[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 14, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20380-20382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-08339]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0021; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00612-T;
Amendment 39-23030; AD 2025-09-09]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; MHI RJ Aviation ULC (Type Certificate
Previously Held by Bombardier, Inc.) Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 &
702), CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet Series 550), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet
Series 705), CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900), and CL-600-2E25
(Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports
that the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) impact switch was installed in
the wrong direction. This AD requires an inspection of the CVR impact
switch installation to confirm that the reset switch faces forward, and
applicable on-condition actions, 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 June 18, 2025.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 18,
2025.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2025-0021; 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 identified 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]. You may find this material on the
Transport Canada website at tc.canada.ca/en/aviation.
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 at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2025-0021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Dzierzynski, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
telephone 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 all MHI RJ Aviation ULC
(Type Certificate previously held by Bombardier, Inc.) Model CL-600-
2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 702), CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet
Series 550), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), CL-600-2D24
(Regional Jet Series 900), and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000)
airplanes. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on February
19, 2025 (90 FR 9879). The NPRM was prompted by AD CF-2024-35, dated
October 16, 2024, issued by Transport Canada, which is the aviation
authority for Canada (Transport Canada AD CF-2024-35) (also referred to
as the MCAI). The MCAI states that the CVR impact switch part number
(P/N) 3L0-453-2 was installed in the wrong direction on a Model CL-600-
2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplane. The incorrect installation
was determined to have occurred in production as there was no record of
any maintenance being performed in the area by the operator. The impact
switch disables power to the CVR in the event of an accident to prevent
overwriting cockpit recordings. The installation of the CVR impact
switch P/N 3L0-453-2 is the same on Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet
Series 700, 701 & 702), CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet Series 550), CL-600-
2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series
900) airplanes. The unsafe condition therefore may exist on all of
these models.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require an inspection of the CVR
impact switch installation to confirm that the reset switch faces
forward, and applicable on-condition actions, as specified in Transport
Canada AD CF-2024-35. The FAA is issuing this AD to address an
incorrectly installed impact switch, which could result in loss of data
that could hinder the identification of the unsafe condition in the
event of an accident and consequently impede the development of actions
to address the unsafe condition that caused the accident.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2025-0021.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received comments from The Air Line Pilots Association,
International (ALPA), who supported the NPRM without change.
Conclusion
These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority
of another country and are approved for operation in the United States.
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design
Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition
described in the MCAI
[[Page 20381]]
referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered any
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, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. None of the
changes will increase the economic burden on any operator.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Transport Canada AD CF-2024-35, dated October 16,
2024. This material specifies procedures to inspect the installation of
the CVR impact switch to ensure that the reset switch is pointed to the
front of the airplane, and re-installation of any discrepant impact
switch. 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 602 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
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1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85.................. $0 $85 $51,170
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The FAA estimates the following costs to do any reinstallation that
would be required based on the results of any required actions. The FAA
has no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need this
on-condition action:
Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85...................................... $0 $85
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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
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:
2025-09-09 MHI RJ Aviation ULC (Type Certificate Previously Held by
Bombardier, Inc.): Amendment 39-23030; Docket No. FAA-2025-0021;
Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00612-T.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective June 18, 2025.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all MHI RJ Aviation ULC (Type Certificate
previously held by Bombardier, Inc.) Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet
Series 700, 701 & 702), CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet Series 550), CL-
600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series
900), and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes,
certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 23,
Communications.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports that a cockpit voice recorder
(CVR) impact switch was installed in the wrong direction. The impact
switch disables power to the CVR in the event of an accident to
prevent overwriting cockpit recordings. The FAA is issuing this AD
to address an incorrectly installed impact switch, which could
result in loss of data that could hinder the identification of the
unsafe condition in the event of an accident and consequently impede
the development of actions to address the unsafe condition that
caused the accident.
(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-
[[Page 20382]]
2024-35, dated October 16, 2024 (Transport Canada AD CF-2024-35).
(h) Exceptions to Transport Canada AD CF-2024-35
(1) Where Transport Canada AD CF-2024-35 refers to its effective
date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where paragraph A. of Transport Canada AD CF-2024-35
specifies to ``inspect the installation of the impact switch P/N
3L0-453-2 in accordance with the MHIRJ AMM task 23-71-10-400-801 to
confirm the reset switch faces forward,'' this AD requires replacing
that text with ``perform a general visual inspection of the
installation of the impact switch P/N 3L0-453-2 to confirm the reset
switch faces forward.''
(3) Where paragraph B. of Transport Canada AD CF-2024-35
specifies corrective action, this AD requires that the corrective
action be performed before further flight after finding any impact
switch that does not face forward.
(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 manager of the
International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the
person identified in paragraph (j) of this AD and email 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 MHI RJ Aviation
ULC'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 Steven Dzierzynski,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7300; email [email protected].
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions
required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Transport Canada AD CF-2024-35, dated October 16, 2024.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For Transport Canada material identified 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.
(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/ibr-locations or email [email protected].
Issued on April 29, 2025.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-08339 Filed 5-13-25; 8:45 am]
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