FAA mandates extra crack hunts on Bombardier jets starting March
Published Date: 2/10/2025
Rule
Summary
The FAA is rolling out new safety rules for all MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2B19 planes to catch cracks that old inspections might have missed. Starting March 17, 2025, airlines must do regular ultrasonic checks using updated procedures and fix any cracks found. This keeps flights safer without breaking the bank but requires some extra attention from operators.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Prevents undetected structural failure
The AD addresses ten ultrasonic inspection procedures that could miss cracks and requires revised inspections to detect cracking that otherwise could go undetected; the FAA says the unsafe condition could result in structural failure of the airplane if not addressed. The rule is issued to correct that unsafe condition and is effective March 17, 2025.
Mandatory ultrasonic inspections and repairs
Starting March 17, 2025, operators of all MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2B19 airplanes must perform repetitive ultrasonic inspections of specified structural areas using the revised procedures in Transport Canada AD CF-2023-74, and must repair any cracking found before further flight. The FAA estimates compliance takes 5 work‑hours at $85/hour (about $425 per airplane) and that 395 U.S.-registered airplanes are affected (total estimated labor cost $167,875).
Inspection limited to repaired web location
If generic repair engineering order (GREO) 601R-53-61-345 was performed only on the upper web or only on the lower web, then the NDTM part 4 inspection procedure 51-53-61-345 applies only to that repaired location (where a doubler is installed), per paragraph (h)(5) of the AD (effective March 17, 2025).
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