Rule2024-25977
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Type Certificate Previously Held by C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership (CSALP); Bombardier, Inc.) Airplanes
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 12, 2024
Effective
December 17, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-09- 03, which applied to certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. AD 2021-09-03 required repetitive replacements of the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) antenna and repetitive inspections of the exterior fuselage skin around the ELT antenna attachment area. This AD was prompted by a report that there was an in-service failure of an ELT antenna that occurred before the repetitive replacement interval required by AD 2021-09-03, and that a terminating action was developed. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2021-09-03 and requires replacement of the ELT antenna with a new ELT antenna, inspection of the exterior fuselage skin around the ELT antenna attachment holes, and repair if necessary; as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 218 (Tuesday, November 12, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 12, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 88878-88881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25977]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2024-0464; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01556-T;
Amendment 39-22875; AD 2024-22-04]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Type
Certificate Previously Held by C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership
(CSALP); Bombardier, Inc.) Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-09-
03, which applied to certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model
BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. AD 2021-09-03 required
repetitive replacements of the emergency locator
[[Page 88879]]
transmitter (ELT) antenna and repetitive inspections of the exterior
fuselage skin around the ELT antenna attachment area. This AD was
prompted by a report that there was an in-service failure of an ELT
antenna that occurred before the repetitive replacement interval
required by AD 2021-09-03, and that a terminating action was developed.
This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2021-09-03 and requires
replacement of the ELT antenna with a new ELT antenna, inspection of
the exterior fuselage skin around the ELT antenna attachment holes, and
repair if necessary; as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is
incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective December 17, 2024.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 17,
2024.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2024-0464; or in person at Docket Operations between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD
docket contains this final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The
address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation,
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
<bullet> For Transport Canada material identified in this AD,
contact Transport Canada, Transport Canada National Aircraft
Certification, 159 Cleopatra Drive, Nepean, Ontario K1A 0N5, Canada;
telephone 888-663-3639; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ce9a8de08fa7bcb9a1bcbaa6a7a0abbdbd8aa7bcabadbaa7b8abbde38da1a0bda7a9a0abbdaaaba0afb8a7a9afaca7a2a7baabe09a8d8ebaade0a9ade0adaf"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="297d6a0768405b5e465b5d4140474c5a5a6d405b4c4a5d405f4c5a046a46475a404e474c5a4d4c47485f404e484b4045405d4c077d6a695d4a074e4a074a48">[email protected]</span></a>; website tc.canada.ca/en/aviation.
<bullet> You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des
Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the
FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2024-0464.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yaser Osman, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 860-
386-1786; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5128302234237f3c7f3e223c303f113730307f363e27"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ef968e9c8a9dc182c1809c828e81af898e8ec1888099">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2021-09-03, Amendment 39-21516 (86 FR
20266, April 19, 2021); corrected April 27, 2021 (86 FR 22111) (AD
2021-09-03). AD 2021-09-03 applied to certain Airbus Canada Limited
Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. AD 2021-09-03
required repetitive replacements of the ELT antenna and repetitive
inspections of the exterior fuselage skin around the ELT antenna
attachment area. The FAA issued AD 2021-09-03 to address ELT antenna
failure, which can lead to the loss of the ELT antenna and the
development of fuselage cracks that can result in an inability to
maintain cabin pressure.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on March 11, 2024 (89 FR
17343). The NPRM was prompted by AD CF-2022-67, dated December 6, 2022
(Transport Canada AD CF-2022-67) (also referred to as the MCAI), issued
by Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada. The
MCAI states that since Transport Canada AD CF-2021-10 (corresponds to
AD 2021-09-03) was issued, an aluminum ELT antenna has been made
available to prevent ELT antenna failures resulting from vibration
loads induced by air vortices shed by the Gogo 2Ku antenna radome. In
addition, there was an in-service failure of an ELT antenna that
occurred before the repetitive replacement interval required by
Transport Canada AD CF-2021-10 was reached. The MCAI also states
installation of the aluminum ELT antenna terminates the requirements of
Transport Canada CF-2022-67, and that the applicability has been
limited to airplanes on which the aluminum ELT antenna has not been
installed in production.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to continue to require the actions in
AD 2021-09-03 and replacement of the ELT antenna with a new ELT
antenna, inspection of the exterior fuselage skin around the ELT
antenna attachment holes, and repair if necessary, as specified in
Transport Canada AD CF-2022-67. The FAA is issuing this AD to address
ELT antenna failure, which can lead to the loss of the ELT antenna and
the development of fuselage cracks that can result in an inability to
maintain cabin pressure.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2024-0464.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received one comment from a single commenter, Delta Air
Lines (Delta). The following presents the comment received on the NPRM
and the FAA's response to each comment.
Request To Clarify Applicability
Delta requested the FAA revise the applicability of the proposed AD
to clarify it does not apply to airplanes that are not equipped with a
Gogo 2Ku antenna radome, part number (P/N) P23743-605 or P/N P23743-
606, as identified in the applicability of Transport Canada AD CF-2022-
67. Delta stated that for AD 2021-09-03 (corresponding to Transport
Canada AD CF-2021-10), the FAA clarified that if an airplane is not
equipped with the part numbers identified in the applicability of
Transport Canada AD CF-2021-10, then the requirements of AD 2021-09-03
do not apply to that airplane. As justification for its request, Delta
noted that the applicability of Transport Canada AD CF-2021-10 mirrors
the applicability of Transport Canada AD CF-2022-67.
The FAA agrees that if an airplane is not equipped with an affected
part number identified in the MCAI referenced in paragraph (c) of this
AD, then this AD does not apply to that airplane. The FAA has not
changed this AD in this regard.
Conclusion
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to
the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI
referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the
comment received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this
AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on this product. Except for minor editorial changes,
this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will
increase the economic burden on any operator.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
Transport Canada AD CF-2022-67 specifies procedures for:
<bullet> Repetitive replacements of the ELT antenna with a new ELT
antenna and repetitive inspections for damage (including cracking) of
the exterior
[[Page 88880]]
fuselage skin around the ELT antenna attachment area, and
<bullet> A one-time replacement of the ELT antenna with a new
aluminum ELT antenna, and detailed inspection for damage (including
cracking) of the exterior fuselage skin around the ELT antenna
attachment holes, and repair of any damage, which terminate the
repetitive replacements and inspections.
This material 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 56 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Retained actions from AD 2021-09-03... 4 work-hours x $85 per $4,230 $4,570 $255,920
hour = $340.
New actions........................... 4 work-hours x $85 per 5,561 5,901 330,456
hour = $340.
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The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition actions that are required based on the results of any
required actions. The FAA has no way of determining the number of
aircraft that might need these on-condition actions:
Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
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Cost per
Labor cost Parts cost product
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4 work-hours x $85 per hour = $340.... $2,000 $2,340
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According to the manufacturer, some or all of the costs of this AD
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected individuals. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for
affected individuals. As a result, the FAA has included all known costs
in the cost estimate.
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.
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 certify that 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.
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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-09-03, Amendment 39-21516
(86 FR 20266, April 19, 2021; corrected April 27, 2021 (86 FR 22111));
and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:
2024-22-04 Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Type Certificate
Previously Held by C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership (CSALP);
Bombardier, Inc.): Amendment 39-22875; Docket No. FAA-2024-0464;
Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01556-T.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective December 17,
2024.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD replaces AD 2021-09-03, Amendment 39-21516 (86 FR 20266,
April 19, 2021); corrected April 27, 2021 (86 FR 22111) (AD 2021-09-
03).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Type
Certificate previously held by C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership
(CSALP); Bombardier, Inc.) Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11
airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Transport
Canada AD CF-2022-67, dated December 6, 2022 (Transport Canada AD
CF-2022-67).
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25, Equipment/
furnishings; 53, Fuselage.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of the failure of emergency
locator transmitter (ELT) antennas, including an in-service failure
that occurred before the repetitive replacement interval required by
AD 2021-09-03, and by the development of a terminating action. The
[[Page 88881]]
FAA is issuing this AD to address ELT antenna failure. The unsafe
condition, if not addressed, could result in loss of the ELT antenna
and the development of fuselage cracks that can result in an
inability to maintain cabin pressure.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Requirements
Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in
accordance with, Transport Canada AD CF-2022-67.
(h) Exception to Transport Canada AD CF-2022-67
(1) Where Transport Canada AD CF-2022-67 refers to its effective
date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where Transport Canada AD CF-2022-67 refers to April 1, 2021
(the effective date of Transport Canada AD CF-2021-10, dated March
18, 2021), this AD requires using May 4, 2021 (the effective date of
AD 2021-09-03).
(3) Where Transport Canada AD CF-2022-67 refers to hours air
time, this AD requires using flight hours.
(4) Where paragraph C of Transport Canada AD CF-2022-67
specifies to ``replace the ELT antenna with a new aluminum ELT
antenna and inspect the exterior fuselage skin around the ELT
antenna attachment holes for damage, repairing any damage found
before further flight,'' this AD requires replacing that text with
``replace the ELT antenna with a new aluminum ELT antenna, including
doing an inspection of the exterior fuselage skin around the ELT
antenna attachment holes for damage, and, before further flight,
repair any damage found.''
(i) Additional AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
International Validation 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 responsible Flight Standards Office, as
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the
International Validation Branch, mail it to the address identified
in paragraph (j) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c3faee829590ee8d9a82808cee808c9083a5a2a2eda4acb5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8eb7a3cfd8dda3c0d7cfcdc1a3cdc1ddcee8efefa0e9e1f8">[email protected]</span></a>.
(i) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
(ii) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2021-09-03 are not
approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of Transport
Canada AD CF-2022-67 that are required by paragraph (g) of this AD.
(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD
to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International
Validation Branch, FAA; or Transport Canada; or Airbus Canada
Limited Partnership's Transport Canada Design Approval Organization
(DAO). If approved by the DAO, the approval must include the DAO-
authorized signature.
(j) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Yaser Osman,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 860-386-1786; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fe879f8d9b8cd093d0918d939f90be989f9fd0999188"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4e372f3d2b3c602360213d232f200e282f2f60292138">[email protected]</span></a>.
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions
required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Transport Canada AD CF-2022-67, dated December 6, 2022.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For Transport Canada material identified in this AD, contact
Transport Canada, Transport Canada National Aircraft Certification,
159 Cleopatra Drive, Nepean, Ontario K1A 0N5, Canada; telephone 888-
663-3639; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1145523f507863667e636579787f746262557863747265786774623c527e7f6278767f746275747f706778767073787d7865743f45525165723f76723f7270"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f2a6b1dcb39b80859d80869a9b9c978181b69b809791869b849781dfb19d9c819b959c978196979c93849b9593909b9e9b8697dca6b1b28691dc9591dc9193">[email protected]</span></a>; website tc.canada.ca/en/
aviation.
(4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness
Products Section, Operational Safety 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 material at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability
of this material at NARA, visit <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations</a> or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d9bfabf7b0b7aaa9bcbaadb0b6b799b7b8abb8f7beb6af"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6a0c18440304191a0f091e0305042a040b180b440d051c">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on October 24, 2024.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-25977 Filed 11-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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