DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2015-2463; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-086-AD;
Amendment 39-18216; AD 2015-15-07]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc. Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2015-10-01
for
certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. AD 2015-10-
01 required inspection for correct assembly of the main landing gear
(MLG) alternate extension system reservoir lid, and corrective action
if necessary. This new AD revises the applicability. This AD was
prompted by the discovery of two errors in the applicability of AD
2015-10-01. We are issuing this AD to, in the event of a failure of the
primary MLG extension system, prevent failure of the alternate MLG
extension system to fully extend the MLG into a down-and-locked
position, which could result in collapse of both left-hand and right-
hand MLG sides during touchdown.
DATES: This AD becomes effective August 12, 2015.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of July 14, 2015
(80 FR
32449, June 9, 2015).
We must receive comments on this AD by September 11, 2015.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For Bombardier 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. For Parker service information identified in this
AD, contact Parker Aerospace, 14300 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA 92618;
telephone: 949-833-3000; Internet: http://www.parker.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-2015-2463.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
2463; 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 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. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fabio Buttitta, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe and Mechanical Systems Branch, ANE-171, FAA, New York Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO), 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury,
NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7303; fax 516-794-5531.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On May 1, 2015, we issued AD 2015-10-01, Amendment 39-18156 (80 FR
32449, June 9, 2015). AD 2015-10-01 applied to certain Bombardier, Inc.
Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. AD 2015-10-01 was prompted by reports
of hydraulic fluid loss from the reservoir of the MLG alternate
extension system. AD 2015-10-01 required inspection for correct
assembly of the MLG alternate extension system reservoir lid, and
corrective action if necessary. We issued AD 2015-10-01 to, in the
event of a failure of the primary MLG extension system, prevent failure
of the alternate MLG extension system to fully extend the MLG into a
down-and-locked position, which could result in collapse of both left-
hand and right-hand MLG sides during touchdown.
AD 2015-10-01, Amendment 39-18156 (80 FR 32449, June 9, 2015),
corresponds to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information (MCAI)
Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-2014-15, dated June 6, 2014. You
may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-2463.
Since we issued AD 2015-10-01, Amendment 39-18156 (80 FR 32449,
June 9, 2015), we have discovered two inadvertent errors in the
identification of the affected airplane models in the applicability of
AD 2015-10-01. Paragraph (c) of AD 2015-10-01 omitted Bombardier Model
DHC-8-400 airplanes and erroneously referred to a model (DHC-8-403)
that is not identified on the U.S. type certificate. However, the
serial numbers identified in paragraph (c) of AD 2015-10-01 were
correct. We have also revised the estimated number of U.S.-registered
airplanes affected by this AD. The number of airplanes is less than we
originally estimated.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service
information referenced above. We are issuing this AD because we
evaluated all pertinent information and determined the unsafe condition
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same
type design.
FAA's Determination of the Effective Date
We are superseding AD 2015-10-01, Amendment 39-18156 (80 FR 32449,
June 9, 2015), to correct two errors in the applicability in paragraph
(c) of AD 2015-10-01, which inadvertently omitted a certain airplane
model affected by the unsafe condition, and included a model that is
not identified on the U.S. type certificate. We have made no other
changes to the requirements published in AD 2015-10-01. Also, there are
currently no Bombardier Inc. Model DHC-8-400 airplanes (the omitted
airplane model) on the U.S. Register. Therefore, we determined that
notice and opportunity for public comment before issuing this AD are
unnecessary.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2015-2463; Directorate
Identifier 2015-NM-086-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of
those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this AD.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
Bombardier has issued Service Bulletin 84-29-34, dated May 9, 2013,
with the attached Parker Service Bulletin 82910012-29-431, dated
October 22, 2012. The service information describes procedures to
inspect the lid assembly of the MLG alternate extension system
reservoir for correct assembly and corrective actions. This service
information 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 of this AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 78 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The actions required by AD 2015-10-01, Amendment 39-18156 (80 FR
32449, June 9, 2015), and retained in this AD take about 4 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 2015-10-01 is $340 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions will
take about 2 work-hours and require parts costing $0, for a cost of
$170 per product. We have no way of determining the number of aircraft
that might need this action.
The new requirements of this AD add no additional economic burden.
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.
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)
2015-10-01, Amendment 39-18156 (80 FR 32449, June 9, 2015), and adding
the following new AD:
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