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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0521; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00273-T;
Amendment 39-22187; AD 2022-20-03]
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
certain 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 laboratory tests that showed that the oxygen tubes of the crew
oxygen system may be contaminated with lubricants, as a result of the
manufacturing and cleaning procedures used. This AD requires cleaning
and flushing the crew oxygen system. The FAA is issuing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective April 14, 2023.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 14,
2023.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2022-0521; 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, Quebec J7H 0E2 Canada;
North America toll-free telephone 833-990-7272 or direct-dial telephone
450-990-7272; fax 514-855-8501; email 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-2022-0521.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chirayu Gupta, Aerospace Engineer,
Mechanical Systems and Administrative Services 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 certain 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
May 17, 2022 (87 FR 29841). The NPRM was prompted by AD CF-2022-06,
dated February 28, 2022, 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 laboratory tests showed that
the oxygen tubes of the crew oxygen system may be contaminated with
lubricants, as a result of the inadvertent use of a non-conforming
aqueous degreasing process for oxygen line flushing and cleaning during
the manufacturing process. If not corrected, lubricant remaining in
oxygen lines could lead to a fire within the oxygen tubes or a health
hazard related to the inhalation of lubricant fumes through the masks
when masks are in use.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require cleaning and flushing the
crew oxygen system. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the
contaminated oxygen tubes of the crew oxygen system, which could lead
to a fire within the oxygen tubes, or a health hazard related to the
inhalation of lubricant fumes when the masks are in use.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2022-0521.
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 To Change MHI RJ Contact Information
MHI RJ Aviation ULC requested that the NPRM be revised to correct
its contact information.
The FAA has included the correct contact information under
ADDRESSES in this final rule and in paragraph (k)(3) of this AD.
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 MHI RJ Service Bulletin 670BA-35-016, Revision B,
dated December 17, 2021. This service information specifies procedures
for low-pressure and high-pressure cleaning of the crew oxygen tubes.
The tasks include cleaning the end fittings and threads, cleaning the
inner wall of the tubes with solvent, and flushing the inner wall of
the tubes with nitrogen.
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 would affect 34 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
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| 51 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $4,335 |
Up to $1,240
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Up to $5,575
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Up to $189,550
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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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