[Federal Register: June 10, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 110)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 27476-27478]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10jn09-21]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2009-0526; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-029-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 Series
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the
products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe
condition as:
Four aircraft have experienced a dual AC generator shutdown,
caused by a broken propeller de-ice bus bar which short-circuited
with the backplate assembly.
* * * A short circuit can cause a dual AC generator shutdown
that, particularly in conjunction with an engine failure in icing
conditions, could result in reduced controllability of the aircraft.
* * * * *
Reduced controllability of the airplane in certain operating conditions
affects continued safe flight and landing. The proposed AD would
require actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition
described in the MCAI.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 10, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., 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., 400 C[ocirc]te-Vertu Road West, Dorval, Qu[eacute]bec
H4S 1Y9, Canada; telephone 514-855-5000; fax 514-855-7401; e-mail
thd.qseries@aero.bombardier.com; Internet http://www.bombardier.com.
You may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
Washington. For information on the availability of this material at the
FAA, call 425-227-1221 or 425-227-1152.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is
in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket
shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wing Chan, Aerospace Engineer,
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) 228-7311; fax (516) 794-5531.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2009-0526;
Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-029-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD based on those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-
2009-01, dated January 19, 2009 (referred to after this as ``the
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The
MCAI states:
Four aircraft have experienced a dual AC generator shutdown,
caused by a broken propeller de-ice bus bar which short-circuited
with the backplate assembly.
It was subsequently determined that any friction or contact
between a propeller de-ice bus bar and the backplate assembly can
cause an intermittent short circuit. Such a short circuit can cause
a dual AC generator shutdown that, particularly in conjunction with
an engine failure in icing conditions, could result in reduced
controllability of the aircraft.
This directive mandates revision of the Airplane Flight Manual
(AFM) to introduce a procedure that restores AC power following a
failure of No. 1 and No. 2 AC generators with propeller de-ice on.
Additionally, in
[[Page 27477]]
order to prevent similar dual AC generator shutdowns, it mandates
the application of sealant as insulation between the propeller de-
ice bus bars and the backplate assembly.
Reduced controllability of the airplane in certain operating conditions
affects continued safe flight and landing. You may obtain further
information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.
Relevant Service Information
Bombardier has issued Service Bulletin 84-61-03, Revision `A,'
dated September 18, 2008; and Bombardier Temporary Amendment (TA) 14,
Issue 1, dated May 10, 2006, to the Dash 8 Q400 Airplane Flight Manual
PSM 1-84-1A. The actions described in this service information are
intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same
type design.
Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information
We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
We might also have proposed different actions in this AD from those
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are
highlighted in a NOTE within the proposed AD.
Costs of Compliance
Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD
would affect about 62 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that
it would take about 6 work-hours per product to comply with the basic
requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $80 per
work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed
AD on U.S. operators to be $29,760, or $480 per product.
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 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 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. 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 and placed it in the AD docket.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, 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 AD:
Bombardier, Inc. (Formerly de Havilland, Inc.): Docket No. FAA-2009-
0526; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-029-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by July 10, 2009.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Bombardier Model DHC-8-400, DHC-8-401,
and DHC-8-402 airplanes, certificated in any category, serial
numbers 4001, 4003, 4004, 4006, and 4008 through 4154 inclusive.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 61:
Propellers/Propulsors.
Reason
(e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
states:
Four aircraft have experienced a dual AC generator shutdown,
caused by a broken propeller de-ice bus bar which short-circuited
with the backplate assembly.
It was subsequently determined that any friction or contact
between a propeller de-ice bus bar and the backplate assembly can
cause an intermittent short circuit. Such a short circuit can cause
a dual AC generator shutdown that, particularly in conjunction with
an engine failure in icing conditions, could result in reduced
controllability of the aircraft.
This directive mandates revision of the Airplane Flight Manual
(AFM) to introduce a procedure that restores AC power following a
failure of No. 1 and No. 2 AC generators with propeller de-ice on.
Additionally, in order to prevent similar dual AC generator
shutdowns, it mandates the application of sealant as insulation
between the propeller de-ice bus bars and the backplate assembly.
Reduced controllability of the airplane in certain operating
conditions affects continued safe flight and landing.
Actions and Compliance
(f) Unless already done, do the following actions.
(1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise
the Limitations section of the AFM by inserting a copy of Bombardier
Temporary Amendment (TA) 14, Issue 1, dated May 10, 2006, to the
Dash 8 Q400 AFM PSM 1-84-1A. When the information in Bombardier TA
14, Issue 1, dated May 10, 2006, is included in the general
revisions of the AFM, the general revisions may be inserted in the
AFM and the TA may be removed.
[[Page 27478]]
(2) Within 5,000 flight hours after the effective date of this
AD: Apply sealant between the bus bar assemblies and the backplate
assembly by incorporating Modsum 4W163047, Revision B, dated August
11, 2008, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of
Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-61-03, Revision `A,' dated September
18, 2008.
(3) Incorporating Bombardier DHC-8-S400 Modification Summary
Package 4W163047 before the effective date of this AD in accordance
with Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-61-03, dated April 27, 2007, is
considered acceptable for compliance with the requirements of
paragraph (f)(2) of this AD.
FAA AD Differences
Note 1: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information
as follows: No differences.
Other FAA AD Provisions
(g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, New
York Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the authority to
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found
in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Wing Chan, Aerospace
Engineer, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Flight Test Branch, ANE-
172, FAA, New York ACO, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury,
New York 11590; telephone (516) 228-7311; fax (516) 794-5531. Before
using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies,
notify your principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or principal
avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a principal
inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office.
(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
(3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information
collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-
0056.
Related Information
(h) Refer to MCAI Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-2009-01,
dated January 19, 2009; and Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-61-03,
Revision `A,' dated September 18, 2008; for related information.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 2, 2009.
Stephen P. Boyd,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-13505 Filed 6-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P