[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 63 (Friday, April 1, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19026-19029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06771]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0155; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00585-T]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; MHI RJ Aviation ULC (Type Certificate 
Previously Held by Bombardier, Inc.) Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 
100 & 440) airplanes; Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 
702) airplanes; Model CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet Series 550) 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 displayed headings changing from MAG to TRU with no pilot 
action, which may result in misleading heading information on both 
primary function displays (PFDs) and multi-function displays (MFDs), 
and misleading course information on flight management systems (FMS). 
This proposed AD would require amending the existing airplane flight 
manual (AFM) to provide the flightcrew with updated procedures for 
accurate heading and course information. The FAA is proposing this AD 
to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 16, 
2022.

[[Page 19027]]


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 https://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 MHI RJ 
Aviation ULC, 12655 Henri-Fabre Blvd., Mirabel, Qu[eacute]bec J7N 1E1 
Canada; Widebody Customer Response Center North America toll-free 
telephone +1-844-272-2720 or direct-dial telephone +1-514-855-8500; fax 
+1-514-855-8501; email [email protected]; internet https://mhirj.com. 
You may view this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety 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 at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0155; or in person at 
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Niczky, Aerospace Engineer, 
Avionics and Electrical Systems Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 
Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7300; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2022-0155; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2021-00585-T'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
the proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to 
Thomas Niczky, Aerospace Engineer, Avionics and Electrical Systems 
Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7300; email [email protected]. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not 
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for 
this rulemaking.

Background

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation 
authority for Canada, has issued TCCA AD CF-2021-19, issued May 13, 
2021 (TCCA AD CF-2021-19) (also referred to after this as the Mandatory 
Continuing Airworthiness Information, or the MCAI), to correct an 
unsafe condition for certain MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2B19 
(Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes; Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional 
Jet Series 700, 701 & 702) airplanes; Model CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet 
Series 550) 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. You may examine 
the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0155.
    This proposed AD was prompted by reports of displayed headings 
changing from MAG to TRU with no pilot action, which may result in 
misleading heading information on both PFDs and MFDs, and misleading 
course information on FMS. This misleading information may occur on 
airplanes with certain inertial reference systems (IRSs); the IRS is 
part of the navigation system and provides data on the airplane's 
position. The FAA is proposing this AD to prevent operation outside the 
terrain and obstacle protection provided in instrument procedure and 
route designs, which could result in reduced operational safety 
margins. See the MCAI for additional background information.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    MHI RJ Aviation ULC has issued the following service information, 
which provides a procedure for revising, among other procedures, the 
``Uncommanded True Heading Indication.''
     Section 05-15--Instrument Systems, of Chapter 5, ABNORMAL 
PROCEDURES, of MHI RJ Model CL-600-2B19 AFM, CSP A-012, Volume 1, 
Revision 74, dated July 3, 2020.
    Bombardier has issued the following service information, which 
provides a procedure for revising, among other procedures, the 
``Uncommanded True Heading Indication.'' These documents are distinct 
since they apply to different airplane models.
     Section 05-15--Instrument Systems, of Chapter 5, ABNORMAL 
PROCEDURES, of Bombardier CRJ Series Regional Jet Model CL-600-2C10 
(Series 700, 701, 702) and CL-600-2C11 (Series 550) AFM, CSP B-012, 
Revision 30, dated February 28, 2020.
     Section 05-15--Instrument Systems, of Chapter 5, ABNORMAL 
PROCEDURES, of Bombardier CRJ Series Regional Jet Model CL-600-2D24 
(Series 900) and Model CL-600-2D15 (Series 705) AFM, CSP C-012, 
Revision 24, dated March 27, 2020.
     Section 05-15--Instrument Systems, of Chapter 5, ABNORMAL 
PROCEDURES, of Bombardier CRJ Series Regional Jet Model CL-600-2E25 
(Series 1000) AFM, CSP D-012, Revision 23, dated February 14, 2020.
    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 19028]]

FAA's Determination

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to the FAA's bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, 
the FAA has been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI 
and service information referenced above. The FAA is proposing this AD 
because the FAA evaluated all the relevant information and determined 
the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop 
on other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information already described.
    TCCA AD CF-2021-19 requires operators to ``advise all flight 
crews'' of revisions to the AFM, and thereafter to ``operate the 
aircraft accordingly.'' However, this proposed AD would not 
specifically require those actions as those actions are already 
required by FAA regulations. FAA regulations require operators furnish 
to pilots any changes to the AFM (for example, 14 CFR 121.137), and to 
ensure the pilots are familiar with the AFM (for example, 14 CFR 
91.505). As with any other flightcrew training requirement, training on 
the updated AFM content is tracked by the operators and recorded in 
each pilot's training record, which is available for the FAA to review. 
FAA regulations also require pilots to follow the procedures in the 
existing AFM including all updates. 14 CFR 91.9 requires that any 
person operating a civil aircraft must comply with the operating 
limitations specified in the AFM. Therefore, including a requirement in 
this proposed AD to operate the airplane according to the revised AFM 
would be redundant and unnecessary.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 1,113 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the 
following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
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                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
                          Labor cost                              Parts cost        product         operators
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1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85.............................              $0              $85          $94,605
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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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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:

MHI RJ Aviation ULC (Type Certificate Previously Held by Bombardier, 
Inc.): Docket No. FAA-2022-0155; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00585-
T.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by May 16, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to MHI RJ Aviation ULC (type certificate 
previously held by Bombardier, Inc.) airplanes, certificated in any 
category, as identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (3) of this AD.
    (1) Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes 
equipped with inertial reference system (IRS) part number (P/N) 
465020-0400-0400, 465020-0400-0401, 465020-0400-0402, or 465020-
0400-0403.
    (2) Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 702) 
airplanes, Model CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet Series 550) airplanes, 
Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) airplanes, and Model CL-
600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes, equipped with IRS P/N 
465020-0400-0401, 465020-0400-0402 or 465020-0400-0403.
    (3) Model CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes, 
equipped with IRS P/N 465020-0400-0402 or 465020-0400-0403.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 34; Navigation 
System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of displayed headings changing 
from MAG to TRU with no pilot action, which may result in misleading 
heading information on both primary function displays (PFDs) and 
multi-function displays (MFDs), and misleading

[[Page 19029]]

course information on flight management systems (FMSs). The FAA is 
issuing this AD to prevent operation outside the terrain and 
obstacle protection provided in instrument procedure and route 
designs, which could result in reduced operational safety margins.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Amend Existing Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)

    Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD: Revise the 
existing AFM to incorporate the information specified in Section 05-
15--Instrument Systems, of Chapter 5, ABNORMAL PROCEDURES, of the 
applicable AFM identified in Figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP01AP22.003

(h) 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. 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 instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, New York ACO 
Branch, FAA; or Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA); or MHI RJ 
Aviation ULC's TCCA Design Approval Organization (DAO). If approved 
by the DAO, the approval must include the DAO-authorized signature.

(i) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) TCCA AD CF-2021-19, issued May 13, 2021, for related 
information. This MCAI may be found in the AD docket on the internet 
at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket 
No. FAA-2022-0155.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Thomas Niczky, 
Aerospace Engineer, Avionics and Electrical Systems Section, FAA, 
New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 
11590; telephone 516-228-7347; email [email protected].
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact MHI 
RJ Aviation ULC, 12655 Henri-Fabre Blvd., Mirabel, Qu[eacute]bec J7N 
1E1 Canada; Widebody Customer Response Center North America toll-
free telephone +1-844-272-2720 or direct-dial telephone +1-514-855-
8500; fax +1-514-855-8501; email [email protected]; internet https://mhirj.com. You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability 
of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.

    Issued on March 25, 2022.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-06771 Filed 3-31-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P