AD 2008-01-04

Unless already done, do the following actions.

(1) Part I. Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Change: Within 30 days after September 5, 2007 (the effective date of AD 2007-17-07), revise the Canadair Regional Jet Airplane Flight Manual CSP A-012, by incorporating the information in Canadair Regional Jet Temporary Revision (TR) RJ/165, dated July 6, 2007, into the AFM.

Note 1: The actions required by paragraph (f)(1) of this AD may be done by inserting a copy of Canadair Regional Jet TR RJ/165, dated July 6, 2007, into the Canadair Regional Jet Airplane Flight Manual CSP A-012. When this TR has been included in general revisions of the AFM, the general revisions may be inserted in the AFM.

(2) Part II. Operational Procedures: Within 30 days after September 5, 2007, revise the Limitations Section of the Canadair Regional Jet Airplane Flight Manual CSP A-012, to include the following statement. This may be done by inserting a copy of paragraph (f)(2) of this AD in the AFM.

Upon arrival at the destination airport, an approach shall not be commenced, nor shall the flaps be extended beyond the 0 degree position, unless one of the following conditions exists:

a. When conducting a precision approach, the reported visibility (or RVR) is confirmed to be at or above the visibility associated with the landing minima for the approach in use, and can be reasonably expected to remain at or above this visibility until after landing; or

b. When conducting a non-precision approach, the reported ceiling and visibility (or RVR) are confirmed to be at or above the ceiling and visibility associated with the landing minima for the approach in use, and can be reasonably expected to remain at or above this ceiling and visibility until after landing; or

c. An emergency or abnormal situation occurs that requires landing at the nearest suitable airport; or

d. The fuel remaining is sufficient to conduct the approach, execute a missed approach, divert to a suitable airport with the flaps extended to the landing position, conduct an approach at the airport and land with 1000 lb (454 kg) of fuel remaining.

Note 1: The fuel burn factor (as per AFM TR/165) shall be applied to the normal fuel consumption for calculation of the flaps extended missed approach, climb, diversion and approach fuel consumption.

Note 2: Terrain and weather must allow a minimum flight altitude not exceeding 15,000 feet along the diversion route.

Note 3: For the purpose of this AD, a “suitable airport” is an airport that has at least one usable runway, served by an instrument approach if operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), and the airport is equipped as per the applicable regulations and standards for marking and lighting. The existing and forecast weather for this airport shall be at or above landing minima for the approach in use.

When a takeoff alternate is filed, terrain and weather must allow a minimum flight altitude not exceeding 15,000 feet along the diversion route to that alternate, or other suitable airport. The fuel at departure shall be sufficient to divert to the takeoff alternate or other suitable airport with the flaps extended to the takeoff position, conduct and approach and land with 1000 lb (454 kg) of fuel remaining.

Note: The fuel burn factor (as per AFM TR/165) shall be applied to the normal fuel consumption for calculation of the flaps extended, climb, diversion and approach fuel consumption.

Operations where all useable runways at the destination and alternate airports are forecast to be wet or contaminated (as defined in the AFM) are prohibited during the cold weather season (December to March inclusive in the northern hemisphere) unless one of the following conditions exists:

a. The flap actuators have been verified serviceable in accordance with Part C (Low Temperature Torque Test of the Flap Actuators) of SB 601R-27-150, July 12, 2007, or

b. The flight is conducted at a cruise altitude where the SAT is −60 °C or warmer. If the SAT in flight is colder than −60 °C, descent to warmer air shall be initiated within 10 minutes, or

c. The Landing Distance Available on a useable runway at the destination airport is at least equal to the actual landing distance required for flaps zero. This distance shall be based on Bombardier performance data, and shall take into account forecast weather and anticipated runway conditions, or

d. The Landing Distance Available on a useable runway at the filed alternate airport, or other suitable airport is at least equal to the actual landing distance for flaps zero. This distance shall be based on Bombardier performance data, and shall take into account forecast weather and anticipated runway conditions.

Note 1: If the forecast destination weather is less than 200 feet above DH or MDA, or less than 1 mile (1500 meters) above the authorized landing visibility (or equivalent RVR), as applied to the usable runway at the destination airport, condition 3.a., 3.b., or 3.d. above must be satisfied.

Note 2: When conducting No Alternate IFR (NAIFR) operations, condition 3.a., 3.b., or 3.c. above must be satisfied.”

(3) Part III. Training: As of 30 days after September 5, 2007, no affected airplane may be operated unless the flight crewmembers of that airplane and the operational control/dispatch personnel for that airplane have received training that is acceptable to the Principal Operations Inspector (POI) on the operational procedures required by paragraph (f)(2) of this AD.

(4) Part IV. Maintenance Actions: Within 120 days after September 5, 2007, do the cleaning and lubrication of the flexible shafts, installation of metallic seals in the flexible drive-shafts, and all applicable related investigative and corrective actions by doing all the applicable actions specified in “PART A” of the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-27-150, dated July 12, 2007; except if torque test results are not satisfactory, before further flight, install a serviceable actuator in accordance with the service bulletin or, if no serviceable actuators are available, contact the Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, for corrective action. Do all applicable related investigative and corrective actions before further flight.

Unless already done, do the following actions.

(1) As of November 30, 2008, no affected airplane may be operated unless the flight crewmembers of that airplane have received simulator training on reduced or zero flap landing that is acceptable to the POI. Thereafter, this training must be done during the normal simulator training cycle, at intervals not to exceed 12 months.

(2) Within 24 months or 4,000 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first: Do a pressure test of the flexible drive-shaft, and do all applicable corrective actions, by doing all the applicable actions specified in “PART B” of the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-27-150, dated July 12, 2007. Do all applicable corrective actions before further flight.

(3) For airplanes having flap actuators, part numbers (P/Ns) 852D100-19/-21, 853D100-19/-20, and 854D100-19/-20, specified in paragraphs (g)(3)(i) and (g)(3)(ii) of this AD: Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, do a low temperature torque test of the flap actuators, and do all applicable corrective actions, by doing all the applicable actions specified in “PART C” of the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-27-150, dated July 12, 2007. Do all applicable corrective actions before further flight.

(i) Airplanes having actuators that have not been repaired and that have accumulated more than 2,000 flight hours since new.

(ii) Airplanes having actuators that have been repaired and that have accumulated more than 2,000 flight hours on the inboard pinion shaft seals, P/Ns 853SC177-1/-2.

Note 2: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows: (1) The maintenance tasks specified in the first row of the table in “Part IV. Maintenance Actions” of the MCAI do not specify a corrective action if an actuator is not serviceable (i.e., torque test results are not satisfactory). However, this AD requires contacting the FAA or installing a serviceable actuator before further flight if torque test results are not satisfactory. (Reference paragraph (f)(4) of this AD.) (2) Although paragraph 2. of “Part III. Training” of the MCAI recommends accomplishing the initial training within 1 year, this AD requires accomplishing the training before November 30, 2008, in order to ensure that the actions are completed prior to the onset of cold weather operations. (3) The MCAI does not specify which actuators are applicable to the actions specified in “Part C” of Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-27-150, dated July 12, 2007. This AD requires that “Part C” of the service bulletin only be done for the actuators specified in paragraph (g)(3) of this AD.