[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 130 (Friday, July 6, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31504-31507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13360]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0551; Product Identifier 2018-NM-023-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc.

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; Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes; and 
Model CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This proposed 
AD was prompted by reports of damage to the protective coating and 
corrosion on the piston/axle of the main landing gear (MLG), caused by 
friction between the inboard axle sleeve and the axle thrust face. This 
proposed AD would require revising the maintenance or inspection 
program, as applicable, to incorporate a detailed inspection of the MLG 
piston/axle for damage to the protective coating and for corrosion. We 
are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 20, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, 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 NPRM, contact 
Bombardier, Inc., 400 C[ocirc]te-Vertu Road West, Dorval, Qu[eacute]bec 
H4S 1Y9, Canada; Widebody Customer Response Center North America toll-
free telephone 1-866-538-1247 or direct-dial telephone 1-514-855-2999; 
fax 514-855-7401; email [email protected]; internet http://www.bombardier.com. You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-
231-3195.

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-2018-
0551; 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 NPRM, 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: Darren Gassetto, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe and Mechanical Systems Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 
Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7323; 
fax 516-794-5531; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2018-0551; 
Product Identifier 2018-NM-023-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM 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 NPRM.

Discussion

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation 
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian AD CF-2017-38, dated December 
20, 2017 (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) airplanes; Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet 
Series 705) airplanes; Model CL-600-2D24

[[Page 31505]]

(Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes; and Model CL-600-2E25 (Regional 
Jet Series 1000) airplanes. The MCAI states:

    There have been reports of damage to the protective coating and/
or corrosion on the piston/axle of the Main Landing Gear (MLG). The 
damage to the protective coating was caused by friction between the 
inboard axle sleeve and the axle thrust face. If not corrected, this 
condition can cause the axle to separate from the piston/axle [and 
consequent collapse of the landing gear during ground maneuvers or 
upon landing].
    This [Canadian] AD mandates the incorporation of a new 
maintenance task in order to perform a [detailed] visual inspection 
of the piston/axle of the MLG to prevent the axle separation from 
the piston/axle.

    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-2018-
0551.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Bombardier, Inc. has issued CRJ Series Regional Jet Temporary 
Revision (TR) MRB-0059, dated March 20, 2015, to Bombardier CRJ Series 
Regional Jet Maintenance Requirements Manual (MRM), Part 1, CSP B-053. 
The service information describes an airworthiness limitation task for 
a detailed inspection for damage to the protective coating and for 
corrosion on the piston/axle of the MLG. 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.
    This AD requires revisions to certain operator maintenance 
documents to include new actions (e.g., inspections). Compliance with 
these actions is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes that have 
been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the areas addressed 
by this proposed AD, the operator may not be able to accomplish the 
actions described in the revisions. In this situation, to comply with 
14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must request approval for an alternative 
method of compliance according to paragraph (j)(1) of this proposed AD. 
The request should include a description of changes to the required 
inspections that will ensure the continued operational safety of the 
airplane.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 530 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:
    We have determined that revising the maintenance or inspection 
program takes an average of 90 work-hours per operator, although we 
recognize that this number may vary from operator to operator. In the 
past, we have estimated that this action takes 1 work-hour per 
airplane. Since operators incorporate maintenance or inspection program 
changes for their affected fleet(s), we have determined that a per-
operator estimate is more accurate than a per-airplane estimate. 
Therefore, we estimate the total cost per operator to be $7,650 (90 
work-hours x $85 per work-hour).

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.
    This proposed AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated 
by the Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as 
authorized by FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, 
issuance of ADs is normally a function of the Compliance and 
Airworthiness Division, but during this transition period, the 
Executive Director has delegated the authority to issue ADs applicable 
to transport category airplanes to the Director of the System Oversight 
Division.

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-2018-0551; Product Identifier 2018-
NM-023-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by August 20, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2C10 
(Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702) airplanes, serial numbers 
10002 and subsequent; Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) 
airplanes and Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes, 
serial numbers 15001 and subsequent; and Model CL-600-2E25

[[Page 31506]]

(Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes, serial numbers 19001 and 
subsequent, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 32, Landing 
gear.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of damage to the protective 
coating and corrosion found on the piston/axle of the main landing 
gear (MLG), caused by friction between the inboard axle sleeve and 
the axle thrust face. We are issuing this AD to address such damage, 
which could cause the axle to separate from the piston/axle, and 
ultimately lead to collapse of the landing gear during ground 
maneuvers or upon landing.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Maintenance or Inspection Program Revision

    Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD: Revise the 
maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, by incorporating 
CRJ Series Regional Jet Temporary Revision (TR) MRB-0059, dated 
March 20, 2015, to Bombardier CRJ Series Regional Jet Maintenance 
Requirements Manual (MRM), Part 1, CSP B-053. The applicable 
maintenance or inspection program revision required by this 
paragraph may be done by inserting a copy of TR MRB-0059, dated 
March 20, 2015, to Bombardier CRJ Series Regional Jet MRM, Part 1, 
CSP B-053. When the information in TR MRB-0059, dated March 20, 
2015, to Bombardier CRJ Series Regional Jet MRM, Part 1, CSP B-053, 
has been included in the general revisions of Bombardier CRJ Series 
Regional Jet MRM, Part 1, CSP B-053, the general revisions may be 
inserted in the MRM, and this TR may be removed, provided the 
relevant information in the general revision is identical to that in 
Bombardier TR MRB-0059, dated March 20, 2015, to Bombardier CRJ 
Series Regional Jet MRM, Part 1, CSP B-053. The initial time for the 
task is at the applicable time specified in figure 1 to paragraphs 
(g) and (h) of this AD. Information used for determining the entry 
into service date can be found in paragraph (h) of this AD.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP06JY18.000

(h) Information for Calculating Time Since Piston/Axle Entry Into 
Service Date

    The entry into service date (first column of figure 1 to 
paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD) can be calculated from the date 
of the latest inspection, restoration, or repair accomplished as 
specified in the service information listed in (h)(1) through (h)(3) 
inclusive, as applicable.
    (1) Inspected as specified in Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-
32-048, dated August 29, 2014; or Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-
32-048, Revision A, September 5, 2014; or Bombardier Service 
Bulletin 670BA-32-048, Revision B, September 2, 2015.
    (2) Restored as specified in Bombardier Task Number 320100-210, 
to Bombardier CRJ Series Regional Jet MRM, Part 1, CSP B-053.
    (3) Repaired as specified in one or more of the Bombardier 
Repair Engineering Orders (REO) specified in paragraphs (h)(3)(i) 
through (h)(3)(iii) of this AD.
    (i) Bombardier REO 670-32-11-313, Revision A, March 18, 2014.
    (ii) Bombardier REO 670-32-11-361, dated July 30, 2014.
    (iii) Bombardier REO 698-32-11-008, dated July 30, 2014.

(i) No Alternative Actions or Intervals

    After the maintenance or inspection program has been revised, as 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., 
inspections) or intervals may be used unless the actions or 
intervals are approved as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) 
in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (j)(1) of 
this AD.

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, New 
York ACO Branch, 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 manager of the certification 
office, send it to ATTN: Program Manager, Continuing Operational 
Safety, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 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.
    (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 
Branch, 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.

(k) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) Canadian AD CF-2017-38, dated December 20, 2017, 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-2018-0551.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Darren Gassetto, 
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe and Mechanical Systems Section, FAA, 
New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 
11590; telephone 516-228-7323; fax 516-794-5531; email [email protected].
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Bombardier, Inc., 400 C[ocirc]te-

[[Page 31507]]

Vertu Road West, Dorval, Qu[eacute]bec H4S 1Y9, Canada; Widebody 
Customer Response Center North America toll-free telephone 1-866-
538-1247 or direct-dial telephone 1-514-855-2999; fax 514-855-7401; 
email [email protected]; internet http://www.bombardier.com. You may view this service information at the 
FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, 
WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 206-231-3195.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on June 12, 2018.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-13360 Filed 7-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P