[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 42 (Monday, March 4, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14029-14031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04903]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0096; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-143-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Airbus Model A318-112, A319-111, A319-112, A319-115, A319-132,
and A319-133 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that
a fastener, which connects the cargo door keel beam foot to the
circumferential butt-strap and the section 13-14 lower shell panel, was
not installed on airplanes during production. This proposed AD would
require inspecting forward fuselage frame 24, stringer 39, right hand,
to determine if the fastener is missing; measuring the hole dimensions
of the five holes surrounding the missing fastener if necessary; and
related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. We are
proposing this AD to detect and correct the missing fastener, which
could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 18, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Airbus, Airworthiness Office--EAS, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707
Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 44
51; email [email protected]; Internet http://www.airbus.com. You may review copies of the referenced service
information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind
Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is
in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket
shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
227-1405; fax (425) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2013-0096;
Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-143-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD based on those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2012-0132, dated July 19, 2012 (referred to
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified
products. The MCAI states:
During a ground inspection of an A319 aeroplane in production,
it was discovered that one fastener was missing at stringer (STGR)
39 on the right-hand (RH) side of FR [forward fuselage frame] 24
(Section 13-14 side). The hole of the missing fastener was not
drilled. The missing fastener, a 4.8 mm [millimeter] diameter
titanium bolt, Part Number (P/N) EN 6114 V3-7, should connect the
cargo door keel beam foot to the circumferential butt-strap and the
section 13-14 lower shell panel. Further investigations have
revealed that the affected fastener has not been installed on a
limited number of aeroplanes in production, due to incorrect
production instructions.
This condition, if not corrected, could impair the structural
integrity of the affected aeroplanes.
* * * * *
The required actions include doing a detailed inspection to determine
if the fastener is missing, measuring the hole dimensions of the five
holes surrounding the missing fastener if necessary, and related
investigative and corrective actions if necessary. The related
investigative actions include a rototest inspection of the five holes
for cracking. The corrective actions include repairing any holes with
diameter values that exceed the specified dimensions, repairing any
cracking found, and installing new fasteners. You may obtain further
information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.
Relevant Service Information
Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-53-1242, including Appendix
01, dated May 22, 2012. The actions described in this service
information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in
the MCAI.
[[Page 14030]]
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same
type design.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service
Information
Although EASA Airworthiness Directive 2012-0132, dated July 19,
2012, specifies to contact the manufacturer for instructions to repair
certain conditions, this proposed AD would require repairing those
conditions using a method approved by either the Manager, International
Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or EASA (or its
delegated agent).
Costs of Compliance
Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD
would affect about 3 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that
it would take about 26 work-hours per product to comply with the basic
requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per
work-hour. Required parts would cost $1,904 per product. Where the
service information lists required parts costs that are covered under
warranty, we have assumed that there will be no charge for these parts.
As we do not control warranty coverage for affected parties, some
parties may incur costs higher than estimated here. Based on these
figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to
be up to $12,342, or $4,114 per product.
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.
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.
Regulatory Findings
We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed
regulation:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and
4. 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 proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2013-0096; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-
143-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by April 18, 2013.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Airbus Model A318-112, A319-111, A319-112,
A319-115, A319-132, and A319-133 airplanes; certificated in any
category; manufacturer serial numbers 3983, 3985, 3998, 4000, 4004,
4007, 4018, 4020, 4029, 4036, 4038 through 4040 inclusive, 4048,
4052, 4056, 4069, 4071, 4076, 4080, 4087, 4089, 4121, 4125, 4127,
4129, 4132, 4141, 4151, 4163, 4164, 4166, 4169, 4171, 4182, 4192,
4200, 4204, 4211, 4215, 4222, 4227, 4228, 4254, 4256, 4258, 4259,
4262, 4268, 4275, 4282, 4285, 4287, 4301, 4313, 4319, 4327, 4332,
and 4336.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.
(e) Reason
This AD was prompted by a report that a fastener, which connects
the cargo door keel beam foot to the circumferential butt-strap and
the section 13-14 lower shell panel, was not installed on airplanes
during production. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct the
missing fastener, which could result in reduced structural integrity
of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD
performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions
have already been done.
(g) Inspections
At the applicable time specified in table 1 to paragraphs (g)
and (h) of this AD: Do a detailed inspection at forward fuselage
frame 24, stringer 39, right hand, to determine if the fastener is
missing, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of
Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1242, excluding Appendix 01, dated
May 22, 2012.
Table 1 to Paragraphs (g) and (h) of This AD--Compliance Time
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Airplane configuration-- Compliance time--
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Model A319 airplanes, except Before the accumulation of
manufacturer serial numbers 4151, 5,000 total flight cycles
4228, and 4319; and Model A318 since first flight of the
airplanes, pre-mod 39195, and on which airplane, or within 4,300
the actions specified in Airbus flight cycles after the
Service Bulletin A320[dash]00-1219 effective date of this AD,
have not been embodied in service. whichever occurs later.
[[Page 14031]]
Model A318 airplanes, post-mod 39195; Before the accumulation of
and Model A318 airplanes on which the 3,000 total flight cycles
actions specified in Airbus Service since first flight of the
Bulletin A320-00-1219 have been airplane, or within 90 days
embodied in service. after the effective date of
this AD, whichever occurs
later.
Model A319 airplanes, manufacturer Before the accumulation of
serial numbers 4151, 4228, and 4319 2,500 total flight cycles
(post-mod 28238, 28162, and 28342). since first flight of the
airplane, or within 90 days
after the effective date of
this AD, whichever occurs
later.
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(h) Measurements and Corrective Actions
If, during any inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD,
the fastener is determined to be missing, within the applicable
compliance time specified in table 1 to paragraphs (g) and (h) of
this AD: Measure the hole dimensions of the five holes surrounding
the missing fastener, and do all applicable related investigative
and corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1242, excluding
Appendix 01, dated May 22, 2012, except where the service bulletin
specifies to contact Airbus, before further flight, repair using a
method approved by either the Manager, International Branch, ANM-
116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or EASA (or its delegated
agent). Do all applicable related investigative and corrective
actions before further flight.
(i) Other FAA AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116, 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 District Office, as
appropriate. If sending information directly to the International
Branch, send it to ATTN: Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
227-1405; fax (425) 227-1149. Information may be emailed to: [email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC, notify
your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal
inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district
office/certificate holding district office. The AMOC approval letter
must specifically reference this AD.
(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
(j) Related Information
(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2012-0132, dated July 19, 2012; and Airbus
Service Bulletin A320-53-1242, excluding Appendix 01, dated May 22,
2012; for related information.
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Airbus, Airworthiness Office--EAS, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte,
31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5
61 93 44 51; email [email protected]; Internet http://www.airbus.com. You may review copies of the referenced service
information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind
Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 25, 2013.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-04903 Filed 3-1-13; 8:45 am]
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