[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 67 (Friday, April 7, 2006)]
[Unknown Section]
[Pages 17694-17696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-3196]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-23798; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-162-AD; 
Amendment 39-14543; AD 2006-07-16]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 Series 
Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD requires 
replacing all domed anchor nuts at all attachment locations of the 
upper fuel access panels of the center wing in the wet bay location 
with new nuts. This AD results from reported cases of corroded dome 
anchor nuts at the attachment locations of the upper surface of the 
fuel access panel of the center wing. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
corrosion or perforation of domed anchor nuts, which could result in 
arcing and ignition of fuel vapor in the center wing fuel tank during a 
lightning strike and consequent explosion of the fuel tank.

DATES: This AD becomes effective May 12, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of May 12, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the 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., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
    Contact Bombardier, Inc., Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division, 
123 Garratt Boulevard, Downsview, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada, for service 
information identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Duckett, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe and Propulsion Branch, ANE-171, FAA, New York Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, suite 410, Westbury, New 
York 11590; telephone (516) 228-7325; fax (516) 794-5531.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the airworthiness directive (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 street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain Bombardier 
Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the 
Federal Register on February 8, 2006 (71 FR 6411). That NPRM proposed 
to require replacing all domed anchor nuts at all attachment locations 
of the upper fuel access panels of the center wing in the wet bay 
location with new nuts.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the 
determination of the cost to the public.

Change to NPRM

    We have revised the telephone number in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT paragraph.

[[Page 17695]]

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD will affect about 20 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 
required actions will take about 62 work hours per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts will cost about 
$300 per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the AD 
for U.S. operators is $86,600, or $4,330 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 AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866;
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2006-07-16 Bombardier, Inc. (Formerly de Havilland, Inc.): Amendment 
39-14543. Docket No. FAA-2006-23798; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-
162-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective May 12, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 series 
airplanes, certificated in any category; serial numbers 4001, and 
4003 through 4115 inclusive.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reported cases of corroded dome anchor 
nuts at the attachment locations of the upper surface of the fuel 
access panel of the center wing. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
corrosion or perforation of domed anchor nuts, which could result in 
arcing and ignition of fuel vapor in the center wing fuel tank 
during a lightning strike and consequent explosion of the fuel tank.

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 With Corrosion Resistant Anchor Nuts

    (f) At the applicable time in Table 1 of this AD, replace all 
domed anchor nuts at all attachment locations of the upper fuel 
access panels of the center wing in the wet bay location with new, 
corrosion-resistant anchor nuts. Do all the actions in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 
84-57-10, Revision ``A,'' dated March 14, 2005.

                        Table 1.--Compliance Time
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     On which the
   For airplanes having serial       inspection(s)          Do the
           number(s)--              specified in--       replacement--
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(1) 4108 through 4115 inclusive.  None..............  Within 48 months
                                                       after the date of
                                                       issuance of the
                                                       original standard
                                                       Canadian
                                                       airworthiness
                                                       certificate or
                                                       the date of
                                                       issuance of the
                                                       original Canadian
                                                       export
                                                       certificate of
                                                       airworthiness, or
                                                       within 2 months
                                                       after the
                                                       effective date of
                                                       this AD,
                                                       whichever occurs
                                                       later.
(2) 4001, and 4003 through 4107   Bombardier Service  Within 24 months
 inclusive.                        Bulletin 84-57-     after those
                                   11, dated           inspections, or
                                   February 25,        within 2 months
                                   2005; or Revision   after the
                                   `A,' dated March    effective date of
                                   9, 2005; have       this AD,
                                   been done before    whichever occurs
                                   the effective       later.
                                   date of this AD.
                                  Bombardier Service  Within 48 months
                                   Bulletin 84-57-     after that
                                   12, dated March     inspection, or
                                   11, 2005, has       within 2 months
                                   been done before    after the
                                   the effective       effective date of
                                   date of this AD.    this AD,
                                                       whichever occurs
                                                       later.
                                  Bombardier Service  Within 3 months
                                   Bulletin 84-57-     after the
                                   11, dated           effective date of
                                   February 25,        this AD.
                                   2005, or Revision
                                   `A,' dated March
                                   9, 2005; or
                                   Bombardier
                                   Service Bulletin
                                   84-57-12, dated
                                   March 11, 2005;
                                   has not been done
                                   before the
                                   effective date of
                                   this AD.
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[[Page 17696]]

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-2005-08R1, dated August 
10, 2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-57-10, Revision 
`A,' dated March 14, 2005, to perform the actions that are required 
by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this 
document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 
Contact Bombardier, Inc., Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division, 123 
Garratt Boulevard, Downsview, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada, for a copy of 
this service information. You may review copies at the Docket 
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC; on the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at the NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 24, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-3196 Filed 4-6-06; 8:45 am]
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