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):
2016-24-04 Bombardier, Inc: Amendment 39-18721; Docket No. FAA-2016- 8178; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-197-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This AD is effective January 17, 2017.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400, -401, and - 402 airplanes, certificated in any category, serial numbers 4156 through 4453 inclusive, 4456, and 4457.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.
(e) Reason
This AD was prompted by a determination by the manufacturer that shims might not have been installed between certain longerons and longeron joint fittings. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct missing shims between the longerons and longeron joint fittings, which could result in a gapping condition and lead to stress corrosion cracking of the longeron joint fittings, and could adversely affect the structural integrity of the wing-to-fuselage attachment joints.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.
(g) Inspection of the External Surface of the Fuselage Skin Panels
At the time specified in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD, as applicable, do a detailed visual inspection of the external surface of the fuselage skin panel for loose or working fasteners (fasteners that show signs of wear, fatigue, or corrosion) and structural damage, in accordance with paragraph 3.B. of the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-53-65, Revision A, dated February 22, 2016.
(1) For airplanes that have accumulated less than 10,000 total flight hours, or less than 5 years in service since new, as of the effective date of this AD: Prior to accumulating 12,000 total flight hours or 6 years in service since new, whichever occurs first.
(2) For airplanes that have accumulated 10,000 total flight hours or more, or 5 years or more in service since new, as of the effective date of this AD: Within 2,000 flight hours or 12 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first.
(h) Corrective Actions
If any loose or working fastener or any structural damage is found during any inspection required by this AD: Before further flight, repair using a method approved by the Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA; or Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA); or
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Bombardier, Inc.'s TCCA Design Approval Organization (DAO); and thereafter do the inspections required by paragraph (i) of this AD. Accomplishment of a repair in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, New York ACO, FAA; or TCCA; or Bombardier, Inc.'s TCCA DAO terminates the repetitive inspections required by paragraph (i) of this AD for the repaired area only.
(i) Repetitive Detailed Visual Inspections
Repeat the detailed visual inspection required by the introductory text to paragraph (g) of this AD at intervals not to exceed 12 months or 2,000 flight cycles, whichever occurs first after accomplishment of the most recent inspection, until the actions required by the introductory text to paragraph (j) of this AD are done.
(j) Inspection for Missing Shims
At the time specified in paragraph (j)(1) or (j)(2) of this AD, as applicable, do a detailed visual inspection of the longeron joint fittings for the existence of shims, in accordance with paragraph 3.C. of the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-53-65, Revision A, dated February22, 2016.
(1) For airplanes that have accumulated less than 10,000 total flight hours, or less than 5 years in service since new, as of the effective date of this AD: Prior to accumulating 18,000 total flight hours or 9 years in service since new, whichever occurs first.
(2) For airplanes that have accumulated 10,000 total flight hours or more, or 5 years or more in service since new, as of the effective date of this AD: Within 8,000 flight hours or 4 years after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first; but not to exceed 30,000 total flight hours or 144 months in service since new, whichever occurs first.
(k) Airplanes With Installed Shims: No Further Action Required
If the inspection required by the introductory text to paragraph (j) of this AD reveals that shims are installed in the longeron joint fittings, no further action is required by this AD.
(l) Airplanes With Missing Shims: High Frequency Eddy Current (HFEC) Inspections and Corrective Actions
If the inspection required by the introductory text to paragraph (j) of this AD reveals that any shim is missing from the longeron joint fittings: Before further flight, do a high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection of the longeron and the longeron joint fittings for any cracking, in accordance with paragraph 3.D. of the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-53-65, Revision A, dated February 22, 2016.
(1) If any crack is found, or if any indication with an amplitude of 50% or more of the calibration signal is found, do the actions specified in paragraphs (l)(1)(i) and (l)(1)(ii) of this AD.
(i) Before further flight: Replace the longeron joint fittings, in accordance with paragraph 3.E. of the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-53-65, Revision A, dated February 22, 2016.
(ii) At the applicable time specified in paragraph (l)(1)(ii)(A) or (l)(1)(ii)(B) of this AD: Report the inspection results to Bombardier, Inc., Q-Series Technical Help Desk, 123 Garratt Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada; telephone 416-375-4000; fax 416-375-4539; email thd.qseries@aero.bombardier.com; Internet http://www.bombardier.com.
(A) If the inspection was done on or after the effective date of this AD: Report within 30 days after that inspection.
(B) If the inspection was done before the effective date of this AD: Report within 30 days after the effective date of this AD.
(2) If no crack or indication with an amplitude of 50% or more of the calibration signal is found: Repeat the HFEC inspection required by the introductory text to paragraph (l) of this AD at intervals not to exceed 12,000 flight hours or 6 years, whichever occurs first after accomplishment of the most recent HFEC inspection, in accordance with paragraph 3.D. of the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-53-65, Revision A, dated February 22, 2016.
(m) Terminating Action for Repetitive HFEC InspectionsReplacement of the longeron joint fittings, in accordance with paragraph 3.E. of the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-53-65, Revision A, dated February 22, 2016, constitutes terminating action for the repetitive HFEC inspections required by paragraph (l)(2) of this AD.
(n) Credit for Previous Actions
This paragraph provides credit for actions required by paragraphs (g), (i), (j), (k), (l), and (m) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective date of this AD using Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-53-65, dated February 27, 2015.
(o) Other FAA AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, New York ACO, ANE-170, 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, asappropriate. If sending information directly to the ACO, send it to ATTN: Program Manager, Continuing Operational Safety, FAA, New York ACO, 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. The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
(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, ANE-170, FAA; or TCCA; or Bombardier, Inc.'s TCCA DAO. If approved by the DAO, the approval must include the DAO-authorized signature.
(3) Reporting Requirements: A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the collection of information. All responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.
(p) Related Information
(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information (MCAI) Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-2015-22, dated August 3, 2015, for related information. This MCAI may be found in theAD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-8178.
(2) Service information identified in this AD that is not incorporated by reference is available at the addresses specified in paragraphs (q)(3) and (q)(4) of this AD.
(q) 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 84-53-65, Revision A, dated February 22, 2016.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact Bombardier, Inc., Q-Series Technical Help Desk, 123 Garratt Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada; telephone 416-375-4000; fax 416-375-4539; email thd.qseries@aero.bombardier.com; Internet http://www.bombardier.com.
(4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
(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.
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