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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-2001; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00666-T;
Amendment 39-22676; AD 2024-03-06]
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 superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-20-
13, which applied to certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2B16 (604
Variant) airplanes. AD 2021-20-13 required repetitive lubrication and
repetitive detailed visual inspections (DVI) and non-destructive test
(NDT) inspections of the main landing gear (MLG) shock strut lower
pins, and replacement if necessary. This AD continues to require the
lubrication and inspections specified in AD 2021-20-13 until the MLG
shock strut assembly is modified by replacing the trailing arm bushing
and installing new dynamic joint components. This AD was prompted by a
new design solution for this potential failure of the shock strut lower
pin. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products.
DATES: This AD is effective April 16, 2024.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of April 16,
2024.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain other publications listed in this AD as of
November 18, 2021 (86 FR 57033, October 14, 2021).
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2023-2001; 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., 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; website
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-2023-2001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gabriel Kim, 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 to supersede AD 2021-20-13, Amendment 39-21751 (86 FR
57033, October 14, 2021) (AD 2021-20-13). AD 2021-20-13 applied to
certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2B16 (604 Variant) airplanes. AD
2021-20-13 required repetitive lubrication and repetitive DVI and NDT
inspections of the MLG shock strut lower pins, and replacement if
necessary. The FAA issued AD 2021-20-13 to correct an unsafe condition
identified as cracking of the MLG shock strut lower pin part number
19146-3.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 25, 2023 (88
FR 73265). The NPRM was prompted by AD CF-2023-32, dated May 9, 2023,
issued by Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada
(Transport Canada AD CF-2023-32) (also referred to as the MCAI). The
MCAI states there is a new design solution for this potential failure
of the shock strut lower pin, which involves replacing the training arm
bushings at the attachment and reassembly of the MLG shock strut
assembly to training arm assembly joint with new dynamic joint
components. As a result, the MCAI requires this new design as
terminating action for the requirements of Transport Canada AD CF-2020-
54R1.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to continue to require the
lubrication and inspections specified in AD 2021-20-13 until the MLG
shock strut assembly is modified by replacing the trailing arm bushing
and installing new dynamic joint components. The FAA is issuing this AD
to address cracking of the MLG shock strut lower pin. The unsafe
condition, if not addressed, could result in structural failure of one
or both MLG.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2023-2001.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received comments from three commenters, including
Executive Jet Management, Inc., NetJets, and Boeing. The following
presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to
each comment.
Request To Update the Service Information to the Latest Revision and
Provide Credit
Executive Jet Management, Inc. NetJets, and Boeing requested the
FAA revise the proposed AD to allow using Bombardier Service Bulletin
604-32-031 Revision 01, dated March 17, 2023; Bombardier Service
Bulletin 605-32-008 Revision 01, dated March 17, 2023; and Bombardier
Service Bulletin 650-32-005 Revision 01, dated March 17, 2023. NetJets
also requested that the proposed AD be revised to add credit for using
the original issues of the service information.
The FAA agrees to update this final rule to reference Bombardier
Service Bulletin 604-32-031 Revision 01, dated March 17, 2023;
Bombardier Service Bulletin 605-32-008 Revision 01, dated March 17,
2023; and Bombardier Service Bulletin 650-32-005 Revision 01, dated
March 17, 2023, which include minor changes that do not affect the
substantive requirements proposed in the NPRM. The FAA has revised this
AD to reflect the updated service bulletins. The FAA has also added
paragraph (n) of this AD to provide credit for the original issues of
the applicable service bulletins, and redesignated subsequent
paragraphs 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
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 following Bombardier service information:
Service Bulletin 604-32-031, Revision 01, dated March 17,
2023.
Service Bulletin 605-32-008, Revision 01, dated March 17,
2023.
Service Bulletin 650-32-005, Revision 01, dated March 17,
2023.
This service information contains procedures for disassembling the
left- and right-hand MLG shock strut and trailing arm joint, replacing
the trailing arm bushings at the attachment, and re-assembling the
joint with new dynamic joint components. These documents are distinct
since they apply to different airplane configurations.
This AD also requires the following Bombardier service information,
which the Director of the Federal Register approved for incorporation
by reference as of November 18, 2021 (86 FR 57033, October 14, 2021):
Service Bulletin 604-32-030, dated June 30, 2020.
Service Bulletin 605-32-007, dated June 30, 2020.
Service Bulletin 650-32-004, dated June 30, 2020.
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 433 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
| Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
Cost on U.S. operators |
| Lubrication and inspections (retained
actions from AD 2021-20-13) |
7 work-hours x $85
per hour = $595 |
$0 |
$595 per cycle |
$257,635 per cycle |
| Modification and testing (new
actions) |
9 work-hours x $85
per hour = $765 |
2,435 |
$3,200 |
$1,385,600 |
The FAA estimates the following costs
to do any necessary on-
condition replacement that would be required based on the results of
the repetitive inspections. The FAA has no way of determining the
number of aircraft that might need this on-condition action:
Estimated Costs of On-Condition Replacement
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
| 6 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$510 |
$2,435
|
$2,945
|
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
The FAA determined that 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:
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2021-20-13, Amendment 39-21751 (86
FR 57033, October 14, 2021); and
b. Adding the following new Airworthiness Directive:
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