DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0200; Product Identifier 2019-NM-185-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited
(Type Certificate Previously Held by Bombardier, Inc.) Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2015-14-01, which applies to certain Bombardier, Inc., Model DHC-8-400
series airplanes. AD 2015-14-01 requires a detailed inspection for
loose bolts on the aft translating door crank assembly, and removal and
reinstallation of the bolts. Since AD 2015-14-01 was issued, the FAA
received a report that additional airplanes may be subject to the
unsafe condition. In addition, the design of the translating door crank
handle has been improved. This proposed AD would retain the inspections
of AD 2015-14-01 and add airplanes to the applicability. For all
airplanes, this proposed AD would also require a modification of the
door crank handle, which would terminate the inspections. The FAA is
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 4,
2020.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.

Fax: 202-493-2251.

Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

For service information identified in this NPRM, contact De
Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited, Q-Series Technical Help Desk, 123
Garratt Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada; telephone 416-375-
4000; fax 416-375-4539; email thd@dehavilland.com; internet https://
dehavilland.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.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0200;
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 NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Darren Gassetto, Aerospace Engineer,
Mechanical Systems and Administrative Services Section, FAA, New York
ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
telephone 516-228-7323; fax 516-794-5531; email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2020-0200;
Product Identifier 2019-NM-185-AD" at the beginning of your comments.
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. The
FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may
amend this proposed AD based on those comments.

The FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https://www.
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide.
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this proposed AD.

Discussion

The FAA issued AD 2015-14-01, Amendment 39-18199 (80 FR 38615, July
7, 2015) ("AD 2015-14-01"), for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model DHC-
8-400 series airplanes. AD 2015-14-01 requires a detailed inspection
for loose bolts on the aft translating door crank assembly, and removal
and reinstallation of the bolts. AD 2015-14-01 resulted from a report
of loose bolts that are intended to secure the translating door crank
assembly to the outside handle shaft. The FAA issued AD 2015-14-01 to
prevent loose bolts from falling out. If both bolts become loose or
fall out after the door is closed and locked, the door cannot be opened
from inside or outside, which could impede evacuation in the event of
an emergency.

Actions Since AD 2015-14-01 was Issued

Since AD 2015-14-01 was issued, the FAA received a report that
loose bolts were found on airplane serial numbers that were outside the
applicability range. Further, the manufacturer reclassified the forward
baggage door on some airplanes as an emergency exit, which is not
subject to AD 2015-14-01. The FAA also received a report that the
manufacturer has modified the design of the translating door crank
handle to improve retention of the bolts.

Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian AD CF-2014-08R1, dated July
30, 2019 (referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing
Airworthiness Information, or "the MCAI"), to correct an unsafe
condition for certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (Type
Certificate Previously Held by Bombardier, Inc.) Model DHC-8-400 series
airplanes. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the internet at
https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0200.

This proposed AD was prompted by reports of loose bolts that are
intended to secure the translating door crank assembly to the outside
handle shaft, and of sealant missing from these bolts on another
translating door. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the potential
for both bolts to become loose or fall out after the door is closed and
locked, which would prevent the door from being opened from inside or
outside and impede evacuation in the event of an emergency. See the
MCAI for additional background information.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR part 51

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited has issued the following
service information.

Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-52-89, Revision A, dated
January 29, 2018.

Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-52-92, Revision A, dated
January 24, 2018.

Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-52-94, Revision A, dated
January 24, 2018.

This service information describes procedures for modifying the
door crank handle with an improved bolt retention design on the type 1
emergency door, the aft entry door, and the aft service door, as
necessary. These documents are distinct since they apply to different
airplane configurations.

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited has also issued Bombardier
Service Bulletin 84-52-96, dated February 26, 2019, which describes
procedures for a detailed visual inspection of the translating door
crank assembly for any loose bolts.

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited has also issued
Modification Summary Package IS4Q5200101, Revision A, dated July 5,
2019, which describes a deviation to the actions specified in certain
service information.

This proposed AD would also require Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-
52-75, Revision A, dated July 11, 2013, which the Director of the
Federal Register approved for incorporation by reference as of August
11, 2015 (80 FR 38615, July 7, 2015).

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.

FAA's Determination

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to a bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, the FAA
has been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and
service information referenced above. The FAA is proposing this AD
because the agency evaluated all the relevant information and
determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist
or develop on other products of the same type design.

Proposed Requirements of This NPRM

This proposed AD would retain the inspections of AD 2015-14-01.
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in
the service information described previously.

Explanation of Change to Manufacturer's Name Specified in AD 2015-14-01

This NPRM identifies the manufacturer's name as published in the
most recent type certificate data sheet for the affected models.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 59 airplanes of
U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with
this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs for Required Actions

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.

Regulatory Findings

The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed
regulation:

(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.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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)
2015-14-01, Amendment 39-18199 (80 FR 38615, July 7, 2015), and adding
the following new AD: