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), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that during installation on the final assembly line, a foreign object damage (FOD) protective end cap was not removed from an extraction duct of the crew oxygen system. The protective end cap must be removed to prevent a build-up of oxygen under the flight deck floor, which is a fire risk. This AD requires inspecting the air extraction duct installation to determine if a protective end cap is installed, and removing any protective end cap found. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES:

This AD is effective February 3, 2021.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of February 3, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

For service information identified in this final rule, contact Airbus Canada Limited Partnership, 13100 Henri-Fabre Boulevard, Mirabel, Québec, J7N 3C6, Canada; telephone 450-476-7676; email a220_crc@abc.airbus; internet https://a220world.airbus.com. You may view this service information 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 on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0683.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https:// www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0683; 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, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Siddeeq Bacchus, Aerospace Engineer, Mechanical Systems and Admin Services Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone: 516-228-7362; fax: 516-794-5531; email: 9-avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation authority for Canada, has issued Canadian AD CF-2020-19, dated May 26, 2020 (also referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0683.

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on August 11, 2020 (85 FR 48480). The NPRM was prompted by a report that during installation on the final assembly line, a FOD protective end cap was not removed from an extraction duct of the crew oxygen system. The protective end cap must be removed to prevent a build-up of oxygen under the flight deck floor, which is a fire risk. The NPRM proposed to require inspecting the air extraction duct installation to determine if a protective end cap is installed, and removing any protective end cap found. The FAA is issuing this AD to address this possible ignition source, which could result in an oxygen-fed fire. See the MCAI for additional background information.

Comments

The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this final rule. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to each comment.

Support for the NPRM

The Air Line Pilots Association, International indicated its support for the NPRM.

Request To Refer to a Specific Service Information Procedure

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) requested that paragraph (g) of the proposed AD refer to Step 2.2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Canada Limited Partnership A220 Service Bulletin BD500-351004, Issue 001, dated April 8, 2020, instead of referring to the entire Accomplishment Instructions. DAL stated that only Step 2.2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of the referenced service information provides the required steps for performing the inspection and corrective action required by the proposed AD. DAL noted that the current language should be more specific when referring to these tasks.

The FAA agrees with the commenter's request. Only Step 2.2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Canada Limited Partnership A220 Service Bulletin BD500-351004, Issue 001, dated April 8, 2020, is necessary to correct the specified unsafe condition. The remaining portions of the Accomplishment Instructions contain the access and close procedures, which are not required to address the identified unsafe condition. The FAA has changed paragraph (g) of this AD to reference only Step 2.2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of the referenced service information.

Conclusion

The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting this final rule with the change described previously and 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.

The FAA also determined that this change will not increase the economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this final rule.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Airbus Canada Limited Partnership has issued A220 Service Bulletin BD500-351004, Issue 001, dated April 8, 2020. This service information describes procedures for a general visual inspection of the extraction duct of the crew oxygen system to determine if a protective end cap is installed, and removing any protective end cap found. 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 20 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with 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.

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

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

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

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive:

2020-26-20 Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Type Certificate previously held by C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership (CSALP); Bombardier, Inc.): Amendment 39-21375; Docket No. FAA-2020-0683; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01134-T.

(a) Effective Date

This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective February 3, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Type Certificate previously held by C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership (CSALP); Bombardier, Inc.) airplanes, certificated in any category, identified in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this AD.

(1) Model BD-500-1A10 airplanes, serial numbers 50010 through 50018 inclusive, and 50020 through 50039 inclusive.

(2) Model BD-500-1A11 airplanes, serial numbers 55003 through 55016 inclusive, and 55018 through 55054 inclusive.

(d) Subject

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 35, Oxygen.

(e) Reason

This AD was prompted by a report that during installation on the final assembly line, a foreign object damage (FOD) protective end cap was not removed from an extraction duct of the crew oxygen system. The protective end cap must be removed to prevent a build-up of oxygen under the flight deck floor, which is a fire risk. The FAA is issuing this AD to address this possible ignition source, which could result in an oxygen-fed fire.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspection

Within 1,650 flight hours or 8 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first: Do a general visual inspection of the air extraction duct installation to determine if a protective end cap is installed, and if installed, remove the protective end cap before further flight, in accordance with Step 2.2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Canada Limited Partnership A220 Service Bulletin BD500-351004, Issue 001, dated April 8, 2020.

(h) 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 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 Office.

(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, New York ACO Branch, FAA; or Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA); or Airbus Canada Limited Partnership's TCCA Design Approval Organization (DAO). If approved by the DAO, the approval must include the DAO-authorized signature.

(i) Related Information

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information (MCAI) Canadian AD CF-2020-19, dated May 26, 2020, for related information. This MCAI may be found in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0683.

(2) For more information about this AD, contact Siddeeq Bacchus, Aerospace Engineer, Mechanical Systems and Admin Services Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone: 516-228-7362; fax: 516-794-5531; email: 9-avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov.

(j) 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) Airbus Canada Limited Partnership A220 Service Bulletin BD500-351004, Issue 001, dated April 8, 2020.

(ii) [Reserved].

(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact Airbus Canada Limited Partnership, 13100 Henri-Fabre Boulevard, Mirabel, Québec, J7N 3C6, Canada; telephone 450-476-7676; email a220_crc@abc.airbus; internet https://a220world.airbus.com.

(4) You may view this service information 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 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, email fedreg.legal@nara.gov, or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.