DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1485; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00522-T;
Amendment 39-22333; AD 2023-03-08]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc., Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-2A12 airplanes. This AD was
prompted by a report that certain fasteners attaching the fuselage skin
to a certain stringer may be missing. This AD requires inspecting for
missing fasteners and damage, including cracking, of the affected area, and
repair or installation of fasteners if necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 3, 2023.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 3,
2023.

ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2022-1485; 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 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 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-2022-1485.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jiwan Karunatilake, Aerospace
Engineer, Airframe and Propulsion 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 Bombardier,
Inc., Model BD-700-2A12 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal
Register on November 25, 2022 (87 FR 72419). The NPRM was prompted by
AD CF-2022-17, dated April 13, 2022, issued by Transport Canada, which
is the aviation authority for Canada (referred to after this as the
MCAI). The MCAI states that certain fasteners attaching the fuselage
skin to stringer 19 between fuselage station (FS) FS945.75 and FS961.45
may be missing. The affected area of the fuselage is a build-up of
skin, stringers, and frames, and is identified as a principal
structural element for which missing fasteners could significantly
reduce safety margins.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require inspecting for missing
fasteners and damage, including cracking, of the affected area, and
repair or installation of fasteners if necessary. The FAA is issuing
this AD to address missing fasteners, which may subject the skin to
inter-rivet buckling under compressive load. The unsafe condition, if
not addressed, could create a hazard of permanent deformation and/or
cracking of the skin.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2022-1485.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the cost to the public.

Additional Changes Made to This AD

The FAA has revised paragraph (g) of this AD to clarify that, if
any damage or missing fasteners are found, the damage must be repaired
or the fasteners installed before further flight. In the NPRM, the FAA
inadvertently left out the compliance time for this action. However, as
stated in the NPRM, the affected area is identified as a principal
structural element for which missing fasteners could significantly
reduce safety margins. Further, missing fasteners may create a hazard
of permanent deformation and/or cracking of the skin. Therefore, damage
needs to be repaired and missing fasteners need to be installed before
further flight to address the identified unsafe condition.

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 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 700-53-7547, dated
July 21, 2021. This service information specifies procedures for
inspecting the affected area of the fuselage skin attached to stringer
19 between FS945.75 and FS961.45 for missing fasteners and associated
damage, and for installing missing fasteners and repairing any damage.
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 11 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs for Required Actions

The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition actions that would be required based on the results of any
required actions. The FAA has no way of determining the number of
aircraft that might need these on-condition actions:


Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions

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: