[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 1, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10453-10454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2849]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 40 / Wednesday, March 1, 2006 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 10453]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22959; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-40-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Sicma Aero Seat; Third Occupant Seat 
Assemblies, 133 Series

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for Sicma Aero Seat third occupant seat assemblies, 133 Series. This 
proposed AD would require visually inspecting the installation of the 
two headrest bushings and installing Mecanindus pins to secure the 
bushings. This proposed AD results from Sicma's determination that 
missing or incorrectly secured bushings could loosen and cause 
disengagement of the headrest from the seat during a high-energy stop 
of the airplane, possibly injuring the seat occupant. We are proposing 
this AD to prevent disengagement of the headrest from the seat during a 
high-energy stop of the airplane that could injure the seat occupant.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by May 1, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 
proposed AD.
     DOT Docket web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Contact Sicma Aero Seat 7, Rue Lucien Coupet, 36100 Issoudun, 
France; telephone 33 (0) 2 54 03 39 39, fax 33 (0) 2 54 03 15 16, for 
the service information identified in this proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Lee, Aerospace Engineer, 
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller 
Directorate, FAA, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; 
telephone (781) 238-7161; fax (781) 238-7170.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send us any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-22959; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-40-AD'' in the subject line of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of the 
DMS web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the proposal, any comments 
received, and any final disposition in person at the DMS Docket Offices 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is on the plaza 
level of the Department of Transportation Nassif Building at the street 
address stated in ADDRESSES. Comments will be available in the AD 
docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    The Direction Generale de L'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the 
airworthiness authority for France, notified us that an unsafe 
condition might exist on Sicma Aero Seat third occupant seat 
assemblies, 133 Series. The DGAC advises that Sicma determined that 
missing or incorrectly secured bushings could loosen, causing 
disengagement of the headrest from the seat during a high-energy stop 
of the airplane, possibly injuring the third seat occupant. This 
proposed AD would require visually inspecting the installation of the 
two headrest bushings and installing Mecanindus pins to secure the 
bushings. We are proposing this AD to prevent disengagement of the 
headrest from the seat during a high-energy stop of the airplane that 
could injure the seat occupant.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed and approved the technical contents of Sicma Aero 
Seat Service Bulletin (SB) 133-25-006, dated May 12, 1999. This SB 
describes procedures for inspecting the two headrest bushings for 
proper installation and installing Mecanindus pins to secure the 
bushings. The DGAC classified this SB as mandatory and issued 
airworthiness directive 2000-042(AB), dated January 26, 2000, in order 
to ensure the airworthiness of these third occupant seats in France.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    These cabin attendant seats, manufactured in France, are used in 
airplanes that are type-certificated for operation in the United States 
under the provisions of section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the applicable bilateral

[[Page 10454]]

airworthiness agreement. In keeping with this bilateral airworthiness 
agreement, the DGAC kept us informed of the situation described above. 
We have examined the DGAC's findings, reviewed all available 
information, and determined that AD action is necessary for products of 
this type design that are certificated for operation in the United 
States. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, which would require 
inspecting the two headrest bushings for proper installation and 
installing Mecanindus pins to secure the bushings. The proposed AD 
would require you to use the service information described previously 
to perform these actions.

Costs of Compliance

    About 459 Sicma Aero Seat third occupant attendant seat assemblies, 
133 Series, of the affected design are installed on 698 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. We estimate that it would take about 0.5 hour per seat 
assembly to perform the proposed actions, and that the average labor 
rate is $65 per work hour. The Mecanindus pins cost $99.88 each, 
however, Sicma has advised us that they will supply the parts at no 
cost. Based on the labor rate to install the parts, the total cost of 
the proposed AD to U.S. operators would be about $14,918.

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 that the 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); 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location 
to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the 
Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as 
follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    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]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

Sicma Aero Seat: Docket No. FAA-2005-22959; Directorate Identifier 
2005-NE-40-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by May 1, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Sicma Aero Seat third occupant seat 
assemblies, 133 Series, with the part numbers (P/Ns) and serial 
numbers (SNs) in the following Table 1:

                  Table 1.--Applicable Seat Assemblies
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Seat P/N                             Seat SN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
130622-070.............................  1 through 212.
130622-070-1...........................  1 through 212.
1330622-070-2..........................  1 through 6.
130622-100.............................  1 through 13.
130622V100-1...........................  1 through 16.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    These third occupant seats are installed on, but not limited to, 
Airbus A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This proposed AD results from Sicma's determination that 
missing or incorrectly secured bushings could loosen and cause 
disengagement of the headrest from the seat during a high-energy 
stop of the airplane, possibly injuring the seat occupant. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent disengagement of the headrest from the 
seat during a high-energy stop of the airplane that could injure the 
seat occupant.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the 
actions have already been done.

Installing Protective Fairings

    (f) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, visually 
check the installation of the two headrest bushings and install 
Mecanindus pins, part number GPMECAE2-5x5, to secure the bushings. 
Use the instructions in paragraph 2 of Sicma Aero Seat Service 
Bulletin 133-25-006, dated May 12, 1999, to perform the visual 
inspection and install the pins.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (g) The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, has the 
authority to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD 
if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (h) DGAC airworthiness directive 2000-042 (AB), dated January 
26, 2000, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 23, 2006.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E6-2849 Filed 2-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P