[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 21, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16490-16492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6769]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0293; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-034-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Bombardier, Inc. 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. 
This proposed AD was prompted by reports of a bleed air leak from the 
high pressure ducts which was not immediately detected by the bleed 
leak detection system. This proposed AD would require installing new 
sensing elements in the main landing gear wheel well and the overwing 
area, protective blankets on the upper surface of the wing box and fuel 
tubes, and protective shields on the rudder quadrant support-beam in 
the aft equipment compartment. We are proposing this AD to prevent an 
undetected bleed air leak which can cause loss of rudder control, can 
lead to degradation of structural integrity, and could be a potential 
heat source that can lead to fuel being ignited.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 7, 2012.

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 W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed 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; email 
[email protected]; Internet http://www.bombardier.com. You 
may review copies of the referenced 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.

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 proposed 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: Cesar Gomez, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe and Mechanical Systems Branch, ANE-171, FAA, New York Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, New 
York 11590; telephone (516) 228-7318; fax (516) 794-5531.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2012-0293; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-034-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD based on 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 proposed AD.

Discussion

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation 
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-
2012-06, dated January 26, 2012 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    There have been multiple events reported where a bleed air leak 
from the high pressure ducts was not immediately detected by the 
Bleed Leak Detection System (BLDS).
    An investigation revealed that if a bleed air leak develops due 
to a cracked or ruptured duct, the duct shroud may not channel 
sufficient bleed air to the sensing loop elements to enable an 
automatic shutdown of the bleed air system. The inability to detect 
a bleed air leak could result in the rudder quadrant bracket, 
pressure floor, pressure floor beam, fuel vent boot or fuel tubes 
being exposed to high temperatures. This could potentially lead to 
the loss of rudder control, degrade the structural integrity of 
primary structure or fuel ignition.
    This [Canadian] Airworthiness Directive (AD) mandates the 
installation of newly designed sensing elements in the main landing 
gear wheel well and the overwing area, protective blankets on the 
upper surface of the wing box and fuel tubes, as well as

[[Page 16491]]

protective shields on the rudder quadrant support-beam in the aft 
equipment compartment.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Bombardier, Inc. has issued the service bulletins below.
     Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-36-014, Revision A, 
dated October 11, 2011.
     Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-36-016, Revision A, 
dated October 11, 2011.
    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 Proposed 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 proposing this AD because we 
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition 
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same 
type design.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD 
would affect about 409 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that 
it would take about 78 work-hours per product to comply with the basic 
requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per 
work-hour. Required parts would cost about $21,353 per product. Where 
the service information lists required parts costs that are covered 
under warranty, we have assumed that there will be no charge for these 
parts. As we do not control warranty coverage for affected parties, 
some parties may incur costs higher than estimated here. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to 
be $11,445,047, or $27,983 per product.

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 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 this 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);
    3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and
    4. 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, 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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Bombardier, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2012-0293; Directorate Identifier 
2012-NM-034-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by May 7, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the airplanes specified in paragraphs (c)(1) 
and (c)(2) of this AD, certificated in any category.
    (1) Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 
701, & 702) airplanes, serial numbers 10003 through 10331 inclusive.
    (2) Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) 
and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes, serial numbers 
15001 through 15279 inclusive.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 36: Pneumatic.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of a bleed air leak from the 
high pressure ducts which was not immediately detected by the bleed 
leak detection system. We are issuing this AD to prevent an 
undetected bleed air leak which can cause loss of rudder control, 
can lead to degradation of structural integrity, and could be a 
potential heat source that can lead to fuel being ignited.

(f) Compliance

    You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD 
performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions 
have already been done.

(g) Install Protective Shields

    For Model CL-600-2C10 airplanes having serial numbers 10003 
through 10326 inclusive, and Model CL-600-2D15 and CL-600-2D24 
airplanes having serial numbers 15001 through 15267 inclusive: 
Within 6,600 flight hours or 24 months after the effective date of 
this AD, whichever occurs first, install protective shields on the 
rudder quadrant support-beam in the aft equipment compartment, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier 
Service Bulletin 670BA-36-014, Revision A, dated October 11, 2011.

(h) Install Protective Blankets and Sensing Elements

    For Model CL-600-2C10 airplanes having serial numbers 10003 
through 10331 inclusive and Models CL-600-2D15 and CL-600-2D24 
airplanes having serial numbers 15001 through 15279 inclusive: 
Within 6,600 flight hours or 24 months after the effective date of 
this AD, whichever occurs first, install protective blankets on the 
upper surface of the wing box and fuel components, and install new 
sensing elements in the wheel well of the main landing gear and the 
overwing area, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-36-016, Revision A, dated October 
11, 2011.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for installations, as required by 
paragraphs (g)

[[Page 16492]]

and (h) of this AD, if those actions were done before the effective 
date of this AD using Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-36-014 or 
670BA-36-016, both dated April 7, 2011.

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, New 
York Aircraft Certification Office, ANE-170, FAA, has the authority 
to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures 
found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 
request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards 
District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to 
the ACO, send it to ATTN: Program Manager, Continuing Operational 
Safety, FAA, New York ACO, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, 
New York 11590; telephone 516-228-7300; fax 516-794-5531. Before 
using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal 
inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the 
local flight standards district office/certificate holding 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.

(k) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-2012-06, dated 
January 26, 2012; and the service bulletins specified in paragraphs 
(k)(1) and (k)(2) of this AD; for related information.
    (1) Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-36-014, Revision A, dated 
October 11, 2011.
    (2) Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-36-016, Revision A, dated 
October 11, 2011.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 12, 2012.
John P. Piccola,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-6769 Filed 3-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P