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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2017-0530; Product Identifier 2017-NM-012-AD; Amendment
39-19271; AD 2018-09-14]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc., Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-11-02,
which applied to all 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.
AD 2016-11-02 required repetitive inspections of the upper and lower
engine pylons for protruding, loose, or missing fasteners; and repair
if necessary. This AD continues to require the repetitive inspections
of the upper and lower engine pylons for protruding, loose, or missing
fasteners; and repair if necessary. This AD also requires replacement
of affected fasteners, which terminates the inspections. This AD was
prompted by reports of loose or missing fasteners and collars on the
upper and lower engine pylon structure common to the upper and lower
pylon skin panels and engine thrust fitting. We are issuing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective June 28, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 28,
2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain other publications listed in this AD as of June
10, 2016 (81 FR 33371, May 26, 2016).
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
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 referenced service information at
the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th Street, Des
Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the
FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available on the internet at http://www.
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0530.
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-
0530; 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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and
other information. The address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-
647-5527) is Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
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:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to supersede AD 2016-11-02, Amendment 39-18529 (81 FR 33371,
May 26, 2016) (``AD 2016-11-02''). AD 2016-11-02 applied to all
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 NPRM published in
the Federal Register on June 12, 2017 (82 FR 26864). The NPRM was
prompted by reports of loose or missing fasteners and collars on the
upper and lower engine pylon structure common to the upper and lower
pylon skin panels and engine thrust fitting. The NPRM proposed to
continue to require the repetitive inspections of the upper and lower
engine pylons for protruding, loose, or missing fasteners; and repair
if necessary. The NPRM also proposed to require replacement of affected
fasteners, which terminates the inspections. We are issuing this AD to
prevent protruding, loose, or missing fasteners, which could result in
structural failure of the engine pylons.
Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-2016-10R1,
dated July 8, 2016 (referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing
Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe
condition for all 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 several reported findings of loose or missing
Hi-Lite fasteners and collars on the left hand (L/H) and right hand
(R/H) upper and lower engine pylon structure common to the upper and
lower pylon skin panels and engine thrust fitting. Missing fasteners
in these areas are shown to significantly reduce the safety margins
and could result in a structural failure of the engine pylon.
Bombardier, as an interim corrective action issued a new
Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) task for detailed inspection of
the engine pylon rib and skin fasteners to inspect for protruding,
loose or missing fasteners and rectify any discrepancies noted in
accordance with a Repair Engineering Order (REO). The original
version of this [Canadian] AD, CF-2016-10, mandated the subject
inspection and necessary rectification.
Bombardier has since issued Service Bulletin (SB) 670BA-54-007
to replace all affected fasteners with interference fit fasteners
[including applicable related investigative and corrective actions],
as terminating action for the mandated inspection requirement.
[Canadian] AD CF-2016-10 is now being revised to mandate compliance
with SB 670BA-54-007.
Related investigative actions include measurements of the attach
holes in the engine pylon upper structure and special detailed visual
inspections for cracks in the engine pylon structure. Corrective
actions include 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-2017-0530.
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-
0530.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and
the FAA's response to each comment.
Request To Include Additional Service Information in Credit Paragraph
Mesa Airlines suggested that Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-54-
007, dated May 13, 2016, be included in paragraph (l), ``Credit for
Previous Actions,'' of the proposed AD. The commenter did not provide
justification for its request. We infer that the commenter made this
request to provide credit for operators that completed the actions in
Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-54-007, dated May 13, 2016, prior to
the effective date of the proposed AD.
We do not agree that the commenter's requested change is needed.
Paragraph (f) of this AD states that the actions specified in this AD
must be accomplished ``unless already done.'' The phrase ``unless
already done'' provides credit for accomplishment of the actions
required by paragraph (j) of this AD, if done in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-54-
007, dated May 13, 2016, prior to the effective date of this AD.
Therefore, we have not changed this AD in this regard.
Request To Revise Paragraph (g) of the Proposed AD To Require Airplane
Maintenance Manual Task
Bombardier requested that Task 54-51-01-220-801, ``Detailed
Inspection of the Engine Pylon Rib and Skin Fasteners,'' to Chapter 54,
``Nacelle/Pylons,'' to Part 2 of the Bombardier CRJ700/900/1000
Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM), be required by paragraph (g) of the
proposed AD in lieu of Bombardier Temporary Revision (TR) 54-0007,
dated March 8, 2016, to the CRJ700/900/1000 AMM. The commenter stated
that Bombardier TR 54-0007 was incorporated into Revision 52 of the
Bombardier CRJ700/900/1000 AMM, and that the AMM is currently at
Revision 56.
We partially agree with the commenter's request. We agree to
include Task 54-51-01-220-801, ``Detailed Inspection of the Engine
Pylon Rib and Skin Fasteners,'' to Chapter 54, ``Nacelle/Pylons,'' to
Part 2 of the Bombardier CRJ700/900/1000 AMM as a method of compliance
in paragraph (g) of this AD, but we do not agree to remove Bombardier
TR 54-0007, dated March 8, 2016, to the Bombardier CRJ700/900/1000 AMM.
We have revised paragraph (g) of this AD to include both Task 54-51-01-
220-801, ``Detailed Inspection of the Engine Pylon Rib and Skin
Fasteners,'' to Chapter 54, ``Nacelle/Pylons,'' to Part 2 of the
Bombardier CRJ700/900/1000 AMM, CSP B-001, Revision 56, dated September
25, 2017; and Bombardier TR 54-0007, dated March 8, 2016. This revision
provides operators with an option to use either service document to
accomplish the required action.
Conclusion
We reviewed the available data, including the comments received,
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this AD with the changes described previously and minor editorial
changes. We have determined that these changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.
We also determined that these changes will not increase the
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
Bombardier, Inc., issued Service Bulletin 670BA-54-007, dated May
13, 2016. This service information describes procedures for replacing
fasteners and collars, including applicable related investigative and
corrective actions.
Bombardier, Inc., also issued Repair Engineering Order 670-54-51-
034, ``Repair for Missing or Loose/Protruding Fasteners in Upper and
Lower Pylon Skins FS 1088--FS 1098, PBL 69.3 L & RHS,'' Revision A,
dated April 20, 2016. This service information describes procedures for
repair, including applicable related investigative and corrective
actions.
In addition, Bombardier, Inc., issued TR 54-0007, dated March 8,
2016, to the CRJ700/900/1000 AMM; and Task 54-51-01-220-801, ``Detailed
Inspection of the Engine Pylon Rib and Skin Fasteners,'' to Chapter 54,
``Nacelle/Pylons,'' to Part 2 of the Bombardier CRJ700/900/1000 AMM,
CSP B-001, Revision 56, dated September 25, 2017. This service
information describes procedures for a detailed visual inspection for
protruding, loose, or missing fasteners of the left-hand and right-hand
upper and lower engine pylons. The content of these documents is nearly
identical, except for labels on the figures; we have chosen to
incorporate both documents by reference so that either may be used to
comply with certain requirements of this AD.
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.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 273 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
| Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
Cost on U.S. operators |
| Inspection (retained from AD
2016-11-02) |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 per inspection cycle |
$0 |
$85 per inspection cycle |
$23,205 per inspection
cycle |
| Replacement (new action) |
43 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $3,655 per inspection cycle |
1,808 |
$5,463 per inspection
cycle |
$1,491,399 per
inspection cycle |
We estimate the following costs to
do any necessary repairs that
will be required based on the results of the inspection. We have no way
of determining the number of aircraft that might need these repairs:
On-Condition Costs
| Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
| Repair (retained from AD 2016-11-02) |
Up to 32 work-hours x $85 per
hour = $2,720 |
(¹) |
Up to $2,720 |
(¹) We have received no definitive
data that will enable us to provide cost
estimates for the parts cost specified in this AD for the on-condition
repairs.
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 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 AD will not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 that this AD:
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.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2016-11-02, Amendment 39-18529 (81 FR 33371, May 26, 2016), and adding
the following new AD:
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