AD 2019-12-08

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900), and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that certain aft fuselage fittings are susceptible to cracking because they were not manufactured correctly. This AD requires replacement of those fittings with correctly manufactured parts, an eddy current inspection of certain fastener holes for cracking, and corrective actions if necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Final rule.

Adoption of the Amendment

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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2019-12-08 Bombardier, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2019-0119; Product Identifier 2018-NM-156-AD.

(a) Effective Date

This AD is effective August 12, 2019.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to Bombardier, Inc., airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD.
(1) Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes, serial numbers (S/Ns) 15336 through 15343 inclusive, 15351, and 15358 through 15362 inclusive.
(2) Model CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes, S/N 19041.

(d) Subject

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.

(e) Reason

This AD was prompted by reports that certain aft fuselage fittings are susceptible to cracking because they were not manufactured correctly. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the possibility of undetected cracks developing in the aft fuselage fittings due to the absence of heat treatment, which could lead to aircraft structural failure.

(f) Compliance

Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

Within 8,800 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, remove all aft fuselage fittings, replace with new aft fuselage fittings, and do an eddy current inspection of the fastener holes of frame FS1162.00 and stringers 17L, 17R, and 18L for cracking, in accordance with Part C of the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-53-056, dated February 11, 2016.

(h) Corrective Action for Cracking

If any crack is found during any inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD: Before further flight, repair using a method approved by the Manager, New York ACO Branch, FAA; or Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA); or Bombardier, Inc.'s TCCA Design Approval Organization (DAO). If approved by the DAO, the approval must include the DAO-authorized signature.

(i) Other FAA AD Provisions

The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, New York ACO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the certification office, send it to ATTN: Program Manager, Continuing Operational Safety, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7300; fax 516-794-5531. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office.
(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, New York ACO Branch, FAA; or TCCA; or Bombardier, Inc.'s TCCA DAO. If approved by the DAO, the approval must include the DAO-authorized signature.

(j) Related Information

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information (MCAI) Canadian AD CF-2018-25, dated October 3, 2018, for related information. This MCAI may be found in the AD docket on the internet at

[[Page 32268]]

http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0119.
(2) For more information about this AD, contact Aziz Ahmed, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, New York 11590; telephone: 516-287-7329; fax: 516-794-5531; email: Aziz.Ahmed@faa.gov.

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-53-056, dated February 11, 2016.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact Bombardier, Inc., 400 C[ocirc]te-Vertu Road West, Dorval, Qu[eacute]bec H4S 1Y9, Canada; Widebody Customer Response Center North America toll-free telephone 1-866-538-1247 or direct-dial telephone 1-514-855-2999; fax 514-855-7401; email ac.yul@aero.bombardier.com; internet http://www.bombardier.com.
(4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
(5) You may view this service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

Discussion

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900), and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on March 12, 2019 (84 FR 8832). The NPRM was prompted by reports that certain aft fuselage fittings are susceptible to cracking because they were not manufactured correctly. The NPRM proposed to require replacement of those fittings with correctly manufactured parts, an eddy current inspection of certain fastener holes for cracking, and corrective actions if necessary.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address the possibility of undetected cracks developing in the aft fuselage fittings due to the absence of heat treatment, which could lead to aircraft structural failure.
Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation authority for Canada, has issued Canadian AD CF-2018-25, dated October 3, 2018 (referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900), and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. The MCAI states:

Bombardier Aerospace (BA) has informed Transport Canada that a batch of AFT fuselage fittings were not heat treated to the required material specification. Due to the absence of heat treatment for those parts, the affected AFT fuselage fittings have very low mechanical properties and there is a possibility for undetected cracks to develop as a result of mooring operations, which could lead to aircraft structural failure.
This [Canadian] AD mandates the removal and replacement of the affected AFT fuselage fittings.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019- 0119.

Comments

The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this final rule. The FAA has considered the comment received. The commenter indicated support for the NPRM.

Conclusion

The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting this final rule as proposed, except for minor editorial changes. The FAA has determined that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the NPRM for addressing the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Bombardier has issued Service Bulletin 670BA-53-056, dated February 11, 2016. This service information describes, among other actions, procedures for removal and replacement of the aftfuselage fittings, and an eddy current inspection of certain fastener holes for cracking.
This service information is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 12 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 32267]]

Estimated Costs for Required Actions ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Labor cost Parts cost product operators ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 work-hours x $85 per hour = $425........................... (*) $425 * $5,100 * ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Parts cost unavailable.

The FAA has received no definitive data that would enable us to provide cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this AD.

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.
The FAA is 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.
This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the authority to issue ADs applicable to transport category airplanes and associated appliances to the Director of the System Oversight Division.

Regulatory Findings

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 certifythat this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866,
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety.