[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 127 (Friday, July 1, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43122-43124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15289]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-7421; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-145-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), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), CL-600-2D24 
(Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes, and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet 
Series 1000) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a 
determination that wear and possible leakage of the high-pressure seal 
in the cylinder of the No. 3 hydraulic system

[[Page 43123]]

reservoir could occur and prevent the system from reaching normal 
operating pressure. This proposed AD would require repetitive 
operational checks for wear and leakage of the high-pressure seal in 
the cylinder of the reservoir of the No. 3 hydraulic system, and 
corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and 
correct a malfunctioning temperature indication of the No. 3 hydraulic 
system. High hydraulic fluid temperature combined with a temperature 
transducer malfunction could result in un-annunciated overheating of 
the hydraulic system and consequent ignition sources inside the fuel 
tank, which, combined with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a 
fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 15, 2016.

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:
     Deliver to Mail address above 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 view this referenced service information at the FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
7421; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 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, NY 
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-2016-7421; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-145-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-
2015-27, dated September 14, 2015 (referred to after this as the 
Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to 
correct an unsafe condition for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-
2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet 
Series 705); CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes; and CL-
600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. The MCAI states:

    It was discovered that the high-pressure seal in the cylinder of 
the No. 3 hydraulic system reservoir with P/N 960450-1 could wear 
and leak. This can cause high hydraulic fluid temperature and/or 
prevent the system from reaching normal operating pressure. High 
hydraulic fluid temperature, in combination with a temperature 
transducer malfunction, could result in an unannunciated overheat of 
the hydraulic system that could result in a potential ignition 
source within the fuel system.
    This [Canadian] AD mandates the repetitive operational check of 
the hydraulic system No. 3 fluid temperature indication as an 
interim mitigating action.

    Required actions include repeating any operational check that fails 
until the operational check passes. You may examine the MCAI in the AD 
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-7421.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-29-018, Revision A, 
dated October 13, 2015. The service information describes procedures 
for performing an operational check for wear and leakage of the high-
pressure seal in the cylinder of the reservoir of the No. 3 hydraulic 
system. This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

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

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 509 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour per product 
to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average 
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate 
the cost of this proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $43,265, or $85 
per airplane.
    We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide 
a cost estimate for the on-condition actions specified in this proposed 
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

[[Page 43124]]

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.

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

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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Bombardier, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2016-7421; Directorate Identifier 
2015-NM-145-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by August 15, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the Bombardier, Inc. airplanes identified in 
paragraph (c)(1), (c)(2), or (c)(3) of this AD, certificated in any 
category, equipped with No. 3 hydraulic system reservoir having part 
number 960450-1.
    (1) Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702), CL-
600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), having serial numbers 10002 
through 10999 inclusive.
    (2) Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes, 
having serial numbers 15001 through 15990 inclusive.
    (3) Model CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes, 
having serial numbers 19001 through 19990 inclusive.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 29, Hydraulic 
power.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a determination that wear and possible 
leakage of the high-pressure seal in the cylinder of the No. 3 
hydraulic system reservoir could occur. We are issuing this AD to 
detect and correct a malfunctioning temperature indication of the 
No. 3 hydraulic system. High hydraulic fluid temperature combined 
with a temperature transducer malfunction could result in un-
annunciated overheating of the hydraulic system and consequent 
ignition sources inside the fuel tank, which, combined with 
flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and 
consequent loss of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Operational Check and Repair, if Necessary

    Within 660 flight hours or 4 months after the effective date of 
this AD, whichever occurs first: Perform an operational check for 
wear and leakage of the high-pressure seal in the cylinder of the 
reservoir of the No. 3 hydraulic system, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-29-
018, Revision A, dated October 13, 2015. If the operational check 
fails, before further flight, do applicable corrective actions and 
repeat the operational check and applicable corrective actions until 
the operational check passes. Repeat the operational check 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 660 flight hours or 4 months, 
whichever occurs first.

(h) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for the applicable actions 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were 
performed before the effective date of this AD using Bombardier 
Service Bulletin 670BA-29-018, dated June 25, 2015, which is not 
incorporated by reference in this AD.

(i) 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 (ACO), ANE-170, 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: Program 
Manager, Continuing Operational Safety, FAA, New York ACO, 1600 
Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 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) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, New York ACO, 
ANE-170, FAA; or Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA); or 
Bombardier, Inc.'s TCCA Design Approval Organization (DAO). If 
approved by the DAO, the approval must include the DAO-authorized 
signature.

(j) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-2015-27, dated September 
14, 2015, for related information. This MCAI may be found in the AD 
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-7421.
    (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; email [email protected]; Internet http://www.bombardier.com. You may view this service information at the 
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 425-227-1221.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 21, 2016.
Dorr Anderson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-15289 Filed 6-30-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P