DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0528; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-060-AD;
Amendment 39-18139; AD 2015-08-03]
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 adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD was prompted
by a report that during production, an incorrect clevis was used,
resulting in improper installation onto the alternate release cable of
the main landing gear (MLG). This AD requires a detailed visual
inspection of the emergency release clevis of the MLG to determine if
an incorrect clevis has been installed, and if necessary, replacing the
clevis with a correct clevis and clevis pin. We are issuing this AD to
detect and correct improper installation of the clevis, which could
cause loss of the alternate release system and prevent the MLG from
extending and retracting, and could consequently affect the airplane's
continued safe flight and landing.

DATES: This AD becomes effective May 26, 2015.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 26,
2015.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2014-0528 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. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0528.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ezra Sasson, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe and Mechanical Systems Branch, ANE-171, FAA, New York Aircraft
Certification Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY
11590; telephone 516-228-7320; fax 516-794-5531.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Model DHC-8-400
series airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on August
13, 2014 (79 FR 47393).
Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-
2013-40, dated December 9, 2013 (referred to after this as the
Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to
correct an unsafe condition for certain Model DHC-8-400 series
airplanes. The MCAI states:

A discrepancy has been found in the Main Landing Gear (MLG)
emergency release clevis installation. During production, an
incorrect clevis was used, resulting in improper installation onto
the MLG alternate release cable. Failure of the clevis could cause
the loss of the alternate release system, preventing the MLG from
extending in the case of a failure of the normal MLG extension/
retraction system.
This [Canadian] AD mandates the inspection for proper MLG
emergency release clevis installation, and the rectification as
required.

The required actions for this AD include a detailed visual
inspection of the emergency release clevis of the MLG to determine if
an incorrect clevis has been installed, and if necessary, replacing the
clevis with a correct clevis and clevis pin. You may examine the MCAI
in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!document
Detail;D=FAA-2014-0528-0002.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comment received on the NPRM (79 FR
47393, August 13, 2014) and the FAA's response to the comment.

Request To Correct a Typographical Error

Horizon Airlines stated that the Air Transport Association (ATA) of
America Code in paragraph (d) of the NPRM (79 FR 47393, August 13,
2014) is incorrect for the MLG, and should be 32, not 31.
We agree with the commenter. We have changed the ATA of America
Code in paragraph (d) of this AD to 32, Landing Gear.

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this AD with the change 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 47393, August 13, 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 47393, August 13, 2014).
We also determined that these changes will not increase the
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Bombardier, Inc., has issued Service Bulletin 84-32-67, dated July
8, 2009. The service information describes a visual inspection of the
emergency release clevis of the MLG to determine if an incorrect clevis
has been installed, and if necessary, replacing the clevis with a
correct clevis and clevis pin. The actions described in this service
information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in
the MCAI. You can find this information at http://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-0528. This service
information is reasonably available; see ADDRESSES for ways to access
this service information.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 18 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it will take about 2 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 $0 per
product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on
U.S. operators to be $3,060, or $170 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions will
take about 3 work-hours and require parts costing $0, for a cost of
$255 per product. We have no way of determining the number of aircraft
that might need this action.

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-2014-0528; 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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):