(a) EFFECTIVE DATE
This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective July 30, 2012.
(b) AFFECTED ADS
None.
(c) APPLICABILITY
This AD applies to Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400, -401, and -402
airplanes; certificated in any category; serial numbers 4001 and 4003
through 4106 inclusive.
(d) SUBJECT
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57, Wings.
(e) REASON
This AD was prompted by reports of cracking of certain fuel access
panels of the outer wing. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracking
of fuel access panels, which could result in arcing and ignition of
fuel vapor in the outer wing fuel tank during a lightning strike.
(f) COMPLIANCE
You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD
performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions
have already been done.
(g) INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF PART NUMBER (P/N) 85714231-001
Within 600 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, do an
external detailed inspection of the outer wing access panels having
P/N 85714231-001 to locate the rivets of the identification plates, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service
Bulletin 84-57-22, Revision B, dated February 16, 2011. If the rivets
of the identification plate are found, no further action is required
by this paragraph for that fuel access panel. If the rivets of the
identification plate cannot be found: Before further flight, do the
actions specified in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD.
(1) Remove fuel access panels having P/N 85714231-001 and inspect the
panels to determine if the identification plate is installed, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service
Bulletin 84-57-22, Revision B, dated February 16, 2011. If the
identification plate is found: No further action is required by
paragraph (g) of this AD for that fuel access panel.
(i) If the identification plate cannot be found, and the job detail number
stamped on the underside of the access panel does not match any of
those listed in table 1 of the Accomplishment Instructions of
Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-57-22, Revision B, dated February 16,
2011: No further action is required by paragraph (g) of this AD for
that fuel access panel.
(ii) If the identification plate cannot be found, and the job detail
number stamped on the underside of the fuel access panel does match
any of those specified in table 1 of the Accomplishment Instructions
of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-57-22, Revision B, dated February
16, 2011: Before further flight, replace the fuel access panel with a
new fuel access panel having P/N 85714231-003, in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-57-22,
Revision B, dated February 16, 2011.
(2) Do an external detailed inspection on fuel access panels having P/N
85714231-001 for cracking, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-57-22, Revision B,
dated February 16, 2011. If no cracking is found: Repeat the
inspection thereafter at intervals not to exceed 600 flight hours
until the replacement specified in paragraph (g)(2)(i) of this AD, or
the inspection specified in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, is done.
(i) If the fuel access panel is found cracked during any inspection
required by this AD: Before further flight, replace the fuel access
panel with a new fuel access panel having P/N 85714231-003, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service
Bulletin 84-57-22, Revision B, dated February 16, 2011.
(ii) Within 6,000 flight hours after the initial inspection required by
paragraph (g)(2) of this AD, do the actions specified by paragraph
(g)(1) of this AD, unless the replacement required by paragraph
(g)(2)(i) of this AD is done.
(h) INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF P/N 85714232-001
Within 1,200 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, do an
external detailed inspection of the outer wing access panels having
P/N 85714232-001 to locate the rivets of the identification plates, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service
Bulletin 84-57-23, Revision B, dated February 16, 2011. If the rivets
of the identification plate are found: No further action is required
by this paragraph for that fuel access panel. If the rivets of the
identification plate cannot be found: Before further flight, do the
actions specified in paragraph (h)(1) or (h)(2) of this AD.
(1) Remove fuel access panels having P/N 85714232-001 and inspect the
panels to determine if the identification plate is installed, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service
Bulletin 84-57-23, Revision B, dated February 16, 2011. If the
identification plate is found: No further action is required by
paragraph (h) of this AD for that fuel access panel.
(i) If the identification plate cannot be found, and the job detail number
stamped on the underside of the access panel does not match any of
those specified in table 1 of the Accomplishment Instructions of
Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-57-23, Revision B, dated February 16,
2011: No further action is required by paragraph (h) of this AD for
that fuel access panel.
(ii) If the identification plate cannot be found, and the job detail
number stamped on the underside of the fuel access panel does match
any of those specified in table 1 of the Accomplishment Instructions
of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-57-23, Revision B, dated February
16, 2011: Before further flight, replace the fuel access panel with a
new fuel access panel having P/N 85714232-003, in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-57-23,
Revision B, dated February 16, 2011.
(2) Do an external detailed inspection on fuel access panels having P/N
85714232-001 for cracking, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-57-23, Revision B,
dated February 16, 2011. If no cracking is found: Repeat the
inspection thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1,200 flight hours
until the replacement specified in paragraph (h)(2)(i) of this AD, or
the inspection specified in paragraph (h)(1) of this AD, is done.
(i) If the fuel access panel is found cracked during any inspection
required by this AD: Before further flight, replace the fuel access
panel with a new fuel access panel having P/N 85714232-003, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service
Bulletin 84-57-23, Revision B, dated February 16, 2011.
(ii) Within 12,000 flight hours after the initial inspection required by
paragraph (h)(2) of this AD, do the actions specified in paragraph
(h)(1) of this AD, unless the replacement required by paragraph
(h)(2)(i) of this AD is done.
(i) PARTS INSTALLATION
As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a fuel
access panel having P/N 85714231-001 and a job detail number listed in
table 1 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service
Bulletin 84-57-22, Revision B, dated February 16, 2011; or having P/N
85714232-001 and a job detail number listed in table 1 of the
Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-57-23,
Revision B, dated February 16, 2011; on any airplane.
(j) CREDIT FOR PREVIOUS ACTIONS
This paragraph provides credit for inspections and fuel access panel
replacements required by this AD, if those actions were performed
before the effective date of this AD using Bombardier Service Bulletin
84-57-22, Revision A, dated December 9, 2010; or Bombardier Service
Bulletin 84-57-23, Revision A, dated December 9, 2010; as applicable.
(k) OTHER FAA AD PROVISIONS
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, New York ACO,
ANE-170, 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 ACO, send it to ATTN: Program Manager,
Continuing Operational Safety, FAA, New York ACO, 1600 Stewart Avenue,
Suite 410, Westbury, New York 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. The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference
this AD.
(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective
actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they
are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if
they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated
agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it
is returned to service.
(l) MATERIAL INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference (IBR) of the following service information under 5 U.S.C.
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use the following service information to do the actions
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-57-22, Revision B, dated February 16,
2011.
(ii) Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-57-23, Revision B, dated February 16,
2011.
(3) For Bombardier, Inc. 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 thd.qseries@aero.bombardier.com; Internet
http://www.bombardier.com.
(4) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, Transport
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425
-227-1221.
(5) You may also review copies of the service information that is
incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this
material at an NARA facility, call 202-741-6030, or go to
http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/i
br_locations.html.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 11, 2012. Kalene C. Yanamura, Acting
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aziz Ahmed, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe
and Mechanical Systems Branch, ANE-171, FAA, New York Aircraft
Certification Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 40, Westbury, New York
11590; telephone (516) 228-7329; fax (516) 794-5531.
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AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain
Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD was prompted
by reports of cracking of certain fuel access panels of the outer wing.
This AD requires an external inspection, and if necessary an internal
inspection, to determine if certain fuel access panels are installed,
and replacement if necessary; optional repetitive inspections for
cracking of the fuel access panels, and replacement if necessary, would
defer the internal inspection; and eventual replacement of affected
fuel access panels with new panels. We are issuing this AD to prevent
cracking of fuel access panels, which could result in arcing and
ignition of fuel vapor in the outer wing fuel tank during a lightning
strike.
DATES: This AD becomes effective July 30, 2012.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of July 30,
2012.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov or in person at the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aziz Ahmed, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe and Mechanical Systems Branch, ANE-171, FAA, New York Aircraft
Certification Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 40, Westbury, New York
11590; telephone (516) 228-7329; fax (516) 794-5531.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products.
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2012 (77
FR 18135). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products. The MCAI states:
[Canadian] Airworthiness Directive (AD) CF-2005-37 was issued on
11 October 2005 to address cracking of the outer wing fuel access
panel, Part Number (P/N) 85714230-001. Similar cracking on an outer
wing fuel access panel, P/N 85714231-001, has been reported. Further
investigation revealed that certain fuel access panels may have seal
grooves manufactured with non-conforming fillet radii which could
lead to cracking. Cracking of the fuel access panel, if not
corrected, could result in arcing and ignition of fuel vapor in the
outer wing fuel tank during a lightning strike.
This [TCCA] directive mandates the inspection and replacement of
the affected fuel access panels.
Required actions include an external detailed inspection of the outer
wing access panels for rivets of the identification plate, and an
internal inspection of panels without rivets to determine if the
identification plate is installed, and replacing the fuel access panel
if necessary. As an option, this AD allows repetitive external detailed
inspections for cracking of the fuel access panels and, replacing if
necessary, until the internal inspection is done. This AD also requires
eventually replacing the affected fuel access panels with new fuel
access panels. You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI
in the AD docket.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (77 FR 18135, March 27,
2012) or on the determination of the cost to the public.
Conclusion
We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 74 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it will take about 36 work-hours per product to
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate
is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $33,632 per
product. Where the service information lists required parts costs that
are covered under warranty, we have assumed that there will be no
charge for these parts. As we do not control warranty coverage for
affected parties, some parties may incur costs higher than estimated
here. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the
U.S. operators to be $2,715,208, or $36,692 per product.
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.
Regulatory Findings
We determined that 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. 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains the NPRM (77 FR 18135, March 27,
2012), 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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of 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
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]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
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