[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 13, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34006-34008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5286]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24411; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-033-AD; 
Amendment 39-14642; AD 2006-12-16]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, 
-201, -202, -301, -311, -314, and -315 Airplanes; Equipped With Certain 
Cockpit Door Installations

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-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, 
-314, and -315 airplanes. This AD requires certain Bombardier Model 
DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, -314, and -315 
airplanes. This AD results from a report that, during structural 
testing of the cockpit door, the lower hinge block rotated and caused 
the mating hinge pin to disengage, and caused excessive door 
deflection. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of a door 
attachment, which could result in uncontrolled release of the cockpit 
door under certain fuselage decompression conditions, and possible 
damage to the airplane structure.

DATES: This AD becomes effective July 18, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of July 18, 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, New York Aircraft 
Certification Office, FAA, 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-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, -314, and -315 
airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 11, 
2006 (71 FR 18244). That NPRM proposed to require modifying the hinge 
attachment for the cockpit door from a single-point attachment to a 
two-point attachment.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the one comment received. 
The commenter, the Air Line Pilots Association, supports the NPRM.

Conclusion

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

Costs of Compliance

    This AD will affect about 16 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 
required actions will take between 3 and 6 work hours per airplane, 
depending on the airplane configuration. The average labor rate is $80 
per work hour. Required parts will cost about $2,000 per airplane. 
Based on these figures, the estimated cost of this AD for U.S. 
operators is between $35,840 and $39,680, or between $2,240 and $2,480 
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

[[Page 34007]]

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

0
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):

2006-12-16 Bombardier, Inc. (Formerly de Havilland, Inc.): Amendment 
39-14642. Docket No. FAA-2006-24411; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-
033-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective July 18, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Bombardier Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -
201, -202, -301, -311, -314, and -315 airplanes, certificated in any 
category; serial numbers 003 through 557 inclusive; equipped with 
cockpit door installation part numbers (P/Ns) identified in Table 1 
of this AD.

        Table 1.--Cockpit Door Installations Affected by This AD
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    P/N                              Dash No.(s)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
82510074..................................  All.
82510294..................................  All.
82510310..................................  -001
8Z4597....................................  -001
H85250010.................................  All.
82510700..................................  All.
82510704..................................  All except -502 and -503.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report that, during structural 
testing of the cockpit door, the lower hinge block rotated and 
caused the mating hinge pin to disengage, and caused excessive door 
deflection. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of a door 
attachment, which could result in uncontrolled release of the 
cockpit door under certain fuselage decompression conditions, and 
possible damage to the aircraft structure.

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.

Modification

    (f) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the cockpit door from a single-point attachment to a two-point 
attachment in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of the 
applicable service bulletin in Table 2 of this AD.

                 Table 2.--Bombardier Service Bulletins
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 Use this Bombardier service bulletin--   For airplane serial numbers--
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8-52-54, Revision A, dated November 5,   003 through 451 inclusive, 453
 2004.                                    through 463 inclusive, 465
                                          through 489 inclusive, 491
                                          through 505 inclusive, and
                                          507.
8-52-58, dated May 12, 2004............  452, 464, 490, 506, and 508
                                          through 557 inclusive.
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    Note 1: Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-52-54 refers to Bombardier 
Series 100/300 Modification Summary (Modsum) 8Q100859 as an 
additional source of service information for installing a hinge pin 
with a two-point attachment. Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-52-58 
refers to Bombardier Series 100/300 Modsum 8Q900267 as an additional 
source of service information for reworking and installing the 
cockpit door, and reworking the lower hinge attachment to provide a 
downward-facing pin with a two-point attachment.

Prior/Concurrent Requirements

    (g) Prior to or concurrently with the modification in paragraph 
(f) of this AD, do the applicable actions specified in Table 3 of 
this AD according to a method approved by either the Manager, New 
York Aircraft Certification (ACO), FAA; or Transport Canada Civil 
Aviation (TCCA) (or its delegated agent). One approved method is the 
applicable modification or Modsum listed in the ``One approved 
method for doing these actions'' column of Table 3 of this AD.

                                     Table 3.--Bombardier Service Bulletins
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                                                                                         One approved method for
For airplanes affected by  Bombardier   That have these serial     Do these actions--     doing these actions--
          Service Bulletin--                  numbers--
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8-52-54, Revision A, dated November    003 through 407          Rework the cockpit door  De Havilland Aircraft
 5, 2004.                               inclusive, 409 through   emergency release.       of Canada, Limited,
                                        412 inclusive, and 414                            Modification 8/2337.
                                        through 433 inclusive.
                                                                Install a new label      De Havilland Aircraft
                                                                 regarding alternate      of Canada, Limited,
                                                                 release of the door.     Modification 8/3339.

[[Page 34008]]

 
8-52-58, dated May 12, 2004..........  452, 464, 490, 506, and  Install the cockpit      Bombardier Series 100/
                                        508 through 557          door.                    300 Modsum 8Q200015.
                                        inclusive.
                                                                Install the cockpit      Bombardier Series 100/
                                                                 door.                    300 Modsum 8Q420101.
                                                                Install the cockpit      Bombardier Series 100/
                                                                 door with a blow-out     300 Modsum 8Q420143.
                                                                 door panel.
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Actions Done In Accordance With Previous Revision of Service Bulletin

    (h) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-52-54, dated May 12, 
2004, are acceptable for compliance with the corresponding 
requirements in paragraph (f) of this AD.

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-2005-34, dated August 
29, 2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use the Bombardier service information identified 
in Table 4 of this AD to perform the actions that are required by 
this AD, as applicable, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of these documents 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.

              Table 4.--Material Incorporated by Reference
------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Bombardier Service Bulletin     Revision level           Date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
8-52-54.........................  A..............  Nov. 5, 2004.
8-52-58.........................  Original.......  May 12, 2004.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 5, 2006.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-5286 Filed 6-12-06; 8:45 am]
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