[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 4, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16725-16728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4841]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24290; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-243-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Model DHC-8-100, DHC-8-200, 
and DHC-8-300 Series 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-8-100, DHC-8-200, and DHC-8-300 series 
airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the 
fluorescent light tube assemblies of the cabin, lavatory, and sidewall, 
and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would also 
provide for optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. 
This proposed AD results from reports of overheating due to arcing 
between the fluorescent tube pins and the lamp holder contacts. The 
tubes had not been properly seated during installation. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent fumes, traces of visible smoke, and fire 
at the fluorescent light tube assembly.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 4, 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 Boulevard, Downsview, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada, for service 
information identified in this proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Wagner, 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) 228-7306; 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-
24290; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-243-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 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.

[[Page 16726]]

Discussion

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the airworthiness 
authority for Canada, advised us that an unsafe condition may exist on 
certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-100, DHC-8-200, and DHC-8-300 series 
airplanes. TCCA advises that numerous service difficulty reports have 
indicated damage to fluorescent lamp holders in the cabin, lavatory, 
and sidewall due to overheating. The overheating can result from arcing 
between the fluorescent tube pins and the lamp holder contacts if the 
tube is not properly seated during installation. This condition, if not 
corrected, could result in fumes, traces of visible smoke, and fire at 
the fluorescent light tube assembly.

Relevant Service Information

    The manufacturer has revised certain procedures for inspecting 
certain fluorescent tube assemblies. These procedures for detailed 
visual inspections are described in the temporary revisions (TRs) to 
the de Havilland DASH-8 Maintenance Program Manual, as identified in 
the following table.

                                   de Havilland Maintenance Program Manual TRs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      DHC-8
               Area                   series    Task No.            TR                   Date           PSM No.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cabin.............................        100    3320/01  MRB-146..............  August 31, 2004.....      1-8-7
                                          200    3320/01  MRB 2-24.............  August 31, 2004.....     1-82-7
                                          300    3320/01  MRB 3-155............  August 31, 2004.....     1-83-7
Lavatory..........................        100    3320/03  MRB-147..............  May 3, 2005.........      1-8-7
                                          200    3320/03  MRB 2-25.............  May 3, 2005.........     1-82-7
                                          300    3320/03  MRB 3-156............  May 3, 2005.........     1-83-7
Sidewall..........................        100    3320/02  MRB-147..............  May 3, 2005.........      1-8-7
                                          200    3320/02  MRB 2-25.............  May 3, 2005.........     1-82-7
                                          300    3320/02  MRB 3-156............  May 3, 2005.........     1-83-7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Bombardier has issued Service Bulletins 8-33-52, dated April, 15, 
2005, and 8-33-51, Revision `A,' dated April 20, 2005. The service 
bulletins describe procedures for replacing certain ballasts with new 
``Arc Protection'' ballasts.
    Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is 
intended to adequately address the unsafe condition. TCCA mandated the 
inspections specified in the TRs, and prohibited future replacement of 
an existing ballast except in accordance with the service bulletins. 
TCCA issued Canadian airworthiness directive CF-2004-26R1, dated 
September 28, 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 repetitive 
inspections to detect signs of arcing in the fluorescent light tube 
assemblies of the cabin, lavatory, and sidewall, and corrective actions 
if necessary. This proposed AD would also provide for optional 
terminating action for the repetitive inspections.

Differences Between Service Information/Canadian Airworthiness 
Directive

    The following differences apply to this proposed AD:
    1. The Canadian airworthiness directive does not specify intervals 
for repeating the inspections. Instead, it requires incorporating the 
TRs previously identified into the applicable Maintenance Review Board 
(MRB) document, which contains the repetitive intervals for the 
inspections. TCCA requires operators in Canada to use the information--
including the repetitive intervals--in the latest revision of the MRB. 
However, since the MRB is not mandatory in the U.S., this proposed AD 
would require that operators repeat the inspections.
    2. The Canadian airworthiness directive requires the initial 
inspection at the earlier of the next C-check or within 36 months. But 
maintenance schedules vary among operators, so a compliance time 
specified as the next C-check would not ensure that the airplane would 
be inspected in a timely manner. We have been advised that the average 
C-check interval is 5,000 flight hours; therefore, this proposed AD 
would require the initial inspection within the earlier of 36 months or 
5,000 flight hours.
    3. This proposed AD would allow the repetitive inspections to be 
terminated if all ballasts installed on the airplane are ``Arc 
Protection'' ballasts. Although this provision is not specifically 
stated in the Canadian airworthiness directive, TCCA's intent was to 
consider total ballast replacement as terminating action for the 
repetitive inspections.
    4. The service bulletins do not provide for corrective action for 
signs of arcing. This proposed AD would require repairing those 
conditions before further flight using a method approved by the FAA or 
TCCA (or its delegated agent). In light of the type of repair that 
would be required to address the unsafe condition, and consistent with 
existing bilateral airworthiness agreements, we have determined that a 
repair approved by the FAA or TCCA would be acceptable for compliance 
with this proposed AD. Chapter 33-20-00, Section D, of the Airplane 
Maintenance Manual is one approved method.
    5. The TRs specify ``detailed visual inspections'' of the 
fluorescent light tube assemblies of the cabin, lavatory, and sidewall. 
We have determined that the procedures in the TRs should be described 
as a ``detailed inspections.'' Note 1 in this proposed AD defines this 
type of inspection.
    These differences have been coordinated with TCCA.

Costs of Compliance

    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
to comply with this proposed AD. This proposed AD would affect about 
121 U.S.-registered airplanes.

[[Page 16727]]



                                      Estimated Costs, per Inspection Cycle
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                                                           Average
              Action                    Work hours        labor rate          Parts           Cost per airplane
                                                           per hour
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection, per inspection cycle.  6 maximum...........          $80  None................  Up to $480.
Ballast replacement (optional)...  2, per ballast \1\..           80  $486, per ballast...  Up to $41,990.
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                   \1\ Number of Ballasts per Airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Number of
               Area                     Airplane model         ballasts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lavatory.........................  DHC-8-100 and -200......            1
                                   DHC-8-300...............            1
Sidewall.........................  DHC-8-100 and -200......           19
                                   DHC-8-300...............           30
Cabin............................  DHC-8-100 and -200......           21
                                   DHC-8-300...............           33
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 de Havilland, Inc.): Docket No. FAA-2006-
24290; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-243-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by May 4, 
2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Bombardier Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -
201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 airplanes; certificated in any 
category; serial numbers 003 through 407 inclusive, 409 through 412 
inclusive, and 414 through 433 inclusive; excluding those with 
Hunting interiors.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of overheating due to arcing 
between the fluorescent tube pins and the lamp holder contacts. The 
tubes had not been properly seated during installation. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent fumes, traces of visible smoke, and fire 
at the fluorescent light tube assembly.

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

    (f) Within 5,000 flight hours or 36 months after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs first: Perform detailed 
inspections to detect signs of arcing of the fluorescent tube 
assemblies of the cabin, sidewalls, and lavatory, in accordance with 
the applicable temporary revision (TR) of the maintenance program 
manual (MPM) identified in Table 1 of this AD. If any sign of arcing 
is found, repair before further flight using a method approved by 
either the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, FAA; or Transport Canada Civil Aviation (or 
its delegated agent). Chapter 33-20-00, Section D, of the Airplane 
Maintenance Manual is one approved method. Repeat the inspection at 
intervals not to exceed 5,000 flight hours, until all Ballast part 
numbers BA08006-1 or BA08006-28-1 have been replaced in accordance 
with paragraph (g) of this AD.

[[Page 16728]]



                                                  Table 1.--TRs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    In accordance
   Inspect the fluorescent tube    with Task No.-- of de Havilland TR-- To the de Havilland      For model--
       assemblies of the--                                                DASH 8 series--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cabin............................         3320/01  MRB 2-24, dated      200 MPM PSM 1-82-7.  DHC-8-201 and -202
                                                    August 31, 2004.                          airplanes.
                                          3320/01  MRB 3-155, dated     300 MPM PSM 1-83-7.  DHC-8-301, -311, -
                                                    August 31, 2004.                          314, and -315
                                                                                              airplanes.
                                          3320/01  MRB-146, dated       100 MPM PSM 1-8-7..  DHC-8-102, -103, -
                                                    August 31, 2004.                          106 airplanes.
Lavatory.........................         3320/03  MRB -147, dated May  100 MPM PSM 1-8-7..  DHC-8-102, -103, -
                                                    3, 2005.                                  106 airplanes.
                                          3320/03  MRB 2-25, dated May  200 MPM PSM 1-82-7.  DHC-8-201 and -202
                                                    3, 2005.                                  airplanes.
                                          3320/03  MRB 3-156, dated     300 MPM PSM 1-83-7.  DHC-8-301, -311, -
                                                    May 3, 2005.                              314, and -315
                                                                                              airplanes.
Sidewall.........................         3320/02  MRB 2-25, dated May  200 MPM PSM 1-82-7.  DHC-8-201 and -202
                                                    3, 2005.                                  airplanes.
                                          3320/02  MRB 3-156, dated     300 MPM PSM 1-83-7.  DHC-8-301, -311, -
                                                    May 3, 2003.                              314, and -315
                                                                                              airplanes.
                                          3320/02  MRB -147, dated May  100 MPM PSM 1-8-7..  DHC-8-102, -103, -
                                                    3, 2003.                                  106 airplanes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    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.''

Terminating Action

    (g) The repetitive inspections required by this AD may be 
terminated if all ballasts installed on the airplane have part 
number (P/N) BR9000-21, installed in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-33-51, 
Revision `A,' dated April 20, 2005 (to replace ballast P/N BA08006-
1), or 8-33-52, dated April 15, 2005 (to replace ballast P/N 
BA08006-28-1). Ballasts installed before the effective date of this 
AD are also acceptable if done in accordance with Bombardier Service 
Bulletin 8-33-51, dated August 16, 2002.

Parts Installation

    (h) As of the effective date of this AD: No person may install a 
ballast P/N BA08006-1 or BA08006-28-1 on any airplane.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(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

    (j) Canadian airworthiness directive CF-2004-26R1, dated 
September 28, 2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 24, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-4841 Filed 4-3-06; 8:45 am]
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