DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0885; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01429-T;
Amendment 39-22209; AD 2022-21-10]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; MHI RJ Aviation ULC (Type Certificate
Previously Held by 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
MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 &
702); CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet Series 550); CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet
Series 705); CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900); and CL-600-2E25
(Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports
that the landing gear age of certain airplanes was higher than expected
for gear overhaul, which could increase the risk of corrosion. This AD
requires verifying the calendar age of the nose landing gear (NLG) and
main landing gear (MLG) by way of component maintenance documents, and
performing corrective actions if necessary. This AD also prohibits
installing certain components. The FAA is issuing this AD to address
the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective December 21, 2022.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 21,
2022.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2022-0885; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For service information identified in this final rule,
contact MHI RJ Aviation Group, Customer Response Center, 3655 Ave. des
Grandes-Tourelles, Suite 110, Boisbriand, Qu[eacute]bec J7H 0E2 Canada;
North America toll-free telephone 833-990-7272 or direct-dial telephone
450-990-7272; fax 514-855-8501; email mhirj.com">thd.crj@mhirj.com; website
mhirj.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 at
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2022-0885.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jiwan Karunatilake, Aerospace
Engineer, Airframe and Propulsion Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch,
1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-
7300; email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all MHI RJ Aviation ULC
Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 702); CL-600-2C11
(Regional Jet Series 550); CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705); CL-
600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900); and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet
Series 1000) airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on
July 21, 2022 (87 FR 43450). The NPRM was prompted by AD CF-2021-49,
dated December 20, 2021, issued by Transport Canada Civil Aviation
(TCCA), which is the aviation authority for Canada (referred to after
this as the MCAI). The MCAI states that the landing gear age of certain
airplanes was higher than expected for gear overhaul. The MCAI notes
that undetected corrosion could lead to MLG and/or NLG collapse, and
consequent damage to the airplane and injury to the occupants.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require verifying the calendar age
of the NLG and MLG by way of component maintenance documents, and
performing corrective actions if necessary. The NPRM also proposed to
prohibit installing certain components. The FAA is issuing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2022-0885.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the cost to the public.
Conclusion
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 this State of Design Authority, it
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI
referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined
that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the
FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on this product.
Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in
the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any
operator.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
MHI RJ has issued Service Bulletin 670BA-32-062, dated December 2,
2021. This service information describes procedures for, among other
actions, verifying the calendar age of the NLG and MLG by way of
component maintenance documents and for removing affected landing gear
components and replacing them with serviceable components. 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 624 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
|
4 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$340 |
$0
|
$340
|
$212,160
|
The FAA estimates the following costs
to do any necessary on-
condition actions 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 these on-condition actions:
Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Up to 32 work-hours x $85 per
hour = Up to $2,720 |
Up to $340,000
|
Up to $342,720
|
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.
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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