[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 101 (Thursday, May 25, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30070-30072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8008]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24867; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-064-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Model DHC-8-102, -103, and -
106 Airplanes, and 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-8-102, -103, and -106 airplanes, and 
DHC-8-200 and DHC-8-300 series airplanes. This proposed AD would 
require performing a one-time inspection for non-conforming chain links 
of chain assemblies of the elevator trim system and gust lock system, 
and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would also 
require temporary revisions to the airplane flight manuals of the 
affected airplanes, which describe procedures for elevator trim checks. 
This proposed AD results from several reports of failure of the 
elevator trim chain, due to hydrogen embrittlement. We are proposing 
this AD to prevent breakage of the elevator trim chain, which would 
prevent the actual position of the elevator trim tab from being 
annunciated to the flightcrew. Attempting to adjust the trim tab to the 
full nose up or full nose down position with a broken trim chain could 
cause reduced control during airplane rotation on the ground or a stall 
during flight.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 26, 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: Ezra Sasson, 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) 228-7320; 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-
24867; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-064-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.

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-8-102, -103, and -106 airplanes, and DHC-
8-200 and DHC-8-300 series airplanes. TCCA has received reports of 
several failures of the elevator trim chain, due to cracking of certain 
chain links caused by hydrogen embrittlement. This condition, if not 
corrected, could result in breakage of the elevator trim chain, which 
would prevent the actual position of the elevator trim tab from being 
annunciated to the flightcrew. Attempting to adjust the trim tab to the 
full nose up or full nose down position with a broken trim chain could 
cause reduced control during airplane rotation on the ground or a stall 
during flight.

Relevant Service Information

    Bombardier has issued temporary amendments (TA) to the product 
support manuals (PSM) of the airplane flight manuals (AFM) of the 
affected airplanes, as shown in the following table. The TAs describe 
procedures for visual trim checks to verify that elevators are in 
acceptable positions relative to elevator trim wheel settings. 
Operators should note that the suffixes ``NS,'' ``S,'' and ``HT,'' only 
appear on the labels of certain AFMs and do not indicate separate 
airplane models. For example, a Model 102NS airplane is a Model 102 
airplane.

                                           Temporary Amendments (TAs)
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          Airplane model/AFM No.                 PSM           TA No.                  Effective date
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102, 103, and 106........................         1-81-1A               9  January 28, 2004.
102NS, 103NS, and 106NS..................         1-81-1A               8  January 28, 2004.
201......................................         1-82-1A              11  June 22, 2005.
202......................................         1-82-1A              10  January 28, 2004.
201S and 202S............................         1-82-1A               9  June 22, 2005.

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202HT....................................         1-82-1A               8  January 28, 2004.
301......................................         1-83-1A               8  January 28, 2004.
311......................................         1-83-1A              15  January 28, 2004.
315......................................         1-83-1A               9  January 28, 2004.
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    Bombardier has issued Service Bulletin 8-27-105, Revision `A,' 
dated September 13, 2005. The service bulletin describes procedures for 
performing a one-time inspection for non-conforming chain links of 
chain assemblies of the elevator trim system and gust lock system, and 
corrective actions if necessary. Conforming chain links are identified 
with the number RC-25; non-conforming chain links are identified with 
other numbers. Corrective actions include replacing any non-conforming 
chain links with conforming chain links, or replacing the trim chain/
chain assembly with a new or serviceable trim chain/chain assembly.
    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-
2005-38, dated October 25, 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.

Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would affect about 166 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The proposed inspection would take about 5 work hours per airplane, at 
an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of the proposed inspection for U.S. operators is 
$66,400, or $400 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 de Havilland, Inc.): Docket No. FAA-2006-
24867; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-064-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by June 26, 
2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Bombardier Model DHC-8-102, -103, and -
106 airplanes, and DHC-8-200 and DHC-8-300 series airplanes, 
certificated in any category; as identified in Bombardier Service 
Bulletin 8-27-105, Revision `A,' dated September 13, 2005.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of several failures of the 
elevator trim chain, due to hydrogen embrittlement. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent breakage of the elevator trim chain, which would 
prevent the actual position of the elevator trim tab from being 
annunciated to the flightcrew. Attempting to adjust the trim tab to 
the full nose up or full nose down position with a broken trim chain 
could cause reduced control during airplane rotation on the ground 
or a stall during flight.

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.

Temporary Amendments (TAs)

    (f) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the applicable airplane

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flight manual (AFM) of the affected airplanes by incorporating the 
information in the TAs into the product support manuals (PSM) listed 
in Table 1 of this AD. This may be accomplished by inserting a copy 
of the applicable TA into the AFM. The copy of the TA may be removed 
from the AFM when a new revision of the AFM is released that 
incorporates material identical to the content of the TA.

                                 Table 1.--Bombardier Temporary Amendments (TAs)
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          Airplane model/AFM No.                 PSM           TA No.                  Effective date
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102, 103, and 106........................         1-81-1A               9  January 28, 2004.
102NS, 103NS, and 106NS..................         1-81-1A               8  January 28, 2004.
201......................................         1-82-1A              11  June 22, 2005.
202......................................         1-82-1A              10  January 28, 2004.
201S and 202S............................         1-82-1A               9  June 22, 2005.
202HT....................................         1-82-1A               8  January 28, 2004.
301......................................         1-83-1A               8  January 28, 2004.
311......................................         1-83-1A              15  January 28, 2004.
315......................................         1-83-1A               9  January 28, 2004.
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    Note 1: The suffixes ``NS,'' ``S,'' and ``HT,'' do not indicate 
separate airplane models; for example, a Model 102NS airplane is a 
Model 102 airplane.

Inspection and Corrective Actions

    (g) Within 6,000 flight hours or 36 months after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs first, perform a one-time general 
visual inspection for non-conforming chain links of the trim chain/
chain assemblies of the elevator trim system and gust lock system 
and, before further flight, do applicable corrective actions, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier 
Service Bulletin 8-27-105, Revision `A,' dated September 13, 2005. 
After accomplishing the requirements of this paragraph, operators 
may remove the AFM revisions required by paragraph (f) of this AD 
from the AFM.

Parts Installation

    (h) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install 
an elevator trim chain/chain assembly on any airplane, unless the 
chain links of that trim chain/chain assembly are identified with 
the number RC-25.

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-2005-38, dated October 
25, 2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 17, 2006.
Kevin M. Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-8008 Filed 5-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P