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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2021-0093; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01213-T;
Amendment 39-21535; AD 2021-10-02]
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 all
Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes. This AD
was prompted by reports indicating that the left- and right-hand
elevator torque tube bearings were contaminated with sand and
corrosion, restricting free rotation. This AD requires repetitive
general visual inspections of the left- and right-hand elevator torque
tube bearings for any sand, dust, or corrosion; repetitive functional
tests of the elevator control system; and replacement of the elevator
torque tube bearings if necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective July 29, 2021.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of July 29,
2021.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Bombardier, Inc., 200 Cote-Vertu Road West, Dorval,
Quebec H4S 2A3, Canada; North America toll-free telephone 1-866-
538-1247 or direct-dial telephone 1-514-855-2999; email
ac.yul@aero.bombardier.com; internet https://www.bombardier.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. It is also available on the internet at https://www.
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0093.
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-2021-
0093; 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, 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: Siddeeq Bacchus, Aerospace Engineer,
Mechanical Systems and Administrative Services Section, FAA, New York
ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
telephone 516-228-7362; fax 516-794-5531; email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada, has issued TCCA AD CF-2020-29, dated August 21,
2020 (referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness
Information, or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for all
Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 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-2021-0093.
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Bombardier, Inc.,
Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes. The NPRM published in the
Federal Register on February 24, 2021 (86 FR 11180). The NPRM was
prompted by reports indicating that the left- and right-hand elevator
torque tube bearings were contaminated with sand and corrosion,
restricting free rotation. The NPRM proposed to require repetitive
general visual inspections of the left- and right-hand elevator torque
tube bearings for any sand, dust, or corrosion; repetitive functional
tests of the elevator control system; and replacement of the elevator
torque tube bearings if necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to
address sand contamination and corrosion of the elevator torque tube
bearings, which could lead to binding or seizure of the bearings, and
potentially lead to a reduction in or loss of airplane pitch control.
See the MCAI for additional background information.
Comments
The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in
developing this final rule. The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or
on the determination of the cost to the public.
Conclusion
The FAA reviewed the relevant data 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 the following service information.
Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-1A11-27-041, Revision 1,
dated December 7, 2020.
Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-27-083, Revision 1, dated
December 7, 2020.
Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-27-5012, Revision 1, dated
December 7, 2020.
Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-27-5503, Revision 1, dated
December 7, 2020.
Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-27-6012, Revision 1, dated
December 7, 2020.
Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-27-6503, Revision 1, dated
December 7, 2020.
This service information describes procedures for repetitive
general visual inspections of the left- and right-hand elevator torque
tube bearings for any sand, dust, or corrosion; repetitive functional
tests of the elevator control system; and corrective actions including
replacement of the elevator torque tube bearings if necessary. These
documents are distinct since they apply to different airplane models
and serial numbers.
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 392 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
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
| 22 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $1,870 |
Up to $4 (for four cotter pins)
** |
Up to $1,874 |
Up to $734,608 |
* Table does not include estimated
costs for reporting.
** Parts cost include replacement parts where necessary.
The FAA estimates that it would take about 1 work-hour per product
to comply with the reporting requirement in this AD. The average labor
rate is $85 per hour. Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the
cost of reporting the inspection results on U.S. operators to be
$33,320, or $85 per product.
The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition action that would be required based on the results of any
required actions. The FAA has no way of determining the number of
aircraft that might need this on-condition action:
Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
| 5 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$425 |
$271 (for four
bearings)
|
$696
|
According to the manufacturer, some
or all of the costs of this AD
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected operators. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for
affected operators. As a result, the FAA has included all known costs
in the cost estimate.
Paperwork Reduction Act
A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to penalty for
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of
information displays a current valid OMB control number. The control
number for the collection of information required by this AD is 2120-
0056. The paperwork cost associated with this AD has been detailed in
the Costs of Compliance section of this document and includes time for
reviewing instructions, as well as completing and reviewing the
collection of information. Therefore, all reporting associated with
this AD is mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden
and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Federal Aviation
Administration, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177-1524.
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
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:
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