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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0677; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01378-T;
Amendment 39-22230; AD 2022-23-03]
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 BD-700-2A12 airplanes. This AD was
prompted by the investigation of erroneous radio altimeter data that
was displayed on an in-service airplane. It was revealed that certain
radio altimeter coaxial cables used by the radio altimeter systems, in
the aft fuselage equipment bay, were damaged. This AD requires
replacing affected radio altimeter coaxial cables. The FAA is issuing
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective January 9, 2023.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of January 9,
2023.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2022-0677; 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 Bombardier Business Aircraft Customer Response Center, 400
Cote-Vertu Road West, Dorval, Quebec H4S 1Y9, Canada;
telephone 1-514-855-2999; email ac.yul@aero.bombardier.com; internet
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 at
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2022-0677.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Niczky, Aerospace Engineer,
Avionics and Electrical Systems Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600
Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7347;
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 certain Bombardier,
Inc., Model BD-700-2A12 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal
Register on June 13, 2022 (87 FR 35686). The NPRM was prompted by AD
CF-2021-45, dated December 7, 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 erroneous radio
altimeter data was displayed on an in-service airplane. It was revealed
that certain radio altimeter coaxial cables in the aft fuselage
equipment bay had been reported damaged (from radio altimeters A28 and
A29 to antennas), due their light weight construction, and their
proximity to the access door on the eBay. The damage to or kinks in the
radio altimeter coaxial cables, if not corrected, could lead to signal
loss or degradation, and possibly un-annunciated loss of terrain
awareness warning system aural cues during approach.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require replacing affected radio
altimeter coaxial cables. 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-2022-0677.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received a comment from Netjets. The following presents the
comment received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to the comment.
Request To Refer to Updated Bombardier Service Bulletin
Netjets stated Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-91-7502, Revision
02, dated April 5, 2022, has been released. The FAA infers that Netjets
is requesting that the proposed AD be revised to refer to Bombardier
Service Bulletin 700-91-7502, Revision 02, dated April 5, 2022 (the
proposed AD refers to Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-91-7502, Revision
01, dated August 31, 2020, as the appropriate source of service
information).
The FAA agrees with the request. Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-
91-7502, Revision 02, dated April 5, 2022, adds minor changes that do
not affect the substantive requirements proposed in the NPRM, including
adding references to an advisory document and the MCAI AD. The FAA has
revised this final rule to refer to Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-91-
7502, Revision 02, dated April 5, 2022. The FAA has also revised
paragraph (i) of this AD to provide credit for actions done in
accordance with Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-91-7502, Revision 01,
dated August 31, 2020.
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, considered the
comment received, 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,
and any other changes described previously, 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
The FAA reviewed Bombardier Service Bulletin 700-91-7502, Revision
02, dated April 5, 2022. This service information specifies procedures
for replacing affected radio altimeter coaxial cables. The replacement
includes removing the existing radio altimeter coaxial cables,
replacing with new coaxial cables, installing new clamps to accommodate
the coaxial bend radius along the coaxial routing, and re-routing new
radio altimeter coaxial cables from the wing to fuselage fairing, in
the left and right aft fuselage, and in the aft fuselage belly fairing.
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 27 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
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Labor cost
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Parts cost
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Cost per
product
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Cost on
U.S. operators
|
| 70 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $5,950 |
$13,808
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$19,758
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$533,466
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The FAA has included all known costs
in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some or all of the costs of
this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact
on affected operators.
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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