[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 174 (Thursday, September 8, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 62026-62029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-21166]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9055; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-071-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 A300 B4-600R series airplanes, Model A300 C4-605R 
Variant F airplanes, and Model A300 F4-600R series airplanes. This 
proposed AD was prompted by the results of a full stress analysis of 
the lower area of a certain

[[Page 62027]]

frame that revealed a crack could occur in the forward fitting lower 
radius of a certain frame after a certain number of flight cycles. This 
proposed AD would require an inspection of the lower area of a certain 
frame radius for cracking, and corrective action if necessary. We are 
proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking in the forward fitting 
lower radius of a certain frame. Such cracking could reduce the 
structural integrity of the fuselage.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 24, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Airbus 
SAS, Airworthiness Office--EAW, 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 view this 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
9055; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 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: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-2125; 
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-2016-9055; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-071-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 Union, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive 2016-0085, dated April 28, 2016 (referred to 
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Airbus Model 
A300 B4-600R series airplanes, Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes, 
and Airbus Model A300 F4-600R series airplanes. The MCAI states:

    Following a recently completed full stress analysis of the Frame 
(FR) 40 lower area, supported by a Finite Element Model (FEM), of 
the post-mod 10221 configuration, it was demonstrated that for the 
FR40 forward fitting lower radius, a crack could occur after a 
certain amount of flight cycles (FC).
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could reduce the 
structural integrity of the fuselage.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Airbus established 
that crack detection could be performed through a special detail 
inspection (SDI) using a high frequency eddy current (HFEC) method, 
and issued Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) A57W009-16.
    For the reasons described above, this AD requires a one-time SDI 
of the FR40 lower area and, depending on findings, accomplishment of 
applicable corrective action(s).

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
9055.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Airbus Alert Operators Transmission--AOT A57W009-16, 
Rev 00, dated February 25, 2016, including Appendixes 1 and 2, both 
undated. The service information describes procedures for inspecting 
the forward fitting lower radius of FR40 for cracking and corrective 
action. This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

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 these 
same type designs.

Clarification of Applicability

    The MCAI lists Airbus Model A300 B4-622R airplanes twice in the 
applicability. We have discussed the applicability with EASA, and the 
second reference was a typographical error which should have been 
``Airbus Model A300 F4-622R airplanes.'' The applicability of this 
proposed AD will include Airbus Model A300 F4-622R airplanes.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 94 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection............................  3 work-hours x $85 per                $0            $255         $23,970
                                         hour = $255.

[[Page 62028]]

 
Reporting.............................  1 work-hour x $85 per                 $0             $85          $7,990
                                         hour = $85.
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We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide cost estimates for the on-condition actions
  specified in this proposed AD.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to penalty for 
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of 
information displays a current valid OMB control number. The control 
number for the collection of information required by this proposed AD 
is 2120-0056. The paperwork cost associated with this proposed AD has 
been detailed in the Costs of Compliance section of this document and 
includes time for reviewing instructions, as well as completing and 
reviewing the collection of information. Therefore, all reporting 
associated with this proposed AD is mandatory. Comments concerning the 
accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should 
be directed to the FAA at 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 
20591, ATTN: Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

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.

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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2016-9055; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-
071-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by October 24, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus airplanes, certificated in any 
category, identified in paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(3) of 
this AD, on which Airbus Modification 10221 was embodied in 
production.
    (1) Airbus Model A300 B4-605R and B4-622R airplanes.
    (2) Airbus Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes.
    (3) Airbus Model A300 F4-605R and F4-622R airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57, Wings.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by the results of a full stress analysis of 
the lower area of frame (FR) 40 that revealed a crack could occur in 
the forward fitting lower radius of FR 40 after a certain number of 
flight cycles. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking 
in the forward fitting lower radius of FR 40. Such cracking could 
reduce the structural integrity of the fuselage.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Inspection

    At the later of the compliance times specified in paragraphs 
(g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD, do a high frequency eddy current 
inspection of the lower area of the FR 40 radius for cracking, in 
accordance with the procedures in Airbus Alert Operators 
Transmission--AOT A57W009-16, Rev 00, dated February 25, 2016, 
including Appendixes 1 and 2, both undated.
    (1) Prior to exceeding 19,000 total flight cycles or 41,000 
flight hours since the airplane's first flight, whichever occurs 
first.
    (2) Within 300 flight cycles or 630 flight hours after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first.

(h) Corrective Action

    If any crack is found during the inspection required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD: Before further flight, repair using a 
method approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the European Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA); or Airbus's EASA Design Organization Approval 
(DOA).../../MADGE 2015/Differences/contact_mfr_foreign.doc.

(i) Reporting Requirement

    Submit a report of all findings (both positive and negative) 
from the inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD to Airbus 
Customer Services through TechRequest on Airbus World (https://w3.airbus.com/) by selecting Engineering Domain and ATA 57-10.
    (1) For airplanes on which the inspection specified in paragraph 
(g) of this AD is accomplished on or after the effective date of 
this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after performing the 
inspection.
    (2) For airplanes on which the inspection specified in paragraph 
(g) of this AD is accomplished before the effective date of this AD: 
Submit the report within 30 days after the effective date of this 
AD.

[[Page 62029]]

(j) 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: Dan Rodina, 
Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-
3356; telephone 425-227-2125; 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.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International 
Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the EASA; 
or Airbus's EASA DOA. If approved by the DOA, the approval must 
include the DOA-authorized signature.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: A federal agency may not conduct or 
sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a 
person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a 
collection of information subject to the requirements of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information 
displays a current valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number 
for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public reporting for 
this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 5 
minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, 
completing and reviewing the collection of information. All 
responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Comments 
concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing 
the burden should be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. 
SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: Information Collection Clearance 
Officer, AES-200.

(k) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) EASA Airworthiness Directive 2016-0085, dated April 28, 2016, 
for related information. This MCAI may be found in the AD docket on 
the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2016-9055.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office--EAW, 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 view this 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 August 22, 2016.
John P. Piccola, Jr.,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-21166 Filed 9-7-16; 8:45 am]
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