AD 2004-03-15 R1

The effective date of this AD is March 19, 2004.

On March 19, 2004 (69 FR 7111, February 13, 2004), the Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-53-80, Revision “A”, dated July 25, 2000.

On October 27, 1998 (63 FR 50501, September 22, 1998) the Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of Bombardier Service Bulletin S.B. 8-53-66, dated March 27, 1998.

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC.

Contact Bombardier, Inc., Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division, 123 Garratt Boulevard, Downsview, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada, for service information identified in this AD.

Douglas G. Wagner, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Flight Test Branch, ANE-172, New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, New York 11590; telephone (516) 228-7306; fax (516) 794-5531.

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.

The FAA proposed to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) with an airworthiness directive (AD) to revise AD 2004-03-15, amendment 39-13459 (69 FR 7111, February 13, 2004). The existing AD applies to certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 airplanes. The proposed AD was published in the Federal Register on February 8, 2006 (71 FR 6408) to, for certain airplanes, eliminate the requirement to modify electrical wires in certain sections.

We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the development of this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of the cost to the public.

We have corrected a typographical error in paragraph (i) of the NPRM by changing the date of the Canadian airworthiness directive.

We have also revised the model designations in the NPRM to match the format of the model designations in AD 2004-03-15.

We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD with the change described previously. We have determined that this change will neither increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

This new AD adds no new costs to affected operators; in fact, it reduces the costs for airplanes that are not subject to the modification of certain wiring.

We estimate that 173 airplanes of U.S. registry will be subject to the inspection, installation of additional tie-mounts and tie-wraps, and application of sealant to rivet heads that are currently required by AD 2004-03-15. These actions take between 80 and 100 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts are provided by the manufacturer at no cost to the operator. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of these actions on U.S. operators is between $899,600 and $1,124,500, or between $5,200 and $6,500 per airplane.

We estimate that 103 airplanes of U.S. registry are subject to the modification of certain wiring that is currently required by AD 2004-03-15. This action takes approximately 10 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts are provided by the manufacturer at no cost to the operator. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the modification on U.S. operators is $66,950, or $650 per airplane.

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.

We have determined that 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) Is not a “significant rule” under 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 AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends § 39.13 by removing amendment 39-13459 (69 FR 7111, February 13, 2004) and adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):