[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 25, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58965-58967]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23335]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0798; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-087-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 BD-100-1A10 (Challenger 300) airplanes.
This proposed AD was prompted by multiple reports of erratic electrical
status indications on the push button annunciators and the engine
instrument and crew alerting system. Certain of those reported
incidents resulted in the airplane experiencing a momentary loss of
electrical power and loss of flight displays. This proposed AD would
require modification of the direct current power centers. We are
proposing this AD to prevent loss of electrical power, which could
result in the loss of flight displays and reduced controllability of
the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 12,
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.
[[Page 58966]]
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, WA. 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 MCAI, 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: Assata Dessaline, Aerospace Engineer,
Avionics and Service Branch, ANE-172, FAA, New York Aircraft
Certification Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, New
York 11590; telephone (516) 228-7301; 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-2013-0798;
Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-087-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.
Discussion
Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-
2013-05, dated February 22, 2012 (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 multiple in-service reports of erratic
electrical status indications on the Push Button Annunciators (PBA)
and the Engine Instrument & Crew Alerting System (EICAS) while on-
ground and during flight. Three of those reported incidents resulted
in the aeroplane experiencing momentary loss of electrical power and
loss of flight displays.
The investigation revealed that improper insertion of a Printed
Circuit Board (PCB) in a Direct Current Power Center (DCPC) may lead
to erroneous electrical status indications on the PBAs and EICAS.
The erroneous indications could mislead the pilots into turning off
active generators and leading to partial or complete loss of
electrical power. Loss of electrical power could result in the loss
of flight displays and reduced controllability of the aeroplane.
Further investigation determined that the design of the existing
DCPC covers does not ensure that the PCBs will remain inserted into
the motherboard of the DCPC.
This [TCCA] AD mandates the modification of each DCPC to ensure
that properly closed covers will retain the PCBs within the
motherboards.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.
Relevant Service Information
Bombardier, Inc. has issued Bombardier Service Bulletin 100-24-23,
dated November 26, 2012.
Zodiac Services has issued the following service bulletins.
Zodiac Services Service Bulletin 320GC03Y-24-012, Revision
3, dated December 15, 2012.
Zodiac Services Service Bulletin 970GC02Y-24-013, Revision
3, dated December 15, 2012.
Zodiac Services Service Bulletin 975GC02Y-24-013, Revision
3, dated December 15, 2012.
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.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 92 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product operators
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Modification.................... 7 work-hours x $85 $1,568 $2,163 per $198,996 per
per hour = $595 modification. inspection cycle.
per modification.
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According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost
estimate.
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,
[[Page 58967]]
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);
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
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:
Bombardier, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2013-0798; Directorate Identifier
2013-NM-087-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by November 12, 2013.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Bombardier, Inc. Model BD-100-1A10
(Challenger 300) airplanes, certificated in any category, serial
numbers 20003 and subsequent.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 24, Electrical
power.
(e) Reason
This AD was prompted by multiple reports of erratic electrical
status indications on the push button annunciators and the engine
instrument and crew alerting system. Certain of those reported
incidents resulted in the airplane experiencing a momentary loss of
electrical power and loss of flight displays. We are issuing this AD
to prevent loss of electrical power, which could result in the loss
of flight displays and reduced controllability of 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) Direct Current Power Centers (DCPC) Modification
For airplanes having serial numbers 20003 through 20405
inclusive: Within 800 flight hours after the effective date of this
AD or within 24 months after the effective date of this AD,
whichever occurs first, modify the left-hand DCPC, right-hand DCPC,
and auxiliary DCPC, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 100-24-23, dated
November 26, 2012.
(h) Parts Installation Limitation
As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a
DCPC having a part number specified in paragraph (h)(1) through
(h)(9) of this AD on any airplane, unless the DCPC serial number has
a suffix ``R'' beside the serial number.
(1) 970GC02Y04
(2) 970GC02Y05
(3) 970GC02Y06
(4) 975GC02Y04
(5) 975GC02Y05
(6) 975GC02Y06
(7) 320GC03Y04
(8) 320GC03Y05
(9) 320GC03Y06
(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, 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.
(j) Related Information
(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information
(MCAI) Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-2013-05, dated February
22, 2012, for related information, which can be found in the AD
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
(2) 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 [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, WA. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 17, 2013.
Ross Landes,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-23335 Filed 9-24-13; 8:45 am]
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