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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 28, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51946-51948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21102]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0861; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-074-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, 
-311, and -315 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of 
the loss of the fixed frequency system, leading to the loss of power to 
the left and right buses and all systems serviced by these buses. This 
proposed AD would require modification of the wiring and changes to 
existing airworthiness limitations. We are proposing this AD to prevent 
loss of the fixed frequency system, which could lead to loss of a 
number of the pilot's and co-pilot's flight instruments, in addition to 
other avionics systems.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 12, 
2012.

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, Washington. 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: Assata Dessaline, Aerospace Engineer, 
Avionics and Flight Test Branch, ANE-172, FAA, New York Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, New 
York 11590; telephone (516) 228-7301; 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-2012-0861; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-074-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

    The Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation 
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-
2012-09, dated February 15, 2012 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

[[Page 51947]]

    There have been several reported occurrences of the loss of the 
400Hz [hertz] Fixed Frequency System, leading to the loss of power 
to the Left 115VAC [alternating current] bus, the Right 115VAC bus, 
the Left 26VAC bus, the Right 26VAC bus and all systems serviced by 
these four electrical buses. The loss of the 400Hz Fixed Frequency 
System has been attributed to a failure of one or two static 
inverters, which resulted in the loss of the remaining inverters. 
The loss of systems serviced by the four fixed frequency electrical 
buses creates an unsafe condition due to the loss of a number of the 
pilot's and co-pilot's flight instruments, in addition to the other 
avionics systems.
    This [Canadian] Airworthiness Directive (AD) mandates the wiring 
modification to untie the 400Hz inverters and additional 
Airworthiness Limitation tasks introduced as a result of this 
modification.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Bombardier has issued the following service information:
     Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-24-87, Revision B, dated 
April 3, 2012;
     de Havilland Dash 8 Series 100 Temporary Revision AWL-117, 
dated April 8, 2011, to Section AWL--Systems Maintenance, of Part 2, 
Airworthiness Limitations, of the Bombardier Dash 8 Series 100 
Maintenance Program Manual, PSM 1-8-7.
     de Havilland Dash 8 Series 200 Temporary Revision AWL 2-
48, dated April 8, 2011, to Section AWL--Systems Maintenance, of Part 
2, Airworthiness Limitations, of the Bombardier Dash 8 Series 200 
Maintenance Program Manual, PSM 1-82-7; and
     de Havilland Dash 8 Series 300 Temporary Revision AWL 3-
118, dated April 8, 2011, to Section AWL--Systems Maintenance, of Part 
2, Airworthiness Limitations, of the Bombardier Dash 8 Series 300 
Maintenance Program Manual, PSM 1-83-7.
    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 94 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that 
it would take about 9 work-hours per product to comply with the 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 to be $71,910, or $765 per product.

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.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Bombardier, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2012-0861; Directorate Identifier 
2012-NM-074-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by October 12, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    (1) This AD applies to Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-102, -103, -
106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 airplanes, certificated in any 
category, serial numbers 002 through 672 inclusive.
    (2) This AD requires revisions to certain operator maintenance 
documents to include new actions (e.g., inspections). Compliance 
with these inspections is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For 
airplanes that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired 
in the areas addressed by these actions, the operator may not be 
able to accomplish the actions described in the revisions. In this 
situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must 
request approval for an alternative method of compliance according 
to paragraph (k)(1) of this AD. The request should include a 
description of changes to the required inspections that will ensure 
the continued operational safety of the airplane.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 24; Electrical 
Power.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of the loss of the fixed 
frequency system, leading to the loss of power to the left and right 
buses and all systems serviced by these buses. We are issuing this 
AD to prevent loss of the fixed frequency system, which could lead 
to loss of a number of the pilot's and co-pilot's flight 
instruments, in addition to other avionics systems.

[[Page 51948]]

(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) Wiring Modifications

    Within 6,000 flight hours or 36 months after the effective date 
of this AD, whichever occurs first: Incorporate the wiring 
modifications specified in and in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-24-87, Revision B, 
dated April 3, 2012.

(h) Airplane Maintenance Program Revision

    Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD: Revise the 
airplane maintenance program by incorporating Task 2420/13, 
Operational Check of Relays K4, K5, K6, and K7 (Post Modsum 
8Q101917), in the applicable temporary revision specified in 
paragraph (h)(1), (h)(2), or (h)(3) of this AD. The initial 
compliance time for Task 2420/13 is within 18,000 flight hours after 
accomplishing the actions specified in paragraph (g) of this AD, or 
30 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later.
    (1) For Model DHC-8-102, -103, and -106 airplanes: de Havilland 
Dash 8 Series 100 Temporary Revision AWL-117, dated April 8, 2011, 
to Section AWL--Systems Maintenance, of Part 2, Airworthiness 
Limitations, of the Bombardier Dash 8 Series 100 Maintenance Program 
Manual, PSM 1-8-7.
    (2) For Model DHC-8-201 and -202 airplanes: de Havilland Dash 8 
Series 200 Temporary Revision AWL 2-48, dated April 8, 2011, to 
Section AWL--Systems Maintenance, of Part 2, Airworthiness 
Limitations, of the Bombardier Dash 8 Series 200 Maintenance Program 
Manual, PSM 1-82-7.
    (3) For Model DHC-8-301, -311, and -315 airplanes: de Havilland 
Dash 8 Series 300 Temporary Revision AWL 3-118, dated April 8, 2011, 
to Section AWL--Systems Maintenance, of Part 2, Airworthiness 
Limitations, of the Bombardier Dash 8 Series 300 Maintenance Program 
Manual, PSM 1-83-7.

(i) No Alternative Actions or Intervals

    After accomplishing the revision required by paragraph (h) of 
this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., inspections) or intervals may 
be used, unless the actions and intervals are approved as an AMOC in 
accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (k)(1) of this 
AD.

(j) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for the actions required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this AD using Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-24-87, 
dated May 26, 2011; or Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-24-87, Revision 
A, dated October 5, 2011.

(k) 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 ATTN: Program Manager, Continuing 
Operational Safety, FAA, New York ACO, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 
410, Westbury, New York 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.

(l) Related Information

    (1) Refer to MCAI Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-2012-09, 
dated February 15, 2012, and the service information specified in 
paragraphs (l)(1)(i) through (l)(1)(iv) of this AD, for related 
information.
    (i) Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-24-87, Revision B, dated April 
3, 2012.
    (ii) de Havilland Dash 8 Series 100 Temporary Revision AWL-117, 
dated April 8, 2011, to Section AWL--Systems Maintenance, of Part 2, 
Airworthiness Limitations, of the Bombardier Dash 8 Series 100 
Maintenance Program Manual, PSM 1-8-7.
    (iii) de Havilland Dash 8 Series 200 Temporary Revision AWL 2-
48, dated April 8, 2011, to Section AWL--Systems Maintenance, of 
Part 2, Airworthiness Limitations, of the Bombardier Dash 8 Series 
200 Maintenance Program Manual, PSM 1-82-7.
    (iv) de Havilland Dash 8 Series 300 Temporary Revision AWL 3-
118, dated April 8, 2011, to Section AWL--Systems Maintenance, of 
Part 2, Airworthiness Limitations, of the Bombardier Dash 8 Series 
300 Maintenance Program Manual, PSM 1-83-7.
    (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, Washington. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 22, 2012.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-21102 Filed 8-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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