DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0907; Product Identifier 2017-NM-069-AD; Amendment
39-19274; AD 2018-09-17]
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 adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601
Variant), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604 Variants)
airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of fractured rudder pedal
tubes on the pilot-side rudder bar assembly. This AD requires
repetitive inspections of the rudder pedal tubes for cracking and
corrective actions if necessary. Replacement of both pilot-side rudder
bar assemblies terminates the inspections. We are issuing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective June 25, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of June 25,
2018.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Bombardier, Inc., 400 C[ocirc]te-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 referenced
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. It is also available on the
internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating
Docket No. FAA-2017-0907.

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-
0907; 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 street 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 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Bombardier, Inc.,
Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601 Variant), and CL-600-
2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604 Variants) airplanes. The NPRM
published in the Federal Register on October 19, 2017 (82 FR 48668)
(``the NPRM''). The NPRM was prompted by reports of fractured rudder
pedal tubes on the pilot-side rudder bar assembly. The NPRM proposed to
require repetitive inspections of the rudder pedal tubes for cracking
and corrective actions if necessary. Replacement of both pilot-side
rudder bar assemblies terminates the inspections. We are issuing this
AD to address cracking of the pilot-side rudder pedal tubes. Loss of
pilot rudder pedal input during flight could result in reduced yaw
controllability of the airplane. Loss of pilot rudder pedal input
during takeoff or landing could lead to a runway excursion.
Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-
2017-09, dated February 22, 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-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601 Variant), and CL-600-
2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604 Variants) airplanes. The MCAI
states:

There have been two in-service reports of fractured rudder pedal
tubes installed on the pilot-side rudder bar assembly on CL-600-2B19
aeroplanes. Laboratory examination of the fractured rudder pedal
tubes found that in both cases, the fatigue cracks initiated at the
aft taper pin holes where the connecting rod fitting is attached.
Fatigue testing of the rudder pedal tubes confirmed that the fatigue
cracking is due to loads induced during parking brake application.
Therefore, only the rudder pedal tubes on the pilot's side are
vulnerable to fatigue cracking as the parking brake is primarily
applied by the pilot.
Loss of pilot rudder pedal input during flight would result in
reduced yaw controllability of the aeroplane. Loss of pilot rudder
pedal input during takeoff or landing may lead to a runway
excursion.
This [Canadian] AD mandates initial and repetitive [detailed
visual or eddy current] inspections [for cracking] of both pilot-
side rudder pedal tubes, part number (P/N) 600-90204-3 until the
terminating action in Part III of this [Canadian] AD is accomplished
[i.e., replacement of both pilot-side rudder bar assemblies].

Corrective actions include replacement of both pilot-side rudder
bar assemblies and 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-2017-0907.

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.

Requests To Correct Errors in Certain Service Information Citations

Bombardier and NetJets both requested that typographical errors in
certain service bulletin citations be corrected. Bombardier stated that
in the NPRM, Bombardier ``Service Bulletin 605-27-008'' should be cited
as Bombardier ``Service Bulletin 650-27-008.'' NetJets stated that
Bombardier ``Service Bulletin 605-27-002'' should be cited as
Bombardier ``Service Bulletin 650-27-002.''
We partially agree with the commenters' requests. We agree with
NetJets' request to correct the typographical error in the preamble and
paragraph (g)(6) of this AD by removing the incorrect citation and
including the correct citation, which is Bombardier Service Bulletin
650-27-002, dated June 30, 2016, including Appendix A, Revision 01,
dated March 31, 2016.
We do not agree with Bombardier's request because a typographical
error does not exist in our citation of Bombardier Service Bulletin
605-27-008, dated March 31, 2016, including Appendix A, Revision 01,
dated March 31, 2016. We contacted the commenter, and the company
representative agreed that there is not a typographical error.
Therefore, no change was made to this AD in this regard.

Request To Change the Order of Certain Service Information in the
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51 Paragraph

During a phone conversation between Bombardier and the FAA that
occurred during the NPRM comment period, Bombardier requested that the
order of certain service information in ``Related Service Information
under 1 CFR part 51'' be rearranged. Specifically, the commenter
requested that Service Bulletin 605-27-008, dated March 31, 2016,
including Appendix A, Revision 01, dated March 31, 2016, be listed
above Service Bulletin 650-27-002, dated June 30, 2016, including
Appendix A, Revision 01, dated March 31, 2016. The commenter stated
that chronologically Bombardier issued Service Bulletin 605-27-008,
dated March 31, 2016, including Appendix A, Revision 01, dated March
31, 2016, before issuing Service Bulletin 650-27-002, dated June 30,
2016, including Appendix A, Revision 01, dated March 31, 2016.
We agree to clarify. While we recognize the benefit of listing
service information in chronological order based on publication dates,
we are required by the Office of Federal Register (OFR) to list service
information within the incorporated by reference (IBR) paragraph of the
AD regulatory text (i.e. paragraph (n) of this AD) according to the
document name. For consistency, the IBR material is listed in the same
alphanumerical sequence within the 1 CFR part 51 paragraph of the AD
preamble text. In this case, as stated previously, we have changed a
certain citation, and that change places the service information in the
alphanumeric order shown within this AD, which also addresses the
commenter's request.

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data, considered 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 minor 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 has issued the following service information. The
service information describes procedures for repetitive inspections of
the rudder pedal tubes for cracking, replacement of both pilot-side
rudder bar assemblies, and repair. These documents are distinct since
they apply to different airplane models.
Service Bulletin 600-0770, including Appendix A, both
Revision 01, both dated March 31, 2016.
Service Bulletin 601-0643, including Appendix A, both
Revision 01, both dated March 31, 2016.
Service Bulletin 604-27-037, including Appendix A,
Revision 01, both dated March 31, 2016.
Service Bulletin 605-27-008, including Appendix A,
Revision 01, both dated March 31, 2016.
Service Bulletin 650-27-002, dated June 30, 2016,
including Appendix A, Revision 01, dated March 31, 2016.
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 141 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:


Estimated Costs

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 airplanes that might need
these replacements:

On-Condition Costs

We have received no definitive data that will enable us to provide
cost estimates for any on-condition repairs specified in this AD. We
have no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need this
repair.

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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):