16490 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 55 / Wednesday, March 21, 2012 / Proposed Rules 

(i) 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. 

(j) Related Information 

Refer to MCAI Canadian Airworthiness 

Directive CF–2011–29, dated August 2, 2011; 

and the service information identified in 

paragraphs (j)(1) and (j)(2) of this AD; for 

related information. 

(1) Bombardier Service Bulletin 8–32–170, 

dated February 25, 2011. 

(2) Bombardier Service Bulletin 8–32–172, 

dated March 15, 2011. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 9, 

2012. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–6805 Filed 3–20–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0293; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–NM–034–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 CL–600–2C10 

(Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702) 

airplanes, Model CL–600–2D15 

(Regional Jet Series 705) airplanes, and 

Model CL–600–2D24 (Regional Jet 

Series 900) airplanes. This proposed AD 

was prompted by reports of a bleed air 

leak from the high pressure ducts which 

was not immediately detected by the 

bleed leak detection system. This 

proposed AD would require installing 

new sensing elements in the main 

landing gear wheel well and the 

overwing area, protective blankets on 

the upper surface of the wing box and 

fuel tubes, and protective shields on the 

rudder quadrant support-beam in the aft 

equipment compartment. We are 

proposing this AD to prevent an 

undetected bleed air leak which can 

cause loss of rudder control, can lead to 

degradation of structural integrity, and 

could be a potential heat source that can 

lead to fuel being ignited. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by May 7, 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., 400 Coˆte-Vertu Road West, Dorval, 

Que ́bec H4S 1Y9, Canada; telephone 

514–855–5000; fax 514–855–7401; email 

thd.crj@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: 

Cesar Gomez, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe and Mechanical Systems 

Branch, ANE–171, FAA, New York 

Aircraft Certification Office, 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–2012–0293; Directorate Identifier 

2012–NM–034–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–2012–06, 

dated January 26, 2012 (referred to after 

this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe 

condition for the specified products. 

The MCAI states: 

There have been multiple events reported 

where a bleed air leak from the high pressure 

ducts was not immediately detected by the 

Bleed Leak Detection System (BLDS). 

An investigation revealed that if a bleed air 

leak develops due to a cracked or ruptured 

duct, the duct shroud may not channel 

sufficient bleed air to the sensing loop 

elements to enable an automatic shutdown of 

the bleed air system. The inability to detect 

a bleed air leak could result in the rudder 

quadrant bracket, pressure floor, pressure 

floor beam, fuel vent boot or fuel tubes being 

exposed to high temperatures. This could 

potentially lead to the loss of rudder control, 

degrade the structural integrity of primary 

structure or fuel ignition. 

This [Canadian] Airworthiness Directive 

(AD) mandates the installation of newly 

designed sensing elements in the main 

landing gear wheel well and the overwing 

area, protective blankets on the upper surface 

of the wing box and fuel tubes, as well as 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 55 / Wednesday, March 21, 2012 / Proposed Rules 16491 

protective shields on the rudder quadrant 

support-beam in the aft equipment 

compartment. 

You may obtain further information 

by examining the MCAI in the AD 

docket. 

Relevant Service Information 

Bombardier, Inc. has issued the 

service bulletins below. 

• Bombardier Service Bulletin 

670BA–36–014, Revision A, dated 

October 11, 2011. 

• Bombardier Service Bulletin 

670BA–36–016, Revision A, dated 

October 11, 2011. 

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 409 products of U.S. 

registry. We also estimate that it would 

take about 78 work-hours per product to 

comply with the basic requirements of 

this proposed AD. The average labor 

rate is $85 per work-hour. Required 

parts would cost about $21,353 per 

product. Where the service information 

lists required parts costs that are 

covered under warranty, we have 

assumed that there will be no charge for 

these parts. As we do not control 

warranty coverage for affected parties, 

some parties may incur costs higher 

than estimated here. Based on these 

figures, we estimate the cost of the 

proposed AD on U.S. operators to be 

$11,445,047, or $27,983 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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new AD: 

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

0293; Directorate Identifier 2012–NM– 

034–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by May 7, 

2012. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to the airplanes specified 

in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD, 

certificated in any category. 

(1) Bombardier, Inc. Model CL–600–2C10 

(Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702) 

airplanes, serial numbers 10003 through 

10331 inclusive. 

(2) Bombardier, Inc. Model CL–600–2D15 

(Regional Jet Series 705) and CL–600–2D24 

(Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes, serial 

numbers 15001 through 15279 inclusive. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 36: Pneumatic. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by reports of a 

bleed air leak from the high pressure ducts 

which was not immediately detected by the 

bleed leak detection system. We are issuing 

this AD to prevent an undetected bleed air 

leak which can cause loss of rudder control, 

can lead to degradation of structural 

integrity, and could be a potential heat 

source that can lead to fuel being ignited. 

(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) Install Protective Shields 

For Model CL–600–2C10 airplanes having 

serial numbers 10003 through 10326 

inclusive, and Model CL–600–2D15 and CL– 

600–2D24 airplanes having serial numbers 

15001 through 15267 inclusive: Within 6,600 

flight hours or 24 months after the effective 

date of this AD, whichever occurs first, 

install protective shields on the rudder 

quadrant support-beam in the aft equipment 

compartment, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier 

Service Bulletin 670BA–36–014, Revision A, 

dated October 11, 2011. 

(h) Install Protective Blankets and Sensing 

Elements 

For Model CL–600–2C10 airplanes having 

serial numbers 10003 through 10331 

inclusive and Models CL–600–2D15 and CL– 

600–2D24 airplanes having serial numbers 

15001 through 15279 inclusive: Within 6,600 

flight hours or 24 months after the effective 

date of this AD, whichever occurs first, 

install protective blankets on the upper 

surface of the wing box and fuel components, 

and install new sensing elements in the 

wheel well of the main landing gear and the 

overwing area, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier 

Service Bulletin 670BA–36–016, Revision A, 

dated October 11, 2011. 

(i) Credit for Previous Actions 

This paragraph provides credit for 

installations, as required by paragraphs (g) 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
16492 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 55 / Wednesday, March 21, 2012 / Proposed Rules 

and (h) of this AD, if those actions were done 

before the effective date of this AD using 

Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA–36–014 

or 670BA–36–016, both dated April 7, 2011. 

(j) 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, 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. 

(k) Related Information 

Refer to MCAI Canadian Airworthiness 

Directive CF–2012–06, dated January 26, 

2012; and the service bulletins specified in 

paragraphs (k)(1) and (k)(2) of this AD; for 

related information. 

(1) Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA– 

36–014, Revision A, dated October 11, 2011. 

(2) Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA– 

36–016, Revision A, dated October 11, 2011. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 

12, 2012. 

John P. Piccola, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–6769 Filed 3–20–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0291; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–168–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

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 

Airbus Model A318–112, and –121; 

A319–111, –112, –115, –132, and –133; 

A320–214, –232, and –233; and A321– 

211, –212, –213, and –231 airplanes. 

This proposed AD was prompted by 

reports that some nuts installed on the 

wing, including on primary structural 

elements, were found cracked. This 

proposed AD would require inspecting 

to determine if certain nuts are installed 

or cracked, and replacing the affected 

nuts if necessary. We are proposing this 

AD to detect and correct missing and 

cracked nuts, which could result in the 

structural integrity of the airplane wings 

being impaired. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by May 7, 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 Airbus, 

Airworthiness Office—EAS, 1 Rond 

Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac 

Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 

96; fax +33 5 61 93 44 51; email: 

account.airworth-eas@airbus.com; 

Internet http://www.airbus.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: 

Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 227–1405; fax (425) 227–1149. 

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–2012–0291; Directorate Identifier 

2011–NM–168–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 European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, has issued EASA 

Airworthiness Directive 2011–0121R1, 

dated July 13, 2011 (referred to after this 

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

condition for the specified products. 

The MCAI states: 

During structural part assembly in Airbus 

production line, some [wing] nuts Part 

Number (P/N) ASNA2531–4 were found 

cracked. Investigations were performed to 

determine the batches of the affected nuts 

and had revealed that these nuts have been 

installed in production on the fuel tank area 

of aeroplanes listed in the applicability 

section of this AD. 

Static, fatigue and corrosion tests were 

performed, which demonstrated that no 

immediate maintenance action is necessary. 

However, a large number of these nuts are 

fitted on primary structural elements, which 

could have long-term consequences. 

This condition, if not corrected, could 

impair the structural integrity of the affected 

aeroplanes. 

For the reasons described above, this 

[EASA] AD requires a detailed inspection of 

the affected nuts [for cracking and to 

determine if nuts are installed], associated 

corrective actions, depending on findings, 

and replacement of the affected P/N 

ASNA2531–4 nuts with new ones, having the 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS