Document ID: FAA-2022-0141-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: MHI RJ Aviation ULC (Type Certificate Previously Held by Bombardier, Inc.) Airplanes
Posted Date: 2022-02-25T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 38 (Friday, February 25, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10752-10754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03939]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0141; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01052-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 all MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 
& 440) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of an 
oxygen-fed ground fire event potentially caused by electrical arcing 
from a faulty surround light wire on the third crew member's (observer) 
oxygen mask. This proposed AD would require an inspection for 
discrepancies of the observer's oxygen mask stowage box and storage 
compartment, oxygen hose connections and routing, and the associated 
electrical harness, and corrective actions if necessary; and modifying 
the oxygen mask flexible lamp harness, mounting plate, and compartment 
panel, including rerouting the electrical harness and applying 
protective sealant. 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 April 11, 
2022.

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 [email protected]; 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 at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0141; or in person at 
Docket

[[Page 10753]]

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: Gabriel Kim, Aerospace Engineer, 
Avionics and Electrical Systems Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 
Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7300; 
fax 516-794-5531; email [email protected].

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 ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2022-0141; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2021-01052-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 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 NPRM.

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 
Gabriel Kim, Aerospace Engineer, Avionics and Electrical Systems 
Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7300; fax 516-794-5531; email [email protected]. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is 
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket 
for this rulemaking.

Background

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation 
authority for Canada, has issued TCCA AD CF-2021-32, dated September 
17, 2021 (also referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing 
Airworthiness Information, or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition 
for all MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 
& 440) airplanes. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-
0141.
    This proposed AD was prompted by a report of an oxygen-fed ground 
fire event potentially caused by electrical arcing from a faulty 
surround light wire on the third crew member's (observer) oxygen mask. 
An investigation determined that the oxygen supply hose connecting to 
the rear of the observer oxygen mask box assembly could be subject to 
chafing damage. The FAA is proposing this AD to address possible damage 
to the observer oxygen mask supply hoses and a potential for an oxygen-
fed fire in the vicinity of the observer oxygen mask storage 
compartment. See the MCAI for additional background information.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    MHI RJ has issued Service Bulletin 601R-35-022, Revision A, dated 
October 12, 2021. This service information describes procedures for 
doing an general visual inspection for discrepancies (including elbow 
fitting clocking (rotation), sealing tape installed in a certain 
location, wire damage (e.g., cuts, nicks, kinks, insulation damage)) of 
the observer's oxygen mask stowage box and storage compartment, the 
observer's mask oxygen hose connections, the hose routing, and the 
associated electrical harness, and applicable corrective actions; and 
modifying the oxygen mask flexible lamp harness, mounting plate, and 
compartment panel, including rerouting the electrical harness and 
applying protective sealant. Corrective actions include re-positioning 
the elbow fitting, removing sealing tape, and repairing wiring. 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 AD Requirements in This NPRM

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

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 407 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following 
costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
                          Labor cost                              Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 Work-hours x $85 per hour = up to $765.....................            $115             $880         $358,160
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 10754]]

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.

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-2022-0141; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01052-
T.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by April 11, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all MHI RJ Aviation ULC (Type Certificate 
Previously Held by Bombardier, Inc.) Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet 
Series 100 & 440) airplanes, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 35, Oxygen.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of an oxygen-fed ground fire 
event potentially caused by electrical arcing from a faulty surround 
light wire on the third crew member's (observer) oxygen mask. An 
investigation determined that the oxygen supply hose connecting to 
the rear of the observer oxygen mask box assembly could be subject 
to chafing damage. The FAA is issuing this AD to address possible 
damage to the observer oxygen mask supply hoses and a potential for 
an oxygen-fed fire in the vicinity of the observer oxygen mask 
storage compartment.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Within 4,000 flight hours or 24 months, whichever occurs first, 
after the effective date of this AD, do the actions in paragraphs 
(g)(1) and (2) of this AD:
    (1) Do a general visual inspection for discrepancies of the 
observer's oxygen mask stowage box and storage compartment, the 
observer's mask oxygen hose connections, the hose routing, and the 
associated electrical harness, in accordance with paragraph 2.B. of 
the Accomplishment Instructions of MHI RJ Service Bulletin 601R-35-
022, Revision A, dated October 12, 2021. If any discrepancies are 
found, before further flight, do all applicable corrective actions, 
in accordance with paragraph 2.B. of the Accomplishment Instructions 
of MHI RJ Service Bulletin 601R-35-022, Revision A, dated October 
12, 2021.
    (2) Modify the oxygen mask flexible lamp harness, mounting 
plate, and compartment panel, including rerouting the electrical 
harness and applying protective sealant, in accordance with 
paragraph 2.B. of the Accomplishment Instructions of MHI RJ Service 
Bulletin 601R-35-022, Revision A, dated October 12, 2021.

(h) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for actions required by paragraph 
(g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective 
date of this AD using MHI RJ Service Bulletin 601R-35-022, dated 
June 1, 2021.

(i) 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.

(j) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) TCCA AD CF-2021-32, dated September 17, 2021, 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-2022-0141.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Gabriel Kim, 
Aerospace Engineer, Avionics and Electrical Systems Section, FAA, 
New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 
11590; telephone 516-228-7300; fax 516-794-5531; email [email protected].
    (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 [email protected]; 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 February 11, 2022.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-03939 Filed 2-24-22; 8:45 am]
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