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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2019-0120; Product Identifier 2018-NM-167-AD; Amendment
39-19702; AD 2019-15-09]
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: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for
certain Bombardier, Inc., Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD was
prompted by a report of a cracked outboard spoiler actuator mounting
bracket. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the outboard
spoiler actuator mounting brackets, replacement of any cracked bracket,
and eventual replacement of all brackets with a re-designed part that
would terminate the repetitive inspections. The FAA is issuing this AD
to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective September 19, 2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of September
19, 2019.
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-2019-0120.
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-2019-
0120; 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 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: Aziz Ahmed, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA,
New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, New York
11590; telephone: 516-287-7329; fax: 516-794-5531; email:
Aziz.Ahmed@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
The FAA 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-8-400 series airplanes. The NPRM published in the
Federal Register on March 21, 2019 (84 FR 10449). The NPRM was prompted
by a report of a cracked outboard spoiler actuator mounting bracket.
The NPRM proposed to require repetitive inspections of the outboard
spoiler actuator mounting brackets, replacement of any cracked bracket,
and eventual replacement of all brackets with a re-designed part that
would terminate the repetitive inspections.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address cracking of the outboard
spoiler actuator mounting brackets, which could cause inoperability or
jam of a single spoiler panel and possible jam of the aileron circuit.
This condition, if not corrected, could adversely affect the continued
safe operation and landing of the airplane.
Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian AD CF-2018-21R1, effective November
1,
2018 (referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness
Information, or ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for
certain Bombardier, Inc., Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. The MCAI
states:
During a scheduled aileron inspection, a crack was found in the
right-hand outboard spoiler bracket of an in-service aircraft. An
investigation concluded that the crack was caused by low load, high
cycle fatigue. A cracked bracket could cause inoperability or jam of
a single spoiler panel and possible jam of the aileron circuit. This
condition, if not corrected, could adversely affect the continued
safe operation and landing of the aeroplane.
The original version of this [Canadian] AD required initial and
repetitive inspections of the outboard spoiler brackets, and
required replacement of any brackets found cracked. It also required
replacement of the brackets with a new design, which terminates the
inspection requirement.
Revision 1 of this [Canadian] AD is issued to correct an error
in the date of Service Bulletin (SB) 84-27-72 Revision A. This
[Canadian] AD also clarifies the part numbers of the outboard
spoiler actuator brackets and their assemblies.
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-2019-
0120.
Comments
The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in
developing this final rule. The FAA has considered the comment
received. The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) agrees
with the intent of the NPRM.
Conclusion
The FAA 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. The FAA has 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 84-27-72, Revision A, dated
November 9, 2017. This service information describes procedures for
repetitively inspecting the left and right outboard spoiler actuator
mounting brackets for cracks, replacing cracked brackets, eventually
replacing all brackets with re-designed parts, and related
investigative and corrective actions.
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
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 53 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
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Cost per
product
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Cost on
U.S. operators
|
| 20 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $1,700 |
$4,142
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$5,842
|
$309,626
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The FAA has received no definitive
data that would enable the
agency 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.
The FAA is 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) 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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