanes. We are proposing this AD to prevent uncommanded yaw 
movements and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 12, 
2005.

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.
     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.
    Contact Bombardier, Inc., Canadair, Aerospace Group, P.O. Box 6087, 
Station Centre-ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3G9, Canada, for service 
information identified in this proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Parrillo, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Flight Test Branch, ANE-172, FAA, New York Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, New 
York 11590; telephone (516) 228-7305; fax (516) 794-5531.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2005-
22917; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-157-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 received 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 
that 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.

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office 
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 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 Docket Management System 
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-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), 
and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, & CL-604) airplanes. TCCA 
advises that production inspections showed that the spring assembly 
that controls rudder balance may not have the correct pre-load on some 
airplanes. The spring assembly must be pre-loaded correctly so it can 
position the rudder close to its neutral position in case one of 
several linked components in the aft section of the rudder assembly 
disconnects during flight. If the rudder is not positioned close to 
neutral in this instance, excessive rudder deflections (side-to-side 
movements) may occur. In order to ensure that the rudder moves to 
neutral position and rudder deflections remain within acceptable 
limits, the balance spring assembly must be modified and rigged to suit 
the rudder of each airplane. No linked components in the aft section of 
the rudder assembly have disconnected in service; however, this 
condition, if not corrected, could result in uncommanded yaw movement 
and reduced controllability of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    Bombardier has issued the service bulletins in the following table.

                            Service Bulletins
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             For Bombardier airplane
     Bombardier service bulletin--                  model(s)--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
600-0714, including Appendixes 1 and 2,  CL-600-1A11 (CL-600).
 dated April 4, 2003.
601-0549, including Appendixes 1 and 2,  CL-600-2A12 (CL-601) and CL-600-
 dated April 4, 2003.                     2B16 (CL-601-3A and CL-601-
                                          3R).
604-27-013, including Appendixes 1 and   CL-600-2B16 (CL-604).
 2, dated April 4, 2003.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 68378]]

    The service bulletins describe procedures for modifying the rudder 
balance spring assembly by installing a new adjustable balance spring; 
and rigging the adjustable rudder balance spring assembly by measuring, 
adjusting, and testing the deflection to be within the limits specified 
in the applicable service bulletin. If the deflection cannot be 
adjusted to be within acceptable limits defined in the service 
bulletins, the service bulletins specify that operators contact the 
manufacturer for further instructions.
    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-
2005-21, dated June 23, 2005, 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. Pursuant to 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 we need to 
issue an AD for airplanes 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, except as discussed under ``Difference Between 
Proposed AD, Service Bulletin 604-27-013, and Canadian Airworthiness 
Directive.''

Difference Between Proposed AD and Service Bulletins

    The service bulletins specify that you contact the manufacturer for 
instructions on how to make certain adjustments, but this proposed AD 
would require you to make the adjustments using a method that we or 
TCCA approve.

Difference Among Proposed AD, Service Bulletin 604-27-013, and Canadian 
Airworthiness Directive

    Although the Canadian airworthiness directive and Bombardier 
Service Bulletin 604-27-013 indicate that the actions proposed in this 
AD would apply to Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-604) airplanes, serial numbers 
(S/Ns) 5301 through 5584, this proposed AD would apply to S/Ns 5301 
through 5564. Service Bulletin Information Sheet 604-27-013, dated 
January 30, 2004, indicates that Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-604) airplanes, 
S/Ns 5565 and subsequent, are scheduled to have this modification in 
production. Therefore, this proposed AD would not apply to Model CL-
600-2B16 (CL-604) airplanes, S/Ns 5565 and subsequent.
    The manufacturer is aware of this discrepancy, and concurs with the 
change. This difference has also been coordinated with TCCA.

Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would affect about 501 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The proposed actions would take about 12 work hours per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts would cost 
about $1,749 per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost 
of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is $1,267,029, or $2,529 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 and placed it in the AD docket. 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

    Bombardier, Inc. (Formerly Canadair): Docket No. FAA-2005-22917; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-157-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by December 
12, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Bombardier Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), 
CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, & CL-
604) airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in Table 
1 of this AD.

              Table 1.--Affected Airplanes By Serial Number
------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Bombardier airplane model             Affected serial numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CL-600-1A11 (CL-600)......................  1004 through 1085 inclusive.
CL-600-2A12 (CL-601)......................  3001 through 3066 inclusive.
CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A and CL-601-3R).....  5001 through 5194 inclusive
CL-600-2B16 (CL-604)......................  5301 through 5564 inclusive.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 68379]]

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from production inspections that showed that 
the spring assembly that controls rudder balance may not have the 
correct pre-load on some airplanes. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent uncommanded yaw movements and consequent reduced 
controllability of the airplane.

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.

Service Bulletin Reference

    (f) The term ``service bulletin,'' as used in this AD, means the 
Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable service bulletin in 
Table 2 of this AD.

                       Table 2.--Service Bulletins
------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Bombardier airplane model           Bombardier service bulletin
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CL-600-1A11 (CL-600)...................  600-0714, including Appendix 1
                                          and excluding Appendix 2,
                                          dated April 4, 2003.
CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), and CL-600-2B16    601-0549, including Appendix 1
 (CL-601-3A and CL-601-3R).               and excluding Appendix 2,
                                          dated April 4, 2003.
CL-600-2B16 (CL-604)...................  604-27-013, including Appendix
                                          1 and excluding Appendix 2,
                                          dated April 4, 2003.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Modification and Rigging

    (g) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD: Modify 
and rig the adjustable rudder balance spring assembly for the rudder 
control surface, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions 
of the applicable service bulletin in Table 2 of this AD. Where the 
service bulletin specifies contacting Bombardier for instructions on 
making certain adjustments: Before further flight, adjust according 
to a method approved by the Manager, New York Aircraft Certification 
Office (ACO), FAA; or Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) (or its 
delegated agent).

No Reporting Required

    (h) Although the service bulletins referenced in this AD specify 
to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not 
include that requirement.

Parts Installation

    (i) After the effective date of this AD, no person may install 
on any airplane a rudder balance spring assembly unless it has been 
modified and rigged in accordance with paragraph (g) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (j)(1) The Manager, New York ACO, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures 
found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

Related Information

    (k) Canadian airworthiness directive CF-2005-21, dated June 23, 
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 31, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-22445 Filed 11-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P