DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0635; Product Identifier 2017-NM-183-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 DHC-8-102, -103, and -106 airplanes;
Model DHC-8-200 series airplanes; and Model DHC-8-300 series airplanes.
This proposed AD was prompted by a report that a certain modification
to the auto relight system is incompatible with a certain beta lockout
system modification and could result in de-activation of the auto
ignition feature of the No. 2 engine. This proposed AD would require an
inspection of the auto ignition system and applicable rectification. We
are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 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., Q-Series Technical Help Desk, 123 Garratt Boulevard,
Toronto, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada; telephone 416-375-4000; fax 416-375-
4539; email thd.qseries@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-2018-0635;
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: Anthony Flores, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion and Program Management Section, Chicago ACO Branch, Room
107, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60018; telephone 847-294-
7140; fax 847-294-7834.

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-2018-0635;
Product Identifier 2017-NM-183-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-2017-21R1, dated June
28, 2017 (referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing
Airworthiness Information, or "the MCAI"), to correct an unsafe
condition for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model DHC-8-102, -103, and -106
airplanes; Model DHC-8-200 series airplanes; and Model DHC-8-300 series
airplanes. The MCAI states:

During the incorporation of the Auto Relight modification per
Bombardier SB [Service Bulletin] 8-74-02 on an aeroplane with a Beta
Lockout System (BLS) installed, it was noticed that if SB 8-74-02 is
incorporated in conjunction with, or after the incorporation of BLS
SB 8-76-35 ([Canadian] AD CF-2013-15) or SB 8-76-24 (FAA AD 2000-02-
13 [Amendment 39-11531 (65 FR 4095, January 26, 2000)]), the #2
engine auto ignition function of the beta lockout system will not be
available when the beta lockout system is activated. This condition,
if not corrected, may result in a #2 engine uncommanded in-flight
shut down.

To preclude any future occurrence of the noted deficiency,
Bombardier has issued SB 8-74-02 Revision B to highlight its
incompatibility with post SB 8-76-35 or 8-76-24 BLS compliant
aeroplanes. In addition, Bombardier issued a new SB, 8-74-06 for
Auto Relight System modification that can be incorporated in
conjunction with or on those aeroplanes that were previously modified
per SB 8-76-35 or 8-76-24.

To address this potentially unsafe condition, Bombardier has
also issued SB 8-74-07 to inspect and rectify the system wiring on
affected aeroplanes.

The original version of this [Canadian] AD was issued to mandate
compliance with the SB 8-74-07 requirements.

Revision 1 of this [Canadian] AD is issued to clarify the
Applicability section and correct a typographic error in the SB
number referenced in the Corrective Action section of the original
[Canadian] 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-2018-0635.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Bombardier, Inc., has issued Service Bulletin 8-74-07, dated April
13, 2016. The service information describes an inspection to determine
correct operation of the auto ignition system for airplanes on which a
beta lockout system was installed, and rectification to re-activate a
previously disabled auto ignition system that will address inadvertent
de-activation of the auto ignition feature. 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 185 airplanes of U.S. registry.

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

Estimated Costs

We estimate the following costs to do any necessary on-condition
actions 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 this action:

On-Condition Costs

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):