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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-1480; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00548-T;
Amendment 39-22343; AD 2023-03-18]
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-100-1A10 airplanes. This AD was
prompted by reports of cracks found in the tailcone upper firewall
where the auxiliary power unit (APU) muffler electrical bonding strap
is attached. This AD requires a detailed visual inspection of the
tailcone upper firewall for defects, rework by replacement of the APU
electrical bonding strap, and repair if necessary. The FAA is issuing
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective April 4, 2023.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of April 4,
2023.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2022-1480; 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;
phone: (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-2022-1480.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yaser Osman, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe and Propulsion Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart
Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (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-100-1A10 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal
Register on November 18, 2022 (87 FR 69225). The NPRM was prompted by
AD CF-2022-19, dated April 19, 2022, issued by Transport Canada, which
is the aviation authority for Canada (referred to after this as the
MCAI). The MCAI states that cracks were found in the tailcone upper
firewall where the APU muffler electrical bonding strap is attached.
Crack initiation is related to the rigid electrical bonding strap. A
crack in this area, if not addressed, could result in a breach of the
firewall, which could allow a fire to propagate; reduced lightning
strike protection, which could affect the airplane's grounding and
potentially cause a fire; and increased radio interference during
flight, which could reduce the ability of the flightcrew to maintain
the safe flight and landing of the airplane.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require a detailed visual
inspection of the tailcone upper firewall for defects, rework by
replacement of the APU electrical bonding strap, and repair if
necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address cracking in the
tailcone upper firewall. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could
result in a breach of the firewall, which could allow a fire to
propagate; reduced lightning strike protection, which could affect the
airplane's grounding and potentially cause a fire; and increased radio
interference during flight, which could reduce the ability of the
flightcrew to maintain the safe flight and landing of the airplane.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2022-1480.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the cost to the public.
Conclusion
This products 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, 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 100-53-35, dated
December 6, 2021; and Service Bulletin 350-53-004, dated December 6,
2021. This service information specifies procedures for doing a
detailed visual inspection of the tailcone upper firewall for defects,
including cracking, reworking the APU electrical bonding strap by
replacing it with a new flexible APU muffler jumper cable assembly, and
repairing the tailcone upper firewall. These documents are distinct
since they apply to different airplane configurations.
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 ADDRESSES.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 691 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 |
$36
|
$121
|
$83,611
|
The FAA estimates the following costs
to do any necessary on-
condition actions that would be required based on the results of any
required action. The FAA has no way of determining the number of
aircraft that might need these on-condition actions:
Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
| 24 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $2,040 |
$0 *
|
$2,040
|
* The FAA has received no definitive
data on which to base the cost
estimates for the parts specified in this AD.
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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