Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 32 / Thursday, February 15, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 11713 

loans), an applicant business concern 

must satisfy two criteria: 

* * * * * 

(b) For 7(a) Business Loans and 

Development Company programs, an 

applicant business concern must meet 

one of the following standards: 

* * * * * 

(2) Including its affiliates, tangible net 

worth not in excess of $20 million, and 

average net income after Federal income 

taxes (excluding any carry over losses) 

for the preceding two completed fiscal 

years not in excess of $6.5 million. 

* * * 

* * * * * 

(e) The applicable size standards for 

purposes of SBA’s financial assistance 

programs, excluding the Surety Bond 

Guarantee assistance program, are 

increased by 25 percent whenever the 

applicant agrees to use all of the 

financial assistance within a labor 

surplus area. The U.S. Department of 

Labor (DOL) issues the Labor Surplus 

Area (LSA) list on a fiscal year basis on 

its website at www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/ 

lsa. 

* * * * * 

Isabella Casillas Guzman, 

Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2024–02776 Filed 2–14–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8026–09–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2023–0933; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2022–00554–T; Amendment 

39–22666; AD 2024–02–02] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; De Havilland 

Aircraft of Canada Limited (Type 

Certificate Previously Held by 

Bombardier, Inc.) Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited 

Model DHC–8–401 and –402 airplanes. 

This AD was prompted by reports that 

the saddle washer (radius filler) for the 

front and rear spar joints may have been 

incorrectly manufactured for several 

years. This AD requires inspecting the 

horizontal stabilizer to vertical joint for 

gaps and bending of the saddle washer 

and adjacent washers, and replacing 

parts if necessary. The FAA is issuing 

this AD to address the unsafe condition 

on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective March 21, 

2024. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of March 21, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: 

AD Docket: You may examine the AD 

docket at regulations.gov under Docket 

No. FAA–2023–0933; or in person at 

Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 

5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this final rule, the mandatory 

continuing airworthiness information 

(MCAI), any comments received, and 

other information. The address for 

Docket Operations is U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

Material Incorporated by Reference: 

• For service information identified 

in this final rule, contact De Havilland 

Aircraft of Canada Limited, Dash 8 

Series Customer Response Centre, 5800 

Explorer Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, 

L4W 5K9, Canada; telephone 855–310– 

1013 or 647–277–5820; email thd@

dehavilland.com; website 

dehavilland.com. 

• You may view this service 

information at the FAA, Airworthiness 

Products Section, Operational Safety 

Branch, 2200 South 216th Street, Des 

Moines, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call 206–231–3195. It is also available at 

regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA– 

2023–0933. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Yaser Osman, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 

Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516– 

228–7300; email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@

faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to certain De Havilland Aircraft of 

Canada Limited Model DHC–8–401 and 

–402 airplanes. The NPRM published in 

the Federal Register on April 19, 2023 

(88 FR 24144). The NPRM was 

prompted by AD CF–2022–21, dated 

April 21, 2022, issued by Transport 

Canada, which is the aviation authority 

for Canada (referred to after this as the 

MCAI). The MCAI states that certain 

saddle washers for the front and rear 

spar joint may have been incorrectly 

manufactured for several years. Nonconforming saddle washers could 

potentially become deformed when 

installed, and lead to gaps at the 

horizontal stabilizer to vertical stabilizer 

joint, that would result in reduction of 

the pre-load at the joint. 

In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to 

require inspecting the horizontal 

stabilizer to vertical joint for gaps and 

bending of the saddle washer and 

adjacent washers, and replacing parts if 

necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD 

to address gapping and bending of the 

saddle washer that could have the 

potential to reduce the life of the bolt, 

which in turn could affect the structural 

integrity of the horizontal stabilizer to 

vertical stabilizer joint. 

You may examine the MCAI in the 

AD docket at regulations.gov under 

Docket No. FAA–2023–0933. 

Discussion of Final Airworthiness 

Directive 

Comments 

The FAA received a comment from 

the Air Line Pilots Association, 

International (ALPA). ALPA supported 

the NPRM without change. 

The FAA received additional 

comments from De Havilland Aircraft of 

Canada Limited. The following presents 

the comments received on the NPRM 

and the FAA’s response to each 

comment. 

Request To Refer to New Service 

Information 

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada 

Limited requested that the FAA revise 

the proposed AD to refer to De 

Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited 

Service Bulletin 84–55–12, Revision B, 

dated April 20, 2023. De Havilland 

Aircraft of Canada Limited noted that 

the service information had been 

updated since the NPRM was released. 

The FAA agrees with the request. De 

Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited 

Service Bulletin 84–55–12, Revision B, 

dated April 20, 2023, provides clarity on 

service information that may be used to 

do rework if there are gaps in the new 

radius fillers (saddle washers), and 

specifies an additional radius filler part 

number. The FAA has revised this AD 

to refer to De Havilland Aircraft of 

Canada Limited Service Bulletin 84–55– 

12, Revision B, dated April 20, 2023. 

The FAA has also revised paragraph (i) 

of this AD to provide credit for De 

Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited 

Service Bulletin 84–55–12, Revision A, 

dated February 16, 2022. 

Request To Revise Corrective Actions 

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada 

Limited requested that the FAA revise 

paragraph (h) of the proposed AD. The 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
11714 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 32 / Thursday, February 15, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 

commenter stated that De Havilland 

Aircraft of Canada Limited Service 

Bulletin 84–55–12, Revision B, dated 

April 20, 2023, includes instructions for 

reworking the new radius fillers that 

exhibit fouling conditions (gapping), 

and that the proposed AD should be 

amended to explain this. 

The FAA agrees to clarify. Paragraph 

(h) of this AD requires corrective actions 

(parts replacements) in accordance with 

Section 3.B., Part B, of the 

Accomplishment Instructions of De 

Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited 

Service Bulletin 84–55–12, Revision B, 

dated April 20, 2023. The rework the 

commenter mentioned is part of Section 

3.B., Part B, and is specified as part of 

the corrective actions if gapping is 

found after replacement of the radius 

filler. Therefore, that step is included as 

part of the requirements of paragraph (h) 

of this AD. 

Request To Correct the Number of U.S. 

Registered Airplanes 

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada 

Limited requested that the FAA revise 

the cost of compliance section to correct 

the number of affected airplanes. The 

commenter stated that the number of 

aircraft on the U.S. registry is 49, not 

400 as stated in the NPRM. 

The FAA agrees that the number of 

U.S. registered airplanes is less than that 

specified in the NPRM. After reviewing 

the FAA registry, the FAA has 

determined the correct number of 

affected airplanes is 54. The FAA has 

revised the Costs of Compliance section 

accordingly. 

Conclusion 

This product has been approved by 

the aviation authority of another 

country and is approved for operation in 

the United States. Pursuant to the FAA’s 

bilateral agreement with this State of 

Design Authority, it has notified the 

FAA of the unsafe condition described 

in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA 

reviewed the relevant data, considered 

the comments received, and determined 

that air safety requires adopting this AD 

as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is 

issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on this product. Except for 

minor editorial changes, and any other 

changes described previously, this AD is 

adopted as proposed in the NPRM. 

None of the changes will increase the 

economic burden on any operator. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed De Havilland 

Aircraft of Canada Limited Service 

Bulletin 84–55–12, Revision B, dated 

April 20, 2023. This service information 

specifies procedures for a detailed 

visual inspection of the front and rear 

spar joints for signs of gapping or 

bending of the radius filler and/or 

adjacent washers, and depending on the 

inspection results, replacement of the 

saddle washer, adjacent washers, bolt, 

and barrel nut. 

This service information is reasonably 

available because the interested parties 

have access to it through their normal 

course of business or by the means 

identified in the ADDRESSES section. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 54 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 

FAA estimates the following costs to 

comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REQUIRED ACTIONS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

5 work-hours × $85 per hour = $425 .......................................................................................... $0 $425 $22,950 

The FAA estimates the following 

costs to do any necessary on-condition 

action that would be required based on 

the results of any required actions. The 

FAA has no way of determining the 

number of aircraft that might need this 

on-condition action: 

ESTIMATED COSTS OF ON-CONDITION ACTIONS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170 ...................................................................................................................... $5,333 $5,503 

The FAA has included all known 

costs in its cost estimate. According to 

the manufacturer, however, some or all 

of the costs of this AD may be covered 

under warranty, thereby reducing the 

cost impact on affected operators. 

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. 

The FAA is 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 

This AD will not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This AD will 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 that this AD: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, 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. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 32 / Thursday, February 15, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 11715 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 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: 

2024–02–02 De Havilland Aircraft of 

Canada Limited (Type Certificate 

Previously Held by Bombardier, Inc.): 

Amendment 39–22666; Docket No. 

FAA–2023–0933; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2022–00554–T. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective March 21, 2024. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to De Havilland Aircraft 

of Canada Limited (Type Certificate 

Previously Held by Bombardier, Inc.) Model 

DHC–8–401 and –402 airplanes, certificated 

in any category, having serial numbers 4001 

and 4003 through 4633 inclusive. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code: 55, Stabilizers. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports that the 

saddle washer (radius filler) for the front and 

rear spar joints may have been incorrectly 

manufactured for several years. The FAA is 

issuing this AD to address gaps and bending 

of the saddle washer that could have the 

potential to reduce the life of the bolt, which 

in turn could affect the structural integrity of 

the horizontal stabilizer to vertical stabilizer 

joint. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Inspection 

Within 8,000 flight hours after the effective 

date of this AD, perform a detailed inspection 

for signs of gapping or bending of the saddle 

washers and adjacent washers in the front 

spar and rear spar horizontal/vertical 

stabilizer joint fitting in accordance with 

Section 3.B., Part A, of the Accomplishment 

Instructions of De Havilland Aircraft of 

Canada Limited Service Bulletin 84–55–12, 

Revision B, dated April 20, 2023. 

(h) Corrective Actions 

If any gaps or bending of the washers are 

found during the inspection required by 

paragraph (g) of this AD, before further flight, 

replace the saddle washer, washers, PLI 

washer, bolt, and barrel nut, as applicable, in 

accordance with Section 3.B., Part B, of the 

Accomplishment Instructions of De 

Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Service 

Bulletin 84–55–12, Revision B, dated April 

20, 2023. 

(i) Credit for Previous Actions 

This paragraph provides credit for actions 

required by paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD, 

if those actions were performed before the 

effective date of this AD using De Havilland 

Aircraft of Canada Limited Service Bulletin 

84–55–12, dated September 7, 2021; or De 

Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Service 

Bulletin 84–55–12, Revision A, dated 

February 16, 2022. 

(j) Additional AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 

Validation Branch, 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 

responsible Flight Standards Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the International Validation 

Branch, send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (k)(2) of this AD. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-avs-nyacocos@faa.gov. Before using any approved 

AMOC, notify your appropriate principal 

inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 

the manager of the responsible Flight 

Standards Office. 

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any 

requirement in this AD to obtain instructions 

from a manufacturer, the instructions must 

be accomplished using a method approved 

by the Manager, International Validation 

Branch, FAA; or Transport Canada; or De 

Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited’s 

Transport Canada Design Approval 

Organization (DAO). If approved by the DAO, 

the approval must include the DAOauthorized signature. 

(k) Additional Information 

(1) Refer to Transport Canada AD CF– 

2022–21, dated April 21, 2022, for related 

information. This Transport Canada AD may 

be found in the AD docket at regulations.gov 

under Docket No. FAA–2023–0933. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Yaser Osman, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 

410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516– 

228–7300; email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov. 

(3) Service information identified in this 

AD that is not incorporated by reference is 

available at the addresses specified in 

paragraphs (l)(3) and (4) of this AD. 

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the service information listed in this 

paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. 

(2) You must use this service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited 

Service Bulletin 84–55–12, Revision B, dated 

April 20, 2023. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact De Havilland Aircraft of 

Canada Limited, Dash 8 Series Customer 

Response Centre, 5800 Explorer Drive, 

Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 5K9, Canada; 

telephone 855–310–1013 or 647–277–5820; 

email thd@dehavilland.com; website 

dehavilland.com. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th 

Street, Des Moines, WA. For information on 

the availability of this material at the FAA, 

call 206–231–3195. 

(5) You may view this material at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on 

the availability of this material at NARA, 

visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ 

ibr-locations or email fr.inspection@nara.gov. 

Issued on January 24, 2024. 

Victor Wicklund, 

Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–03081 Filed 2–14–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2023–1649; Project 

Identifier AD–2022–00905–T; Amendment 

39–22667; AD 2024–02–03] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

The Boeing Company Model 747–8 and 

747–8F series airplanes. This AD was 

prompted by a report that all six 

Integrated Display Units (IDUs) became 

blank when new flight plan data was 

entered in the Flight Management 

System (FMS), and by a determination 

that indication of decaying airspeed in 

certain scenarios is required. This AD 

requires installing updated software. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

the unsafe condition on these products. 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES