Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc. Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 47 (Monday, March 13, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13385-13388]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04514]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-8183; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-083-AD; 
Amendment 39-18822; AD 2017-05-11]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc. Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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[[Page 13386]]

SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-08-11 for 
certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. AD 2012-08-
11 required repetitive inspections for defects and damage of the 
retract port flexible hoses on the main landing gear (MLG) retraction 
actuators, and replacement if necessary. This AD continues to require 
the actions in AD 2012-08-11, requires reorientation of the retraction 
actuator of the MLG, and removes airplanes from the applicability. This 
AD was prompted by test results that showed that failure of a retract 
port flexible hose of a MLG retraction actuator could cause excessive 
hydraulic fluid leakage. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 17, 2017.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of April 17, 
2017.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of May 
29, 2012 (77 FR 24351, April 24, 2012).

ADDRESSES: For Bombardier service information identified in this final 
rule, contact Bombardier, Inc., Q-Series Technical Help Desk, 123 
Garratt Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada; telephone 416-375-
4000; fax 416-375-4539; email [email protected]; Internet 
http://www.bombardier.com. For Goodrich service information identified 
in this final rule, contact Goodrich Aerospace Canada Ltd., Landing 
Systems, 1400 South Service Road, West Oakville, ON, Canada L6L 5Y7; 
telephone +1-877-808-7575; fax: +1-905-825-6320; email: 
[email protected]; Internet: https://techpubs.goodrich.com/ContactUs. 
You may view this 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. It 
is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-8183.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
8183; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and 
other information. The address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-
647-5527) is Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cesar Gomez, Mechanical Systems 
Engineer, Airframe and Mechanical Systems Branch, ANE-171, FAA, New 
York Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 
410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7318; fax 516-794-5531.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to supersede AD 2012-08-11, Amendment 39-17028 (77 FR 24351, 
April 24, 2012) (``AD 2012-08-11''). AD 2012-08-11 applied to certain 
Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. The NPRM published 
in the Federal Register on August 5, 2016 (81 FR 51821). The NPRM was 
prompted by our determination that the left and right MLG retraction 
actuator ports must be reoriented and the retract port flexible hoses 
replaced with hydraulic tube assemblies to address the identified 
unsafe condition. The NPRM proposed to continue to require the actions 
required by AD 2012-08-11. The NPRM also proposed to require 
reorientation of the retraction actuator of the MLG, which would 
terminate the repetitive inspections, and to remove certain airplanes 
from the applicability. We are issuing this AD to prevent hydraulic 
fluid leakage in the event of a retract port flexible hose failure; 
this condition could lead to an undamped extension of the MLG and could 
result in MLG structural failure, leading to an unsafe, asymmetric 
landing configuration.
    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation 
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian AD CF-2011-14R1, effective 
May 21, 2015 (referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing 
Airworthiness Information, or ''the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe 
condition for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400, -401, and -402 
airplanes. This AD also removes airplanes from the applicability of AD 
2012-08-11. The MCAI states:

    Testing has shown that in the event of a main landing gear (MLG) 
retraction actuator retract port flexible hose failure, in-flight 
vibrations may cause excessive hydraulic fluid leakage. This could 
potentially lead to an undamped extension of the MLG, which may 
result in MLG structural failure, leading to an unsafe asymmetric 
landing configuration.
    The original issue of this [Canadian] AD mandated the [detailed] 
inspection [for defects and damage] of the retract port flexible 
hose and its replacement [installing a new retract port flexible 
hose], when required, to prevent damage to the MLG caused by 
undamped gear extensions.
    Revision 1 of this [Canadian] AD mandates the reorientation of 
the MLG Retraction Actuator to prevent hydraulic fluid leakage in 
the event of a damaged retract port flexible hose.

    Airplanes having serial number 4425 and on were modified in 
production and, therefore, the identified unsafe condition does not 
apply to these airplanes. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on 
the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2016-8183.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and 
the FAA's response to each comment.

Request To Refer to Updated Service Information

    Horizon Air requested that the NPRM be revised to refer to 
Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-106, Revision B, dated June 18, 2015. 
As a result, Horizon Air stated that Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-
106, Revision A, dated April 24, 2015, should be included in paragraph 
(i), ``Credit for Previous Actions,'' of the proposed AD along with 
Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-106, dated September 28, 2012.
    We agree to refer to the latest service information. We have 
confirmed that the revised service information does not require any 
work beyond what was published in the NPRM. We have revised this AD to 
refer to Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-106, Revision B, dated June 
18, 2015, as the appropriate source of service information for 
completing certain actions (Modification Summary (ModSum) 4-902418) 
required by this AD. We have also revised this AD to provide credit for 
actions done before the effective date of this AD using Bombardier 
Service Bulletin 84-32-106, Revision A, dated April 24, 2015.

Request To Correct MCAI Number

    Contact Air Technik GmbH commented that Canadian AD CF-2011-14R1, 
effective May 21, 2015, is incorrectly referenced in paragraph (k),

[[Page 13387]]

``Related Information,'' of the proposed AD as Canadian AD CF-2011-
24R1, effective May 21, 2015.
    We agree that paragraph (k)(1) of this AD should refer to Canadian 
AD CF-2011-14R1, effective May 21, 2015. We have revised paragraph 
(k)(1) of this AD accordingly.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data, including the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this AD with the changes described previously and minor editorial 
changes. We have determined that these changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Bombardier, Inc. has issued the following service information.
    <bullet> Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-105, Revision A, dated 
April 24, 2015. This service information describes procedures for 
reworking and reorienting the retraction actuators (ModSum 4-902327).
    <bullet> Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-106, Revision B, dated 
June 18, 2015. This service information describes procedures for 
reworking and installing reconfigured hydraulic tube assemblies for the 
retraction actuators (ModSum 4-902418).
    Goodrich Aerospace Canada Ltd. has issued the following service 
information.
    <bullet> Goodrich Service Bulletin 46550-32-99 R2, dated February 
19, 2015. This service information describes procedures for reworking 
and reorienting the retraction actuators.
    <bullet> Goodrich Service Bulletin 46455-32-100 R1, dated March 20, 
2013. This service information describes procedures for reworking and 
installing reconfigured hydraulic tube assemblies for the retraction 
actuators.
    These service bulletins contain different requirements and must be 
accomplished at the same time. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 82 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Cost on U.S.
              Action                    Labor cost        Parts cost    Cost per product          operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection (retained action from   1 work-hour x $85              $0  $85 per inspection    $6,970 per
 AD 2012-08-11).                    per hour = $85 per                 cycle.                inspection cycle.
                                    inspection cycle.
Reorient MLG retraction actuators  4 work-hours x $85              0  $340................  $27,880.
 (new action).                      per hour = $340.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements 
that will be required based on the results of the required inspection. 
We have no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need 
this replacement:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       Cost per
                    Action                                    Labor cost                 Parts cost    product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace the retract port flexible hose          4 work-hours x $85 per hour = $340....         $713       $1,053
 (retained action from AD
 2012[dash]08[dash]11).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this 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, 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 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 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

[[Page 13388]]

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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2012-08-11, Amendment 39-17028 (77 FR 24351, April 24, 2012), and 
adding the following new AD:

2017-05-11 Bombardier, Inc.: Amendment 39-18822; Docket No. FAA-
2016-8183; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-083-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective April 17, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2012-08-11, Amendment 39-17028 (77 FR 24351, 
April 24, 2012) (``AD 2012-08-11'').

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400, -401, and -
402 airplanes, certificated in any category, serial numbers 4001 
through 4424 inclusive.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 32, Landing 
gear.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by test reports that showed that failure of 
a retract port flexible hose of a main landing gear (MLG) retraction 
actuator could cause excessive hydraulic fluid leakage. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent hydraulic fluid leakage in the event of a 
retract port flexible hose failure; this condition could lead to an 
undamped extension of the MLG and could result in MLG structural 
failure, leading to an unsafe asymmetric landing configuration.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Retained Repetitive Inspections and Follow-on Action, With New 
Reference

    This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD 
2012-08-11, with new reference to terminating action. Within 600 
flight hours after May 29, 2012 (the effective date of AD 2012-08-
11), do a detailed inspection for defects and damage of the retract 
port flexible hose of the left and right MLG retraction actuators, 
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier 
Service Bulletin 84-32-89, dated March 22, 2011. Repeat the 
inspection thereafter at intervals not to exceed 600 flight hours. 
If any defect or damage is found, before further flight, replace the 
retract port flexible hose with a new or serviceable retract port 
flexible hose, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-89, dated March 22, 2011. Doing 
the actions required by paragraph (h) of this AD terminates the 
inspections required by this paragraph.

(h) New Requirement of This AD: Reorient MLG Retraction Actuators

    Within 6,000 flight hours or 36 months, whichever occurs first 
after the effective date of this AD: Reorient the MLG retraction 
actuator by incorporating Bombardier Modification Summaries 4-902418 
and 4-902327, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
the applicable service information specified in paragraphs (h)(1) 
and (h)(2) of this AD. Accomplishment of the actions required by 
this paragraph terminates the actions required by paragraph (g) of 
this AD.
    (1) Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-105, Revision A, dated 
April 24, 2015; and Goodrich Service Bulletin 46550-32-99 R2, dated 
February 19, 2015.
    (2) Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-106, Revision B, dated 
June 18, 2015; and Goodrich Service Bulletin 46455-32-100 R1, dated 
March 20, 2013.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for actions required by paragraph 
(h) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective 
date of this AD using the service information identified in 
paragraph (i)(1), (i)(2), or (i)(3) of this AD, as applicable.
    (1) Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-105, dated September 28, 
2012.
    (2) Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-106, dated September 10, 
2012.
    (3) Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-106, Revision A, dated 
April 24, 2015.

(j) 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 New York ACO, send it to ATTN: Program Manager, 
Continuing Operational Safety, FAA, New York ACO, 1600 Stewart 
Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7300; fax 
516-794-5531.
    (i) 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.
    (ii) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2012-08-11 are approved as 
AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of this AD.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, New York ACO, 
ANE-170, FAA; or Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA); or 
Bombardier, Inc.'s TCCA Design Approval Organization (DAO). If 
approved by the DAO, the approval must include the DAO-authorized 
signature.

(k) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) Canadian AD CF-2011-14R1, dated May 21, 2015, for related 
information. This MCAI may be found in the AD docket on the Internet 
at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket 
No. FAA-2016-8183.
    (2) Service information identified in this AD that is not 
incorporated by reference is available at the addresses specified in 
paragraphs (l)(4), (l)(5), and (l)(6) of this AD.

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-105, Revision A, dated 
April 24, 2015.
    (ii) Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-106, Revision B, dated 
June 18, 2015.
    (iii) Goodrich Service Bulletin 46550-32-99 R2, dated February 
19, 2015.
    (iv) Goodrich Service Bulletin 46455-32-100 R1, dated March 20, 
2013.
    (3) The following service information was approved for IBR on 
May 29, 2012 (77 FR 24351, April 24, 2012).
    (i) Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-89, dated March 22, 2011.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (4) For Bombardier service information identified in this AD, 
contact Bombardier, Inc., Q-Series Technical Help Desk, 123 Garratt 
Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada; telephone 416-375-4000; 
fax 416-375-4539; email [email protected]; Internet 
http://www.bombardier.com.
    (5) For Goodrich service information identified in this AD, 
contact Goodrich Aerospace Canada Ltd., Landing Systems, 1400 South 
Service Road, West Oakville, ON, Canada L6L 5Y7; telephone +1-877-
808-7575; fax: +1-905-825-6320; email: [email protected]; Internet: 
https://techpubs.goodrich.com/ContactUs.
    (6) You may view this 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.
    (7) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 28, 2017.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-04514 Filed 3-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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