[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 32 (Friday, February 16, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7554-7555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2506]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24036; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-04-AD; 
Amendment 39-14947; AD 2007-04-15]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Sicma Aero Seat, Passenger Seat 
Assemblies

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Sicma Aero Seat, passenger seat assemblies. This AD requires 
modifying the aft track fittings on these passenger seat assemblies by 
installing new tab locks, and then torquing the aft track fitting 
locking bolts. We are issuing this AD to prevent detachment of 
passenger seat assemblies, especially during emergency conditions, 
leading to occupant injury.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 23, 2007. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in the regulations as of March 23, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD 
from Sicma Aero Seat, 7 Rue Lucien Coupet, 36100 Issoudun, France, 
telephone: (33) 54 03 39 39; fax: (33) 54 03 15 16.
    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov 
or in Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC.

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; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to certain Sicma Aero Seat, 
passenger seat assemblies. We published the proposed AD in the Federal 
Register on March 17, 2006 (71 FR 13787). That action proposed to 
require modifying the aft track fittings on these passenger seat 
assemblies by installing new tab locks, and then torquing the aft track 
fitting locking bolts.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the AD, any comments 
received, and any final disposition in person at the Docket Management 
Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is 
located 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.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.

Request To Add Airbus A340 Series Airplanes

    One commenter, Airbus, requests that we add the Airbus A340 series 
airplanes to the list of airplanes these seats could be installed on. 
We agree and added the A340 series airplanes to the list in 
applicability paragraph (c). There are no U.S.-registered A340 series 
airplanes, so the costs of compliance do not change in the AD.

Add Reference to An Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC)

    Airbus requests that we take into account and add a reference to 
the AMOC of Sicma Aero Seat Service Bulletin No. SB-90-25-009, as 
allowed by France AD 1994-085 R2. We do not agree. Allowing this AMOC 
would require operators to obtain and use procedures supplied by the 
manufacturer. Our AD process already provides a method for operators to 
request an AMOC, if they so desire. We did not change the AD.

Correction to Annex 1 Reference

    We discovered that we inadvertently referenced Sicma Aero Seat 
Service Bulletin Annex 1 as Issue 2, dated March 31, 1999. We corrected 
it to Annex 1, Issue 1, dated March 31, 1999.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously. 
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the 
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

[[Page 7555]]

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 239,209 Sicma Aero Seat, 
passenger seat assemblies, installed on 1,016 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it will take about 4 work-hours per 
airplane to perform the actions, and that the average labor rate is $80 
per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $235 per airplane. Based 
on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to U.S. 
operators to be $563,880. The manufacturer has indicated they might 
provide the parts at no cost to the operators.

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 have determined that this AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866;
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    (3) 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 summary of the costs to comply with this AD and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary at the 
address listed under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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 airworthiness 
directive:

2007-04-15 Sicma Aero Seat: Amendment 39-14947. Docket No. FAA-2006-
24036; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-04-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective March 
23, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Sicma Aero Seat, passenger seat 
assemblies, part numbers (P/Ns) 42XX series, 50XX series, 63XX 
series, 65XX series, 71XX series, 78XX series, 83XX series, 85XX 
series, 90XX series, 91XX series, and 92XX series, with aft track 
fittings, P/N 90-000120-790-0, installed. Refer to Annex 1, Issue 1, 
dated March 31, 1999, of Sicma Aero Seat Service Bulletin No. 90-25-
005, Issue 2, dated March 31, 1999, for the full part numbers. These 
seat assemblies are installed on, but not limited to, Airbus A300, 
A310, A318, A319, A320, A321, A330, and A340 series airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of loose and unlocked aft track 
fittings on Sicma Aero Seat, passenger seat assemblies. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent detachment of passenger seat assemblies, 
especially during emergency conditions, leading to occupant injury.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within 600 flight hours after the effective date of 
this AD, unless the actions have already been done.

Aft Track Fitting Modification

    (f) Modify aft track fittings, P/N 90-000120-790-0, by 
installing new tab locks, P/N 00-4399, under the locking bolts.
    (g) Torque locking bolts to 17.4-to-34.7 inch pounds.
    (h) Stamp amendment ``Z'' on the seat assembly identification 
plate.
    (i) Use the Accomplishment Instructions of Sicma Aero Seat 
Service Bulletin No. 90-25-005, Issue 2, dated March 31, 1999, to do 
these actions.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (j) 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

    (k) Direction Generale de L'Aviation Civile, AD 1994-085(AB) R2, 
dated July 13, 1999, also addresses the subject of this AD.
    (l) 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; e-mail: [email protected] for more 
information about this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (m) You must use Sicma Aero Seat Service Bulletin No. 90-25-005, 
Issue 2, dated March 31, 1999, and Annex 1, Issue 1, dated March 31, 
1999, of that service bulletin to perform the actions required by 
this AD. The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information in accordance 
with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Sicma Aero Seat, 7 
Rue Lucien Coupet, 36100 Issoudun, France, telephone: (33) 54 03 39 
39; fax: (33) 54 03 15 16, for a copy of this service information. 
You may review copies at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 8, 2007.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-2506 Filed 2-15-07; 8:45 am]
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