13298 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 49 / Monday, March 14, 2016 / Proposed Rules 

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

Victor M. McCree, 

Executive Director of Operations. 

[FR Doc. 2016–05709 Filed 3–11–16; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2016–4224; Directorate 

Identifier 2015–NM–170–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 adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC–8–400 

airplanes. This proposed AD was 

prompted by one in-service report of a 

cracked and corroded barrel nut found 

at the mid-spar location of the 

horizontal stabilizer to vertical stabilizer 

attachment joint. There have also been 

two other reports of corroded barrel nuts 

found at mid-spar locations. This 

proposed AD would require repetitive 

detailed inspections of each barrel nut 

and cradle, a check of the bolt torque of 

any preload indicating washer (PLI), 

and corrective action if necessary. We 

are proposing this AD to detect and 

correct cracked and corroded barrel 

nuts. This condition could compromise 

the structural integrity of the vertical 

stabilizer attachment joints, which 

could lead to loss of control of the 

airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by April 28, 2016. 

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: 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 view this 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 by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2016– 

4224; or in person at the Docket 

Management Facility 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: Aziz 

Ahmed, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe 

and Mechanical Systems Branch, ANE– 

171, FAA, New York Aircraft 

Certification Office (ACO), 1600 Stewart 

Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, N Y 

11590; telephone 516–228–7329; 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–2016–4224; Directorate Identifier 

2015–NM–170–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–2015–13, 

dated June 25, 2015 (referred to after 

this as the Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information, or ‘‘the 

MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe condition 

for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model 

DHC–8–400 airplanes. The MCAI states: 

There has been one in-service report of a 

cracked and corroded barrel nut, part number 

(P/N) DSC228–12, found at the mid-spar 

location of the horizontal stabilizer to vertical 

stabilizer attachment joint. There have also 

been two other reports of corroded barrel 

nuts found at mid-spar locations. 

Preliminary investigation determined that 

the cracking is initiated by corrosion. The 

corrosion may have been caused by 

inadequate cadmium plating on the barrel 

nut. Failure of the barrel nuts could 

compromise the structural integrity of the 

joint and could lead to loss of control of the 

aeroplane. 

This [Canadian] AD mandates initial and 

repetitive inspections of the barrel nuts [and 

cradles for cracks and corrosion] at each 

horizontal stabilizer to vertical stabilizer 

attachment joints. 

Required actions include a bolt 

preload check of any PLI washers and 

applicable corrective actions (retorque 

of the bolts and replacement of the 

barrel nut), a detailed inspection of 

cracked or broken barrel nuts for 

damaged bores of the fittings, 

replacement of barrel nuts, and repair of 

damage and corrosion. 

You may examine the MCAI in the 

AD docket on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2016– 

4224. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

Bombardier, Inc. has issued Alert 

Service Bulletin A84–55–04, Revision 

A, dated June 2, 2015. The service 

information describes procedures for a 

detailed inspection of the barrel nuts 

and cradles for cracks and corrosion, a 

bolt preload check of any PLI washers 

and applicable corrective actions, a 

detailed inspection for corrosion and 

damage of the bores of the fittings, 

replacement of the barrel nuts, and 

repair of damage and corrosion. 

Bombardier has issued Bombardier 

Repair Drawing (RD) 8/4–55–1143, Issue 

1, dated May 21, 2015. The service 

information describes procedures for 

repairing corrosion and damage of the 

bore of the fitting. 

This service information is reasonably 

available because the interested parties 

have access to it through their normal 

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 49 / Monday, March 14, 2016 / Proposed Rules 13299 

course of business or by the means 

identified in the ADDRESSES section. 

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 76 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We also estimate that it would take 

about 6 work-hours per product to 

comply with the basic requirements of 

this proposed AD and 1 work-hour per 

product for reporting. The average labor 

rate is $85 per work-hour. Required 

parts would cost about $0 per product. 

Based on these figures, we estimate the 

cost of this proposed AD on U.S. 

operators to be $45,220, or $595 per 

product. 

In addition, we estimate that any 

necessary follow-on actions would take 

about 4 work-hours, and require parts 

costing $8,881, for a cost of $9,221 per 

product. We have no way of 

determining the number of aircraft that 

might need this action. 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

A federal agency may not conduct or 

sponsor, and a person is not required to 

respond to, nor shall a person be subject 

to penalty for failure to comply with a 

collection of information subject to the 

requirements of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act unless that collection of 

information displays a current valid 

OMB control number. The control 

number for the collection of information 

required by this proposed AD is 2120– 

0056. The paperwork cost associated 

with this proposed AD has been 

detailed in the Costs of Compliance 

section of this document and includes 

time for reviewing instructions, as well 

as completing and reviewing the 

collection of information. Therefore, all 

reporting associated with this proposed 

AD is mandatory. Comments concerning 

the accuracy of this burden and 

suggestions for reducing the burden 

should be directed to the FAA at 800 

Independence Ave. SW., Washington, 

DC 20591, ATTN: Information 

Collection Clearance Officer, AES–200. 

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. 

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 adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

Bombardier, Inc.: Docket No. FAA–2016– 

4224; Directorate Identifier 2015–NM– 

170–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by April 28, 

2016. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Bombardier, Inc. Model 

DHC–8–400 airplanes, certificated in any 

category, serial numbers 4001 and 

subsequent. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 55, Stablizers. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by one in-service 

report of a cracked and corroded barrel nut, 

part number DSC228–12, found at the midspar location of the horizontal stabilizer to 

vertical stabilizer attachment joint. There 

have also been two other reports of corroded 

barrel nuts found at mid-spar locations. We 

are issuing this AD to detect and correct 

cracked and corroded barrel nuts. This 

condition could compromise the structural 

integrity of the vertical stabilizer attachment 

joints, which could lead to loss of control of 

the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Detailed Inspection of Barrel Nuts for 

Cracks and Corrosion 

(1) For airplanes that have accumulated 

5,400 flight hours or more, or have been in 

service 32 months or more since the date of 

issuance of the original certificate of 

airworthiness or the date of issuance of the 

original export certificate of airworthiness as 

of the effective date of this AD: Within 600 

flight hours or 4 months, whichever occurs 

first, after the effective date of this AD, do a 

detailed visual inspection for signs of cracks 

and corrosion of the barrel nut and cradle, in 

accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Bombardier Alert Service 

Bulletin A84–55–04, Revision A, dated June 

2, 2015. 

(2) For airplanes that have less than 5,400 

flight hours, and have been in-service for less 

than 32 months since the date of issuance of 

the original certificate of airworthiness or the 

date of issuance of the original export 

certificate of airworthiness as of the effective 

date of this AD: Before the accumulation of 

6,000 total flight hours or 36 months since 

the date of issuance of the original certificate 

of airworthiness or the date of issuance of the 

original export certificate of airworthiness, 

whichever occurs first, do a detailed visual 

inspection of the barrel nut for signs of cracks 

and corrosion of the barrel nut and cradle, in 

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13300 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 49 / Monday, March 14, 2016 / Proposed Rules 

accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Bombardier Alert Service 

Bulletin A84–55–04, Revision A, dated June 

2, 2015. 

(h) Corrective Actions, Detailed Inspection, 

and Repetitive Inspections 

Depending on the findings of any 

inspection required by paragraphs (g) and (j) 

of this AD, do the applicable actions in 

paragraphs (h)(1), (h)(2), and (h)(3) of this 

AD. 

(1) If any barrel nut or cradle is found 

cracked or broken, before further flight, 

replace the barrel nut and associated 

hardware, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier 

Alert Service Bulletin A84–55–04, Revision 

A, dated June 2, 2015. 

(i) Concurrently with the replacement of 

any barrel nut, do a detailed inspection for 

corrosion and damage of the bore of the 

fitting, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier 

Alert Service Bulletin A84–55–04, Revision 

A, dated June 2, 2015, and, before further 

flight, repair all corrosion and damage, in 

accordance with Bombardier Repair Drawing 

(RD) RD 8/4–55–1143, Issue 1, dated May 21, 

2015. If the bore of the fitting cannot be 

repaired in accordance with Bombardier RD 

8/4–55–1143, Issue 1, dated May 21, 2015, 

repair before further flight using a method 

approved by the Manager, New York ACO, 

ANE–170, FAA; or Transport Canada Civil 

Aviation (TCCA); or Bombardier, Inc.’s TCCA 

Design Approval Organization (DAO). 

(ii) Within 600 flight hours or 4 months, 

whichever occurs first, after the replacement 

of a cracked barrel nut, replace the remaining 

barrel nuts and their associated hardware at 

the horizontal stabilizer to vertical stabilizer 

attachment joints, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier 

Alert Service Bulletin A84–55–04, Revision 

A, dated June 2, 2015. 

(2) If any corrosion is found on any barrel 

nut on the front or rear-spar joints, before 

further flight, replace the barrel nut using a 

method approved by the Manager, New York 

ACO, ANE–170, FAA; or TCCA; or 

Bombardier, Inc.’s TCCA DAO. 

(3) If any corrosion above level 1, as 

defined in Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin 

A84–55–04, Revision A, dated June 2, 2015, 

is found on a barrel nut at the mid-spar joint, 

before further flight, replace the barrel nut 

using a method approved by the Manager, 

New York ACO, ANE–170, FAA; or TCCA; or 

Bombardier, Inc.’s TCCA DAO. 

(4) If all corrosion found is at level 1 or 

below, as defined in Bombardier Service 

Bulletin A84–55–04, Revision A, dated June 

2, 2015, on a barrel nut at the mid-spar joint, 

repeat the inspection specified in paragraph 

(g) of this AD at intervals not to exceed 600 

flight hours or 4 months, whichever occurs 

first, until completion of the actions required 

by paragraph (k) of this AD. 

(i) Preload Indicating (PLI) Washers Check 

For airplanes with PLI washers installed at 

the front and rear spar joints, before further 

flight after accomplishing any inspection 

required by (g) of this AD and all applicable 

corrective actions required by paragraph (h) 

of this AD, check the bolt preload, and do all 

applicable corrective actions, in accordance 

with the Accomplishment Instructions of 

Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A84–55– 

04, Revision A, dated June 2, 2015. Do all 

applicable corrective actions before further 

flight. 

(j) Repetitive Inspection Interval 

Repeat the inspection and preload check 

required by paragraphs (g) and (i) of this AD 

at intervals not to exceed 3,600 flight hours 

or 18 months, whichever occurs first, except 

as provided by paragraph (k) of this AD. 

(k) Optional Barrel Nut Replacement 

Inspection and replacement of all barrel 

nuts at the horizontal stabilizer to vertical 

stabilizer attachment joints, in accordance 

with the Accomplishment Instructions of 

Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A84–55– 

04, Revision A, dated June 2, 2015, extends 

the next inspection required by paragraph (j) 

of this AD to within 6,000 flight hours or 36 

months, whichever occurs first, after 

accomplishing the replacement. 

(l) Reporting Requirements 

At the applicable time specified in 

paragraph (l)(1) or (l)(2) of this AD, submit 

a report of the findings (both positive and 

negative) of each inspection required by this 

AD to Technical Help Desk—Qseries, 

telephone: 416–375–4000, fax: 416–375– 

4539, email: thd.qseries@

aero.bombardier.com, using the inspection 

form in Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin 

A84–55–04, Revision A, dated June 2, 2015. 

(1) If the inspection was done on or after 

the effective date of this AD: Submit the 

report within 30 days after the inspection. 

(2) If the inspection was done before the 

effective date of this AD: Submit the report 

within 30 days after the effective date of this 

AD. 

(m) Credit for Previous Actions 

This paragraph provides credit for actions 

required by paragraph (g) of this AD, if those 

actions were performed before the effective 

date of this AD using Bombardier Alert 

Service Bulletin A84–55–04, dated May 21, 

2015, which is not incorporated by reference 

in this AD. 

(n) 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, 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) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any 

requirement in this AD to obtain corrective 

actions from a manufacturer, the action must 

be accomplished using a method approved 

by the Manager, New York ACO, ANE–170, 

FAA; or TCCA; or Bombardier, Inc.’s TCCA 

DAO. If approved by the DAO, the approval 

must include the DAO-authorized signature. 

(3) Reporting Requirements: A federal 

agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a 

person is not required to respond to, nor 

shall a person be subject to a penalty for 

failure to comply with a collection of 

information subject to the requirements of 

the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that 

collection of information displays a current 

valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 

Control Number for this information 

collection is 2120–0056. Public reporting for 

this collection of information is estimated to 

be approximately 5 minutes per response, 

including the time for reviewing instructions, 

completing and reviewing the collection of 

information. All responses to this collection 

of information are mandatory. Comments 

concerning the accuracy of this burden and 

suggestions for reducing the burden should 

be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence 

Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 

Information Collection Clearance Officer, 

AES–200. 

(o) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) Canadian 

Airworthiness Directive CF–2015–13, dated 

June 25, 2015, for related information. This 

MCAI may be found in the AD docket on the 

Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. FAA– 

2016–4224. 

(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 view this 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 March 3, 

2016. 

Michael Kaszycki, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2016–05607 Filed 3–11–16; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

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