DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0907; Product Identifier 2017-NM-069-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 CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-
601 Variant), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604
Variants) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of
fractured rudder pedal tubes on the pilot-side rudder bar assembly.
This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the rudder
pedal tubes for cracking and corrective actions if necessary.
Replacement of both pilot-side rudder bar assemblies is terminating
action for the inspections. We are proposing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 4, 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, Quebec
H4S 1Y9, Canada; Widebody Customer Response Center North America toll-
free telephone 1-866-538-1247 or direct-dial telephone 1-514-855-2999;
fax 514-855-7401; email ac.yul@aero.bombardier.com; Internet http://www.
bombardier.com. You may view this service information at the FAA,
Transport Standards Branch, 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-2017-0907;
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 NPRM, 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: Aziz Ahmed, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe and Mechanical Systems Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600
Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7329;
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-2017-0907;
Product Identifier 2017-NM-069-AD" at the beginning of your comments.
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM 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 NPRM.

Discussion

Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-
2017-09, dated February 22, 2017 (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-
1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601 Variant), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-
3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604 Variants) airplanes. The MCAI states:

There have been two in-service reports of fractured rudder pedal
tubes installed on the pilot-side rudder bar assembly on CL-600-2B19
aeroplanes. Laboratory examination of the fractured rudder pedal
tubes found that in both cases, the fatigue cracks initiated at the
aft taper pin holes where the connecting rod fitting is attached.
Fatigue testing of the rudder pedal tubes confirmed that the fatigue
cracking is due to loads induced during parking brake application.
Therefore, only the rudder pedal tubes on the pilot's side are
vulnerable to fatigue cracking as the parking brake is primarily
applied by the pilot.

Loss of pilot rudder pedal input during flight would result in
reduced yaw controllability of the aeroplane. Loss of pilot rudder
pedal input during takeoff or landing may lead to a runway
excursion.

This [Canadian] AD mandates initial and repetitive [detailed
visual or eddy current] inspections [for cracking] of both pilot-
side rudder pedal tubes, part number (P/N) 600-90204-3 until the
terminating action in Part III of this [Canadian] AD is accomplished
[i.e., replacement of both pilot-side rudder bar assemblies].

Corrective actions include replacement of both pilot-side rudder
bar assemblies and repair. 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-2017-0907.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Bombardier, Inc., has issued the following service information. The
service information describes procedures for repetitive inspections of
the rudder pedal tubes for cracking, replacement of both pilot-side
rudder bar assemblies, and repair. These documents are distinct since
they apply to different airplane models.

Service Bulletin 600-0770, Revision 01, including Appendix
A, dated March 31, 2016.

Service Bulletin 601-0643, Revision 01, including Appendix
A, dated March 31, 2016.

Service Bulletin 604-27-037, dated March 31, 2016,
including Appendix A, Revision 01, dated March 31, 2016.

Service Bulletin 605-27-002, dated June 30, 2016,
including Appendix A, Revision 01, dated March 31, 2016.

Service Bulletin 605-27-008, dated March 31, 2016,
including Appendix A, Revision 01, dated March 31, 2016.

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 these
same type designs.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD affects 141 airplanes of U.S. registry.

We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs

On-Condition Costs

We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide
cost estimates for any on-condition repairs specified in this proposed
AD. We have no way of determining the number of aircraft that might
need this repair.

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.

This proposed AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated
by the Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as
authorized by FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order,
issuance of ADs is normally a function of the Compliance and
Airworthiness Division, but during this transition period, the
Executive Director has delegated the authority to issue ADs applicable
to transport category airplanes to the Director of the System Oversight
Division.

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):