[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 27, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21179-21181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06477]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 27, 2024 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 21179]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1880; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00587-T; 
Amendment 39-22690; AD 2024-04-11]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Type 
Certificate Previously Held by C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership 
(CSALP); Bombardier, Inc.) Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-
1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by damage found on two power-
feeder harnesses on three airplanes due to chafing with wheel bins. An 
investigation found that the power-feeder harnesses were not adequately 
supported to protect from chafing due to vibration. This AD requires 
modifying the variable frequency generator (VFG) power-feeder harness 
routing, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is incorporated 
by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 1, 2024.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 1, 2024.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-1880; 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 final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The 
address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     For Transport Canada material incorporated by reference in 
this AD, contact Transport Canada, Transport Canada National Aircraft 
Certification, 159 Cleopatra Drive, Nepean, Ontario K1A 0N5, Canada; 
telephone 888-663-3639; email [email protected]; website tc.canada.ca/en/aviation.
     For service information incorporated by reference in this 
AD, contact Airbus Canada Limited Partnership, 13100 Henri-Fabre 
Boulevard, Mirabel, Qu[eacute]bec, J7N 3C6, Canada; telephone 450-476-
7676; email [email protected]; website a220world.airbus.com.
     You may view this material 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. It is also available in the AD docket at 
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-1880.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Reisenauer, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
phone: 516-228-7300; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Airbus Canada 
Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. The 
NPRM published in the Federal Register on September 14, 2023 (88 FR 
63034). The NPRM was prompted by AD CF-2023-24, dated April 6, 2023, 
issued by Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada 
(Transport Canada AD CF-2023-24) (also referred to as the MCAI). The 
MCAI states that two VFG power-feeder harnesses were found damaged due 
to chafing with wheel bins during maintenance in service on three 
airplanes. An investigation found that the power-feeder harnesses were 
not adequately supported to protect from chafing due to vibration.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require modifying the VFG power-
feeder harness routing, as specified in Transport Canada AD CF-2023-24. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent damage to VFG power-feeder 
harnesses from chafing due to vibration. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could lead to a loss of generated power from both VFGs, or 
to a fire in the case of flammable fluid contact with arcing wires.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-1880.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from Delta Air Lines (DAL). The following 
presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to 
each comment.

Request To Provide Grace Period

    DAL requested the FAA to provide a 30- to 60-day grace period to 
allow adequate planning for completion of the modification at a 
maintenance station. DAL stated that some of its fleet of affected 
airplanes are already beyond the time allotted by Transport Canada AD 
CF-2023-24. After initiating the incorporation of the service bulletin, 
DAL discovered numerous issues and worked with Airbus to resolve those 
issues. (Some of those issues are discussed below.) As a result, DAL 
reports that it has been unable to complete the modification on its 
fleet, and, as those airplanes continue to accumulate flight cycles, 
many DAL airplanes would be grounded when the AD becomes effective if 
no grace period is allowed.

The FAR

    A does not agree with the requested change. The manufacturer has 
established the compliance time through risk assessment analysis. 
Unilateral addition of compliance time increases the risk. However, the 
FAA will consider requests to approve an extension of the compliance 
time as an AMOC (alternative method of compliance) to address airplanes 
that have already reached the limit, if sufficient data are submitted 
to

[[Page 21180]]

substantiate that the change would provide an acceptable level of 
safety. No change has been made to this AD in response to this request.

Request To Correct Part Identifying Information

    DAL discovered the following discrepancies in the service 
information referenced in Transport Canada AD CF-2023-24 (Airbus Canada 
Limited Partnership Service Bulletin BD500-534101, Issue 007, dated 
October 2, 2020).
     Steps 3.7.4.1 and 3.7.4.2 specify installing and torquing 
screws with the incorrect item number (14). Figure 6 correctly shows 
this screw as item (18).
     Step 3.7.7 specifies installing harnesses with the correct 
part numbers CPYTG2039 and CPYTH2041. Step 3.7.7.1 incorrectly 
specifies installing harnesses with part numbers CPWTG2032 and 
CPWTH2034.
    The FAA acknowledges these errors and has added paragraphs (h)(3) 
and (4) of this AD to specify the correct information.

Conclusion

    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 this State of Design Authority, it 
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI 
referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the 
comments received, and determined that air safety requires adopting 
this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address 
the unsafe condition on this product. Except for minor editorial 
changes, and any other changes described previously, this AD is adopted 
as proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic 
burden on any operator.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Transport Canada AD CF-2023-24 specifies procedures for modifying 
the VFG power-feeder harness routing, including a general visual 
inspection for damage at the intersection of the VFG power-feeder 
harnesses and the surface of the wheel bins, and corrective actions 
including obtaining and following repair instructions. This material 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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 16 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Labor cost                    Parts cost          Cost per product        Cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to 51 work-hours x $85 per hour  Up to $3,538.........  Up to $7,873.........  Up to $125,968.
 = Up to $4,335.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will 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 that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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 Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 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:

2024-04-11 Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Type Certificate 
Previously Held by C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership (CSALP); 
Bombardier, Inc.): Amendment 39-22690; Docket No. FAA-2023-1880; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00587-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective May 1, 2024.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-
500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes, certificated in any category, as 
identified in Transport Canada AD CF-2023-24, dated April 6, 2023 
(Transport Canada AD CF-2023-24).

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 24, Electrical 
Power.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by damage found on two variable frequency 
generator (VFG) power-feeder harnesses on three airplanes due to 
chafing with wheel bins. An investigation found that the power-
feeder harnesses were not adequately supported to protect from 
chafing due to vibration. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent 
damage to VFG power-feeder harnesses from chafing due to vibration. 
The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could lead to a loss of 
generated power from both VFGs, or to a fire in the case of 
flammable fluid contact with arcing wires.

[[Page 21181]]

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Requirements

    Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all 
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, Transport Canada AD CF-2023-24.

(h) Exceptions to Transport Canada AD CF-2023-24

    (1) Where Transport Canada AD CF-2023-24 refers to its effective 
date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where Transport Canada AD CF-2023-24 refers to ``hours air 
time,'' this AD requires replacing those words with ``flight 
hours.''
    (3) Where the service information specified in Transport Canada 
AD CF-2023-24, in steps 3.7.4.1 and 3.7.4.2, specifies using 
``screws (14),'' this AD requires replacing those words with 
``screws (18).''
    (4) Where the service information specified in Transport Canada 
AD CF-2023-24, in step 3.7.7.1, specifies installing ``harnesses 
CPWTG2032 and CPWTH2034,'' this AD requires replacing those words 
with ``harnesses CPYTG2039 and CPYTH2041.''

(i) Additional AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Validation 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 responsible Flight Standards Office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the International 
Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified 
in paragraph (j) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: [email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your 
appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the responsible Flight Standards 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, International 
Validation Branch, FAA; or Transport Canada; or Airbus Canada 
Limited Partnership's Transport Canada Design Approval Organization 
(DAO). If approved by the DAO, the approval must include the DAO-
authorized signature.

(j) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact William Reisenauer, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 516-228-7300; email: [email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Transport Canada AD CF-2023-24, dated April 6, 2023.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Transport Canada AD CF-2023-24, contact Transport Canada 
National Aircraft Certification, 159 Cleopatra Drive, Nepean, 
Ontario K1A 0N5, Canada; telephone 888-663-3639; email 
[email protected]. You 
may find this Transport Canada AD on the Transport Canada website at 
tc.canada.ca/en/aviation.
    (4) You may view this material 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.
    (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/[email protected]">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/[email protected].

    Issued on February 27, 2024.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-06477 Filed 3-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P