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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2018-0553; Product Identifier 2017-NM-138-AD; Amendment
39-19446; AD 2018-20-12]
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 adopting 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 AD
was prompted by reports of arcing and smoke emanating from the
windshield, caused by loose or damaged windshield heater terminal lugs.
This AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection program to
incorporate maintenance review board (MRB) tasks for general visual
inspections of the windshield moisture seal. This AD also requires re-
torqueing the windshield heater terminal lugs, applying a coating to
the windshield heater screw heads, doing a chemical cleaning of the
wiring and components, doing a visual inspection of the wiring and
components, doing an operational test of the pilot's and co-pilot's
windshield heating system, and repair if necessary We are issuing this
AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective November 23, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of November 23,
2018.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
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. It is also available on the internet at http://www.regulations
.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0553.
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-
0553; 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 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: John P. 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:
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 DHC-8-102, -103, and -106 airplanes, Model DHC-8-200 series
airplanes, and Model DHC-8-300 series airplanes. The NPRM published in
the Federal Register on July 6, 2018 (83 FR 31493). The NPRM was
prompted by reports of arcing and smoke emanating from the windshield,
caused by loose or damaged windshield heater terminal lugs. The NPRM
proposed to require revising the maintenance or inspection program to
incorporate MRB tasks for general visual inspections of the windshield
moisture seal. The NPRM also proposed to require re-torqueing the
windshield heater terminal lugs, applying a coating to the windshield
heater screw heads, doing a chemical cleaning of the wiring and
components, doing a visual inspection of the wiring and components,
doing an operational test of the pilot's and co-pilot's windshield
heating system, and repair if necessary.
We are issuing this AD to address loose terminal lugs and terminal
lugs damaged due to fluid ingress between the windshields and side
window posts, which could lead to burning of the lugs and cracking of
the windshields, and could ultimately cause a loss of cabin pressure,
resulting in an emergency descent.
Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian AD CF-2017-25, dated July 31,
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:
There have been several reports of arcing and smoke emanating
from the windshields. Investigation of these incidents revealed that
de-icing fluid and water could enter between the windshields and
side window posts, leading to possible damage of the windshield
heater terminal lugs creating arcing and smoke. In addition,
investigation also revealed that the windshield heater terminal lugs
tend to loosen over time. Loose terminal lugs could also have a
similar effect of arcing and smoke. Both events could lead to
burning of the lugs and, due to the excessive heat, cracking of the
windshields. If not corrected, these conditions could cause a loss
of cabin pressure resulting in an emergency descent.
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-2018-0553.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this final rule. We have considered the comment received. The Air Line
Pilots Association, International (ALPA) indicated its support for the
NPRM.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this final rule as proposed, except for 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.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
Bombardier has issued Service Bulletin 8-30-41, Revision A, dated
March 24, 2017. This service information describes procedures for re-
torqueing the windshield heater terminal lugs and applying Humiseal
coating to the screw heads of the windshield heater, doing a chemical
cleaning and general visual inspection of the wiring and components,
and doing an operational test of the windshield heating system.
Bombardier has also issued the following service information, which
describes airworthiness limitation tasks for a general visual
inspection of the windshield moisture seal. These documents are
distinct since they apply to different airplane models.
de Havilland Inc. Dash 8 Series 100 Maintenance Task Card
Task Number 5610/01, ``General Visual Inspection of the Windshield
Moisture Seal,'' dated August 5, 2017.
de Havilland Inc. Dash 8 Series 200 Maintenance Task Card
Task Number 5610/01, ``General Visual Inspection of the Windshield
Moisture Seal,'' dated August 5, 2017.
de Havilland Inc. Dash 8 Series 300 Maintenance Task Card
Task Number 5610/01, ``General Visual Inspection of the Windshield
Moisture Seal,'' dated March 15, 2017.
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 63 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
|
Labor cost
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Parts cost
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Cost per
product
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Cost on
U.S. operators
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| 3 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$255 |
$0
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$255
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$16,065
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* Table does not include estimated
costs for revising the maintenance or
inspection program.
We have determined that revising the maintenance or inspection
program takes an average of 90 work-hours per operator, although we
recognize that this number may vary from operator to operator. In the
past, we have estimated that this action takes 1 work-hour per
airplane. Since operators incorporate maintenance or inspection program
changes for their affected fleet(s), we have determined that a per-
operator estimate is more accurate than a per-airplane estimate.
Therefore, we estimate the total cost per operator to be $7,650 (90
work-hours x $85 per work-hour).
We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide
cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this AD.
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 and
associated appliances to the Director of the System Oversight Division.
Regulatory Findings
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):
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