Document ID: FAA-2013-0623-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Bombardier, Inc. Airplanes
Posted Date: 2013-07-25T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 143 (Thursday, July 25, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44871-44873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17294]

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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 143 / Thursday, July 25, 2013 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 44871]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0623; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-109-AD; 
Amendment 39-17516; AD 2013-14-11]
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 adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440), CL-
600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702), CL-600-2D15 (Regional 
Jet Series 705), and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes. 
This AD requires revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) by 
incorporating an emergency procedure for uncommanded yaw motion. This 
AD was prompted by reports of airplanes experiencing uncommanded rudder 
movements while in flight. We are issuing this AD to advise the 
flightcrew of procedures to address a possible failure of the voltage 
regulator inside the yaw damper actuator that could lead to uncommanded 
yaw movement and consequent loss of the ability to control the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective August 9, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of August 9, 
2013.
    We must receive comments on this AD by September 9, 2013.

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.

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 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:

Discussion

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation 
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-
2013-13, dated May 28, 2013 (referred to after this as the Mandatory 
Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to correct an 
unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

There have been several reported incidents where Bombardier Regional 
Jet aeroplanes experienced in flight uncommanded rudder movements. 
Investigation revealed that a failure of the voltage regulator 
inside the yaw damper actuator could lead to uncommanded yaw 
movement. If not corrected, this condition could lead to the loss of 
the * * * [ability to control the] aeroplane.
This [TCCA] AD mandates the introduction of an emergency procedure 
to the Aeroplane Flight Manual (AFM) to address the above mentioned 
unsafe condition.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Bombardier Inc., has issued the following emergency procedures for 
the AFMs:
     For Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet 
Series 100 & 440) airplanes: Procedure 1., Automatic Flight Control 
System (AFCS), of Section 03-06, Emergency Procedures--Automatic Flight 
Control System, of Chapter 3, Emergency Procedures, in Volume 1 of the 
Bombardier CRJ Series Regional Jet Model CL-600-2B19 AFM, CSP A-012, 
Revision 61, dated April 2, 2013.
     For Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet 
Series 700, 701, & 702) airplanes: Procedure 1., Automatic Flight 
Control System (AFCS), of Section 03-06, Emergency Procedures--
Automatic Flight Control System, of Chapter 3, Emergency Procedures, in 
Volume 1 of the Bombardier CRJ Series Regional Jet Model CL-600-2C10 
AFM, CSP B-012, Revision 11, dated February 14, 2013.
     For Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet 
Series 705) and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes: 
Procedure 1., Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS), of Section 03-06, 
Emergency Procedures--Automatic Flight Control System, of Chapter 3, 
Emergency Procedures, in Volume 1 of the Bombardier CRJ Series Regional 
Jet Model CL-600-2D24 and Model CL-600-2D15 AFM, CSP C-012, Revision 7, 
dated February 14, 2013.

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.

[[Page 44872]]

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies 
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because of a 
possible failure of the voltage regulator inside the yaw damper 
actuator that could lead to uncommanded yaw movement, which could lead 
to the loss of the ability to control the airplane. Therefore, we 
determined that notice and opportunity for public comment before 
issuing this AD are impracticable and that good cause exists for making 
this amendment effective in fewer than 30 days.

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-2013-0623; Directorate 
Identifier 2013-NM-109-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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 929 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
              Action                        Labor cost            Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revision..........................  1 work-hour x $85 per                  $0              $85          $78,965
                                     hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this 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.

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 adding the following new AD:

2013-14-11 Bombardier, Inc.: Amendment 39-17516. Docket No. FAA-
2013-0623; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-109-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective August 9, 
2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all airplanes specified in paragraphs (c)(1) 
through (c)(4) of this AD, certificated in any category.
    (1) Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 
& 440) airplanes.
    (2) Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 
701, & 702) airplanes.
    (3) Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) 
airplanes.
    (4) Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) 
airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 2720, Rudder 
Control System.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of airplanes experiencing 
uncommanded rudder movements while in flight. We are issuing this AD 
to advise the flightcrew of procedures to address a possible failure 
of the voltage regulator inside the yaw damper actuator that could 
lead to uncommanded yaw movement and consequent loss of the ability 
to control the airplane.

(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) Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Revision

    Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the 
Emergency Procedures Section and the Limitations Section of the 
Bombardier AFM to incorporate the ``Uncommanded Yaw Motion'' 
procedure specified in paragraphs (g)(1) through (g)(3) of this AD, 
as applicable.
    (1) For Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 
100 & 440) airplanes: Procedure 1., Automatic Flight Control System 
(AFCS), of Section 03-06,

[[Page 44873]]

Emergency Procedures--Automatic Flight Control System, of Chapter 3, 
Emergency Procedures, in Volume 1 of the Bombardier CRJ Series 
Regional Jet Model CL-600-2B19 AFM CSP A-012, Revision 61, dated 
April 2, 2013.
    (2) For Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 
700, 701, & 702) airplanes: Procedure 1., Automatic Flight Control 
System (AFCS), of Section 03-06, Emergency Procedures--Automatic 
Flight Control System, of Chapter 3, Emergency Procedures, in Volume 
1 of the Bombardier CRJ Series Regional Jet Model CL-600-2C10 AFM, 
CSP B-012, Revision 11, dated February 14, 2013.
    (3) For Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 
705) and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes: Procedure 
1., Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS), of Section 03-06, 
Emergency Procedures--Automatic Flight Control System, of Chapter 3, 
Emergency Procedures, in Volume 1 of the Bombardier CRJ Series 
Regional Jet Model CL-600-2D24 and Model CL-600-2D15 AFM, CSP C-012, 
Revision 7, dated February 14, 2013.

(h) 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. 
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.

(i) Related Information

    Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information Canadian 
Airworthiness Directive CF-2013-13, dated May 28, 2013, for related 
information.

(j) 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 the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Procedure 1., Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS), of 
Section 03-06, Emergency Procedures--Automatic Flight Control 
System, of Chapter 3, Emergency Procedures, in Volume 1 of the 
Bombardier CRJ Series Regional Jet Model CL-600-2B19 Airplane Flight 
Manual CSP A-012, Revision 61, dated April 2, 2013.
    (ii) Procedure 1., Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS), of 
Section 03-06, Emergency Procedures--Automatic Flight Control 
System, of Chapter 3, Emergency Procedures, in Volume 1 of the 
Bombardier CRJ Series Regional Jet Model CL-600-2C10 Airplane Flight 
Manual CSP B-012, Revision 11, dated February 14, 2013.
    (iii) Procedure 1., Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS), of 
Section 03-06, Emergency Procedures--Automatic Flight Control 
System, of Chapter 3, Emergency Procedures, in Volume 1 of the 
Bombardier CRJ Series Regional Jet Model CL-600-2D24 and Model CL-
600-2D15 Airplane Flight Manual CSP C-012, Revision 7, dated 
February 14, 2013.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Bombardier, Inc., 400 C[ocirc]te-Vertu Road West, Dorval, 
Qu[eacute]bec H4S 1Y9, Canada; telephone 514-855-5000; fax 514-855-
7401; email thd.crj@aero.bombardier.com; Internet http://www.bombardier.com.
    (4) You may review copies of the 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.
    (5) 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 11, 2013.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-17294 Filed 7-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P