[Federal Register: February 1, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 20)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 5078-5081]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01fe05-19]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-20222; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-230-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106,
-201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -
311, and -315 airplanes. The subject of this proposed AD is the pilot's
static system. This proposed AD would require
[[Page 5079]]
revising the airplane flight manual to include applicable procedures to
follow when the flightcrew receives abnormal indications of airspeed,
altitude, or vertical airspeed. This proposed AD would also require
modifying the static system. This proposed AD is prompted by a report
of a leak in the static pressure system, which could result in loss of
the static systems and consequent erroneous data displayed on the
pilot's flight instruments. We are proposing this AD to advise the
flightcrew of applicable procedures in the event of abnormal
indications of airspeed, altitude, or vertical airspeed; and to prevent
leaks in the static system, which could result in the loss of critical
flight information that could result in reduced controllability of the
airplane or controlled flight into terrain.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 3, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed AD.
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590.
By fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Bombardier, Inc., Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division, 123 Garratt
Boulevard, Downsview, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada.
You can examine the contents of this 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., room PL-
401, on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC. This
docket number is FAA-2005-20222; the directorate identifier for this
docket is 2004-NM-230-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:
Comments Invited
We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-20222;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-230-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the
proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of our
docket Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union,
etc.). You can review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you
can visit http://dms.dot.gov.
Examining the Docket
You can examine the 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 DOT
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.
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 DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -
301, -311, and -315 airplanes. TCCA advises that an investigation of an
incident involving erroneous data displayed on the pilot's flight
instruments has revealed that a leak in the pilot's side static
pressure system, downstream of the alternate selector valve, could
result in the loss of both the pilot's normal and alternate static
systems. This condition, if not corrected, could result in the display
of abnormal indications of airspeed, altitude, or vertical airspeed due
to leaks in the static system and prolonged loss of critical flight
information that could result in reduced controllability of the
airplane or controlled flight into terrain.
Relevant Service Information
Bombardier has issued Service Bulletin 8-34-221, Revision `A,'
dated September 15, 2003. The service bulletin describes procedures to
modify the pilot's side static system to prevent leaks in the system.
For certain airplanes the modification provides increased independence
of the static pressure source for the pilot's primary and standby
flight instruments, and for certain other airplanes the modification
corrects the length of the static system hose.
TCCA mandated the service bulletin and issued Canadian
airworthiness directive CF-2003-25, dated October 10, 2003, to ensure
the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Canada.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
These airplane models are manufactured in Canada and are type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
section 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. We have examined TCCA's findings,
evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that we need to
issue an AD for products of this type design that are certificated for
operation in the United States.
Therefore, we are issuing this AD to provide procedures to the
flightcrew in the event of abnormal indications of airspeed, altitude,
or vertical airspeed; and to prevent leaks in the static system, which
could result in the loss of critical flight information that could
result in reduced controllability of the airplane or controlled flight
into terrain. This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in
the service information described previously, except as discussed under
``Differences Between the Proposed AD and Canadian Airworthiness
Directive.''
Differences Between the Proposed AD and Canadian Airworthiness
Directive
This proposed AD advises revising the applicable de Havilland Dash
8 airplane flight manual to incorporate the text specified in paragraph
(f) of this
[[Page 5080]]
proposed AD. The Canadian AD does not include such a requirement. In
Canada, operators are mandated to use the latest flight manual and
therefore, TCCA is not required to issue an AD to require flight manual
revisions.
Costs of Compliance
The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators
to comply with this proposed AD.
Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours Average labor Parts Cost per registered Fleet cost
rate per hour airplane airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revise AFM................................ 1 $65 None........................ $65 181 $11,765
Modify static system...................... 2 65 100-200..................... 230-330 181 41,630-59,730
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authority for This Rulemaking
The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is
found in Title 49 of the United States Code. 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.
This rulemaking is promulgated 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
proposed AD.
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 the 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. 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 proposed AD. 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.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new
airworthiness directive (AD):
Bombardier, Inc. (Formerly de Havilland, Inc.): Docket No. FAA-2005-
20222; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-230-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The Federal Aviation Administration must receive comments on
this AD action by March 3, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Bombardier Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -
201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 airplanes, certificated in any
category; serial numbers 003 through 598 inclusive.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by a report of a leak in the static
pressure system, which could result in loss of the static systems
and consequent erroneous data displayed on the pilot's flight
instruments. The subject of this AD is the pilot's static system. We
are issuing this AD to advise the flightcrew of applicable
procedures in the event of abnormal indications of airspeed,
altitude, or vertical airspeed; and to prevent leaks in the static
system, which could result in the loss of critical flight
information that could result in reduced controllability of the
airplane or controlled flight into terrain.
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.
Revision to Airplane Flight Manual
(f) Within 10 days after the effective date of this AD, revise
the Normal and Abnormal Procedures sections of the applicable de
Havilland Dash 8 flight manual to include the following statement in
paragraph 4.11.1 of 4.11 Pitot--Static and Stall Warning System
Failures. This may be done by inserting a copy of this AD in the
applicable flight manual.
``4.11.1 ABNORMAL INDICATIONS OF AIRSPEED, ALTITUDE AND VERTICAL
AIRSPEED.
``1. Appropriate STATIC SOURCE selector--ALTERNATE. If switching
the STATIC SOURCE selector to ALTERNATE does not correct the
abnormal indications:
``2. Rely on the flight instruments on the opposite side and
land as soon as practicable.''
Note 1: When a statement identical to that in paragraph (f) of
this AD has been included in the general revisions of the applicable
flight manual, the general revisions may be inserted into the flight
manual, and the copy of this AD may be removed from the flight
manual.
Modification of the Static System
(g) For airplanes having serial numbers 003 through 590
inclusive: Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD,
modify the static system in accordance with Part A and Part C of the
Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-34-221,
Revision `A,' dated September 15, 2003.
(h) For airplanes having serial numbers 591 through 598
inclusive: Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD,
modify the static system in accordance with Part B and Part C of the
Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-34-221,
Revision `A,' dated September 15, 2003.
Modifications Done According to Previous Issue of Service Bulletin
(i) Modifications done before the effective date of this AD in
accordance with Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-34-221, dated May 27,
2003, are acceptable for compliance with the applicable
modifications specified in paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD.
[[Page 5081]]
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(j) The Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office,
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve
AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures
found in 14 CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(k) Canadian airworthiness directive CF-2003-25, dated October
10, 2003, also addresses the subject of this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 21, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-1808 Filed 1-31-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P