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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-1704; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00866-T;
Amendment 39-22671; AD 2024-03-02]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; MHI RJ Aviation ULC (Type Certificate
Previously Held by 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 all
MHI RJ Aviation ULC (Type Certificate Previously Held by Bombardier,
Inc.) 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 a determination that
new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This
AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as
applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness
limitations. 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-2023-1704; 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 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-2023-1704.
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 all MHI RJ Aviation ULC
(Type Certificate Previously Held by Bombardier, Inc.) 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 August 8, 2023
(88 FR 53402). The NPRM was prompted by AD CF-2022-35, dated June 29,
2022, issued by Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for
Canada (referred to after this as the MCAI). The MCAI states that new
or more restrictive airworthiness limitations have been developed.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require revising the existing
maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or
more restrictive airworthiness limitations. The FAA is issuing this AD
to address cracks in the principal structural elements of the fuselage
and wings. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in
reduced structural integrity of the airplane. You may examine the MCAI
in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-1704.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received a comment from MHI RJ Aviation ULC. The following
presents the comment received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to the
comment.
Request for Credit for Actions Using Previous Revisions of the Service
Information
MHI RJ Aviation ULC requested that the FAA provide credit for
accomplishing the actions specified in paragraph (g) of the proposed AD
prior to the effective date of this AD in accordance with MHI RJ
Aviation CRJ550/700/705/900/1000 Maintenance Requirements Manual (MRM)
Part 2, CSP B-053, Revision 24, dated February 25, 2021; or MHI RJ
Aviation CRJ550/700/705/900/1000 Maintenance Requirements Manual (MRM)
Part 2, CSP B-053, Revision 25, dated June 25, 2021. MHI RJ Aviation
ULC pointed out that some of the tasks were initially introduced or
revised in these revisions and that allowing credit would allow
operators that have already accomplished the actions to avoid the need
to request an alternative method of compliance with paragraph (g) of
the proposed AD.
The FAA agrees to allow credit for the specified revisions for the
reasons provided. Therefore, a new paragraph (i) has been added to this
AD to provide credit for operators that have incorporated the new/
revised tasks into their maintenance program using the specified
revisions. Subsequent paragraphs have been redesignated accordingly.
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 MHI RJ Aviation CRJ550/700/705/900/1000
Maintenance Requirements Manual (MRM) Part 2, CSP B-053, Revision 26,
dated March 25, 2022. This service information specifies new or revised
tasks to detect cracks in the principal structural elements of the
fuselage and wings. 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 601 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
The FAA has determined that revising the maintenance or inspection
program takes an average of 90 work-hours per operator, although the
agency recognizes that this number may vary from operator to operator.
Since operators incorporate maintenance or inspection program changes
for their affected fleet(s), the FAA has determined that a per-operator
estimate is more accurate than a per-airplane estimate. Therefore, the
agency estimates the average total cost per operator to be $7,650 (90
work-hours x $85 per work-hour).
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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