Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report summarizing each FAApublic contact
[[Page 16068]]
concerned with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments submitted in response to this action must submit a selfaddressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket Number 2001NM346AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM114, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001NM346AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 980554056.

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 CL6002B19 series airplanes. TCCA advises that certain Leach ``H'' series electrical relays having part number (P/N) HA4A039 may have defective moving blade assemblies due to improper heat treatment. These defective Leach ``H'' series relays were manufactured between March 12, 2000, and December 10, 2000, and have manufacturing date codes from 0011 to 0050. These relays were not installed in airplanes having line numbers 70037067 inclusive and 70697373 inclusive at the time of delivery. However, if any of the airplanes with those line numbers have had an original relay replaced after March 1, 2000, it is possible that the replacement relay was defective. According to Leach International, relays with the defective moving blade assemblies failed within the first 500 flight cycles. This action is necessary to prevent the failure of an electrical relay due to a defective moving blade assembly, which could result in the inability to generate electrical power from the emergency system, if needed.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

Bombardier has issued Alert Service Bulletin A601R24105, Revision ``A'', dated July 20, 2001, which describes procedures for inspection of Leach ``H'' series relays having part number (P/N) HA4A039 to determine the manufacturing date code. The service bulletin also describes procedures for replacement of those Leach ``H'' series relays having manufacturing date codes 0011 through 0050 with new Leach ``H'' series relays having the same part number but different manufacturing date codes.

The affected relayscalled ``suspect relays'' in the service bulletinare the following:

TCCA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued Canadian airworthiness directive CF200127, dated July 24, 2001, in order to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Canada.

FAA's Conclusions

This airplane model is manufactured in Canada and is type certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of Sec. 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. The FAA has examined the findings of TCCA, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action is necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for operation in the United States.

Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule

Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design registered in the United States, the proposed AD would require accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletin described previously, except as discussed below.

Differences between the Service Bulletin and this AD

The service bulletin recommends that the visual inspection for suspect relays be conducted in conjunction with replacement of any suspect relays. However, this AD would require an inspection for suspect relays within 14 days after the effective date of the AD. The replacement of any suspect relays detected would not be required until the passage of 500 or 1,000 flight hours after the effective date of the AD, depending upon the relay.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 160 airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected by this proposed AD. It would take approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspection at an average labor rate of $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the proposed inspection on U.S. operators is estimated to be $9,600, or $60 per airplane.

It would take approximately 2 work hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed replacement of suspect relay K1XC at an average labor rate of $60 per work hour. There would be no charge for the replacement part. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the proposed replacement of suspect relay K1XC on U.S. operators is estimated to be a maximum of $19,200, or $120 per airplane.

It would take approximately 2 work hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed replacement of suspect relays K2XD and K3XD at an average labor rate of $60 per work hour. There would be no charge for the replacement parts. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the proposed replacement of suspect relays D or K3XD on U.S. operators is estimated to be a maximum of $19,200, or $120 per airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the future if this proposed AD were not adopted. The cost impact figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein 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. Therefore, it is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the Rules Docket.
[[Page 16069]]
A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety. The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39AIRWORTHINESS 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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness directive:

Bombardier, Inc. (Formerly Canadair): Docket 2001NM346AD.

Applicability: Model CL6002B19 series airplanes, serial numbers 7003 through 7495 inclusive, 7497 through 7502 inclusive, and 7505 through 7507 inclusive; certificated in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (f) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously.

To prevent the failure of an electrical relay due to a defective moving blade assembly, which could result in the inability to generate electrical power from the emergency system, if needed, accomplish the following:
Inspection
(a) Within 14 days after the effective date of this AD: Perform an inspection to determine whether installed Leach ``H'' series power transfer relays K1XC, K2XD, and K3XD, all having part number (P/N) HA4A039, have a manufacturing date code of 0011 through 0050. The inspection for such ``suspect relays'' is to be performed in accordance with Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A601R24105, Revision ``A'', dated July 20, 2001.

Note 2: Inspections accomplished prior to the effective date of this AD in accordance with Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A601R 24105, dated July 4, 2001, are considered acceptable for compliance with the applicable action specified in this amendment.
(b) As of the effective date of this AD: For airplanes determined to have suspect Leach ``H'' series relays K1XC or K2XD installed, dispatch with an inoperative integrateddrive generator (IDG) or auxiliary power unit (APU) is prohibited until replacement of the relay with a new relay is accomplished in accordance with paragraphs (c) and (d) of this AD.
Replacement
(c) Within 500 flight hours after the effective date of this AD: Replace suspect relay K1XC with a new relay having a manufacturing date code other than 0011 through 0050, in accordance with Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A601R24105, Revision ``A'', dated July 20, 2001.

Note 3: Replacement of suspect relay K1XC accomplished prior to the effective date of this AD in accordance with Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A601R24105, dated July 4, 2001, is considered acceptable for compliance with the applicable action specified in this amendment.
(d) Within 1,000 flight hours after the effective date of this

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

Luciano Castracane, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Flight Test Branch, ANE172, FAA, New York Aircraft Certification Office, 10 Fifth Street, Third Floor, Valley Stream, New York 11581; telephone (516) 2567535; fax (516) 5682716.