Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 6, 2001 / Rules and Regulations 30305

compliance? Contact Paul C. DeVore,

Aerospace Engineer, Wichita Aircraft

Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road,

Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas

67209; telephone: (316) 946–4142; facsimile:

(316) 946–4407.

(g) What if I need to fly the airplane to

another location to comply with this AD? The

FAA can issue a special flight permit under

sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and

21.199) to operate your airplane to a location

where you can accomplish the requirements

of this AD.

(h) Are any service bulletins incorporated

into this AD by reference? Actions required

by this AD must be done in accordance with

Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB

2290, Rev. 1, Revised: August, 1999. The

Director of the Federal Register approved this

incorporation by reference under 5 U.S.C.

552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You can get copies

from the Raytheon Aircraft Company, PO Box

85, Wichita, Kansas 67201–0085. You can

look at copies at the FAA, Central Region,

Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust,

Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the

Office of the Federal Register, 800 North

Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington,

DC.

(i) When does this amendment become

effective? This amendment becomes effective

on July 23, 2001.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May

22, 2001.

Michael Gallagher,

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft

Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–13579 Filed 6–5–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001–NM–144–AD; Amendment

39–12253; AD 2001–11–10]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier

Model DHC–8–400 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 Bombardier Model

DHC–8–400 series airplanes. This action

requires revising the Normal and

Abnormal Sections of the FAAapproved Airplane Flight Manual to

include procedures that enable the

flightcrew to determine if the main

landing gear (MLG) is extended before

landing and to take appropriate actions,

if necessary. The actions specified in

this AD are intended to ensure that the

flightcrew is advised of a potential gearup landing due to misleading

indications of the MLG extension, and

has the procedures necessary to address

that potential condition. This action is

intended to address the identified

unsafe condition.

DATES: Effective June 21, 2001.

Comments for inclusion in the Rules

Docket must be received on or before

July 6, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-NM–

144-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays. Comments may be

submitted via fax to (425) 227–1232.

Comments may also be sent via the

Internet using the following address: 9-

anm-iarcomment@faa.gov. Comments

sent via fax or the Internet must contain

‘‘Docket No. 2001-NM–144-AD’’ in the

subject line and need not be submitted

in triplicate. Comments sent via the

Internet as attached electronic files must

be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for

Windows or ASCII text.

Information pertaining to the

amendment may be examined at the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington; or at the FAA, New York

Aircraft Certification Office, 10 Fifth

Street, Third Floor, Valley Stream, New

York.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan

Parillo, Aerospace Engineer, Systems

and Flight Test Branch, ANE–172, FAA,

New York Aircraft Certification Office,

10 Fifth Street, Third Floor, Valley

Stream, New York 11581; telephone

(516) 256–7505; fax (516) 568–2716.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Transport

Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is

the airworthiness authority for Canada,

recently notified the FAA that an unsafe

condition may exist on certain

Bombardier Model DHC–8–400 series

airplanes. TCCA advises that downlock

proximity sensors of the main landing

gear (MLG) may fail concurrently on the

same gear. Such failure of the sensors

could result in the failure of the MLG to

extend and the flightcrew to receive

misleading indications that the MLG has

extended.

Issuance of a Canadian Airworthiness

Directive

TCCA has issued Canadian

airworthiness directive CF–2001–16,

dated April 11, 2001, that describes an

additional in-flight procedure to the

airplane flight manual (AFM). The inflight procedure describes certain

cautions and warnings for performing

an alternate landing gear extension;

visually inspecting the MLG to confirm

that it has been extended; inserting a

hydraulic pump handle in socket and

operating for a minimum of 12 full

strokes and ensuring resistance to pump

handle movement; and observing that

the LEFT gear safe (green) and RIGHT

gear safe (green) advisory lights are

illuminated; and the LEFT gear unsafe

(red) and RIGHT gear unsafe (red) and

the landing handle (amber) advisory

lights are extinguished. TCCA has

issued the Canadian airworthiness

directive in order to assure the

continued airworthiness of these

airplanes in Canada.

FAA’s Conclusions

This airplane model is manufactured

in and is type certificated for operation

in the United States under the

provisions of section 21.29 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.29) and the applicable bilateral

airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to

this bilateral airworthiness agreement,

has kept the FAA informed of the

situation described above. The FAA has

examined the findings of the TCCA,

reviewed all available information, and

determined that AD action is necessary

for products of this type design that are

certificated for operation in the United

States.

Explanation of Requirements of Rule

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other airplanes of the same

type design registered in the United

States, this AD is being issued to ensure

that the flightcrew is advised of the

potential of a landing with the MLG up

due to misleading indications of the

extension of the MLG, and has the

appropriate AFM procedures necessary

to address it. This AD requires a

revision of the Normal and Abnormal

Sections of the FAA-approved AFM as

specified in the Canadian airworthiness

directive described previously.

Interim Action

This is considered to be interim

action until final action is identified, at

which time the FAA may consider

further rulemaking.

Determination of Rule’s Effective Date

Since a situation exists that requires

the immediate adoption of this

regulation, it is found that notice and

opportunity for prior public comment

30306 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 6, 2001 / Rules and Regulations

hereon are impracticable, and that good

cause exists for making this amendment

effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

Although this action is in the form of

a final rule that involves requirements

affecting flight safety and, thus, was not

preceded by notice and an opportunity

for public comment, comments are

invited on this rule. Interested persons

are invited to comment on this rule by

submitting such written data, views, or

arguments as they may desire.

Communications shall identify the

Rules Docket number and be submitted

in triplicate to the address specified

under the caption ADDRESSES. All

communications received on or before

the closing date for comments will be

considered, and this rule may be

amended in light of the comments

received. Factual information that

supports the commenter’s ideas and

suggestions is extremely helpful in

evaluating the effectiveness of the AD

action and determining whether

additional rulemaking action would be

needed.

Submit comments using the following

format:

• Organize comments issue-by-issue.

For example, discuss a request to

change the compliance time and a

request to change the service bulletin

reference as two separate issues.

• For each issue, state what specific

change to the AD is being requested.

• Include justification (e.g., reasons or

data) for each request.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the rule that might suggest a need to

modify the rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report that

summarizes each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this AD

will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this rule must

submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket Number 2001–NM–144–AD.’’

The postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it is

determined that this final rule does not

have federalism implications under

Executive Order 13132.

The FAA has determined that this

regulation is an emergency regulation

that must be issued immediately to

correct an unsafe condition in aircraft,

and that it is not a ‘‘significant

regulatory action’’ under Executive

Order 12866. It has been determined

further that this action involves an

emergency regulation under DOT

Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44

FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is

determined that this emergency

regulation otherwise would be

significant under DOT Regulatory

Policies and Procedures, a final

regulatory evaluation will be prepared

and placed in the Rules Docket. A copy

of it, if filed, 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, 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:

2001–11–10 Bombardier, Inc.: Amendment

39–12253. Docket 2001–NM–144–AD.

Applicability: Model DHC–8–400 series

airplanes, serial numbers 4002 and

subsequent, certificated in any category.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent landing with the main landing

gear (MLG) up due to failure of the downlock

proximity sensors of the MLG, accomplish

the following:

Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Revision

(a) Within 14 days after the effective date

of this AD, revise the Normal and Abnormal

Sections of the FAA-approved AFM by

inserting the following into Section 4.21,

opposite page 4.21.1. This may be

accomplished by inserting a copy of this AD

in the AFM.

‘‘CAUTION

If illumination of LEFT gear safe (green),

and LEFT gear unsafe (red), and landing gear

handle (amber) advisory lights with the

landing gear handle in the up position.

Or

Illumination of RIGHT gear safe (green),

and RIGHT gear unsafe (red), and landing

gear handle (amber) advisory lights with the

landing gear handle in the up position.

1. Perform an Alternate Landing Gear

extension, See paragraph 4.21.

WARNING

Selection of the gear down without

following the Alternate Landing Gear

Extension procedure may result in the

affected gear being trapped inside the

nacelle.

2. Visually inspect Main Landing Gear to

confirm that it has been extended.

WARNING

A down and locked indication of the

affected main landing gear is not a valid

indication of the gear position.

3. Insert hydraulic pump handle in socket

and operate for a minimum of 12 full strokes

and ensure resistance to pump handle

movement.

4. Observe the LEFT gear safe (green) and

RIGHT gear safe (green) advisory lights are

illuminated and the LEFT gear unsafe (red)

and RIGHT gear unsafe (red) and the landing

handle (amber) advisory lights are

extinguished.’’

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(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.

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 1: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the New York ACO.

Special Flight Permits

(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.

Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed

in Canadian airworthiness directive CF–

2001–16, dated April 11, 2001.

(d) This amendment becomes effective on

June 21, 2001.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 25,

2001.

Vi L. Lipski,

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–13995 Filed 6–5–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U