DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2018-0275; Product Identifier 2018-NM-011-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-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700,
701, & 702) airplanes; Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705)
airplanes; Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes; and
Model CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This proposed
AD was prompted by reports indicating that corrosion was found on the
main landing gear (MLG) retraction actuator brackets and their
associated pins. This proposed AD would require an inspection of the
retraction actuator brackets, their associated pins and hardware, and
the mating lugs on the MLG outer cylinder for any corrosion, and
replacement if necessary. We are proposing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 29,
2018.
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, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-
231-3195.
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-2018-
0275; 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: Dorie Resnik, Aerospace Engineer,
Aviation Safety Section AIR-7B1, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District
Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone 781-238-7693.
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-2018-0275;
Product Identifier 2018-NM-011-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-
2017-34, dated October 19, 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-
2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702) airplanes; Model CL-600-2D15
(Regional Jet Series 705) airplanes; Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet
Series 900) airplanes; and Model CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000)
airplanes. The MCAI states:
There have been in-service reports of corrosion on the main
landing gear (MLG) retraction actuator bracket and its associated
pins. Bombardier's investigation determined that the corrosion is
the consequence of inadequate corrosion protection being applied
during production. Undetected corrosion on the MLG retraction
actuator bracket and its associated pins could result in a MLG
collapse.
This [Canadian] AD mandates the inspection of the MLG retraction
actuator bracket, its associated pins and hardware, and the mating
lugs on the MLG outer cylinder for corrosion. This [Canadian] AD
also mandates the replacement of corroded MLG parts and the
application of corrosion protection in order to mitigate the risk of
MLG collapse.
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-2018-0275.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
Bombardier has issued Service Bulletin 670BA-32-060, Revision B,
dated November 10, 2017. The service information describes a detailed
visual inspection of the retraction actuator brackets, their associated
pins and hardware, and the mating lugs on the MLG outer cylinder for
any corrosion, and replacement if necessary. 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 541 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 |
Inspection |
16 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $1,360 |
$0 |
$1,360 |
$735,760 |
We estimate the following costs to
do any necessary replacements
that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection.
We have no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need
these replacements:
On-Condition Costs
Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
Replacement |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
Up to $75,790 |
Up to $75,875 |
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):
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