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PROPOSED AD BOMBARDIER, INC.: Docket No. FAA-2017-0331; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-213-AD.
(a) COMMENTS DUE DATE

    We must receive comments by June 16, 2017.

(b) AFFECTED ADS

    None.

(c) APPLICABILITY

    This AD applies to Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201,
    -202, -301, -311,  and -315 airplanes,  certificated in any  category,
    serial numbers 003 through  672 inclusive, equipped with  main landing
    gear (MLG) retraction actuator assembly part number  10500-101,  -103,
    -501, -551, or -553.

(d) SUBJECT

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 32, Landing Gear.

(e) REASON

    This  AD was  prompted by  reports of  an undamped  MLG extension  in-
    service.  We are issuing this  AD to prevent MLG undamped  extensions,
    which could result in MLG  structural failure, resulting in an  unsafe
    asymmetric landing gear configuration.

(f) COMPLIANCE

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,  unless al-
    ready done.

(g) REPLACEMENT OF MLG RETRACTION ACTUATOR ROD-ENDS

    At the applicable time specified in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this
    AD:  Replace  the  MLG  retraction  actuator  rod-ends  on  both   MLG
    assemblies,  in  accordance with  the  Accomplishment Instructions  of
    Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-32-179, Revision A, dated March 9, 2017.

(1) For MLG retraction actuator assemblies with 37,000 total flight cycles
    or more as of the effective date of this AD: Within 18 months or 2,700
    flight cycles, whichever occurs first after the effective date of this
    AD.

(2) For  MLG retraction actuator assemblies  with  fewer than 37,000 total
    flight cycles as of the effective date of this AD: Within 24 months or
    3,600 flight cycles, whichever  occurs first after the  effective date
    of this AD.

(h) ALTERNATIVE INSTALLATION OF PART NUMBER (P/N) 10500-105, -503, OR -555

    Installation of MLG retraction actuator assembly  P/N 10500-105, -503,
    or -555 on both MLGs is acceptable for compliance with the replacement
    required by paragraph (g) of this AD.

(i) CREDIT FOR PREVIOUS ACTIONS

    This paragraph provides credit  for actions required by  paragraph (g)
    of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective  date
    of this AD using Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-32-179,  dated July 10,
    2015.

(j) OTHER FAA AD PROVISIONS

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs):  The Manager, New York Air-
    craft Certification Office (ACO),  ANE-170, FAA, has the  authority to
    approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found  in
    14 CFR 39.19. In  accordance with 14 CFR  39.19, send your request  to
    your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as
    appropriate. If  sending information  directly to  the manager  of the
    ACO, send it  to the attention  of the person  identified in paragraph
    (k)(2)  of  this  AD.  Before using  any  approved  AMOC,  notify your
    appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the
    manager  of  the local  flight  standards district  office/certificate
    holding district office.

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer:  For any requirement in this AD to obtain
    corrective  actions   from  a   manufacturer,  the   action  must   be
    accomplished using  a method  approved by  the Manager,  New York ACO,
    ANE-170,  FAA;   or  Transport   Canada  Civil   Aviation  (TCCA);  or
    Bombardier,  Inc.'s  TCCA  Design  Approval  Organization  (DAO).   If
    approved  by the  DAO, the  approval must  include the  DAO-authorized
    signature.

(k) RELATED INFORMATION

(1) Refer   to   Mandatory  Continuing  Airworthiness  Information  (MCAI)
    Canadian Airworthiness Directive  CF-2016-36,  dated December 6, 2016,
    for related information. This  MCAI may be found  in the AD docket  on
    the  Internet  at  http://www.regulations.gov  by  searching  for  and
    locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0331.

(2) For more information about this AD,  contact the Program Manager, Con-
    tinuing Operational Safety,  FAA,  New York ACO,  1600 Stewart Avenue,
    Ste 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7300; fax 516-794-5531.

(3) 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; e-
    mail thd.qseries@aero.bombardier.com;  Internet http://www.bombardier.
    com. You may view this service information at the FAA,  Transport Air-
    plane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW, Renton, WA. For information on
    the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

Issued  in  Renton, Washington,  on April 24, 2017.  Paul Bernado,  Acting
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 16, 2017.
PREAMBLE 

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).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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):