Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 233 / Tuesday, December 4, 2012 / Proposed Rules 71729 

(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable 

level of safety may be used for any repair 

required by this AD if it is approved by the 

Boeing Commercial Airplanes ODA that has 

been authorized by the Manager, Seattle 

ACO, to make those findings. For a repair 

method to be approved, the repair must meet 

the certification basis of the airplane, and the 

approval must specifically refer to this AD. 

(4) AMOCs approved previously in 

accordance with AD 2000–06–13, 

Amendment 39–11654 (65 FR 17583, April 4, 

2000); and AD 2000–06–13 R1, Amendment 

39–12317 (66 FR 36146, July 11, 2001); are 

approved as AMOCs for the corresponding 

requirements of this AD. 

(y) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Alan Pohl, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, Seattle 

Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057– 

3356; phone: (425) 917–6450; fax: (425) 917– 

6590; email: alan.pohl@faa.gov. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services 

Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H–65, 

Seattle, Washington 98124–2207; telephone 

206–544–5000, extension 1; fax 206–766– 

5680; Internet https:// 

www.myboeingfleet.com. You may review 

copies of the referenced service information 

at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington. 

For information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

November 21, 2012. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–29170 Filed 12–3–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–1222; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–NM–134–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, 

Inc. Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede an 

existing airworthiness directive (AD) 

that applies to certain Bombardier, Inc. 

Model DHC–8–400 series airplanes. The 

existing AD currently requires a freeplay check for excessive free-play of the 

shaft swaged bearing installed in the 

tailstock end of each elevator power 

control unit (PCU), and replacing any 

PCU on which the bearing exceeds 

allowable limits with a serviceable PCU. 

Since we issued that AD, we have 

determined that additional airplanes are 

affected by the identified unsafe 

condition. This proposed AD would add 

airplanes to the applicability in the 

existing AD. We are proposing this AD 

to detect and correct excessive freeplay 

of the swaged bearings, which could 

lead to excessive airframe vibrations 

and difficulties in pitch control, and 

consequent loss of controllability of the 

airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by January 18, 2013. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Bombardier, 

Inc., Q-Series Technical Help Desk, 123 

Garratt Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario 

M3K 1Y5, Canada; telephone 416–375– 

4000; fax 416–375–4539; email 

thd.qseries@aero.bombardier.com; 

Internet http://www.bombardier.com. 

You may review copies of the 

referenced service information at the 

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. 

For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 425–227– 

1221. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov; or in person at the 

Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this proposed AD, the 

regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for the Docket Operations 

office (telephone (800) 647–5527) is in 

the ADDRESSES section. Comments will 

be available in the AD docket shortly 

after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Cesar Gomez, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe and Mechanical Systems 

Branch, ANE–171, FAA, New York 

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1600 

Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, 

New York 11590; telephone (516) 228– 

7318; fax (516) 794–5531. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposed AD. Send your comments 

to an address listed under the 

ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2012–1222; Directorate Identifier 

2012–NM–134–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD based on those comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this proposed AD. 

Discussion 

On June 14, 2011, we issued AD 

2011–13–08, Amendment 39–16731 (76 

FR 37253, June 27, 2011). That AD 

required actions intended to address an 

unsafe condition on Bombardier, Inc. 

Model DHC–8–400 series airplanes. 

Since we issued the existing AD (76 

FR 37253, June 27, 2011), we have 

determined that additional airplanes are 

affected by the identified unsafe 

condition. Transport Canada Civil 

Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation 

authority for Canada, has issued 

Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF– 

2010–28R1, dated June 12, 2012 

(referred to after this as the Mandatory 

Continuing Airworthiness Information, 

or ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe 

condition for the specified products. 

The MCAI states: 

Several reports have been received on the 

elevator power control units (PCUs) where 

the shaft (tailstock) swaged bearing liners had 

shown a higher than normal rate of wear. 

Investigation revealed that the excessive wear 

was due to the paint contamination between 

the bearing roller and bearing liner. The 

bearing paint contamination is known to be 

abrasive and could seize the bearing. 

This condition, if not corrected, could lead 

to excessive airframe vibrations and 

difficulties in aircraft pitch control. 

This [TCCA] directive mandates a free-play 

check of the shaft swaged bearing installed in 

the elevator PCU tailstock end and 

replacement of the shaft swaged bearings if 

excessive free-play is found. 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with 
71730 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 233 / Tuesday, December 4, 2012 / Proposed Rules 

This [TCCA] AD is revised to amend the 

applicability for DHC–8 Series 400 

aeroplanes. 

The unsafe condition is loss of 

controllability of the airplane. You may 

obtain further information by examining 

the MCAI in the AD docket. 

Relevant Service Information 

Bombardier Inc. has issued Service 

Bulletin 84–27–52, Revision A, dated 

March 5, 2012. The actions described in 

this service information are intended to 

correct the unsafe condition identified 

in the MCAI. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of This Proposed AD 

This product has been approved by 

the aviation authority of another 

country, and is approved for operation 

in the United States. Pursuant to our 

bilateral agreement with the State of 

Design Authority, we have been notified 

of the unsafe condition described in the 

MCAI and service information 

referenced above. We are proposing this 

AD because we evaluated all pertinent 

information and determined an unsafe 

condition exists and is likely to exist or 

develop on other products of the same 

type design. 

Costs of Compliance 

Based on the service information, we 

estimate that this proposed AD would 

affect about 81 products of U.S. registry. 

The actions that are required by AD 

2011–13–08, Amendment 39–16731 (76 

FR 37253, June 27, 2011), and retained 

in this proposed AD take about 3 workhours per product, at an average labor 

rate of $85 per work hour. Based on 

these figures, the estimated cost of the 

currently required actions is $255 per 

product. 

We estimate that it would take about 

3 work-hours per product to comply 

with the new basic requirements of this 

proposed AD. The average labor rate is 

$85 per work-hour. Based on these 

figures, we estimate the cost of the 

proposed AD on U.S. operators for the 

added airplanes to be $255 per product. 

In addition, we estimate that any 

necessary follow-on actions would take 

about 5 work-hours and require parts 

costing $33, for a cost of $458 per 

product. We have no way of 

determining the number of products 

that may need these actions. 

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. 

We are 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 

We determined that this proposed AD 

would not have federalism implications 

under Executive Order 13132. This 

proposed AD would 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 this proposed regulation: 

1. Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866; 

2. Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under the 

DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures 

(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 

3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in 

Alaska; and 

4. 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. 

We prepared a regulatory evaluation 

of the estimated costs to comply with 

this proposed AD and placed it in the 

AD docket. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by 

removing airworthiness directive AD 

2011–13–08, Amendment 39–16731 (76 

FR 37253, June 27, 2011), and adding 

the following new AD: 

Bombardier, Inc.: Docket No. FAA–2012– 

1222; Directorate Identifier 2012–NM– 

134–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by January 18, 

2013. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD supersedes AD 2011–13–08, 

Amendment 39–16731 (76 FR 37253, June 

27, 2011). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Bombardier, Inc. Model 

DHC–8–400, –401, and –402 airplanes; 

certificated in any category; having serial 

numbers (S/Ns) 4001 through 4334 inclusive, 

and 4336. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 27: Flight controls. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

replacement of several elevator power control 

units (PCUs) due to worn swaged bearings 

located in the elevator PCU tailstock. We are 

issuing this AD to detect and correct 

excessive freeplay of the swaged bearings, 

which could lead to excessive airframe 

vibrations and difficulties in pitch control, 

and consequent loss of controllability of the 

airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

You are responsible for having the actions 

required by this AD performed within the 

compliance times specified, unless the 

actions have already been done. 

(g) Retained Free-Play Check With Revised 

Service Information 

This paragraph restates the requirements of 

paragraph (g) of AD 2011–13–08, 

Amendment 39–16731 (76 FR 37253, June 

27, 2011), with revised service information. 

For airplanes identified in paragraph (c) of 

this AD, except airplanes having S/N 4305 

through 4334 inclusive, and 4336: At the 

applicable time specified in paragraphs (g)(1) 

and (g)(2) of this AD, perform a free-play 

check for any shaft swaged bearing having 

part number (P/N) MS14103–7 that is 

installed in the tailstock end of each elevator 

PCU (three PCUs per elevator surface) having 

P/Ns 390600–1007 and 390600–1009, in 

accordance with paragraph 3.B., Part A, of 

Bombardier Service Bulletin 84–27–52, dated 

May 25, 2010; or Revision A, dated March 5, 

2012. As of the effective date of this AD, only 

Bombardier Service Bulletin 84–27–52, 

Revision A, dated March 5, 2012, may be 

used to accomplish the actions required by 

this paragraph. 

(1) For airplanes that have accumulated 

8,000 or more total flight hours as of August 

1, 2011 (the effective date of AD 2011–13–08, 

Amendment 39–16731 (76 FR 37253, June 

27, 2011)): Within 2,000 flight hours after 

August 1, 2011 (the effective date of AD 

2011–13–08). 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with 
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 233 / Tuesday, December 4, 2012 / Proposed Rules 71731 

(2) For airplanes that have accumulated 

less than 8,000 total flight hours as of August 

1, 2011 (the effective date of AD 2011–13–08, 

Amendment 39–16731 (76 FR 37253, June 

27, 2011)): Within 6,000 flight hours after 

August 1, 2011 (the effective date of AD 

2011–13–08), or before the accumulation of 

10,000 total flight hours, whichever occurs 

first. 

(h) Retained Follow-on Action 

This paragraph restates the requirements of 

paragraph (h) of AD 2011–13–08, 

Amendment 39–16731 (76 FR 37253, June 

27, 2011), with revised service information. 

If, during the check required by paragraph (g) 

of this AD, the bearing free-play is within the 

limits specified in Bombardier Service 

Bulletin 84–27–52, dated May 25, 2010, or 

Revision A, dated March 5, 2012; no further 

action is required by this AD. As of the 

effective date of this AD, only Bombardier 

Service Bulletin 84–27–52, Revision A, dated 

March 5, 2012, may be used to accomplish 

the actions required by this paragraph. 

(i) Retained Corrective Actions 

This paragraph restates the requirements of 

paragraph (i) of AD 2011–13–08, Amendment 

39–16731 (76 FR 37253, June 27, 2011), with 

revised service information. If, during the 

check required by paragraph (g) of this AD, 

the bearing free-play exceeds the limits 

specified in Bombardier Service Bulletin 84– 

27–52, dated May 25, 2010; or Revision A, 

dated March 5, 2012: Before further flight, 

replace the elevator PCU with a serviceable 

one, in accordance with paragraph 3.B., Part 

B, of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84–27–52, 

dated May 25, 2010; or Revision A, dated 

March 5, 2012. As of the effective date of this 

AD, only Bombardier Service Bulletin 84– 

27–52, Revision A, dated March 5, 2012, may 

be used to accomplish the actions required 

by this paragraph. 

(j) New Requirements 

For airplanes having S/N 4305 through 

4334 inclusive, and 4336: At the applicable 

time specified in paragraphs (j)(1) and (j)(2) 

of this AD, perform a free-play check for any 

shaft swaged bearing having P/N MS14103– 

7 that is installed in the tailstock end of each 

elevator PCU (three PCUs per elevator 

surface), having P/Ns 390600–1007 and 

390600–1009, in accordance with paragraph 

3.B., Part A, of Bombardier Service Bulletin 

84–27–52, Revision A, dated March 5, 2012. 

(1) For airplanes that have accumulated 

8,000 or more total flight hours as of the 

effective date of this AD: Within 2,000 flight 

hours after the effective date of this AD. 

(2) For airplanes that have accumulated 

less than 8,000 total flight hours as of the 

effective date of this AD: Within 6,000 flight 

hours after the effective date of this AD, or 

before the accumulation of 10,000 total flight 

hours, whichever occurs first. 

(k) Corrective Actions 

During the check required by paragraph (j) 

of this AD, if the bearing free-play is found 

to exceed the limits specified in Bombardier 

Service Bulletin 84–27–52, Revision A, dated 

March 5, 2012: Before further flight, replace 

the elevator PCU with a serviceable one, in 

accordance with paragraph 3.B., Part B, of 

Bombardier Service Bulletin 84–27–52, 

Revision A, dated March 5, 2012. 

(l) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, New York Aircraft 

Certification Office (ACO), ANE–170, FAA, 

has the authority to approve AMOCs for this 

AD, if requested using the procedures found 

in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 

39.19, send your request to your principal 

inspector or local Flight Standards District 

Office, as appropriate. If sending information 

directly to the ACO, send it to Program 

Manager, Continuing Operational Safety, 

FAA, New York ACO, 1600 Stewart Avenue, 

Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 

(516) 228–7300; fax (516) 794–5531. Before 

using any approved AMOC, notify your 

appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a 

principal inspector, the manager of the local 

flight standards district office/certificate 

holding district office. The AMOC approval 

letter must specifically reference this AD. 

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement 

in this AD to obtain corrective actions from 

a manufacturer or other source, use these 

actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective 

actions are considered FAA-approved if they 

are approved by the State of Design Authority 

(or their delegated agent). You are required 

to assure the product is airworthy before it 

is returned to service. 

(m) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) Canadian 

Airworthiness Directive CF–2010–28R1, 

dated June 12, 2012, and the service 

information specified in paragraphs (l)(1)(i) 

and (l)(1)(ii) of this AD, for related 

information. 

(i) Bombardier Service Bulletin 84–27–52, 

dated May 25, 2010. 

(ii) Bombardier Service Bulletin 87–27–52, 

Revision A, dated March 5, 2012. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Bombardier, Inc., Q-Series 

Technical Help Desk, 123 Garratt Boulevard, 

Toronto, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada; 

telephone 416–375–4000; fax 416–375–4539; 

email thd.qseries@aero.bombardier.com; 

Internet http://www.bombardier.com. You 

may review copies of the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

WA. For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

November 21, 2012. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–29171 Filed 12–3–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–1221; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–NM–151–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

The Boeing Company Model 777–200 

and –300 series airplanes. This 

proposed AD was prompted by reports 

of hydraulic fluid contamination found 

in the strut forward dry bay. This 

proposed AD would require repetitive 

general visual inspections of the strut 

forward dry bay for the presence of 

hydraulic fluid, and related 

investigative and corrective actions if 

necessary. We are proposing this AD to 

detect and correct hydraulic fluid 

contamination of the strut forward dry 

bay, which could result in hydrogen 

embrittlement of the titanium forward 

engine mount bulkhead fittings, and 

consequent inability of the fittings to 

carry engine loads, resulting in the loss 

or departure of an engine. Hydraulic 

embrittlement could cause a throughcrack formation across the fittings 

through which an engine fire could 

breach into the strut, resulting in an 

uncontained strut fire. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by January 18, 2013. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, P. O. Box 3707, 

MC 2H–65, Seattle, WA 98124–2207; 

telephone 206–544–5000, extension 1; 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with