DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2017-0331; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-213-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc. Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for
certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301,
-311, and -315 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of
undamped main landing gear (MLG) extension in-service. This proposed AD
would require replacement of the MLG retraction actuator rod-ends on
both MLG assemblies. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 16,
2017.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in
14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this NPRM, 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.
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-2017-0331;
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 proposed 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:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2017-0331;
Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-213-AD" at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD based on 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 proposed AD.
Discussion
Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-
2016-36, dated December 6, 2016, (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:
Two cases of undamped main landing gear (MLG) extension were
reported in-service. Investigation determined that the MLG
retraction actuator rod-ends failed as a result of non-conforming
threads. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to additional
MLG undamped extensions, which may result in MLG structural failure,
resulting in an unsafe asymmetric landing gear configuration.
This [Canadian] AD mandates the replacement of the MLG
retraction actuator rod-end subassemblies manufactured with non-
conforming threads with units that fully conform to the design
requirements.
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-2017-0331.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
Bombardier, Inc. issued Service Bulletin 8-32-179, Revision A,
dated March 9, 2017. This service information describes procedures for
replacing the MLG retraction actuator rod-ends on both MLG assemblies
with units that fully conform to the design requirements. 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.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed 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 proposing this AD because we
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same
type design.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 91 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
Replacement |
3 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$255 |
$2,078
|
$2,333
|
$212,303
|
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 proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed
regulation:
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.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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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