[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 57 (Friday, March 24, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17751-17752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05710]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-0434; Product Identifier 91-NM-255-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to remove Airworthiness Directive (AD) 92-02-
14, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A320 series airplanes. AD
92-02-14 was prompted by failure of the overwing emergency escape
slides to deploy due to incorrect cable installations. AD 92-02-14
requires inspection for correct installation of the flexible control
cables on the overwing emergency escape slides. AD 92-02-14 is no
longer necessary because no new occurrences of incorrect cable
installations have been reported, and existing maintenance activities
are adequate to prevent new occurrences. Therefore, the FAA has
determined that AD 92-02-14 is no longer necessary. Accordingly, the
FAA proposes to remove AD 92-02-14.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 8,
2023.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2023-0434; 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 NPRM, mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, Large
Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South
216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone 206-231-3225; email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2023-0434; Product Identifier
91-NM-255-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
the proposal because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this proposed AD.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as
[[Page 17752]]
private, and that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is
important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI.
Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as ``PROPIN.''
The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the
FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM.
Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Dan Rodina, Aerospace
Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA,
2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone 206-231-3225; email
[email protected]. Any commentary that the FAA receives that is not
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for
this rulemaking.
Background
The FAA issued AD 92-02-14, Amendment 39-8150 (57 FR 5375, February
14, 1992) (AD 92-02-14), for certain Airbus SAS Model A320 series
airplanes. AD 92-02-14 was prompted by failure of the overwing
emergency escape slides to deploy due to incorrect cable installations.
AD 92-02-14 requires inspection for correct installation of the
flexible control cables on the overwing emergency escape slides. The
FAA issued AD 92-02-14 to prevent failure of the overwing emergency
escape slides to deploy, which would compromise use of the exit during
an emergency.
AD 92-02-14 corresponded to AD 91-153-018, dated July 10, 1991,
issued by the Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation Civile
(DGAC), the former airworthiness authority of France (DGAC France AD
91-153-018).
Actions Since AD 92-02-14 Was Issued
Since the FAA issued AD 92-02-14, EASA issued AD Cancellation
Notice 2022-0160-CN, dated August 4, 2022 (EASA AD Cancellation Notice
2022-0160-CN), to cancel DGAC France AD 91-153-018. EASA Cancellation
Notice 2022-0160-CN states that since DGAC France AD 91-153-018 was
issued, affected slides have been overhauled (dismantled and
maintained) every 3 calendar years. No new occurrences have been
reported of incorrect cable installations. It has also been determined
that existing Aircraft Maintenance Manual and Maintenance Review Board
Report tasks are adequate to prevent new occurrences.
FAA's Conclusions
Upon further consideration, the FAA has determined that AD 92-02-14
is no longer necessary. Accordingly, this proposed AD would remove AD
92-02-14. Removal of AD 92-02-14 would not prevent the FAA from issuing
another related action or commit the FAA to any course of action in the
future. This proposed AD would terminate, and therefore remove, all
requirements of AD 92-02-14.
Related Costs of Compliance
This proposed AD would add no cost. This proposed AD would remove
AD 92-02-14 from 14 CFR part 39; therefore, operators would no longer
be required to show compliance with that 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.
Regulatory Findings
The FAA has 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 that the proposed
regulation:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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.
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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 92-02-14, Amendment 39-8150 (57 FR
5375, February 14, 1992), and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:
Airbus SAS: Docket No. FAA-2023-0434; Product Identifier 91-NM-255-
AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by May 8, 2023.
(b) Affected Airworthiness Directive (AD)
This AD replaces AD 92-02-14, Amendment 39-8150 (57 FR 5375,
February 14, 1992) (AD 92-02-14).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Airbus Model A320-211, A320-212, and A320-231
airplanes, certificated in any category, manufacturer serial numbers
002 through 162 inclusive, 167, and 171 through 174 inclusive.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25, Equipment/
Furnishings.
(e) Terminating Action
This AD terminates all requirements of AD 92-02-14.
(f) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Dan Rodina,
Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation
Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone 206-
231-3225; email [email protected].
(g) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
Issued on March 14, 2023.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-05710 Filed 3-23-23; 8:45 am]
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