DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0585; Product Identifier 2018-NM-070-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 BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes.
This proposed AD was prompted by reports that non-conforming FIREX
squib wire harness connectors may have been installed, which could
result in FIREX squib wire harness connectors being connected to the
wrong FIREX bottle connectors on affected aircraft. This proposed AD
would require a visual inspection of the connections between the FIREX
squib wire harness connectors and FIREX bottle connectors, installation
of split ring lanyards on the FIREX squib wire harness connectors, and
corrective actions 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 August 20, 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; telephone 514-855-5000; fax 514-855-7401; email
thd.crj@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-
0585; or in person at Docket Operations 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 Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD
docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John DeLuca, Aerospace Engineer,
Avionics and Administrative Services Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch,
1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-
7369; 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-2018-0585;
Product Identifier 2018-NM-070-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 because
of 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-
2018-08R1, dated March 2, 2018 (referred to after this as the Mandatory
Continuing Airworthiness Information, or "the MCAI"), to correct an
unsafe condition for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-1A10 and
BD-700-1A11 airplanes. The MCAI states:

Bombardier, Inc., has been made aware that non-conforming squib
connector wire harnesses may have been installed on one of the two
engine FIREX bottle installations on some of the affected
aeroplanes. The subject non conformity of squib connector wire
length can allow cross connection between the two squib connectors
on one of the engine FIREX bottles, preventing proper function of
the engine FIREX system.

In the event of an engine fire, this wiring discrepancy may
potentially misroute the supply of fire extinguishing agent to the
wrong engine, or limit the supply from both FIREX bottles to only
one engine, [and could result in the inability to extinguish an
engine fire,] hence impacting the operational safety of the
aeroplane.

Bombardier, Inc., issued service bulletins (SB) 700-26-011, 700-
26-5003, 700-26-6003, and 700-1A11-26-004, for the affected model
aeroplanes, to address the potentially unsafe condition caused by
the non-conforming FIREX bottle squib connector wiring.

The original version of this [Canadian] AD was issued to mandate
compliance with the above-mentioned SBs, as applicable.

Revision 1 of this [Canadian] AD is issued to correct an error
in the applicability section of the original AD.

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-2018-0585.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed the following service information:

Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-1A11-26-004, Revision 01,
dated February 15, 2018.

Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-26-011, Revision 01, dated
February 15, 2018.

Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-26-5003, Revision 01,
dated February 15, 2018.

Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-26-6003, Revision 01,
dated February 15, 2018.

This service information describes procedures for a visual
inspection of the connections between the FIREX squib wire harness
connectors and the FIREX bottle connectors to determine whether the
connectors are installed correctly, and installation of split ring
lanyards on the FIREX squib wire harness connectors. This service
information also describes procedures for re-connecting incorrectly
installed connectors to the appropriate mating connectors and an
operational test of the fire extinguishing system. These documents are
distinct since they apply to different airplane models in different
configurations. 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

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 the relevant information and determined the unsafe
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other
products of the same type designs.

Proposed AD Requirements

This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD affects 358 airplanes of U.S.
registry. We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:

Estimated Costs

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):