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

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 19 (Tuesday, January 30, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4197-4198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1209]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-26217; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-209-AD; 
Amendment 39-14886; AD 2007-01-14]
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 
revising the Airworthiness Limitations Items (ALI) of the maintenance 
requirements manual to require additional inspection requirements of 
the maintenance requirements manual for certain principal structural 
elements (PSEs) related to fuselage cutouts and to reduce an inspection 
threshold for an existing ALI task on the aft entry door. This AD 
results from data obtained from the manufacturer's fatigue testing. We 
are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of certain 
PSEs, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 6, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of March 6, 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: George Duckett, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe and Propulsion Branch, ANE-171, FAA, New York Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, suite 410, Westbury, New 
York 11590; telephone (516) 256-7525; 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 November 2, 2006 (71 FR 64482). That NPRM proposed 
to require revising the Airworthiness Limitations Items (ALI) of the 
maintenance requirements manual to require additional inspection 
requirements of the maintenance requirements manual for certain 
principal structural elements (PSEs) related to fuselage cutouts and to 
reduce an inspection threshold for an existing ALI task on the aft 
entry door.

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

    This AD affects about 21 airplanes of U.S. registry. The required 
actions take about 1 work hour per airplane, at an average labor rate 
of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of 
this AD for U.S. operators is $1,680, or $80 per airplane.

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):


[[Page 4198]]


2007-01-14 Bombardier, Inc. (Formerly de Havilland, Inc.): Amendment 
39-14886. FAA-2006-26217; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-209-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective March 6, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 series 
airplanes, serial numbers 4001, 4003, 4004, 4006, and 4008 through 
4126 inclusive, certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from data obtained from the manufacturer's 
fatigue testing. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct 
fatigue cracking of certain principal structural elements, which 
could result in reduced structural integrity 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.

    Note 1: This AD requires revisions to certain operator 
maintenance documents to include new inspections. Compliance with 
these inspections is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes 
that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the 
areas addressed by these inspections, the operator may not be able 
to accomplish the inspections described in the revisions. In this 
situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must 
request approval for an alternative method of compliance according 
to paragraph (g) of this AD. The request should include a 
description of changes to the required inspections that will ensure 
the continued damage tolerance of the affected structure. The FAA 
has provided guidance for this determination in Advisory Circular 
(AC) 25-1529-1.

Maintenance Requirements Manual Revision

    (f) Within 60 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Airworthiness Limitations Items (ALI), Part 2, Section 2, of the 
Bombardier Q400 Dash 8 Maintenance Requirements Manual, PSM 1-84-7, 
by incorporating the information in Bombardier Q400 Dash 8 Temporary 
Revisions (TR) ALI-53, dated February 16, 2006; and ALI-54, dated 
March 27, 2006. Thereafter, except as provided in paragraph (g) of 
this AD, no alternative structural inspection intervals may be 
approved for the fuselage and doors as specified in the TRs.

    Note 2: The actions required by paragraph (f) of this AD may be 
done by inserting copies of TR ALI-53, dated February 16, 2006, and 
TR ALI-54, dated March 27, 2006; into the ALI, Part 2, Section 2, of 
the Bombardier Q400 Dash 8 Maintenance Requirements Manual, PSM 1-
84-7. When TRs ALI-53 and ALI-54 have been included in the general 
revisions of the maintenance requirements manual, the general 
revisions may be inserted into the maintenance requirements manual, 
provided the relevant information in the general revision is 
identical to that in TRs ALI-53 and ALI-54.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g)(1) The Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), 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

    (h) Canadian airworthiness directive CF-2006-10, dated May 12, 
2006, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Bombardier Q400 Dash 8 Temporary Revision ALI-
53, dated February 16, 2006, to the Airworthiness Limitations Items, 
Part 2, Section 2, of the Bombardier Q400 Dash 8 Maintenance 
Requirements Manual, PSM 1-84-7; and Bombardier Q400 Dash 8 
Temporary Revision ALI-54, dated March 27, 2006, to the 
Airworthiness Limitations Items, Part 2, Section 2, of the 
Bombardier Q400 Dash 8 Maintenance Requirements Manual, PSM 1-84-7; 
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 these documents 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 December 26, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-1209 Filed 1-29-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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