Airworthiness directives: Bombardier,
[Federal Register: October 27, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 207)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 57798-57800]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27oc99-16]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 99-NM-166-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL- 604) Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Bombardier Model CL-600- 1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL- 601-3R, and CL-604) series airplanes. For certain airplanes, this proposal would require removing the hydraulic tube assemblies from the main landing gear (MLG) bay, installing new re-routed hydraulic tube assemblies, and repositioning a fuel line, as applicable. For certain other airplanes, this proposal would require a general visual inspection to determine the routing of certain hydraulic and fuel lines, and repair, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent damage to hydraulic and fuel lines resulting from failure of an MLG, which could cause a fire in the MLG wheel well.
DATES: Comments must be received by November 26, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-NM-166-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be obtained from Bombardier, Inc., Canadair, Aerospace Group, P.O. Box 6087, Station Centre-ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3G9, Canada. This information may be examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, New York Aircraft Certification Office, 10 Fifth Street, Third Floor, Valley Stream, New York.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James E. Delisio, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe and Propulsion Branch, ANE-171, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, New York Aircraft Certification Office, 10 Fifth Street, Third Floor, Valley Stream, New York 11581; telephone (516) 256-7521; fax (516) 568-2716.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All communications received on or before the closing date for comments, specified above, will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this proposal will be filedin the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket Number 99-NM-166-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-NM-166-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056.
Discussion
Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the airworthiness authority for Canada, notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on certain Bombardier Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604) series airplanes. TCCA advises that a hard landing during touch-and-go training resulted in an in-flight separation of a main landing gear (MLG) from a Model CL-600-2A12 (CL-601) series airplane. This separation caused the rupture of hydraulic and fuel lines in the main wheel well area, which resulted in an in-flight fire. Investigation revealed that certain hydraulic and fuel lines are located such that separation of an MLG could cause damage to these hydraulic and fuel lines. This condition, if not corrected, could result in a fire in the MLG wheel well.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
Bombardier has issued Service Bulletin 600-0671, dated August 4, 1997 [for Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600) series airplanes], which describes procedures for removing the five existing hydraulic tube assemblies from the main landing gear bay, installing six new re-routed hydraulic tube assemblies, and repositioning of a fuel line.
Bombardier also has issued Service Bulletin No. 601-0482, dated April 15, 1997, [Model CL-600-2A12 (CL-601) and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A and
[[Page 57799]]
-3R)], which describes procedures for removing five existing hydraulic tube assemblies from the main landing gear bay and replacing them with six new re-routed assemblies.
Bombardier also has issued Service Bulletin 604-29-001, dated December 20, 1996 [for Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-604) series airplanes], which describes procedures for performing a general visual inspection of the routing of the hydraulic lines in the main landing gear bay, and contacting the manufacturer for modification instructions, if necessary.
Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletins is intended to adequately address the identified unsafe condition. TCCA classified these service bulletins as mandatory and issued Canadian airworthiness directive CF-99-14, dated May 7, 1999, in order to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Canada.
FAA's Conclusions
These airplane models are manufactured in Canada and are type certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of Sec. 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, TCCA has kept the FAA informed of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of TCCA, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action is necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for operation in the United States.
Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design registered in the United States, the proposed AD would require accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletins described previously, except as discussed below.
Differences Between Proposed Rule and Relevant Service Information
Operators should note that, although Bombardier Service Bulletin 604-29-001, dated December 20, 1996, specifies that the manufacturer may be contacted for disposition of certain hydraulic and fuel line routing conditions, this proposal would require the modification of those conditions to be accomplished in accordance with a method approved by the FAA.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 249 airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected by this proposed AD.
The FAA estimates that 231 Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A and -3R) series airplanes would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 20 work hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators of these airplanes is estimated to be $277,200, or $1,200 per airplane.
The FAA estimates that 18 Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-604) series airplanes would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspection. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators of these airplanes is estimated to be $1,080, or $60 per airplane.
The cost impact figures discussed above are based on assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct effects 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. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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); and (3) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
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Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness directive:
Bombardier, Inc. (Formerly Canadair):
Docket 99-NM-166-AD.
Applicability: Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600) series airplanes, serial numbers 1004 through 1085 inclusive; Model CL-600-2A12 (CL- 601) series airplanes, serial numbers 3001 through 3066 inclusive; Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604) series airplanes, serial numbers 5001 through 5194 inclusive, and 5301 through 5317 inclusive; certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (b) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously.
To prevent damage to hydraulic and fuel lines resulting from failure of a main landing gear (MLG), which could cause a fire in the MLG wheel well, accomplish the following:
Inspection and Modification
(a) Within 300 landings or 12 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, accomplish the actions in paragraph (a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(3) of this AD, as applicable.
(1) For Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600) series airplanes: Remove the five existing hydraulic tube assemblies from the MLG bay, install six new re-routed hydraulic tube assemblies, and reposition a fuel line, in accordance with Bombardier Service Bulletin 600-0671, dated August 4, 1997.
(2) For Model CL-600-2A12 (CL-601) and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A and -3R) series
[[Page 57800]]
airplanes: Remove the five existing hydraulic tube assemblies from the MLG bay, and install six new re-routed hydraulic tube assemblies, in accordance with Bombardier Service Bulletin 601-0482, dated April 15, 1997.
(3) For Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-604) series airplanes: Perform a general visual inspection of the routing of the hydraulic and fuel lines in the MLG bay in accordance with Bombardier Service Bulletin 604-29-001, dated December 20, 1996.
Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection is defined as: ``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 under normally available lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or drop-light, 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.''
(i) If all hydraulic lines are routed in accordance with the service bulletin, no further action is required by this paragraph.
(ii) If any hydraulic line is not routed in accordance with the service bulletin, prior to further flight, repair in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used if approved by the Manager, New York ACO. Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, New York ACO.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the New York ACO.
Special Flight Permits
(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with Secs. 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in Canadian airworthiness directive CF-99-14, dated May 7, 1999.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 21, 1999. D.L. Riggin, Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 99-28082Filed10-26-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
