DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-5590; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-018-AD;
Amendment 39-18588; AD 2016-14-07
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 CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440),
Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702), Model CL-600-
2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series
900), and Model CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This
AD was prompted by reports of undesirable changes in the Reference
Airspeed (RAS) Bug, occurring during flight without pilot input. This
AD requires replacing the flight control computer (FCC). We are issuing
this AD to prevent uncommanded pitch changes, which could result in
deviation from a safe flight path.

DATES: This AD is effective August 16, 2016.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of August 16,
2016.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Bombardier, Inc., 400 Cote-Vertu Road West, Dorval,
Quebec H4S 1Y9, Canada; telephone 514-855-5000; fax 514-855-
7401; email thd.crj@aero.bombardier.com; Internet. 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-2016-5590.

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-2016-
5590; 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 Office (telephone
800-647-5527) is 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 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Assata Dessaline, Aerospace Engineer,
Avionics and Services Branch, ANE-172, FAA, New York Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO), 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury,
NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7301; 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 CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440), Model CL-600-2C10
(Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702), Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet
Series 705), Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900), and Model CL-
600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. The NPRM published in
the Federal Register on April 14, 2016 (81 FR 22037) (``the NPRM'').
The NPRM was prompted by reports of undesirable changes in the RAS Bug,
occurring during flight without pilot input. The NPRM proposed to
require replacing the FCC. We are issuing this AD to prevent
uncommanded pitch changes, which could result in deviation from a safe
flight path.
Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-
2016-02, dated January 20, 2016 (referred to after this as the
Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ''the MCAI''), to
correct an unsafe condition for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-
2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440), Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet
Series 700, 701, & 702), Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705),
Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900), and Model CL-600-2E25
(Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. The MCAI states:

There have been numerous reports of uncommanded changes in the
Reference Airspeed (RAS) Bug during flight. When the Auto Flight
Control System (AFCS) is in a speed mode (CLB, DES, IAS or MACH),
the flight director will show vertical guidance to achieve or
maintain the reference airspeed. If the autopilot is engaged, the
aeroplane will automatically follow that vertical guidance and cause
the aeroplane to pitch up or pitch down. Investigation revealed that
this uncommanded reference airspeed changes were caused by the FCC
that did not correctly read the input data from the Input/Output
Concentrator. If not corrected, these uncommanded pitch changes
could create hazard for continued safe flight. This [Canadian] AD
mandates installation of a new filter to the Input/Output Circuit
Card in the FCC.

Uncommanded pitch changes, if not corrected, could result in
deviation from a safe flight path. Corrective actions include replacing
the FCC. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at
http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No.
FAA-2016-5590.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We considered the comment received. The commenter supported
the NPRM.

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this AD as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-22-018, Revision A,
dated November 3, 2015; and Service Bulletin 670BA-22-009, dated August
17, 2015. The service information describes procedures for replacing
the FCCs. 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.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 1,008 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):