preamble attached >>>
ADs updated daily at www.Tdata.com
PROPOSED AD DE HAVILLAND AIRCRAFT OF CANADA LIMITED (TYPE CERTIFICATE PREVIOUSLY HELD BY BOMBARDIER, INC.): Docket No. FAA-2021-0312; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01376-T.
(a) COMMENTS DUE DATE

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD)  by
    June 4, 2021.

(b) AFFECTED ADS

    None.

(c) APPLICABILITY

    This AD  applies to De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (type cer-
    tificate previously held by Bombardier, Inc.) airplanes,  certificated
    in any category,  and identified in  paragraphs (c)(1) through  (4) of
    this AD.

(1) Model DHC-8-102, -103 and -106 airplanes, as identified in DeHavilland
    Service Bulletin 8-27-123, Revision A, dated September 8, 2020.

(2) Model DHC-8-201 and -202 airplanes, as identified in DeHavilland Serv-
    ice Bulletin 8-27-123, Revision A, dated September 8, 2020.

(3) Model DHC-8-301, -311 and -315 airplanes, as identified in DeHavilland
    Service Bulletin 8-27-123, Revision A, dated September 8, 2020.

(4) Model DHC-8-400, -401 and -402 airplanes, as identified in DeHavilland
    Service Bulletin 84-27-74, Revision B, dated September 8, 2020.

(d) SUBJECT

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27, Flight controls.

(e) UNSAFE CONDITION

    This  AD was  prompted  by  reports that  mounting nuts  attaching the
    rudder actuator  bracket to  the vertical  stabilizer have  been found
    cracked or missing due to  hydrogen embrittlement. The FAA is  issuing
    this AD to address the  possible loss of the rudder  actuator bracket,
    which  could  result in  a  dormant disconnection  between  the rudder
    actuator  and  the  vertical   stabilizer.  This  condition,  if   not
    addressed,  could  result in  a  loss of  directional  control of  the
    aircraft.

(f) COMPLIANCE

    Comply  with this  AD within  the compliance  times specified,  unless
    already done.

(g) REQUIRED ACTIONS

    Within 8,000 flight hours or 4 years, whichever is earlier, after  the
    effective date  of this  AD: Do  a detailed  visual inspection  of the
    rudder actuator bracket mounting  nuts for missing nuts  or corrosion,
    cracking,  or  other  damage, in  accordance  with  the Accomplishment
    Instructions of  De Havilland  Service Bulletin  8-27-123, Revision A,
    dated September 8,  2020; or De  Havilland Service Bulletin  84-27-74,
    Revision B,  dated September  8, 2020;  as applicable.  If any missing
    nuts or  corrosion, cracking,  or other  damage is  found, replace the
    nuts  before further  flight,  in  accordance with  the Accomplishment
    Instructions of  De Havilland  Service Bulletin  8-27-123, Revision A,
    dated September 8,  2020; or De  Havilland Service Bulletin  84-27-74,
    Revision B, dated September 8, 2020; as applicable.

(h) CREDIT FOR PREVIOUS ACTIONS

    This paragraph provides credit  for actions required by  paragraph (g)
    of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective  date
    of  this  AD  using  De  Havilland  Service  Bulletin  8-27-123, dated
    December  20,  2019;  De Havilland  Service  Bulletin  84-27-74, dated
    December 20, 2019; or De Havilland Service Bulletin 84-27-74, Revision
    A, dated January 20, 2020; as applicable.

(i) NO REPORTING REQUIREMENT

    Although  De Havilland Service Bulletin 8-27-123,  Revision  A,  dated
    September 8, 2020 and De Havilland Service Bulletin 84-27-74, Revision
    B, dated September 8, 2020,  specify to submit  certain information to
    the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.

(j) OTHER FAA AD PROVISIONS

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs):  The Manager,  New York ACO
    Branch,  FAA,  has  the authority  to approve  AMOCs for  this AD,  if
    requested using the  procedures found in  14 CFR 39.19.  In accordance
    with 14 CFR  39.19, send your  request to your  principal inspector or
    responsible  Flight  Standards  Office,  as  appropriate.  If  sending
    information directly to the manager of the certification office,  send
    it to ATTN: Program  Manager, Continuing Operational Safety,  FAA, New
    York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart  Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY  11590;
    telephone 516-228-7300;  fax 516-794-5531.  Before using  any approved
    AMOC,  notify  your  appropriate  principal  inspector,  or  lacking a
    principal inspector, the manager  of the responsible Flight  Standards
    Office.

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer:  For any requirement in this AD to obtain
    instructions   from   a  manufacturer,   the   instructions  must   be
    accomplished using  a method  approved by  the Manager,  New York  ACO
    Branch,  FAA;  or  Transport  Canada  Civil  Aviation  (TCCA);  or  De
    Havilland   Aircraft  of   Canada  Limited's   TCCA  Design   Approval
    Organization (DAO). If approved by the DAO, the approval must  include
    the DAO-authorized signature.

(k) RELATED INFORMATION

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information (MCAI) TCCA AD
    CF-2020-34, dated October 6, 2020, for related information.  This MCAI
    may  be  found  in  the AD  docket  on  the  internet at  https://www.
    regulations.gov by searching for  and  locating  Docket  No. FAA-2021-
    0312.

(2) For more information about this AD, contact Aziz Ahmed, Aerospace Eng-
    ineer, Airframe and Propulsion Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600
    Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7329;
    fax 516-794-5531; email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov.

(3) For service information  identified in this AD,  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,
    Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch,  2200 South
    216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this
    material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.

Issued on April 13, 2021.  Gaetano A. Sciortino, Deputy Director for Stra-
tegic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness Division,  Aircraft Certifi-
cation Service.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 4, 2021.
PREAMBLE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0312; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01376-T]
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).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-102, -
103, and -106 airplanes; Model DHC-8-201 and -202 airplanes; Model DHC-
8-301, -311, and -315 airplanes; and Model DHC-8-400, -401, and -402
airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that mounting nuts
attaching the rudder actuator bracket to the vertical stabilizer have
been found cracked or missing due to hydrogen embrittlement. This
proposed AD would require a one-time inspection of the rudder actuator
bracket mounting nuts, and corrective actions if necessary. 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 June 4,
2021.

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,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety 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 at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0312; 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, any comments
received, and other information. The street address for Docket
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aziz Ahmed, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe and Propulsion Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart
Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7329; 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 ADDRESSES. Include "Docket No. FAA-2021-0312; Project Identifier
MCAI-2020-01376-T" at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
the proposal because of those comments.

Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information


CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as "PROPIN." The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Aziz
Ahmed, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe and Propulsion Section, FAA, New
York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
telephone 516-228-7329; fax 516-794-5531; email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov.
Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated
as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada, has issued TCCA AD CF-2020-34, dated October 6,
2020 (TCCA AD CF-2020-34) (also 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
Model DHC-8-102, -103, and -106 airplanes; Model DHC-8-201 and -202
airplanes; Model DHC-8-301, -311, -314, and -315 airplanes; and Model
DHC-8-400, -401, and -402 airplanes. Model DHC-8-314 airplanes are not
certificated by the FAA and are not included on the U.S. type
certificate data sheet; this proposed AD therefore does not include
those airplanes in the applicability. You may examine the MCAI in the
AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0312.

This proposed AD was prompted by reports that mounting nuts
attaching the rudder actuator bracket to the vertical stabilizer have
been found cracked or missing due to hydrogen embrittlement. The FAA is
proposing this AD to address the possible loss of the rudder actuator
bracket, which could result in a dormant disconnection between the
rudder actuator and the vertical stabilizer. This condition, if not
addressed, could result in a loss of directional control of the
aircraft. See the MCAI for additional background information.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

De Havilland has issued Service Bulletin 8-27-123, Revision A,
dated September 8, 2020; and Service Bulletin 84-27-74, Revision B,
dated September 8, 2020. This service information specifies procedures
for doing a detailed visual inspection of the nuts attaching the rudder
actuator brackets to the rear spar. If the nuts are corroded, cracked,
or otherwise damaged, or if they are missing, they are replaced. These
documents are distinct since they apply to different airplane models.
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 the FAA's 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 FAA 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 AD Requirements in This NPRM

This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information already described.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 69 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following
costs to comply with this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs for Required Actions

Labor cost
Parts cost
Cost per product
Cost on U.S. operators
3 work-hours x $85 per hour = $255
$0
$255
$17,595

The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary
replacement that would be required based on the results of the proposed
inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of aircraft
that might need this replacement:

On-Condition Costs

Action
Labor cost
Parts cost
Cost per product
Nut replacement 2 work-hours x $85 per hour = $170
Minimal
$170

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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(3) Would 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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive: