Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 13, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34004-34006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5285]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24365; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-022-AD; 
Amendment 39-14641; AD 2006-12-15]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD requires 
repetitive inspections for cracks of the first fuel access panel 
outboard of the nacelle on the left- and right-hand wings, and related 
investigative/corrective actions if necessary. This AD also requires 
eventual replacement of each access panel with a new access panel 
having a new part number. The replacement terminates the repetitive 
inspection requirements. This AD results from reports of cracks of the 
fuel access panels. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct 
cracked fuel access panels, which could lead to arcing and ignition of 
fuel vapor during a lightning strike, and result in fuel tank 
explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective July 18, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of July 18, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
    Contact Bombardier, Inc., Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division, 
123 Garratt Boulevard, Downsview, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada, for service 
information identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Duckett, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe and Propulsion Branch, ANE-171, New York Aircraft 
Certification Office, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, 
New York 11590; telephone (516) 228-7325; fax (516) 794-5531.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the airworthiness directive (AD) docket on the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management 
Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Management Facility office 
(telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif 
Building at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain Bombardier 
Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the 
Federal Register on April 11, 2006 (71 FR 18239). That NPRM proposed to 
require repetitive inspections for cracks of the first fuel access 
panel outboard of the nacelle on the left- and right-hand wings, and 
related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. That NPRM also 
proposed to require eventual replacement of each access panel with

[[Page 34005]]

a new access panel having a new part number. The replacement would 
terminate the repetitive inspection requirements.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the 
determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
to comply with this AD.

                                                                     Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                          Number of U.S.-
                         Action                             Work hours     Average labor       Parts         Cost per       registered      Fleet cost
                                                                           per rate hour                     airplane        airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection, per inspection cycle........................               1             $80           (\1\)             $80               5        \2\ $400
Replacement (for both wings)............................               4              80           8,200           8,520               5         42,600
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ None.
\2\ Per inspection cycle.

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 have 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 DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES 
section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2006-12-15 Bombardier, Inc. (Formerly de Havilland, Inc.): Amendment 
39-14641. Docket No. FAA-2006-24365; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-
022-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective July 18, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Bombardier Model DHC-8-400, DHC-8-401, 
and DHC-8-402 airplanes, certificated in any category; serial 
numbers 4001, and 4003 through 4106 inclusive.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of cracks of the fuel access 
panels. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracked fuel 
access panels, which could lead to arcing and ignition of fuel vapor 
during a lightning strike, and result in fuel tank explosions and 
consequent loss of the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Inspection and Related Investigative and Corrective Actions

    (f) Within 400 flight hours after the effective date of this AD: 
Do an ultrasonic inspection for cracks of the first fuel access 
panel, part number (P/N) 85714230-001, outboard of the nacelle, on 
the left- and right-hand wings, by doing all of the actions 
specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service 
Bulletin 84-57-13, dated August 17, 2005, except as provided by 
paragraph (i) of this AD. Do all applicable related investigative 
and corrective actions before further flight in accordance with the 
service bulletin. Repeat the applicable inspection, including the 
detailed inspection, thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1,200 
flight hours.


    Note 1: Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-57-13, refers to 
Bombardier Repair Drawing (RD) 8/4-57-451, dated February 2005, as 
an additional source of service information for doing certain 
corrective actions.


    Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is: 
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or 
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available 
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good 
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as 
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning 
and elaborate procedures may be required.''

Terminating Action--Replacement

    (g) Within 6,000 flight hours after the initial inspection done 
in accordance with paragraph (f) of this AD: Replace any access 
panel P/N 85714230-001, with a new panel P/N 85714230-003 or P/N 
85714230-005. Do the replacement in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-57-13, 
dated August 17, 2005. Replacing one access panel terminates

[[Page 34006]]

the repetitive inspection requirements of this AD for that panel 
only. Replacing both access panels terminates all repetitive 
inspection requirements of this AD.

Parts Installation

    (h) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
fuel access panel, P/N 85714230-001, on any airplane unless the 
panel has been inspected, and all applicable related investigative 
and corrective actions have been accomplished, in accordance with 
paragraph (f) of this AD.

No Report Required

    (i) Although the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier 
Service Bulletin 84-57-13, dated August 17, 2005, specify to report 
certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include 
that requirement.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (j)(1) The Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

Related Information

    (k) Canadian airworthiness directive CF-2005-37, dated October 
11, 2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (l) You must use Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-57-13, dated 
August 17, 2005, to perform the actions that are required by this 
AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal 
Register approved the incorporation by reference of this document in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact 
Bombardier, Inc., Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division, 123 Garratt 
Boulevard, Downsview, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada, for a copy of this 
service information. You may review copies at the Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC; on the Internet 
at http://dms.dot.gov; or at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at the NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 5, 2006.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-5285 Filed 6-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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