[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10413-10415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4160]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0146; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-115-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc. Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and
CL-604 Variants) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of
deformation at the neck of the pressure regulator body on the oxygen
cylinder and regulator assemblies (CRAs), and an electrical wiring
harness in the area of the oxygen cylinder had no protective conduit
sleeving. This proposed AD would require inspecting to determine if
certain oxygen pressure regulators are installed and replacing oxygen
CRAs containing pressure regulators that do not meet the required
material properties. This proposed AD would also require inspecting for
damaged wiring and repairing or replacing wiring if necessary. We are
proposing this AD to prevent rupture of the oxygen cylinder, which in
the case of cabin depressurization, oxygen would not be available when
required; and to detect and correct unprotected wiring that could chafe
against the oxygen system components or surrounding structure in the
area, which could lead to electrical arcing and an oxygen-fed fire.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 9, 2012.
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 service information identified in this proposed 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
[email protected]; Internet http://www.bombardier.com. You
may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
Washington. For information on the availability of this material at the
FAA, call 425-227-1221.
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 proposed 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 (ACO), 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury,
New York 11590; telephone (516) 228-7318; fax (516) 794-5531.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2012-0146;
Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-115-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD based on 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 proposed AD.
[[Page 10414]]
Discussion
Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), has issued Canadian
Airworthiness Directive CF-2011-11, dated May 25, 2011 (referred to
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products. The MCAI states:
During a routine inspection, deformation was found at the neck
of the pressure regulator body on the oxygen Cylinder and Regulator
Assemblies (CRA) of a BD-700-1A11 aeroplane.
An investigation by the vendor, Avox Systems Inc., revealed that
the deformation was attributed to two (2) batches of raw material
that did not meet the required tensile strength. This may cause
elongation of the pressure regulator neck, which could result in
rupture of the oxygen cylinder, and in the case of cabin
depressurization, oxygen would not be available when required.
Although there have been no reported failures to date on any CL-
600-2B16 aeroplanes, oxygen pressure regulators, Part Numbers (P/N)
806370-12, could be part of the affected batches.
It has also been found that the electrical wiring harness in the
area of the oxygen cylinder has been installed without protection.
Unprotected wiring could chafe against the oxygen system components
or surrounding structure in the area, which could lead to electrical
arcing and an oxygen fed fire.
This [TCCA] directive mandates [an inspection to determine if a
certain oxygen CRA is installed and] the replacement of oxygen CRAs
containing pressure regulators that do not meet the required
material properties and to [do a general visual inspection of] and
protect the affected wiring.
Corrective actions include repairing or replacing any damaged wiring.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.
Relevant Service Information
Bombardier, Inc. has issued Service Bulletin 605-24-005, dated
January 31, 2011; and Bombardier Service Bulletin 605-35-001, Revision
01, dated February 28, 2011. The actions described in this service
information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in
the MCAI.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed 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 proposing this AD because we
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same
type design.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service
Information
This proposed AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information
as follows: The MCAI and service information do not specify corrective
actions if damaged wiring is found; this proposed AD requires repairing
or replacing any damaged wiring. This proposed AD also includes serial
numbers (S/N) 5824 and subsequent in the applicability. Those airplanes
are included in paragraph (j) of the proposed AD, which prohibits the
installation of certain regulators.
Costs of Compliance
Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD
would affect about 72 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that
it would take about 1 work-hour per product to comply with the basic
requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per
work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed
AD on U.S. operators to be $6,120, or $85 per product.
In addition, we estimate that certain follow-on actions (wiring
protection) would 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 products that may need these actions.
We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide
cost estimates for certain other on-condition actions (repairing or
replacing damaged wiring) specified in this proposed AD.
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 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. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
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 proposed 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.
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
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]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Bombardier, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2012-0146; Directorate Identifier
2011-NM-115-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by April 9, 2012.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-
3A, CL-601-3R, & CL-604 Variants) airplanes; certificated in any
category; serial numbers 5701 through 5802 inclusive, 5804 through
5808 inclusive, 5810 through 5816 inclusive, 5819, 5822, 5823 and
subsequent.
[[Page 10415]]
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Codes 24: Electrical
power; and 35: Oxygen.
(e) Reason
This AD was prompted by reports of deformation at the neck of
the pressure regulator body on the oxygen cylinder and regulator
assemblies (CRAs), and an electrical wiring harness in the area of
the oxygen cylinder had no protective conduit sleeving. We are
issuing this AD to prevent rupture of the oxygen cylinder, which in
the case of cabin depressurization, oxygen would not be available
when required; and to detect and correct unprotected wiring that
could chafe against the oxygen system components or surrounding
structure in the area, which could lead to electrical arcing and an
oxygen-fed fire.
(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) Inspect and Replace the Oxygen CRA
For airplanes with serial numbers 5701 through 5802 inclusive,
5804 through 5808 inclusive, 5810 through 5816 inclusive, 5819,
5822, and 5823: Within 750 flight hours after the effective date of
this AD, but no later than 6 months after the effective date of this
AD, inspect the serial number of oxygen pressure regulators having
part number (P/N) 806370-12, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions, Section 2.B.(3), of Bombardier Service Bulletin 605-
35-001, Revision 01, dated February 28, 2011. A review of airplane
maintenance records is acceptable in lieu of this inspection if the
part number of the oxygen pressure regulator can be conclusively
determined from that review.
(1) If any serial number is found that is listed in table 2 of
Bombardier Service Bulletin 605-35-001, Revision 01, dated February
28, 2011, before further flight, replace the affected oxygen CRA in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier
Service Bulletin 605-35-001, Revision 01, dated February 28, 2011.
(2) If any serial number is found that is not listed in table 2
of Bombardier Service Bulletin 605-35-001, Revision 01, dated
February 28, 2011, no further action is required by this paragraph.
(h) Inspection and Corrective Action of the Oxygen CRA Wiring Harness
For airplanes with serial numbers 5701 through 5778 inclusive,
5780 through 5796 inclusive, 5798, 5800 through 5802 inclusive,
5804, 5805, 5808, 5811, and 5813: At the compliance times specified
in paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(2) of this AD, do a detailed inspection
for damaged wiring (i.e., signs of damaged insulation, abrasion, or
chafing) of the electrical wiring harness for the oxygen CRA, and
protect the electrical wiring harness, in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 605-24-
005, dated January 31, 2011. If any damaged wiring is found, before
further flight, repair or replace any damaged wiring in accordance
with a method approved by the Manager, New York Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO), FAA; or Transport Canada Civil Aviation
(TCCA) (or its delegated agent).
(1) For airplanes on which the oxygen CRA must be replaced as
required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD: At the time the oxygen CRA
is replaced.
(2) For airplanes other than those identified in paragraph
(h)(1) of this AD: Within 800 flight hours after the effective date
of this AD.
(i) Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service
Information
Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD
accordance with Bombardier Service Bulletin 605-35-001, dated
January 31, 2011, are considered acceptable for compliance with the
corresponding actions specified in this AD.
(j) Parts Installation
For all airplanes: As of the effective date of this AD, no
person may install an oxygen pressure regulator (P/N 806370-12)
having any serial number listed in table 2 of Bombardier Service
Bulletin 605-35-001, Revision 01, dated February 28, 2011, on any
airplane, unless a suffix ``-A'' is beside the serial number.
(k) 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, 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,
New York 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.
(l) Related Information
Refer to MCAI Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-2011-11, dated
May 25, 2011, and the service bulletins identified in paragraphs
(l)(1) and (l)(2) of this AD, for related information.
(1) Bombardier Service Bulletin 605-24-005, dated January 31,
2011.
(2) Bombardier Service Bulletin 605-35-001, Revision 01, dated
February 28, 2011.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 7, 2012.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-4160 Filed 2-21-12; 8:45 am]
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