Document ID: FAA-2020-1137-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: MHI RJ Aviation ULC (Type Certificate Previously Held by Bombardier, Inc.) Airplanes
Posted Date: 2020-12-21T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 245 (Monday, December 21, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 82975-82977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27907]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-1137; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00816-T]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; MHI RJ Aviation ULC (Type Certificate 
Previously Held by Bombardier, Inc.) Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 
700, 701 & 702), CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet Series 550), and CL-600-2D24 
(Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a 
report that some piccolo ducts for the wing anti-ice system have bleed 
holes that do not conform to requirements. This proposed AD would 
require, depending on airplane configuration, inspection for the 
presence of affected wing anti-ice system piccolo ducts and corrective 
actions, or replacement of affected piccolo ducts with new piccolo 
ducts. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on 
these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 4, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact MHI RJ 
Aviation ULC, 12655 Henri-Fabre Blvd., Mirabel, Qu[eacute]bec J7N 1E1 
Canada; Widebody Customer Response Center North America toll-free 
telephone +1-844-272-2720 or direct-dial telephone +1-514-855-8500; fax 
+1-514-855-8501; email thd.crj@mhirj.com; internet https://mhirj.com. 
You may view this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 
Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 206-231-3195.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
1137; 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 NPRM, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Siddeeq Bacchus, Aerospace Engineer, 
Mechanical Systems and Administrative Services Section, FAA, New York 
ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
telephone 516-228-7362; email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-1137; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00816-T'' at the beginning of your 
comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the 
proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include 
supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by

[[Page 82976]]

the closing date and may amend the proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this proposed AD.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to 
Siddeeq Bacchus, Aerospace Engineer, Mechanical Systems and 
Administrative Services Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart 
Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7362; email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is 
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket 
for this rulemaking.

Discussion

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation 
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian AD CF-2020-23, dated June 24, 
2020 (referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness 
Information, or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for certain 
MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 
702), CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet Series 550), and CL-600-2D24 (Regional 
Jet Series 900) airplanes. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on 
the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2020-1137.
    This proposed AD was prompted by a report that some piccolo ducts 
for the wing anti-ice system have bleed holes that do not conform to 
requirements (such as being undersized, un-burred, or in the wrong 
location). The FAA is proposing this AD to address non-conforming 
piccolo duct bleed holes, which could lead to degradation of the wing 
anti-ice protection of the leading edge of certain slats, and possibly 
result in airplane handling issues during critical phases of flight. 
See the MCAI for additional background information.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Bombardier has issued Service Bulletin 670BA-30-025, dated December 
17, 2019. This service information describes, for certain airplanes, 
procedures for replacement of affected piccolo ducts with new piccolo 
ducts. This service information also describes, for certain other 
airplanes, procedures for inspection for the presence of affected wing 
anti-icing system piccolo ducts, and depending on inspection results, 
replacement of affected piccolo ducts with new piccolo ducts or 
contacting the manufacturer for further instruction.
    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.

FAA's Determination

    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 the State of Design Authority, 
the FAA has been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI 
and service information referenced above. The FAA is proposing this AD 
because the FAA evaluated all the relevant information and determined 
the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop 
on other products of the same type design.

Proposed Requirements of This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 21 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with 
this proposed AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Labor cost                      Parts cost           Cost per  product     Cost on U.S.  operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to 16 work-hours x $85 per hour =   Up to $7,534...........  Up to $8,894...........  Up to $186,774.
 Up to $1,360.
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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

    The FAA 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) 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.

[[Page 82977]]

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

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 airworthiness 
directive:

MHI RJ Aviation ULC (Type Certificate Previously Held by Bombardier, 
Inc.): Docket No. FAA-2020-1137; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00816-
T.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by February 4, 2021.

(b) Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs)

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to MHI RJ Aviation ULC airplanes identified in 
paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this AD, certificated in any category.
    (1) Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 702) and 
Model CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet Series 550) airplanes having serial 
numbers (S/Ns) 10082, 10135, 10141, 10155, 10166, 10173, 10178, 
10186, 10249, 10296, and 10327.
    (2) Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes having 
S/Ns 15099, 15102, 15144, 15159, 15201, 15212, 15279, 15396, 15409 
through 15413 inclusive, 15415, 15419 through 15427 inclusive, 
15430, 15449, and 15453.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 30, Ice and Rain 
Protection.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report that some piccolo ducts for the 
wing anti-ice system have bleed holes that do not conform to 
requirements (such as being undersized, un-burred, or in the wrong 
location). The FAA is issuing this AD to address non-conforming 
piccolo duct bleed holes, which could lead to degradation of the 
wing anti-ice protection of the leading edge of certain slats, and 
possibly result in airplane handling issues during critical phases 
of flight.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspection and Corrective Action

    Within 8,800 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, 
inspect for the presence of affected piccolo duct assemblies, as 
applicable, and replace each affected piccolo duct with a new 
piccolo duct, as applicable, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-30-025, dated 
December 17, 2019.

(h) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, New 
York ACO 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 certification 
office, send it to ATTN: Program Manager, Continuing Operational 
Safety, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 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 
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, New York ACO 
Branch, FAA; or Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA); or MHI RJ 
Aviation ULC's TCCA Design Approval Organization (DAO). If approved 
by the DAO, the approval must include the DAO-authorized signature.

(i) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) Canadian AD CF-2020-23, dated June 24, 2020, for related 
information. This MCAI may be found in the AD docket on the internet 
at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket 
No. FAA-2020-1137.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Siddeeq Bacchus, 
Aerospace Engineer, Mechanical Systems and Administrative Services 
Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7362; email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact MHI 
RJ Aviation ULC, 12655 Henri-Fabre Blvd., Mirabel, Qu[eacute]bec J7N 
1E1 Canada; Widebody Customer Response Center North America toll-
free telephone +1-844-272-2720 or direct-dial telephone +1-514-855-
8500; fax +1-514-855-8501; email thd.crj@mhirj.com; internet https://mhirj.com. You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability 
of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.

    Issued on December 15, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-27907 Filed 12-18-20; 8:45 am]
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