DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0399; Product Identifier 2018-NM-008-AD; Amendment
39-19412; AD 2018-19-12]
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) 2015-17-04,
which applied to certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional
Jet Series 700, 701, & 702), Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series
705), and Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes. AD
2015-17-04 required replacement of left and right fixed control rods
and lever assemblies of the elevator control system. This AD adds a
detailed visual inspection of the key washers and self-locking nuts of
the elevator control linkages and corrective actions if necessary. This
AD was prompted by reports of a disconnect between the elevator lever
and control rod and a report indicating that certain revisions of the
service information were missing instructions for proper installation
of certain key washers. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 31, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 31,
2018.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Bombardier, Inc., 400 Cote-Vertu Road West, Dorval,
Quebec H4S 1Y9, Canada; Widebody Customer Response Center North
America toll-free phone: 1-866-538-1247 or direct-dial phone: 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-2018-0399.

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-
0399; 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 final rule, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and
other information. The address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is Docket Operations, 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: Cesar Gomez, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe and Mechanical Systems Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600
Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 516-228-7318;
fax: 516-794-5531.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to supersede AD 2015-17-04, Amendment 39-18237 (80 FR 50556,
August 20, 2015) (``AD 2015-17-04''). AD 2015-17-04 applied to certain
Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, &
702), Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), and Model CL-600-
2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes. The NPRM published in the
Federal Register on May 11, 2018 (83 FR 21966). The NPRM was prompted
by reports of a disconnect between the elevator lever and control rod
and a report indicating that certain revisions of the service
information were missing instructions for proper installation of the
key washers having part number BA698-93726-3. The NPRM proposed to
continue to require replacement of left and right fixed control rods
and lever assemblies of the elevator control system. The NPRM also
proposed to require a detailed visual inspection of the key washers and
self-locking nuts of the elevator control linkages and corrective
actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent a disconnect
between the elevator lever and control rod, which could lead to
uncommanded elevator movement of the associated control surface, a
large difference between the position of the left and the right
elevator control surfaces, and consequent reduced controllability of
the airplane and degradation of the structural integrity of the
horizontal stabilizer.
Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian AD CF-2014-44R1, dated
October 6, 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-600-2C10 (Regional Jet
Series 700, 701, & 702), Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705),
and Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes. The MCAI
states:

During an engineering review of the Elevator Control system, it
was discovered that a disconnect between the elevator lever and
control rod could lead to an uncommanded elevator movement of the
associated control surface. This uncommanded movement may cause a
large difference between the position of the left and the right
elevator control surface resulting in reduced controllability of the
aeroplane and compromised structural integrity of the horizontal
stabilizer.
This [Canadian] AD mandates the replacement of the existing
elevator lever assemblies and control rods with newly designed ones,
which will prevent a disconnect between the components of the
elevator control system should a failure occur.
Revision 1 of this [Canadian] AD is issued to require operators,
* * * [regardless of previously accomplished actions], to perform a
detailed visual inspection for the correct installation of the tab
key washers and to re-torque the nut(s) [and corrective actions that
include bending one tab of the key washer on a flat surface of the
self-locking nut] if the tab key washer(s) does not have one tab
bent on a flat surface of the self-locking nut.

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-2018-0399.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this final rule. The following presents the comments received on the
NPRM and the FAA's response to each comment. The Air Line Pilots
Association, International (ALPA) reviewed and expressed support for
the NPRM.

Request To Clarify Required Actions in Paragraph (h) of the Proposed AD

Endeavor Air and SkyWest Airlines requested that we clarify
paragraph (h) of the proposed AD to specify Part B of the
Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-27-
062, Revision E, dated June 8, 2017. The commenters pointed out that
the Accomplishment Instructions are divided into two parts, Part A and
Part B. The commenters also mentioned that Part A of the Accomplishment
Instructions contains modification procedures (specified in paragraph
(g) of the proposed AD) and Part B contains inspection requirements
(specified in paragraph (h) of the proposed AD).
We agree to clarify as suggested by the commenter and have revised
paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD accordingly.

Request To Clarify Credit for Actions Accomplished Using Bombardier
Service Non-Incorporated Engineering Order (SNIEO)

Endeavor Air requested that we clarify paragraph (i)(2) of the
proposed AD to state that Bombardier SNIEO KBA670-93707 S02, dated July
21, 2015, can be accomplished concurrently or subsequently with the
service information specified in paragraph (i)(2)(i) or (i)(2)(ii) of
the proposed AD. The commenter pointed out that the level of safety is
equivalent if the actions specified in Bombardier SNIEO KBA670-93707
S02, dated July 21, 2015, are accomplished subsequently to the actions
specified in the service information specified in paragraph (i)(2)(i)
or (i)(2)(ii) of the proposed AD.
We agree with the commenter for the reasons provided and have
revised paragraph (i)(2) of this AD accordingly.

Request To Provide Credit for Actions Previously Accomplished

Endeavor Air requested that we provide credit for accomplishing the
actions specified in paragraph (h) of the proposed AD prior to the
effective date of this AD in accordance with Part B of the
Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-27-
062, Revision E, dated June 8, 2017.
We acknowledge the commenter's requests and agree to clarify.
Paragraph (f) of this AD states to accomplish the required actions
within the compliance times specified, ``unless already done.''
Therefore, if operators have accomplished the actions required for
compliance with this AD before the effective date of this AD, no
further action is necessary. We have not revised this AD in this
regard.

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received,
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this final rule 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 addressing 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 final
rule.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Bombardier, Inc., has issued Service Bulletin 670BA-27-062,
Revision E, dated June 8, 2017. This service information describes
procedures for replacing the elevator lever assemblies and control
rods, and a detailed visual inspection of the key washers and self-
locking nuts of the elevator control linkages and corrective actions,
which include bending the tab of the key washers and re-torqueing the
self-locking nuts.
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 549 airplanes of U.S. registry. We
estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated 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 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)
2015-17-04, Amendment 39-18237 (80 FR 50556, August 20, 2015), and
adding the following new AD: