[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 14, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13053-13055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3567]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24118; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-034-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Model BD-100-1A10 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 BD-100-1A10 airplanes. This proposed AD 
would require an inspection for signs of arcing or heat damage of the 
electrical connections of the terminal blocks, ground studs, and the 
end of the wires and surrounding insulation for the windshield and side 
window anti-ice systems; and repairing any arced or damaged electrical 
connection. This proposed AD also would require re-torquing electrical 
connections of the terminal blocks and ground studs for the windshield 
and side window anti-ice systems. This proposed AD results from an in-
service incident involving smoke and odor in the cockpit. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent loose electrical connections that could 
arc and overheat, and cause wiring damage of the windshield and side 
window anti-ice systems. Such wiring damage could result in smoke and/
or fire in the flight compartment.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 13, 2006.

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., Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division, 
123 Garratt

[[Page 13054]]

Boulevard, Downsview, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada, for service information 
identified in this proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wing Chan, Aerospace Engineer, Systems 
and Flight Test Branch, ANE-172, New York Aircraft Certification 
Office, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, New York 11590; 
telephone (516) 228-7311; 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-2006-
24118; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-034-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://
http://dms.dot.gov">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://
http://dms.dot.gov">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 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 BD-100-1A10 airplanes. TCAA advises that an 
in-service incident occurred involving smoke and odor in the cockpit. 
Investigation revealed that the electrical connections for the terminal 
blocks and ground studs of the windshield and side window anti-ice 
systems may not have been torqued to the required value during 
production of certain airplanes. Loose electrical connections, if not 
corrected, could arc and overheat, which could result in wiring damage 
of the windshield and side window anti-ice systems and consequent smoke 
and/or fire in the flight compartment.

Relevant Service Information

    Bombardier has issued Alert Service Bulletin A100-30-03, Revision 
01, dated December 21, 2005. The service bulletin describes procedures 
for doing a special check for signs of arcing or heat damage of the 
electrical connections of the terminal blocks, ground studs, and the 
ends of the wires and surrounding insulation for the windshield and 
side window anti-ice systems; and repairing any arced or damaged 
electrical connection. The service bulletin also describes procedures 
for re-torquing electrical connections of the terminal blocks and 
ground studs for the windshield and side window anti-ice systems. 
Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is 
intended to adequately address the unsafe condition. TCAA mandated the 
service information and issued Canadian airworthiness directive CF-
2006-01, dated January 20, 2006, to ensure the continued airworthiness 
of these airplanes in Canada.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    This airplane model is manufactured in Canada and is 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, TCAA has kept the FAA informed of 
the situation described above. We have examined TCAA'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 ``Clarification of the 
Proposed AD, Service Bulletin, and Canadian Airworthiness Directive.''

Clarification of the Proposed AD, Service Bulletin, and Canadian 
Airworthiness Directive

    Although the service bulletin specifies a ``special check'' and the 
Canadian airworthiness directive specifies to ``visually inspect,'' 
this proposed AD would require a detailed inspection for signs of 
arcing or heat damage of the electrical connections of the terminal 
blocks, ground studs, and the ends of the wires and surrounding 
insulation for the windshield and side window anti-ice systems.

Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would affect about 31 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The proposed actions would take about 4 work hours per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is $9,920, or $320 
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;

[[Page 13055]]

    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.: Docket No. FAA-2006-24118; Directorate Identifier 
2006-NM-034-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by April 13, 
2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Bombardier Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes, 
serial numbers 20006 through 20046 inclusive, 20048, 20051, and 
20052; certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from an in-service incident involving smoke 
and odor in the cockpit. We are issuing this AD to prevent loose 
electrical connections that could arc and overheat, and cause wiring 
damage of the windshield and side window anti-ice systems. Such 
wiring damage could result in smoke and/or fire in the flight 
compartment.

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.

Inspection, Repair, and Re-Torque

    (f) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, do the 
actions specified in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Alert 
Service Bulletin A100-30-03, Revision 01, dated December 21, 2005.
    (1) Do a detailed inspection for signs of arcing or heat damage 
of the electrical connections of the terminal blocks, ground studs, 
and the end of the wires and surrounding insulation for the 
windshield and side window anti-ice systems. If any sign of arcing 
or heat damage is detected, before further flight, repair the arced 
or damaged electrical connection.


    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is: 
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or 
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available 
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good 
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as 
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning 
and elaborate procedures may be required.''


    (2) Re-torque the electrical connections of the terminal blocks 
and ground studs for the windshield and side window anti-ice 
systems.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g)(1) 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.
    (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

    (h) Canadian airworthiness directive CF-2006-01, issue date 
January 20, 2006, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 3, 2006.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-3567 Filed 3-13-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P