2024-12-05: Landing Gear

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: a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-25-12, Amendment 39-21856 (86 FR 72174, December 21, 2021); and AD 2022-11-11, Amendment 39-22061 (87 FR 33627, June 3, 2022); and b. Adding the following new AD: 2024-12-05 De Havilland Aircraft of Canada (Type Certificate Previously Held by Bombardier, Inc.): Amendment 39-22769; Docket No. FAA-2024-0756; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00549-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective August 21, 2024. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces AD 2021-25-12, Amendment 39-21856 (86 FR 72174, December 21, 2021) (AD 2021-25-12); and AD 2022-11-11, Amendment 39-22061 (87 FR 33627, June 3, 2022) (AD 2022-11-11). (c) Applicability This AD applies to De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (Type Certificate previously held by Bombardier, Inc.) Model DHC-8-401 and -402 airplanes, certificated in any category, having serial numbers 4001, and 4003 through 4633 inclusive. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 32, Landing Gear. (e) Reason This AD was prompted by reports of a certain bolt at the pivot pin link being found missing or having stress corrosion cracking and a determination that the pivot pin and tow fitting assembly of the nose landing gear (NLG) must be replaced. The FAA is issuing this AD to address failure of the pivot pin retention bolt. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in a loss of directional control or loss of an NLG tire during takeoff or landing, which could lead to runway excursions. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Retained Maintenance or Inspection Program Revision, With No Changes This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD 2021-25-12, with no changes. For airplanes with pivot pin retention bolt part number (P/N) NAS6204-14D installed on the NLG assembly: Within 30 days after January 5, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2021-25-12), or within 30 days after installation of pivot pin retention bolt part number P/N NAS6204-14D, whichever occurs later, revise the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the information for Structures Safe Life Task 32-21-01-701 and Task 32-21-01-702, as specified in De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Temporary Revision ALI-0223, dated October 15, 2020. The initial compliance time for doing the tasks is at the applicable time specified in De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Temporary Revision ALI-0223, dated October 15, 2020, or within 30 days after January 5, 2022, whichever occurs later; except, if replacement of bolt P/N NAS6204-14D was performed before January 5, 2022, as specified in De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Service Bulletin 84-32-161, the initial compliance time for Task 32-21-01-702 (bolt P/N NAS6204-14D replacement) is within 3 months after January 5, 2022, or within 800 flight cycles after performing the replacement, whichever occurs later. (h) Retained No Alternative Actions or Intervals, With No Changes This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (h) of AD 2021-25-12, with no changes. After the existing maintenance or inspection program has been revised as required by paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative actions ( e.g., replacements) or intervals may be used unless the actions and intervals are approved as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (n)(1) of this AD. (i) Retained Repetitive Lubrications, With No Changes This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (i) of AD 2021-25-12, with no changes. For airplanes with pivot pin retention bolt P/N NAS6204-14D installed on the NLG assembly: Within 30 days or 400 flight cycles, whichever occurs first after January 5, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2021-25-12), and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 400 flight cycles, lubricate the trailing arm of the NLG, including doing a general visual inspection of the NLG pivot pin mechanism for discrepancies ( i.e., bolt P/N NAS602-14D is missing or has damage ( e.g., stress corrosion or stress corrosion cracking)) and, as applicable, replacing the bolt before further flight, in accordance with paragraph 3.B. of the Accomplishment Instructions of De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Service Bulletin 84-32-167, dated August 12, 2021. (j) Retained Modification, With No Changes This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD 2022-11-11, with no changes. For any airplane having an NLG shock strut assembly, P/N 47100-XX (where XX represents any number), that has special bolt P/N 47205-1 or 47205-3: Within 1,600 flight cycles or 9 months after July 8, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-11-11), whichever occurs first, modify the NLG shock strut assembly, in accordance with paragraph 3.B., "Procedure," of the Accomplishment Instructions of De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Service Bulletin 84-32-161, Revision B, dated March 31, 2021, including UTC Aerospace Systems Service Bulletin 47100-32-145, Revision 3, dated March 26, 2021. Note 1 to paragraph (j): After installing pivot pin retention bolt part number NAS6204-14D, paragraphs (g), (h), and (i) of this AD apply to pivot pin retention bolt part number NAS6204-14D. (k) New Replacement Within 8,000 flight hours or 48 months, whichever occurs first, after the effective date of this AD, remove pivot pin linkage components and replace pivot pin P/N 47127-1 or P/N 47127-3 and tow fitting assembly P/N 47160-1 with pivot pin P/N 47127-5 and tow fitting assembly P/N 47160-3, in accordance with Section 3.B. of the Accomplishment Instructions of De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Service Bulletin 84-32-173, dated November 15, 2022, including Collins Aerospace Service Bulletin 47100-32-153, dated November 10, 2022. Accomplishing the replacement required by this paragraph terminates the requirements of paragraphs (g), (h), (i), and (j) of this AD. (l) Credit for Previous Actions This paragraph provides credit for actions required by paragraph (j) of this AD, if those actions were performed before July 8, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-11-11), using De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Service Bulletin 84-32-161, dated April 7, 2020, including UTC Aerospace Systems Service Bulletin 47100-32-145, dated April 3, 2020; or De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Service Bulletin 84-32-161, Revision A, dated January 27, 2021, including UTC Aerospace Systems Service Bulletin 47100-32-145, Revision 2, dated January 4, 2021. (m) Parts Installation Prohibition As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install pivot pin P/N 47127-1 or P/N 47127-3 as a replacement part for pivot pin P/N 47127-5 on De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-401 and DHC-8-402 airplanes. (n) Additional AD Provisions (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 (o)(2) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-NYACO-COS@faa.gov. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the responsible 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, International Validation Branch, FAA; or Transport Canada; or De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited's Transport Canada Design Approval Organization (DAO). If approved by the DAO, the approval must include the DAO-authorized signature. (o) Additional Information (1) For more information about this AD, contact Deep Gaurav, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 518-228-7300; email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov. (2) Service information identified in this AD that is not incorporated by reference is available at the address specified in paragraph (p)(6) of this AD. (p) Material Incorporated by Reference (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) 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. (3) The following material was approved for IBR on August 21, 2024. (i) De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Service Bulletin 84-32-173, dated November 15, 2022, including Collins Aerospace Service Bulletin 47100-32-153, dated November 10, 2022. Note 2 to paragraph (p)(3)(i): De Havilland issued De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Service Bulletin 84-32-173, dated November 15, 2022, with Collins Aerospace Service Bulletin 47100-32-153, dated November 10, 2022, attached as one "merged" file for the convenience of affected operators. (ii) [Reserved] (4) The following material was approved for IBR on July 8, 2022 (87 FR 33627, June 3, 2022). (i) De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Service Bulletin 84-32-161, Revision B, dated March 31, 2021, including UTC Aerospace Systems Service Bulletin 47100-32-145, Revision 3, dated March 26, 2021. Note 3 to paragraph (p)(4)(i): De Havilland issued De Havilland Service Bulletin 84-32-161, Revision B, dated March 31, 2021, with UTC Aerospace Systems Service Bulletin 47100-32-145, Revision 3, dated March 26, 2021, attached as one "merged" file for the convenience of affected operators. (ii) [Reserved] (5) The following material was approved for IBR on January 5, 2022 (86 FR 72174, December 21, 2021). (i) De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Service Bulletin 84-32-167, dated August 12, 2021. (ii) De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Temporary Revision ALI-0223, dated October 15, 2020. (6) For De Havilland material identified in this AD, contact De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited, Dash 8 Series Customer Response Centre, 5800 Explorer Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 5K9, Canada; telephone North America (toll-free): 855-310-1013, Direct: 647-277-5820; email thd@dehavilland.com; website dehavilland.com. (7) 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. (8) You may view this material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations, or email fr.inspection@nara.gov. Issued on July 10, 2024. James D. Foltz, Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2024-15656 Filed 7-16-24; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P