Document ID: FAA-2015-2463-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Bombardier, Inc. Airplanes
Posted Date: 2015-07-28T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 144 (Tuesday, July 28, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44829-44832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17975]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-2463; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-086-AD; 
Amendment 39-18216; AD 2015-15-07]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2015-10-01 for 
certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. AD 2015-10-
01 required inspection for correct assembly of the main landing gear 
(MLG) alternate extension system reservoir lid, and corrective action 
if necessary. This new AD revises the applicability. This AD was 
prompted by the discovery of two errors in the applicability of AD 
2015-10-01. We are issuing this AD to, in the event of a failure of the 
primary MLG extension system, prevent failure of the alternate MLG 
extension system to fully extend the MLG into a down-and-locked 
position, which could result in collapse of both left-hand and right-
hand MLG sides during touchdown.

DATES: This AD becomes effective August 12, 2015.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference

[[Page 44830]]

of certain publications listed in this AD as of July 14, 2015 (80 FR 
32449, June 9, 2015).
    We must receive comments on this AD by September 11, 2015.

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 Bombardier 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. For Parker service information identified in this 
AD, contact Parker Aerospace, 14300 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA 92618; 
telephone: 949-833-3000; Internet: http://www.parker.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. It is also 
available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-2463.

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-2015-
2463; 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 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: Fabio Buttitta, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe and Mechanical Systems Branch, ANE-171, FAA, New York Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, 
NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7303; fax 516-794-5531.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On May 1, 2015, we issued AD 2015-10-01, Amendment 39-18156 (80 FR 
32449, June 9, 2015). AD 2015-10-01 applied to certain Bombardier, Inc. 
Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. AD 2015-10-01 was prompted by reports 
of hydraulic fluid loss from the reservoir of the MLG alternate 
extension system. AD 2015-10-01 required inspection for correct 
assembly of the MLG alternate extension system reservoir lid, and 
corrective action if necessary. We issued AD 2015-10-01 to, in the 
event of a failure of the primary MLG extension system, prevent failure 
of the alternate MLG extension system to fully extend the MLG into a 
down-and-locked position, which could result in collapse of both left-
hand and right-hand MLG sides during touchdown.
    AD 2015-10-01, Amendment 39-18156 (80 FR 32449, June 9, 2015), 
corresponds to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information (MCAI) 
Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-2014-15, dated June 6, 2014. You 
may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-2463.
    Since we issued AD 2015-10-01, Amendment 39-18156 (80 FR 32449, 
June 9, 2015), we have discovered two inadvertent errors in the 
identification of the affected airplane models in the applicability of 
AD 2015-10-01. Paragraph (c) of AD 2015-10-01 omitted Bombardier Model 
DHC-8-400 airplanes and erroneously referred to a model (DHC-8-403) 
that is not identified on the U.S. type certificate. However, the 
serial numbers identified in paragraph (c) of AD 2015-10-01 were 
correct. We have also revised the estimated number of U.S.-registered 
airplanes affected by this AD. The number of airplanes is less than we 
originally estimated.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This 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 issuing this AD because we 
evaluated all pertinent information and determined the unsafe condition 
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same 
type design.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    We are superseding AD 2015-10-01, Amendment 39-18156 (80 FR 32449, 
June 9, 2015), to correct two errors in the applicability in paragraph 
(c) of AD 2015-10-01, which inadvertently omitted a certain airplane 
model affected by the unsafe condition, and included a model that is 
not identified on the U.S. type certificate. We have made no other 
changes to the requirements published in AD 2015-10-01. Also, there are 
currently no Bombardier Inc. Model DHC-8-400 airplanes (the omitted 
airplane model) on the U.S. Register. Therefore, we determined that 
notice and opportunity for public comment before issuing this AD are 
unnecessary.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public 
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2015-2463; Directorate 
Identifier 2015-NM-086-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of 
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 AD.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Bombardier has issued Service Bulletin 84-29-34, dated May 9, 2013, 
with the attached Parker Service Bulletin 82910012-29-431, dated 
October 22, 2012. The service information describes procedures to 
inspect the lid assembly of the MLG alternate extension system 
reservoir for correct assembly and corrective actions. 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 of this AD.

[[Page 44831]]

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 78 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The actions required by AD 2015-10-01, Amendment 39-18156 (80 FR 
32449, June 9, 2015), and retained in this AD take about 4 work-hours 
per product, at an average labor rate of $85 per work-hour. Based on 
these figures, the estimated cost of the actions that were required by 
AD 2015-10-01 is $340 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions will 
take about 2 work-hours and require parts costing $0, for a cost of 
$170 per product. We have no way of determining the number of aircraft 
that might need this action.
    The new requirements of this AD add no additional economic burden.

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 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. 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.

Adoption of 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

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing airworthiness directive (AD) 
2015-10-01, Amendment 39-18156 (80 FR 32449, June 9, 2015), and adding 
the following new AD:

2015-15-07 Bombardier, Inc.: Amendment 39-18216. Docket No. FAA-
2015-2463; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-086-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective August 12, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2015-10-01, Amendment 39-18156 (80 FR 32449, 
June 9, 2015).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400, -401, and -
402 airplanes, certificated in any category, serial numbers 4001 
through 4424 inclusive.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 29, Hydraulic 
Power.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of hydraulic fluid loss from the 
reservoir of the main landing gear (MLG) alternate extension system. 
We are issuing this AD to, in the event of a failure of the primary 
MLG extension system, prevent failure of the alternate MLG extension 
system to fully extend the MLG into a down-and-locked position, 
which could result in collapse of both left-hand and right-hand MLG 
sides during touchdown.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Retained Inspection and Corrective Action, With No Changes

    This paragraph restates the requirements of AD 2015-10-01, 
Amendment 39-18156 (80 FR 32449, June 9, 2015), with no changes. 
Within 2,000 flight hours or 12 months after July 14, 2015 (the 
effective date of AD 2015-10-01), whichever occurs first: Do a 
general visual inspection of the MLG alternate extension system 
reservoir lid for correct assembly, and do all applicable corrective 
actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-29-34, dated May 9, 2013, and with 
the attached Parker Service Bulletin 82910012-29-431, dated October 
22, 2012, as referenced in Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-29-34, 
dated May 9, 2013. Do all applicable corrective actions within 2,000 
flight hours or 12 months after July 14, 2015, whichever occurs 
first.

(h) Retained Credit for Previous Actions, With No Changes

    This paragraph restates the provisions of paragraph (h) of AD 
2015-10-01, Amendment 39-18156 (80 FR 32449, June 9, 2015), with no 
changes. This paragraph provides credit for actions required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before 
July 14, 2015 (the effective date of AD 2015-10-01), using 
Bombardier All Operator Message 543, dated October 17, 2012, which 
is not incorporated by reference in this AD.

(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, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7300; fax 516-794-5531.
    (i) 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.
    (ii) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2015-10-01, Amendment 39-
18156 (80 FR 32449, June 9, 2015), are approved as AMOCs for the 
corresponding provisions of this AD.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: As of the effective date of 
this AD, 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 Transport 
Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA); or Bombardier, Inc.'s TCCA Design 
Approval Organization (DAO). If approved by the DAO, the approval 
must include the DAO-authorized signature.

(j) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-2014-15, dated June 6, 
2014, for related information. This MCAI may be found in the AD 
docket on the

[[Page 44832]]

Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
Docket No. FAA-2015-2463.
    (2) Service information identified in this AD that is not 
incorporated by reference is available at the addresses specified in 
paragraphs (k)(4) and (k)(6) of this AD.

(k) 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.
    (3) The following service information was approved for IBR on 
July 14, 2015 (80 FR 32449, June 9, 2015).
    (i) Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-29-34, dated May 9, 2013.
    (ii) Parker Service Bulletin 82910012-29-431, dated October 22, 
2012.
    (4) For Bombardier 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.
    (5) For Parker service information identified in this AD, 
contact Parker Aerospace, 14300 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA 92618; 
phone: 949-833-3000; Internet: http://www.parker.com.
    (6) 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.
    (7) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 13, 2015.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-17975 Filed 7-27-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P