DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0752; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-079-AD;
Amendment 39-18110; AD 2015-04-08]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-06-08 for
certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-100, -200, and -300 series
airplanes. AD 2014-06-08 required repetitive functional checks of the
nose and main landing gear, and corrective actions if necessary; and
also provided optional terminating action modification for the
repetitive functional checks. This new AD requires a terminating action
modification. This AD was prompted by a report that the emergency
downlock indication system (EDIS) had given a false landing gear down-
and-locked indication and a determination that a terminating action
modification is necessary to address the identified unsafe condition.
We are issuing this AD to detect and correct a false down-and-locked
landing gear indication, which, on landing, could result in possible
collapse of the landing gear.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 27, 2015.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of publications listed in this AD as of April 14, 2014 (79 FR
17390, March 28, 2014).

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2014-0752; or in person at the
Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC.
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 thd.qseries@aero.bombardier.com; Internet http://www.bombardier.com.
You may view this referenced service information at
the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA,
call 425-227-1221.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cesar Gomez, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe and Mechanical Systems Branch, ANE-171, FAA, New York Aircraft
Certification Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY
11590; telephone 516-228-7318; fax 516-794-5531.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to supersede AD 2014-06-08, Amendment 39-17812 (79 FR 17390,
March 28, 2014). AD 2014-06-08 applied to certain Bombardier, Inc.
Model DHC-8-100, -200, and -300 series airplanes. The NPRM published in
the Federal Register on October 17, 2014 (79 FR 62363).
Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-
2014-11, dated February 13, 2014 (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-
102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 airplanes. The MCAI
states:

During an in-service event where the landing gear control panel
indicated an unsafe nose landing gear, the flight crew observed that
all three green lights were illuminated on the emergency downlock
indication system. The nose landing gear was not down and locked,
and collapsed during landing.

Investigation found ambient light and wiring shorts can lead to
incorrect illumination of the green lights on the emergency downlock
indication system.
This [Canadian] AD mandates the functional check of the nose and
main landing gear alternate indication phototransistors and the
modification of the emergency downlock indication system
[incorporation of Modsums 8Q101955, 8Q101968, and 8Q101969 as
applicable].

The unsafe condition is a false down-and-locked landing gear
indication, which, on landing, could result in possible collapse of the
landing gear. The modification consists of installing certain new
electrical components and cable assemblies.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2014-0752-0002.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We considered the comment received. An anonymous commenter
supported the NPRM (79 FR 62363, October 17, 2014).

Change Made to This AD

We have revised paragraphs (h)(1), (h)(2), and (h)(3) of this AD to
clarify the affected airplanes identified in those paragraphs. This
change does not affect the intent of those paragraphs.

Clarification of Repair Approval Required by Paragraph (g) of AD 2014-
06-08, Amendment 39-17812 (79 FR 17390, March 28, 2014)

In paragraph (g) of AD 2014-06-08, Amendment 39-17812 (79 FR 17390,
March 28, 2014), the functional check and corrective actions are done
in accordance with Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-32-173, Revision A,
dated December 17, 2012. That service information specifies to contact
the manufacturer for further instructions if certain discrepancies are
found. As noted in paragraph (j)(2) of AD 2014-06-08, ``For any
requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a
manufacturer, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. . .'' and ``.
. . corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they were
approved by the State of Design Authority (or its delegated agent, or
the DAH with a State of Design Authority's design organization
approval, as applicable).''
To clarify the repair approval for the action specified in
paragraph (g) of this AD, we have added an exception to paragraph (g)
of this AD, including specific delegation approval language. The
exception clarifies that where the service information specifies to
contact the manufacturer for further instructions, this AD requires
repairing using a method approved by the Manager, New York Aircraft
Certification Office, ANE-170, FAA; or TCCA; or Bombardier, Inc.'s TCCA
Design Approval Organization.

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting this AD with the changes described
previously and minor editorial changes. We have determined that these
minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM (79 FR 62363, October 17, 2014) for correcting the unsafe
condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM (79 FR 62363, October 17, 2014).
We also determined that these changes will not increase the
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 85 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The actions that are required by AD 2014-06-08, Amendment 39-17812
(79 FR 17390, March 28, 2014), and retained in this AD take about 3
work-hours per product, at an average labor rate of $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the actions that were
required by AD 2014-06-08 is $21,675, or $255 per product, per
inspection cycle.
We also estimate that it will take up to 40 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 up to $19,436 per
product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on
U.S. operators to be up to $1,941,060, or $22,836 per product.
We have received no definitive data that will enable us to provide
cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this AD.

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.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2014-0752; 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 AD, 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.

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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2014-06-08, Amendment 39-17812 (79 FR 17390, March 28, 2014), and
adding the following new AD: