DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2017-0481; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-196-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 BD-100-1A10 airplanes. This proposed AD
was prompted by reports of low clearance in the aft equipment bay
between auxiliary power unit (APU) generator power cables and a
hydraulic line, which can cause damage to wire insulation. This
proposed AD would require an inspection of the APU generator power
cables and the adjacent hydraulic line for damage, and repair, if
necessary; and modification of the APU generator power cable
installation. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition
on these products.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 3,
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., 400 Cote-Vertu Road West, Dorval, Quobec
H4S 1Y9, Canada; telephone 514-855-5000; fax 514-855-7401; email
thd.crj@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-2017-0481;
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: 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:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2017-0481;
Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-196-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-
2016-28, dated September 28, 2016 (referred to after this as the
Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or "the MCAI"), to
correct an unsafe condition for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-100-
1A10 airplanes. The MCAI states:
Low clearance between the APU generator power cables and a
hydraulic return line was found in the Aft Equipment Bay (AEB) on
some aeroplanes in service. Absence of clearance can cause damage to
the insulation of the wire, which can lead to a fault in the APU
electrical system or arcing with the metallic hydraulic return line
and could cause a fire in the AEB.
This [Canadian] AD is issued to mandate an [general visual]
inspection [for damage] of the APU generator power cables and the
hydraulic return line, [and repair, if necessary] and a modification
of the clamp arrangement to give sufficient clearance between the
power cables and the hydraulic return line.
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-2017-0481.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed Bombardier Service Bulletin 100-24-28, dated July 27,
2016, and Bombardier Service Bulletin 350-24-003, dated July 27, 2016.
The service information describes procedures for the inspection of the
APU generator power cables and the adjacent hydraulic line for damage,
and repair, if necessary; and modification of the APU generator power
cable installation. These documents are distinct since they apply to
different configurations of this model. 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 162 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
|
Inspect and modify cables |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
(¹)
|
$85
|
$13,770
|
¹ We have received no definitive
data that would enable us to provide cost
estimates for the parts cost associated with the modification specified
in
this proposed AD.
We estimate the following costs to do any necessary repairs that
would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. We
have no way of determining the number of airplanes that might need
these repairs:
On-Condition Costs
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Repair |
Up to 5 work-hours x $85 per
hour = $425 |
(¹)
|
$425
|
¹ We have received no definitive
data that would enable us to provide cost
estimates for the parts cost associated with the repair specified in this
proposed AD.
According to the manufacturer, all of the costs of this proposed AD
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost
estimate.
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 rule-
making 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):
|