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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 13, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 49240-49242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19529]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0689; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-225-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-8-400 series airplanes. This 
proposed AD was prompted by a report that a batch of main landing gear 
(MLG) door actuators with a certain part number having certain serial 
numbers could be assembled with the scraper installed backward. This 
proposed AD would require repetitive functional checks of the MLG 
alternate extension system (AES) and eventual replacement of certain 
MLG door actuators with actuators that have either been reworked or do 
not have certain serial numbers. We are proposing this AD to prevent 
incorrectly installed scrapers, which could hinder the operation of the 
MLG AES, and result in failure of the MLG AES on one side, and 
consequent unsafe asymmetrical landing configuration.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 27, 
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 MCAI, 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: Luke Walker, 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 516-228-7363; 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-2013-0689; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-225-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

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation 
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-
2012-28R1, dated November 26, 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:

    It was discovered that a batch of [main landing gear] MLG door 
actuators, [part number] P/N 46830-7, may be assembled with the 
scraper installed backwards. This condition, if not corrected, could 
result in increased actuator friction, which could hinder operation 
of the MLG alternate extension system (AES). In the case of a 
failure of the primary MLG extension system, the failure of the MLG 
AES on one side will lead to an unsafe asymmetrical landing 
configuration.
    This [Canadian] AD mandates the repetitive functional check of 
the AES until replacement of the affected MLG door actuators.

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

Relevant Service Information

    Bombardier, Inc. has issued Service Bulletin 84-32-108, Revision A, 
dated October 1, 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

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 2 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

[[Page 49241]]

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Actions                       Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Records check, functional check,      17 work-hours x $85 per            $128           $1,573           $3,146
 replacement of actuators.             hour = $1,445.
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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.
    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 proposed 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

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Bombardier, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2013-0689; Directorate Identifier 
2012-NM-225-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by September 27, 2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400, -401, 
and -402 airplanes, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 32, Landing gear.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report that a batch of main landing 
gear (MLG) door actuators with a certain part number having certain 
serial numbers could be assembled with the scraper installed 
backward. We are issuing this AD to prevent incorrectly installed 
scrapers, which could hinder the operation of the MLG alternate 
extension system (AES), and result in failure of the MLG AES on one 
side, and consequent unsafe asymmetrical landing configuration.

(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) Inspection To Determine Part Number of MLG Door Actuators

    Within 50 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, 
inspect the MLG door actuators to determine whether part number (P/
N) 46830-7 is installed. A review of airplane maintenance records is 
acceptable in lieu of this inspection if the part number of the MLG 
door actuator can be conclusively determined from that review.

(h) Functional Check of the MLG AES

    If during the inspection to determine the part number of the MLG 
actuators as required by paragraph (g) of this AD, any MLG door 
actuator having P/N 46830-7 is identified or the P/N is unable to be 
determined: At the applicable time specified in paragraph (h)(1) or 
(h)(2) of this AD, do a functional check of the MLG AES, in 
accordance with Part A of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-108, Revision A, dated October 1, 
2012. Repeat the functional check thereafter at intervals not to 
exceed 50 flight cycles until the actions required by paragraph (i) 
of this AD are done. If the force applied during the functional 
check exceeds 67 pound-force (lbf), before further flight, replace 
the affected actuator, in accordance with Part B of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-
108, Revision A, dated October 1, 2012.
    (1) For airplanes with MLG door actuators that have accumulated 
more than 950 total flight hours as of the effective date of this 
AD: Within 50 flight hours after the effective date of this AD.
    (2) For airplanes with MLG door actuators that have accumulated 
950 total flight hours or less as of the effective date of this AD: 
Within 1,000 flight hours after the effective date of this AD.

(i) Terminating Action for Repetitive Functional Checks

    At the earlier of the times specified in paragraphs (i)(1) and 
(i)(2) of this AD: Replace all MLG door actuators having P/N 46830-7 
and a serial number included in paragraph 1.A. ``Effectivity,'' of 
Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-108, Revision A, dated October 1, 
2012, with MLG door actuators reworked in accordance with Part B of 
the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-
32-108, Revision A, dated October 1, 2012, or with a MLG door 
actuator having P/N 46830-7 and a serial number that is not included 
in section 1.A. ``Effectivity,'' of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-
32-108, Revision A, dated October 1, 2012. Installation of a MLG 
door actuator having P/N 16830-7 with ``Mod Status 32-106'' on the 
identification plate is acceptable for compliance with the 
requirements of this paragraph.
    (1) Prior to the accumulation of 3,000 total flight hours on any 
MLG door actuator, or within 50 flight hours after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs later.
    (2) Within 12 months or 2,000 flight hours after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs first.

[[Page 49242]]

(j) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for actions required by paragraph 
(i) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective 
date of this AD using Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-108, dated 
September 6, 2012, which is not incorporated by reference in this 
AD.

(k) Parts Installation Limitations

    As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a MLG 
door actuator having P/N 16830-7, with a serial number identified in 
paragraph 1.A. ``Effectivity,'' of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-
32-108, Revision A, dated October 1, 2012, unless ``Mod Status 32-
106'' is on the identification plate.

(l) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, New 
York 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.

(m) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-2012-28R1, dated November 
26, 2012, for related information. The MCAI can be found in the AD 
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    (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 1, 2013.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.

[FR Doc. 2013-19529 Filed 8-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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