DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0550; Product Identifier 2018-NM-024-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 CL-600-2B16 (CL-604 Variants)
airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of floodlight lamps
found burned and the corresponding circuit breaker tripped as a result
of fluid entering the cockpit floodlight fixtures. This proposed AD
would require installation of a new gasket seal on floodlight fixtures.
We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 6, 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, Qu[eacute]bec 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-
0550; 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: Assata Dessaline, Aerospace Engineer,
Avionics and Administrative Services Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch,
1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-
7301; fax 516-794-5531; email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov.

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-2018-0550;
Product Identifier 2018-NM-024-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 AD CF-2016-40, dated December
15, 2016; and Canadian AD CF-2018-06, dated February 19, 2018; to
correct an unsafe condition for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-
2B16 (CL-604 Variants) airplanes. Canadian AD CF-2016-40 and Canadian
AD CF-2018-06 are referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing
Airworthiness Information, or "the MCAI."

Canadian AD CF-2016-40 states:

Several operators have reported a burning odor and smoke
emanating from the cockpit floodlights. Bombardier Aerospace (BA)
has determined the cause to be fluid entering into the cockpit
floodlight fixtures causing short circuits and damage to electrical
components. If not corrected, this condition may result in a fire in
the cockpit.

This [Canadian] AD is issued to mandate the installation of a
new gasket seal on the floodlight fixture.

Canadian AD CF-2018-06 states:

[Canadian] AD CF-2016-40, applicable to Bombardier Inc. model
CL-600-2B16 (604 [CL-604 Variants serial numbers 5301 through 5665
inclusive] and 605 [CL-604 Variants serial numbers 5701 through 5988
inclusive] variants) aeroplanes, was issued to address the potential
of water penetrating into cockpit floodlight fixtures. A similar
condition exists on the CL-600-2B16 (650 variant [CL-604 Variants
serial numbers 6050 through 6070 inclusive]) aeroplanes. This
condition can cause short circuits and damage to electrical
components, which may result in a fire in the cockpit.

This [Canadian] AD mandates the installation of gasket seals on
the pilot and co-pilot floodlight fixtures to prevent fluid from
entering them.

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-2018-0550.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Bombardier has issued the following service information:

Bombardier Service Bulletin 604-33-007, Revision 02, dated October 2, 2017.
Bombardier Service Bulletin 605-33-005, Revision 02, dated October 2, 2017.
Bombardier Service Bulletin 650-33-001, Revision 03, dated October 2, 2017.

The service information describes procedures to install a new
gasket seal on floodlight fixtures. These documents are distinct since
they apply to different configurations of the same airplane model. The
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 design.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD affects 123 airplanes of U.S.
registry. We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs for Required Actions

According to the manufacturer, some or 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 known 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 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):