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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-1223; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00982-T;
Amendment 39-22669; AD 2024-02-05]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc., Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for
certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes.
This AD was prompted by a determination that a certain nondestructive
test (NDT) procedure associated with a certain airworthiness limitation
for inspecting the inboard, mid, and outboard flap metallic end ribs
does not contain all of the necessary instructions. This AD requires a
revision to the existing maintenance or inspection program to require
using a revised NDT procedure when performing an airworthiness
limitation task. This AD also prohibits the use of earlier revisions of
that NDT procedure. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective April 9, 2024.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 9,
2024.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2023-1223; 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, Inc., Business Aircraft Customer Response Center,
400 Cote-Vertu Road West, Dorval, Quebec H4S 1Y9, Canada;
telephone 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 Street, 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-2023-1223.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yaser Osman, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 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 certain Bombardier,
Inc., Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes. The NPRM published
in the Federal Register on July 5, 2023 (88 FR 42884). The NPRM was
prompted by AD CF-2022-40, dated July 21, 2022, issued by Transport
Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada (referred to after
this as the MCAI). The MCAI states that Bombardier determined that non-
destructive testing manual (NDTM) procedure ET-57-51-009, dated May 6,
2019, or earlier, did not contain all of the necessary instructions to
perform the inspections of the inboard, mid, and outboard flap metallic
end ribs in associated airworthiness limitation task number 57-51-00-
109. If those inspections are not fully completed, there is a potential
for undetected cracks in the inspection area; which can result in
structural failure of the flap.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require a revision to the existing
maintenance or inspection program to require using a revised NDT
procedure when performing a certain airworthiness limitation task. The
FAA also proposed to prohibit the use of earlier revisions of that NDT
procedure when performing that airworthiness limitation task. The FAA
is issuing this AD to address undetected cracking. The unsafe
condition, if not addressed, could result in structural failure of the
flap, which could result in possible reduced structural integrity of
the airplane.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2023-1223.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received comments from NetJets. The following presents the
comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to each comment.
Request To Clarify Affected Airplanes and Appropriate NDT Manuals
NetJets requested that the proposed applicability be clarified if
aircraft types G5500 and G6000 are affected, considering that the
required actions in paragraphs (g) and (h) of the proposed AD reference
a G5000 NDT manual only, but the serial numbers specified in paragraph
(c) of the proposed AD include the G5500 and G6000 airplanes.
Additionally, NetJets requested that paragraph (g) of the proposed
AD be revised to remove reference to ``Revision 46'' because the G5500
NDT manual is not at that revision level. NetJets noted that Transport
Canada did not refer to a revision level to avoid alternative method of
compliance (AMOC) requests.
The FAA contacted Bombardier and confirmed the G5500 and G6000
airplanes are included in the applicability as well as the G6000, G5000
GVFD, Global Express, and Global XRS airplanes. Paragraph (c) of this
AD specifies that the AD applies to Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11
airplanes, having serial numbers 9002 through 9879 inclusive, 9998, and
60001 and subsequent; these serial numbers include airplanes with the
marketing designations Global 5000, Global 5000 GVFD, Global 5500,
Global 6000, Global 6500, Global Express, and Global Express XRS. The
FAA also confirmed that operators cannot use the G5000 NDT manual for
all airplanes as it is only applicable to the G5000 and would need to
get an AMOC to comply with this AD as proposed. The FAA has revised
paragraph (g) of this AD to reference the appropriate NDT manuals for
all of the airplanes identified in the applicability, including the
appropriate revision level of each manual. The FAA must include
revision levels due to
Office of the Federal Register (OFR) regulations on citing material
that must be used to comply with an AD and is incorporated by
reference. The requirements and substantive contents of the required
task in each NDT manual are the same and the cost to use each NDT
manual is the same; therefore this revision does not create an
additional burden on operators. The FAA has also revised paragraph (h)
of this AD to remove the reference to specific NDT manuals.
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
comments 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 the revised inspection procedures for NDT
procedure ET-57-51-009, ``Special Detailed Inspection of the Inboard,
Mid and Outboard Flap (Metallic) End Ribs,'' of Part 6-Eddy Current, of
the following nondestructive testing manuals. These documents are
distinct since they apply to different airplane configurations.
(1) Bombardier Global 5000 Nondestructive Testing Manual,
Publication No. BD-700 NDTM, Revision 46, dated August 16, 2022.
(2) Bombardier Global 5000 Featuring Global Vision Flight Deck
Nondestructive Testing Manual, Publication No. GL 5000 GVFD NDTM,
Revision 34, dated August 16, 2022.
(3) Bombardier Global 5500 Nondestructive Testing Manual,
Publication No. GL 5500 NDTM, Revision 8, dated August 16, 2022.
(4) Bombardier Global 6000 Nondestructive Testing Manual,
Publication No. GL 6000 NDTM, Revision 34, dated August 16, 2022.
(5) Bombardier Global 6500 Nondestructive Testing Manual,
Publication No. GL 6500 NDTM, Revision 8, dated August 16, 2022.
(6) Bombardier Global Express Nondestructive Testing Manual,
Publication No. BD-700-NDTM, Revision 48, dated August 16, 2022.
(7) Bombardier Global Express XRS Nondestructive Testing Manual,
Publication No. BD-700 XRS NDTM, Revision 44, dated August 16, 2022.
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 441 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
|
| 1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
$0
|
$85
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$37,485
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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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