This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of

new books are listed in the first FEDERAL

REGISTER issue of each week.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

47359

Vol. 62, No. 174

Tuesday, September 9, 1997

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96–NM–271–AD; Amendment

39–10120; AD 97–18–10]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier

Model CL–600–2B19 (Regional Jet

Series 100) Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to certain Bombardier Model

CL–600–2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100)

airplanes that requires a one-time

inspection of the direct current (DC)

power distribution system for reliability,

and correction or repair, of any fuse

holders and associated electrical wiring,

if necessary. This amendment is

prompted by a report indicating that a

loose fuse holder caused the DC power

distribution system to short circuit on

one of the affected airplanes, which

resulted in a burnt wire between circuit

breaker panel CBP–2 and junction box

JB7. The actions specified by this AD

are intended to prevent such short

circuiting, which could result in a burnt

wire, smoke entering the cockpit area,

and consequent passenger injury due to

smoke inhalation.

DATES: Effective October 14, 1997.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of October 14,

1997.

ADDRESSES: The service information

referenced in this AD may be obtained

from Bombardier, Inc., Canadair

Aerospace Group, P.O. Box 6087,

Station Centre-ville, Quebec H3C 3G9,

Canada. This information may be

examined at the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington; or at the FAA, New York

Aircraft Certification Office, Engine and

Propeller Directorate, 10 Fifth Street,

Third Floor, Valley Stream, New York

or at the Office of the Federal Register,

800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite

700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Balram Rambrich, Aerospace Engineer,

Systems and Equipment Branch, ANE–

172, FAA, Engine and Propeller

Directorate, New York Aircraft

Certification Office, 10 Fifth Street,

Third Floor, Valley Stream, New York

11581; telephone (516) 256–7507; fax

(516) 568–2716.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A

proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to

include an airworthiness directive (AD)

that is applicable to certain Bombardier

Model CL–600–2B19 (Regional Jet

Series 100) airplanes was published in

the Federal Register on June 4, 1997 (62

FR 30481). That action proposed to

require a one-time inspection of the

direct current (DC) power distribution

system for reliability, and correction or

repair, of any fuse holders and

associated electrical wiring, if

necessary.

No comments were submitted in

response to the proposal or the FAA’s

determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

The FAA has determined that air

safety and the public interest require the

adoption of this rule as proposed.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 41

Bombardier Model CL–600–2B19

(Regional Jet Series 100) airplanes of

U.S. registry will be affected by this AD,

that it will take approximately 14 work

hours per airplane to accomplish the

required actions, and that the average

labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based

on these figures, the cost impact of the

AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be

$34,440, or $840 per airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed

above is based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the requirements of this AD action, and

that no operator would accomplish

those actions in the future if this AD

were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations adopted herein will

not have substantial direct effects 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. Therefore, in

accordance with Executive Order 12612,

it is determined that this final rule does

not have sufficient federalism

implications to warrant the preparation

of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this action (1) is not a

‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under

Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a

‘‘significant rule’’ under DOT

Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44

FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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. A final evaluation has

been prepared for this action and it is

contained in the Rules Docket. A copy

of it may be obtained from the Rules

Docket at the location provided under

the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Incorporation by reference,

Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration amends part 39 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding the following new airworthiness

directive:

97–18–10 Bombardier, Inc. (Formerly

Canadair): Amendment 39–10120.

Docket 96–NM–271–AD.

Applicability: Model CL–600–2B19

(Regional Jet Series 100) airplanes, serial
47360 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 174 / Tuesday, September 9, 1997 / Rules and Regulations

numbers 7003 through 7105 inclusive;

certificated in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

modified, altered, or repaired in the area

subject to the requirements of this AD. For

airplanes that have been modified, altered, or

repaired so that the performance of the

requirements of this AD is affected, the

owner/operator must request approval for an

alternative method of compliance in

accordance with paragraph (b) of this AD.

The request should include an assessment of

the effect of the modification, alteration, or

repair on the unsafe condition addressed by

this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent the direct current (DC) power

distribution system from short circuiting,

which could result in a burnt wire, smoke

entering the cockpit area, and consequent

passenger injury due to smoke inhalation,

accomplish the following:

(a) Within 600 hours time-in-service after

the effective date of this AD, perform a onetime inspection of the DC power distribution

system for reliability in accordance with

Canadair Regional Jet Alert Service Bulletin

S.B. A601R–24–056, Revision ‘A,’ dated July

9, 1996. Prior to further flight, correct or

repair any discrepant fuse holders and

associated electrical wiring, in accordance

with the service bulletin.

(b) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager, New York

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA,

Engine and Propeller Directorate. Operators

shall submit their requests through an

appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, New York ACO.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the New York ACO.

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to

a location where the requirements of this AD

can be accomplished.

(d) The inspection shall be done in

accordance with Canadair Regional Jet Alert

Service Bulletin S.B. A601R–24–056,

Revision ‘A,’ dated July 9, 1996. This

incorporation by reference was approved by

the Director of the Federal Register in

accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR

part 51. Copies may be obtained from

Bombardier, Inc., Canadair Aerospace Group,

P.O. Box 6087, Station Centre-ville, Quebec

H3C 3G9, Canada. Copies may be inspected

at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington; or at the FAA, Engine and

Propeller Directorate, New York Aircraft

Certification Office, 10 Fifth Street, Third

Floor, Valley Stream, New York; or at the

Office of the Federal Register, 800 North

Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington,

DC.

(e) This amendment becomes effective on

October 14, 1997.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on August

28, 1997.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–23465 Filed 9–8–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–NM–221–AD; Amendment

39–10124; AD 97–19–04]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Empresa

Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.

(EMBRAER) Model EMB–145 Series

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for

comments.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD) that is

applicable to certain EMBRAER Model

EMB–145 series airplanes. This action

requires repetitive visual inspections to

detect cracks in the firewall of the

auxiliary power unit (APU), and repair,

if necessary. This AD also requires

installation of a visco-elastic damper

blanket on the firewall, which

constitutes terminating action for the

repetitive inspection requirements. This

amendment is prompted by reports

indicating that cracks were found in the

firewall of the APU due to vibration of

the firewall. The actions specified in

this AD are intended to prevent such

cracking, which could result in reduced

structural integrity of the fuselage and

empennage in the event that a fire

penetrates through the firewall of the

APU.

DATES: Effective September 24, 1997.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of September

24, 1997.

Comments for inclusion in the Rules

Docket must be received on or before

October 9, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–103,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–NM–

221–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

The service information referenced in

this AD may be obtained from Empresa

Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.

(EMBRAER), P.O. Box 343—CEP 12.225,

Sao Jose dos Campos—SP, Brazil. This

information may be examined at the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington; or at the FAA, Small

Airplane Directorate, Atlanta Aircraft

Certification Office, 1895 Phoenix

Boulevard, Suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia;

or at the Office of the Federal Register,

800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite

700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Curtis Jackson, Aerospace Engineer,

Airframe and Propulsion Branch, ACE–

117A, the FAA, Small Airplane

Directorate, Atlanta Aircraft

Certification Office, 1895 Phoenix

Boulevard, Suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia

30349; telephone (770) 703–6083; fax

(770) 703–6097.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Departamento de Aviacao Civil (DAC),

which is the airworthiness authority for

Brazil, recently notified the FAA that an

unsafe condition may exist on certain

EMBRAER Model EMB–145 series

airplanes. The CTA advises that it has

received reports indicating that, during

a routine inspection, cracks were found

in the firewall of the auxiliary power

unit (APU). In one incident, the crack

was 24 inches in length. The cause of

such cracking has been attributed to

vibration of the firewall in the location

where the recessed area of the shell is

spot welded to the firewall. Cracking in

the firewall of the APU, if not corrected,

could result in reduced structural

integrity of the fuselage and empennage

in the event that a fire penetrates

through the firewall of the APU.

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information

EMBRAER has issued Service Bulletin

145–53–0004, dated July 28, 1997,

which describes procedures for

repetitive visual inspections to detect

cracks in the firewall of the APU. The

service bulletin also describes

procedures for installation of a viscoelastic damper blanket on the firewall,

which eliminates the need for the

repetitive inspections. The DAC issued

Brazilian airworthiness directive NPR/

AD–97–145–02, dated July 30, 1997, in

order to assure the continued

airworthiness of these airplanes in

Brazil.

FAA’s Conclusions

This airplane model is manufactured

in Brazil and is type certificated for