[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 3, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60331-60333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24394]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1035; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-235-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, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This 
proposed AD was prompted by a report of an uncommanded nose landing 
gear (NLG) retraction. This proposed AD would require installing a 
power interruption protection circuit for the landing gear control 
interface unit (LGCIU). We are proposing this AD to prevent untimely 
unlocking and/or retraction of the NLG, which, while on the ground, 
could result in injury to ground personnel and damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 19, 
2012.

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, Washington. 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, WA 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-2012-1035; 
Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-235-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 2011-0202, dated October 13, 2011 (referred to 
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    After a push back from the gate, an A320 aeroplane was preparing 
to initiate taxi, when an uncommanded nose landing gear (NLG) 
retraction occurred, causing the nose of the aeroplane to hit the 
ground. Investigations revealed that the retraction was caused by a 
combination of a power interruption to LGCIUs [landing gear control 
interface unit] and an internal hydraulic leak through the landing 
gear (LG) selector valve 40GA.
    Deeper investigations have revealed that LGCIU power 
interruption appears during engine start at each flight. Even though 
no incident has been reported in service, it has been determined 
that a non compliance to the safety objective exists when combined 
with a dormant single failure of the selector valve seal leaking.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to further 
incidents of untimely unlocking and/or retraction of the NLG which, 
while on the ground, could result in injury to ground personnel and 
damage to the aeroplane.
    To address the possible hydraulic leak of the LG selector valve, 
EASA issued AD 2007-0065, currently at Revision 2.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
installation of a power interruption protection circuit to the LGCIU 
and the accomplishment of associated modifications [install new 
seals on nose landing gear (NLG)/main landing gear (MLG) door valve 
selector and gear valve-selector and for certain airplanes, re-
identification of identification plates].

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued the following service bulletins:
     Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1346, Revision 04, 
including Appendices 1 and 2, dated April 22, 2011 (for Model A318, 
A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes).
     Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1349, Revision 03, 
including Appendix 1, dated October 5, 2011 (for Model A319CJ 
(corporate jet) airplanes).
    The actions described in this service information are intended to 
correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

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.

[[Page 60332]]

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD 
would affect about 755 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that 
it would take about 48 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 up to $8,220 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 $9,286,500, or up to $12,300 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 that this AD:
    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

    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 AD:
Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2012-1035; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-
235-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by November 19, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Model A318-111, A318-112, A318-121, 
A318-122, A319-111, A319-112, A319-113, A319-114, A319-115, A319-
131, A319-132, A319-133, A320-111, A320-211, A320-212, A320-214, 
A320-231, A320-232, A320-233, A321-111, A321-112, A321-131, A321-
211, A321-212, A321-213, A321-231, and A321-232 airplanes; 
certificated in any category; all manufacturer serial numbers, 
except airplanes on which Airbus modification 37866 has been 
embodied in production.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 32: Landing 
Gear.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report of an uncommanded nose landing 
gear (NLG) retraction. We are issuing this AD to prevent untimely 
unlocking and/or retraction of the NLG, which, while on the ground, 
could result in injury to ground personnel and damage to 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) Modification

    At the applicable compliance time specified in paragraph (g)(1) 
or (g)(2) of this AD: Install a power interruption protection 
circuit for the landing gear control interface unit (LGCIU), in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service 
Bulletin A320-32-1346, Revision 04, including Appendices 1 and 2, 
dated April 22, 2011 (for Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series 
airplanes other than the Model A319CJ (corporate jet) airplanes); or 
Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1349, Revision 3, including Appendix 
1, dated October 5, 2011 (for Model A319CJ (corporate jet) 
airplanes).
    (1) For airplanes that have embodied Airbus modification 38947 
specified in Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1348 during production 
or in service: Within 72 months after the effective date of this AD.
    (2) For all airplanes other than those identified in paragraph 
(g)(1) of this AD: Within 60 months after the effective date of this 
AD.

(h) Re-Identification of Identification Plates

    For airplanes that have done the installation required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD before the effective date of this AD using 
Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1346, dated December 4, 2008 (for 
airplanes other than the Model A319CJ (corporate jet) airplanes): At 
the applicable times specified in paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of 
this AD, re-identify the identification plates, in accordance with 
the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-
1346, Revision 4, including Appendices 1 and 2, dated April 22, 2011 
(for airplanes other than the Model A319CJ (corporate jet) 
airplanes).

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for the actions required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this AD using the service information specified in 
paragraphs (i)(1) through (i)(6) of this AD which is not 
incorporated by reference in this AD:
    (1) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1346, Revision 1, dated 
October 27, 2009 (for Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series 
airplanes).
    (2) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1346, Revision 2, dated 
November 4, 2009 (for Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series 
airplanes).
    (3) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1346, Revision 3, dated 
January 7, 2010 (for Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series 
airplanes).
    (4) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1349, dated December 4, 2008 
(for Model A319CJ (corporate jet) airplanes).
    (5) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1349, Revision 1, dated 
August 31, 2009, (for Model A319CJ (corporate jet) airplanes).
    (6) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1349, Revision 2, dated June 
16, 2010 (for Model A319CJ (corporate jet) airplanes).

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, ANM-
116,

[[Page 60333]]

International Branch, Transport Airplane Directorate, 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, WA 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.

(k) Related Information

    (1) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 
Directive 2011-0202, dated October 13, 2011, and the service 
information specified in paragraphs (k)(1)(i) and (k)(1)(ii) of this 
AD, for related information.
    (i) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1346, Revision 4, including 
Appendices 1 and 2, dated April 22, 2011.
    (ii) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1349, Revision 03, 
including Appendix 1, dated October 5, 2011.
    (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 September 26, 2012.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-24394 Filed 10-2-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P