[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 130 (Friday, July 6, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31488-31491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13477]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0547; Product Identifier 2017-NM-091-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 DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This 
proposed AD was prompted by reports of wear on fuel couplings, bonding 
springs, and sleeves as well as fuel tube end ferrules and fuel 
component end ferrules. This proposed AD would require repetitive 
inspections of the existing clamshell coupling bonding wires, fuel 
couplings, and associated sleeves for certain criteria and replacement 
as necessary. This proposed AD would also require repetitive 
inspections of the fuel tube end ferrules, fuel component end ferrules, 
and ferrule o-ring flanges for damage and wear, and rework as 
necessary. 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., Q-Series Technical Help Desk, 123 Garratt Boulevard, 
Toronto, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada; telephone: 416-375-4000; fax: 416-
375-4539; 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-
0547; 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: Anthony Flores, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion and Program Management Section, FAA, Chicago ACO Branch, 
Room 107, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60018; telephone 847-
294-7140; fax 847-294-7834; 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-2018-0547; 
Product Identifier 2017-NM-091-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-2017-04R1, dated May 
26, 2017 (referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing 
Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe 
condition for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model DHC-8-400 series 
airplanes. The MCAI states:

    Some operators have reported discoloration and corrosion of 
Hydraflow part number 14J26 fuel couplings. Removal of the couplings 
during scheduled maintenance inspection has also shown signs of wear 
on the fuel tube end ferrules, fuel component end ferrules, coupling 
bonding springs, and coupling sleeves. These issues affect the 
integrity of the electrical bonding paths throughout the fuel lines 
and components, which in turn may lead to lightning strike induced 
fuel tank ignition.
    The initial issue of this [Canadian] AD mandated the [detailed] 
inspection [for wear or damage] and repair or replacement, as 
required, of affected fuel couplings and sleeves, fuel tubes, and 
fuel components, as well as the collection of wear data, to mitigate 
the risk of lightning strike induced fuel tank ignition.
    Since the initial issue of this [Canadian] AD, Transport Canada 
has become aware that the compliance timeframe of Part I of the 
initial issue of this [Canadian] AD is not suitable for new 
aeroplanes entering into service from the production line. Revision 
1 of this [Canadian] AD updates Part I of the initial issue of this 
[Canadian] AD accordingly, and mandates the [repetitive] inspection 
and repair or replacement, as required, of affected fuel couplings 
and sleeves, fuel tubes, and fuel components, as well as the 
collection of wear data, to mitigate the risk of lightning strike 
induced fuel tank ignition.

    Required actions include replacement of clamshell coupling bonding 
wires, fuel couplings and associated sleeves and rework (repair, 
replace, or blend, as applicable) of fuel tube end ferrules, fuel 
component end ferrules, and ferrule o-ring flanges. 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-2018-0547.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Bombardier has issued Service Bulletin 84-28-20, Revision C, dated 
April 28, 2017. This service information describes procedures for 
inspections of the existing clamshell coupling bonding wires, fuel 
couplings, and associated sleeves for certain criteria (wear and 
damage, including discoloration, worn coating, scuffing and grooves) 
and replacement. This service information also describes procedures for 
inspections of the fuel tube end ferrules, fuel component end ferrules, 
and ferrule o-ring flanges for damage and wear, and rework. 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.

[[Page 31489]]

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 52 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
             Action                   Labor cost         Parts cost      Cost per product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspections....................  212 work-hours x $85              $0  $18,020 per           $937,040 per
                                  per hour = $18,020                    inspection cycle.     inspection cycle.
                                  per inspection
                                  cycle.
Reporting......................  1 work hour x $85                  0  85 per inspection     4,420 per
                                  per hour = $85 per                    cycle.                inspection cycle.
                                  inspection cycle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements or 
rework that would be required based on the results of the proposed 
inspection. We have no way of determining the number of aircraft that 
might need these replacements or rework:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                   Action                                 Labor cost                Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rework/Replacement.........................  174 work-hours x $85 per hour =              $2,000         $16,790
                                              $14,790.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paperwork Reduction Act

    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to penalty for 
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of 
information displays a current valid OMB control number. The control 
number for the collection of information required by this NPRM is 2120-
0056. The paperwork cost associated with this NPRM has been detailed in 
the Costs of Compliance section of this document and includes time for 
reviewing instructions, as well as completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. Therefore, all reporting associated with 
this NPRM is mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden 
and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to the FAA 
at 800 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20591, ATTN: Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

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):


[[Page 31490]]


Bombardier, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2018-0547; Product Identifier 2017-
NM-091-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by August 20, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bombardier, Inc., Model DHC-8-400, -401 and -
402 airplanes, certificated in any category, manufacturer serial 
numbers 4001, 4003, and subsequent.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 28, Fuel.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of wear on fuel couplings, 
bonding springs, and sleeves as well as fuel tube end ferrules and 
fuel component end ferrules. We are issuing this AD to address such 
wear, which could reduce the integrity of the electrical bonding 
paths through the fuel line and components, and ultimately lead to 
fuel tank ignition in the event of a lightning strike.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Initial Inspection Compliance Times

    At the applicable times specified in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) 
of this AD, do the actions specified in paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(2) 
of this AD.
    (1) For all airplanes except those identified in paragraph 
(g)(2) of this AD: Within 6,000 flight hours or 36 months, whichever 
occurs first after the effective date of this AD.
    (2) For new airplanes with an original airworthiness certificate 
or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or after 
the effective date of this AD: Within 6,000 flight hours or 36 
months, whichever occurs first after the date of issuance of the 
original airworthiness certificate or the date of issuance of the 
original export certificate of airworthiness.

(h) Repetitive Inspections and Corrective Actions

    At the applicable times specified in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) 
of this AD, do the actions specified in paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(2) 
of this AD. Repeat the actions thereafter at intervals not to exceed 
6,000 flight hours or 36 months, whichever occurs first.
    (1) Do a detailed inspection of the existing clamshell coupling 
bonding wires, fuel couplings, and associated sleeves for criteria, 
as identified in, and in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-28-20, Revision C, 
dated April 28, 2017. If any conditions are found meeting the 
criteria specified in Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-28-20, Revision 
C, dated April 28, 2017, before further flight, replace affected 
parts with new couplings and sleeves of the same part number, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier 
Service Bulletin 84-28-20, Revision C, dated April 28, 2017.
    (2) Do a detailed inspection of the fuel tube end ferrules, fuel 
component end ferrules, and ferrule o-ring flanges for damage and 
wear, and rework (repair, replace, or blend, as applicable), in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier 
Service Bulletin 84-28-20, Revision C, dated April 28, 2017.

(i) Reporting

    At the applicable time specified in paragraph (i)(1) or (i)(2) 
of this AD: Submit a report of the findings (including no findings) 
of the initial and repetitive inspections required by paragraph (h) 
of this AD by completing Tables 1 through 5 of Bombardier Service 
Bulletin 84-28-20, Revision C, dated April 28, 2017, and submitting 
them to Bombardier, Inc. Q-Series Action Center; telephone: 1-844-
272-2720; email: [email protected].
    (1) If the inspection was done on or after the effective date of 
this AD, submit the report within 30 days after the completion of 
the inspection.
    (2) If the inspection was done before the effective date of this 
AD, submit the report within 30 days after the effective date of 
this AD.

(j) Credit for Previous Actions

    (1) This paragraph provides credit for the actions required by 
paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(2) of this AD, if those actions were 
performed before the effective date of this AD using the service 
information specified in paragraph (j)(1)(i) or (j)(1)(ii) of this 
AD.
    (i) Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-28-20, Revision A, dated 
December 14, 2016.
    (ii) Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-28-20, Revision B, dated 
February 13, 2017.
    (2) This paragraph provides credit for the initial inspections 
required by paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(2) of this AD and the initial 
reporting required by paragraph (i) of this AD, for Bombardier, 
Inc., Model DHC-8-402 airplane, manufacturer serial number 4164, if 
those actions were performed before the effective date of this AD 
using Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-28-20, dated September 30, 
2016.

(k) 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.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: A federal agency may not conduct or 
sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a 
person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a 
collection of information subject to the requirements of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information 
displays a current valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number 
for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public reporting for 
this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 1 
hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, 
completing and reviewing the collection of information. All 
responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Comments 
concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing 
the burden should be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. 
SW, Washington, DC 20591, Attn: Information Collection Clearance 
Officer, AES-200.

(l) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) Canadian AD CF-2017-04R1, dated May 26, 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-2018-0547.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Anthony Flores, 
Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion and Program Management Section, FAA, 
Chicago ACO Branch, Room 107, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, 
IL 60018; telephone 847-294-7140; fax 847-294-7834; email: 
[email protected].
    (3) For information about AMOCs, contact Joe Catanzaro, 
Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 
1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone: 516-
228-7366; fax: 516-794-5531; email: [email protected].
    (4) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Bombardier, Inc., Q-Series Technical Help Desk, 123 Garratt 
Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada; telephone: 416-375-
4000; fax: 416-375-4539; 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.



[[Page 31491]]


    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on June 12, 2018.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-13477 Filed 7-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P