[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 208 (Thursday, October 29, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55767-55770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-25917]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0998; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-198-AD; 
Amendment 39-16065; AD 2009-22-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional 
Jet Series 700, 701 & 702) Airplanes, Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet 
Series 705) Airplanes, and Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) 
Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of 
another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an 
aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

    The heating capability of several [angle of attack] AOA 
transducer heating elements removed from in-service aircraft has 
been found to be below the minimum requirement. Also, it was 
discovered that a large number of AOA transducers repaired in an 
approved maintenance facility were not calibrated accurately.
    Inaccurate calibration of the AOA transducer and/or degraded AOA 
transducer heating elements can result in early or late activation 
of the stall warning, stick shaker and stick pusher by the Stall 
Protection Computer (SPC).
* * * * *
Inaccurate calibration of the AOA transducers and/or degraded AOA 
transducer heating elements could result in ineffective response to 
aerodynamic stall and reduced controllability of the airplane. This AD 
requires actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition 
described in the MCAI.

DATES: This AD becomes effective November 13, 2009.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of November 13, 
2009.
    We must receive comments on this AD by December 14, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-40, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wing Chan, Aerospace Engineer, 
Avionics and Flight Test Branch, ANE-172, FAA, New York Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, New 
York 11590; telephone (516) 228-7311; fax (516) 794-5531.

[[Page 55768]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation 
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-
2009-35, dated August 31, 2009 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    The heating capability of several [angle of attack] AOA 
transducer heating elements removed from in-service aircraft has 
been found to be below the minimum requirement. Also, it was 
discovered that a large number of AOA transducers repaired in an 
approved maintenance facility were not calibrated accurately.
    Inaccurate calibration of the AOA transducer and/or degraded AOA 
transducer heating elements can result in early or late activation 
of the stall warning, stick shaker and stick pusher by the Stall 
Protection Computer (SPC).
    This [Canadian] directive mandates a periodic inspection of the 
inrush current to verify the AOA heating capability and replacement 
of the inaccurately calibrated AOA transducers.

Inaccurate calibration of the AOA transducers and/or degraded AOA 
transducer heating elements could result in ineffective response to 
aerodynamic stall and reduced controllability of the airplane. You may 
obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Bombardier has issued Service Bulletin 670BA-27-051, dated May 14, 
2009. The actions described in this service information are intended to 
correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have 
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service 
information referenced above. We are issuing this AD because we 
evaluated all pertinent information and determined the unsafe condition 
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same 
type design.

Differences Between the AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in 
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it 
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the 
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these 
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information 
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
    We might also have required different actions in this AD from those 
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are 
highlighted in a Note within the AD.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies 
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because the 
risk of having a degraded transducer is higher with units that have 
more than 7,500 total flight hours accumulated. Degraded AOA 
transducers can result in inaccurate activation of the stall warning, 
stick shaker, or stick pusher, which could result in ineffective 
response to aerodynamic stall and reduced controllability of the 
airplane. Therefore, we determined that notice and opportunity for 
public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable and that good 
cause exists for making this amendment effective in fewer than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public 
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2009-0998; Directorate 
Identifier 2009-NM-198-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of 
those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this AD.

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 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 this AD:
    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 AD and placed it in the AD docket.

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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2009-22-12 Bombardier, Inc. (Formerly Canadair): Amendment 39-16065.

[[Page 55769]]

Docket No. FAA-2009-0998; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-198-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective November 
13, 2009.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Bombardier Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional 
Jet Series 700, 701 & 702) airplanes, Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional 
Jet Series 705) airplanes, and Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet 
Series 900) airplanes; certificated in any category, that are 
equipped with Thales angle of attack (AOA) transducers having part 
number C16258AA.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27: Flight 
Controls.

Reason

    (e) The mandatory continued airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states:
    The heating capability of several [angle of attack] AOA 
transducer heating elements removed from in-service aircraft has 
been found to be below the minimum requirement. Also, it was 
discovered that a large number of AOA transducers repaired in an 
approved maintenance facility were not calibrated accurately.
    Inaccurate calibration of the AOA transducer and/or degraded AOA 
transducer heating elements can result in early or late activation 
of the stall warning, stick shaker and stick pusher by the Stall 
Protection Computer (SPC).
    This [Canadian] directive mandates a periodic inspection of the 
inrush current to verify the AOA heating capability and replacement 
of the inaccurately calibrated AOA transducers.
    Inaccurate calibration of the AOA transducers and/or degraded 
AOA transducer heating elements could result in ineffective response 
to aerodynamic stall and reduced controllability of the airplane.

Actions and Compliance

    (f) Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) Within the applicable compliance times specified in Table 1 
of this AD: Measure the inrush current of both AOA transducers, in 
accordance with Part A of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-27-051, dated May 14, 2009.

                      Table 1--Initial Measurement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 For any AOA transducer that, as of the
     effective date of this AD, has       Do the initial inrush current
             accumulated--                        measurement--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 6,500 total flight hours.....  Before the AOA transducer has
                                          accumulated 7,500 total flight
                                          hours.
More than or equal to 6,500 total        Within 500 flight hours after
 flight hours but less than 7,500 total   the effective date of this AD
 flight hours.                            but before the AOA transducer
                                          has accumulated 8,000 total
                                          flight hours.
More than or equal to 7,500 total        Within 250 flight hours after
 flight hours.                            the effective date of this AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     (2) If, during any measurement required by paragraph (f)(1) of 
this AD, an AOA transducer is found to have an inrush current less 
than 1.60 amps (``degraded'' transducer), before further flight 
replace the transducer with a new or serviceable transducer, in 
accordance with Part C of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-27-051, dated May 14, 2009. Do the 
measurement specified in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD for that 
replacement transducer at the times specified in (f)(2)(i) or 
(f)(2)(ii) of this AD.
    (i) At the applicable time specified in Table 2 of this AD if 
the degraded transducer was replaced with a serviceable transducer 
that is not new; or
    (ii) Within 2,000 flight hours after replacement if the degraded 
transducer was replaced with a new one.
    (3) If, during any measurement required by paragraph (f)(1) of 
this AD, an AOA transducer is found to have an inrush current more 
than or equal to 1.60 amps, repeat the measurement specified in 
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD thereafter at intervals not to exceed 
the applicable interval specified in Table 2 of this AD.

                Table 2--Repetitive Measurement Intervals
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 If the last inrush current measurement
 of the serviceable AOA transducer is--   Then repeat the measurement--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
More than or equal to 1.90 amps........  Within 2,000 flight hours after
                                          the last measurement.
More than or equal to 1.80 amps but      Within 1,500 flight hours after
 less than 1.90 amps.                     the last measurement.
More than or equal to 1.70 amps but      Within 1,000 flight hours after
 less than 1.80 amps.                     the last measurement.
More than or equal to 1.60 amps but      Within 500 flight hours after
 less than 1.70 amps.                     the last measurement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

FAA AD Differences

    Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information 
as follows: This AD does not require the one-time inspection for 
serial numbers and on-condition replacement in Paragraph 1. of the 
MCAI. The planned compliance times for this action would allow 
enough time to provide notice and opportunity for prior public 
comment on the merits of those actions. Therefore, we are 
considering further rulemaking to address this issue.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, New 
York Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found 
in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to Attn: Wing Chan, Aerospace 
Engineer, Avionics and Flight Test Branch, ANE-172, FAA, New York 
ACO, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, New York 11590; 
telephone (516) 228-7311; fax (516) 794-5531. Before using any 
approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your 
principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or principal avionics 
inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a principal inspector, 
your local Flight Standards District Office. The AMOC approval 
letter must specifically reference this AD.
    (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has 
approved the information collection requirements and has assigned 
OMB Control Number 2120-0056.

Related Information

    (h) Refer to MCAI Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-2009-35, 
dated August 31, 2009; and Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-27-051, 
dated May 14, 2009; for related information.

[[Page 55770]]

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-27-051, dated 
May 14, 2009, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD 
specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Bombardier, Inc., 400 C[ocirc]te Vertu Road West, Dorval, 
Qu[eacute]bec H4S 1Y9, Canada; telephone 514-855-5000; fax 514-855-
7401; e-mail [email protected]; Internet http://www.bombardier.com.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington. For information on the availability of this material at 
the FAA, call 425-227-1221 or 425-227-1152.
    (4) You may also review copies of the service information that 
is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 16, 2009.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-25917 Filed 10-28-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P