[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 3, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40074-40076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15950]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0465; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-085-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 all 
Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This proposed AD was 
prompted by a determination that oxygen generators installed on a 
certain batch of passenger emergency oxygen container assemblies might 
become detached by extreme pulling of the mask tube at the end of 
oxygen supply causing a high temperature oxygen generator and mask to 
fall down. This proposed AD would require modifying the passenger 
emergency oxygen container assembly. We are proposing this AD to 
prevent a high temperature oxygen generator and mask from falling down 
and possibly resulting in an ignition source in the passenger 
compartment, injury to passengers, and reduced availability of 
supplemental oxygen.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 19, 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--EIAS, 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, 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-2013-0465; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-085-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 2012-0055, dated April 3, 2012 (referred to 
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    It has been determined that oxygen generators, installed on a 
specific batch of Type 1 (22 minute) passenger emergency oxygen 
container assemblies, may become detached by extreme pulling of the 
mask tube at the end of oxygen supply. Investigations revealed that 
such detachment can be caused by the increase in temperature towards 
the end of the generator operation, which may weaken the plastic 
housing in the attachment area of the bracket.
    This condition, if not corrected, could make the rivets slip 
through the plastic housing, causing a `hot' oxygen generator and 
mask to fall down, possibly resulting in injury to passengers.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
modification of the affected oxygen container assemblies. This 
[EASA] AD also prohibits the installation of the affected 
(unmodified) containers on any aeroplane as replacement parts.

    The modification consists of adding a reinforcement plate at the 
rear outside of the container and adding two washers to the rivets at 
the inside of the container to prevent the generator from detaching. 
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued the following service bulletins.
     Service Bulletin A320-35-1049, dated June 15, 2011.
     Service Bulletin A320-35-1053, dated June 15, 2011.
     Service Bulletin A320-35-1054, dated June 15, 2011.
     Service Bulletin A320-35-1055, dated June 15, 2011.
     Service Bulletin A320-35-1056, dated June 15, 2011.
     Service Bulletin A320-35-1057, dated June 15, 2011.
     Service Bulletin A320-35-1058, dated June 15, 2011.
    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

[[Page 40075]]

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.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD 
would affect about 4 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that 
it would take about 2 work-hours per oxygen container assembly to 
comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average 
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. 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 $680 per oxygen 
container assembly.

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-2013-0465; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-
085-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by August 19, 2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

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

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 35, Oxygen.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a determination that oxygen generators, 
installed on a certain batch of passenger emergency oxygen container 
assemblies, might become detached by extreme pulling of the mask 
tube at the end of oxygen supply causing a high temperature oxygen 
generator and mask to fall down. We are issuing this AD to prevent a 
high temperature oxygen generator and mask from falling down and 
possibly resulting in an ignition source in the passenger 
compartment, injury to passengers, and reduced availability of 
supplemental oxygen.

(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) Oxygen Container Assembly Modification

    Except as specified in paragraphs (g)(1), (g)(2), and (g)(3) of 
this AD, within 5,000 flight cycles, or 7,500 flight hours, or 24 
months, whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD: 
Modify each type 1 (22 minute) passenger emergency oxygen container 
assembly installed on an airplane, having a part number (P/N) listed 
in paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this AD and a serial number (S/N) listed 
in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this AD, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1049, 
dated June 15, 2011; Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1053, dated 
June 15, 2011; Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1054, dated June 15, 
2011; Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1055, dated June 15, 2011; 
Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1056, dated June 15, 2011; Airbus 
Service Bulletin A320-35-1057, dated June 15, 2011; or Airbus 
Service Bulletin A320-35-1058, dated June 15, 2011; as applicable.
    (1) An oxygen container that has a part number listed in 
paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this AD and a serial number as listed in 
paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this AD, and that has been modified in 
accordance with the instructions of B/E Aerospace Service Bulletin 
1XC22-0100-35-006, is compliant with the modification requirement of 
paragraph (g) of this AD.
    (i) Oxygen container part numbers listed in paragraphs 
(g)(1)(i)(A) through (g)(1)(i)(D) of this AD, where xxxx stands for 
and alphanumerical value.
    (A) 13C22Lxxxxx0100.
    (B) 13C22Rxxxxx0100.
    (C) 14C22Lxxxxx0100.
    (D) 14C22Rxxxxx0100
    (ii) Oxygen container serial numbers listed in paragraphs 
(g)(1)(ii)(A) through (g)(1)(i)(H) of this AD.
    (A) ARBC-0182 to ARBC-9999, inclusive.
    (B) ARBD-0000 to ARBD-9999, inclusive.
    (C) ARBE-0000 to ARBE-9999, inclusive.
    (D) BEBF-0000 to BEBF-9999, inclusive.
    (E) BEBH-0000 to BEBH-9999, inclusive.
    (F) BEBK-0000 to BEBK-9999, inclusive.
    (G) BEBL-0000 to BEBL-9999, inclusive.
    (H) BEBM-0000 to BEBM-0454, inclusive.
    (2) Airplanes on which Airbus modification 150704 has not been 
embodied in production are excluded from the requirements of 
paragraph (g) of this AD, unless an oxygen container with a part 
number listed in paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this AD and a serial number 
listed in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this AD is installed.

[[Page 40076]]

    (3) Airplanes on which Airbus modification 150704 has been 
embodied in production and that are not listed by model and 
manufacturer serial number in Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1049, 
dated June 15, 2011; Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1053, dated 
June 15, 2011; Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1054, dated June 15, 
2011; Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1055, dated June 15, 2011; 
Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1056, dated June 15, 2011; Airbus 
Service Bulletin A320-35-1057, dated June 15, 2011; or Airbus 
Service Bulletin A320-35-1058, dated June 15, 2011; as applicable, 
are excluded from the requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD, 
unless an oxygen container with a part number listed in paragraph 
(g)(1)(i) of this AD and a serial number listed in paragraph 
(g)(1)(ii) of this AD is installed.

    Note 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD:  The oxygen container 
assemblies listed in paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this AD and paragraph 
(g)(1)(ii) of this AD are B/E Aerospace products with the mark ``B/E 
AEROSPACE'' on the identification plate.

(h) Parts Installation Limitation

    As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install, on 
any airplane, an oxygen container with a part number listed in 
paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this AD, and serial number listed in 
paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this AD, unless the oxygen container has 
been modified according to Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1049, 
dated June 15, 2011; Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1053, dated 
June 15, 2011; Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1054, dated June 15, 
2011; Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1055, dated June 15, 2011; 
Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1056, dated June 15, 2011; Airbus 
Service Bulletin A320-35-1057, dated June 15, 2011; or Airbus 
Service Bulletin A320-35-1058, dated June 15, 2011; as applicable.

(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, 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.

(j) Related Information

    (1) Refer to MCAI EASA Airworthiness Directive 2012-0055, dated 
April 3, 2012; and the following service bulletins; for related 
information.
    (i) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1049, dated June 15, 2011.
    (ii) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1053, dated June 15, 2011.
    (iii) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1054, dated June 15, 2011.
    (iv) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1055, dated June 15, 2011.
    (v) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1056, dated June 15, 2011.
    (vi) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1057, dated June 15, 2011.
    (vii) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-35-1058, dated June 15, 2011.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Airbus, Airworthiness Office--EIAS, 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 June 14, 2013.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-15950 Filed 7-2-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P