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

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 241 (Friday, December 15, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 75409-75411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21267]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-25723; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-007-AD; 
Amendment 39-14858; AD 2006-25-17]
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 cleaning/inspecting of the drain hole of each pitot static 
probe and repetitive cleaning of the pitot lines in the pitot static 
system. This AD results from reports of incidents of airspeed mismatch 
between the pilot, co-pilot, and standby airspeed indications caused by 
contamination in the pitot static system. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent erroneous/misleading altitude and airspeed information from a 
contaminated pitot static system to the flightcrew, which could reduce 
the ability of the flightcrew to maintain the safe flight and landing 
of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective January 19, 2007.

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: Ezra Sasson, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Flight Test Branch, ANE-172, FAA, New York Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, suite 410, Westbury, New 
York 11590; telephone (516) 228-7320; 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

[[Page 75410]]

(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 September 5, 2006 (71 FR 52300). That NPRM proposed 
to require repetitive cleaning/inspecting of the drain hole of each 
pitot static probe and repetitive cleaning of the pitot lines in the 
pitot static system.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the single comment received.

Request To Include Terminating Action for the Repetitive Inspections of 
the Pitot Static Drain Holes

    Horizon Air has no objection to the NPRM, but requests that we add 
a terminating action for the repetitive inspections of the pitot static 
drain holes specified in paragraph (f) of the NPRM. Horizon states that 
Bombardier has issued Service Bulletin 84-34-59, Revision A, dated 
January 9, 2006, to correct the moisture in the pitot static system. 
Horizon states that the service bulletin specifies installing new tube 
assemblies with a larger diameter; these tube assemblies are designed 
to improve the water drainage characteristics of the pitot static 
system and reduce airspeed mismatch events.
    We do agree that the procedures provided in Bombardier Service 
Bulletin 84-34-59, Revision A, dated January 9, 2006, would improve 
drainage; however, we have learned that Bombardier is in the process of 
revising this service bulletin. Once this service bulletin is revised 
and approved, we may consider issuing additional rulemaking to mandate 
the actions specified in the revised service bulletin, along with a 
modification to prevent the freezing of moisture once the modification 
is developed, approved, and available, which will be provided in a 
separate service bulletin. Together, the actions in these service 
bulletins are intended to terminate the requirements of this AD. We 
have made no change to the final rule in this regard.

Conclusion

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

Interim Action

    We consider this AD interim action. The manufacturer is currently 
developing a modification that will address the unsafe condition 
identified in this AD. Once this modification is developed, approved, 
and available, we may consider additional rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
to comply with this AD. There are about 181 airplanes of U.S. registry.

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Average
              Action                    Work hours        labor rate    Cost per airplane        Fleet cost
                                                           per hour
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clean/inspect pitot drain holes..  1, per clean/                 $80  $80, per clean/       $14,480, per clean/
                                    inspection cycle.                  inspection cycle.     inspection cycle.
Clean pitot lines................  2, per clean cycle..           80  $160, per clean       $28,960, per clean
                                                                       cycle.                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, 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):

2006-25-17 Bombardier, Inc. (Formerly de Havilland, Inc.): Amendment 
39-14858. Docket No. FAA-2006-25723; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-
007-AD.

[[Page 75411]]

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective January 19, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

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

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of incidents of airspeed 
mismatch between the pilot, co-pilot, and standby airspeed 
indications caused by contamination in the pitot static system. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent erroneous/misleading altitude and 
airspeed information from a contaminated pitot static system to the 
flightcrew, which could reduce the ability of the flightcrew to 
maintain the safe flight and landing 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.

Initial and Repetitive Cleaning and Inspection of the Pitot Static 
Drain Holes

    (f) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, do 
paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD. Thereafter, repeat the 
actions in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD at intervals not 
to exceed 70 flight hours.
    (1) Clean the drain holes of all the pitot static probes in 
accordance with a method approved by the Manager, New York Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), FAA. Paragraph 4.B., Procedure 2, 
subparagraphs (1) through (3) of Bombardier Task 20-00-40-170-801 in 
the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM), PSM 1-
84-2, Part 2, is one approved method for accomplishing the 
requirements of this paragraph.
    (2) Before further flight after cleaning the drain holes of the 
pitot static probes, as specified in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, do 
a general visual inspection of the drain holes of all the pitot 
static probes for blockages, in accordance with a method approved by 
the Manager, New York ACO. Paragraph 4.A., Procedure 1, of 
Bombardier Task 20-00-40-170-801 in the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 AMM, 
PSM 1-84-2, Part 2, is one approved method for accomplishing the 
requirements of this paragraph.

    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection 
is: ``A visual examination of an interior or exterior area, 
installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or 
irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within touching 
distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be necessary to 
ensure visual access to all surfaces in the inspection area. This 
level of inspection is made under normally available lighting 
conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or 
droplight and may require removal or opening of access panels or 
doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be required to gain 
proximity to the area being checked.''

    (g) If any blockage is found in the drain hole of any pitot 
static probe during the inspection required in paragraph (f)(2) of 
this AD, before further flight, repeat the cleaning and inspection 
specified in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD on the affected 
pitot static probe.

Cleaning of the Pitot Static Lines

    (h) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, clean 
the pitot lines of the pitot static system in accordance with a 
method approved by the Manager, New York ACO. Bombardier Task 34-11-
00-170-801 in the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 AMM, PSM 1-84-2, Part 2, is 
one approved method for accomplishing the actions required by this 
paragraph. Thereafter, repeat the cleaning of the pitot lines at 
intervals not to exceed 600 flight hours.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(1) The Manager, New York ACO, 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

    (j) Canadian airworthiness directive CF-2005-15, dated May 18, 
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) None.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 7, 2006.
Michael J. Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-21267 Filed 12-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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