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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2015-0494; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-160-AD;
Amendment 39-18275; AD 2015-19-13]
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 reports of inadvertent deployment of a single outboard spoiler
during flight. This AD requires replacement of the power control units
(PCUs) for the outboard spoilers with upgraded PCUs. We are issuing
this AD to prevent leakage of the piston head seal and piston rod seals
of the outboard spoiler PCUs, which could result in inadvertent spoiler
deployment and reduced controllability of the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective November 3, 2015.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of November 3,
2015.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2015-0494;
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-2015-
0494.
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 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Bombardier, Inc.
Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal
Register on March 24, 2015 (80 FR 15521).
Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-
2014-22, dated July 16, 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-8-400 series
airplanes. The MCAI states:
Although [Canadian] AD CF-2009-26 [dated May 21, 2009
(http://wwwapps3.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/CAWIS-SWIMN/attachment.
asp?aiid=CF-2009-26&revid=0&cntr=CF&file=CFCF-2009-26.pdf&type=PDE),
which corresponds to FAA AD 2009-25-05, Amendment 39-16124
(74 FR 63574, December 4, 2009)] was issued to mandate the upgrade
of the spoiler lift/dump valve, it did not reduce the rate of
inadvertent single spoiler deployment occurrences. Further
investigation revealed that the outboard spoiler PCUs may also be
subject to pressure reversals at the PCU main control valve seal,
resulting in leakage at the piston head seal and piston rod seals.
If not corrected, this condition may result in [inadvertent spoiler
deployment and] reduced controllability of the aeroplane.
This [Canadian] AD mandates the replacement of the existing
outboard spoiler PCUs with the upgraded PCUs with re-designed seals
for better leakage protection.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-0494-0002.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comment received on the NPRM (80 FR
15521, March 24, 2015) and the FAA's response to that comment.
Request To Revise Applicability
Horizon Air requested that the applicability of the NPRM (80 FR
15521, March 24, 2015) be revised to specify that the NPRM would only
be applicable to airplanes with outboard spoiler PCU part number (P/N)
390700-1007 installed. The commenter noted that the illustrated parts
catalog for the Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes
indicates that outboard spoiler PCU P/N 390700-1009 is a direct
replacement for P/N 390700-1007, and that these two part numbers are
one way interchangeable. The commenter stated that operators who
replaced outboard spoiler PCU P/N 390700-1007 with P/N 390700-1009
prior to the effective date of the NPRM might not have recorded the
incorporation of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-27-63, dated October
17, 2013, into their maintenance records and it would be an unnecessary
regulatory burden for those operators to go back and record this
service information. The Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier
Service Bulletin 84-27-63, dated October 17, 2013, state that the PCU
should be replaced using the guidance in the Bombardier, Inc. Model
DHC-8-400 Aircraft Maintenance Manual; therefore the actions that would
be mandated by the NPRM would have been accomplished.
We agree with the commenter's request based on the information
provided by the commenter. We have revised paragraph (c),
``Applicability,'' of this final rule to specify that only airplanes
having certain serial numbers and an outboard spoiler PCU having P/N
390700-1007 installed are affected by the requirements of this final
rule.
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 (80 FR 15521, March 24, 2015) for correcting the unsafe condition;
and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 15521, March 24, 2015).
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 84-27-63, dated
October 17, 2013. The service information describes procedures for
replacement of the existing outboard spoiler PCUs with upgraded PCUs.
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 82 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it will take about 4 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 $27,880, or $340 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.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2015-0494;
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):
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