[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]
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