[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 191 (Monday, October 3, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67937-67939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23786]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9117; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-095-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 A330-200 Freighter, -200 and -300 series airplanes; and Airbus 
Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 series airplanes. This proposed AD 
was prompted by reports of certain hydraulic reservoirs (HRs) becoming 
depressurized due to air leakage from the HR pressure relief valve 
(PRV). This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the 
hydraulic fluid levels and nitrogen gas pressure in the HR for each 
hydraulic circuit, and if necessary, adjustment of the fluid level(s) 
and nitrogen pressure in affected HRs. We are proposing this AD to 
detect and correct air leakage from the HR PRV, which could lead to the 
loss of one or more hydraulic systems, with the possible result of loss 
of control of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 17, 
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--EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 
Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone: +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax: +33 5 61 93 
45 80; email: [email protected]; Internet: http://www.airbus.com.

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-
9117; 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: Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone: 425-227-1138; 
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-2016-9117; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-095-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 AD 
2016-0107, dated June 7, 2016, to correct an unsafe condition for 
certain Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter, -200 and -300 series 
airplanes; and Airbus Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 series 
airplanes. The MCAI states:

    Some events of depressurisation of hydraulic reservoirs have 
been reported, due to air leakage from the HR PRV [hydraulic 
reservoir pressure relief valve]. The results of the investigations 
revealed that the air leakage was due to the extrusion of the O-ring 
seal from the HR PRV. This may have happened during HR maintenance, 
testing or during flight, if HR over-filling was performed, as a 
result of which hydraulic fluid could pass through the PRV, causing 
[the] PRV seal to migrate from its nominal position, leading to loss 
of HR pressurisation.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to the 
loss of one or more hydraulic systems, possibly resulting in loss of 
control of the aeroplane.
    Prompted by these findings, Airbus issued Alert Operators 
Transmission (AOT) A29L005-16 [dated January 28, 2016] to provide 
inspection instructions.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
repetitive inspections of the HR fluid level of each hydraulic 
circuit and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable 
corrective action(s). This [EASA] AD also requires actions when 
maintenance action is accomplished on hydraulic reservoirs.
    This [EASA] AD is considered as interim action and further 
[EASA] AD action may follow.

    Required actions include repetitive inspection of the hydraulic 
fluid levels and nitrogen gas pressure in the HR for each hydraulic 
circuit, and if necessary, adjustment of the fluid level(s) and 
nitrogen pressure in affected HRs. 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-2016-9117.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Airbus Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) A29L005-16, 
Revision 01, dated June 28, 2016. This service information describes 
procedures for inspecting hydraulic fluid levels and nitrogen gas 
pressure in certain HRs, and adjustment of the fluid level(s) and 
nitrogen pressure in affected HRs. 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.

[[Page 67938]]

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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 101 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                                     Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                                            Cost per       Cost on U.S.
           Action                                            Labor cost                                   Parts cost        product         operators
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection..................  1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85 per inspection cycle..................              $0   $85 per          $8,585 per
                                                                                                                         inspection       inspection
                                                                                                                         cycle.           cycle.
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    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary servicing that 
would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. We 
have no way of determining the number of airplanes that might need this 
servicing:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
             Action                                Labor cost                      Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adding or Removing Hydraulic     1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85.............              $0              $85
 Fluid or Nitrogen Gas.
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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-2016-9117; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-
095-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by November 17, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, -
223F, -243, -243F, -301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342 
and -343 airplanes, and Airbus A340-211, -212, -213, -311, -312, -
313, -541, and -642 airplanes, certificated in any category, all 
airplanes that are fitted with a hydraulic reservoir (HR) pressure 
relief valve (PRV) part number 42F0026 installed on TECHSPACE HR 
having part number 42F1005, 42F1203, 42F1304, 42F1412, 42F1512, or 
42F1607.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 29, Hydraulic 
power.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of certain hydraulic reservoirs 
(HRs) becoming depressurized due to air leakage from the HR pressure 
relief valve (PRV). We are issuing this AD to detect and correct air 
leakage from the HR PRV, which could lead to the loss of one or more 
hydraulic systems, with the possible result of loss of control of 
the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspect Fluid Level and Nitrogen Pressure in Hydraulic Reservoir

    Within the compliance time defined in table 1 to paragraph (g) 
of this AD, as applicable, inspect the HR fluid level and nitrogen 
pressure of each hydraulic circuit in accordance with the 
instructions of paragraph 4.2.2.1 of Airbus Alert Operators 
Transmission (AOT) A29L005-16, Revision 01, dated June 28, 2016. 
Repeat the

[[Page 67939]]

inspection thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1,600 flight hours.

 Table 1 to Paragraph (g) of This AD--Initial Inspection Compliance Time
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            Compliance Time (A or B, whichever occurs later)
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A......................................  Before accumulating 1,600
                                          flight hours since first
                                          flight of the airplane.
B......................................  Within 1,000 flight hours or 3
                                          months, whichever occurs first
                                          after the effective date of
                                          this AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(h) Corrective Action

    If, during any inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD, 
any unacceptable pressure or fluid level is identified, before 
further flight, do the actions in paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(2) of 
this AD, as applicable, for each unacceptable pressure or fluid 
level that is discovered. Accomplishment of these actions on an 
airplane does not constitute terminating action for the repetitive 
inspections as required by paragraph (g) of this AD for that 
airplane.
    (1) Add or remove hydraulic fluid, as applicable, in accordance 
with the instructions of paragraph 4.2.2.2 of Airbus Alert Operators 
Transmission (AOT) A29L005-16, Revision 01, dated June 28, 2016.
    (2) Add or remove nitrogen gas, as applicable, in accordance 
with the instructions of paragraph 4.2.2.2 of Airbus Alert Operators 
Transmission (AOT) A29L005-16, Revision 01, dated June 28, 2016.

(i) Servicing Hydraulic Reservoir

    Concurrent with the initial inspection specified in paragraph 
(g) of this AD, revise the maintenance or inspection program, as 
applicable, to incorporate the hydraulic reservoir servicing actions 
specified in paragraph 4.2.2.2 of Airbus Alert Operators 
Transmission (AOT) A29L005-16, Revision 01, dated June 28, 2016.

(j) No Alternative Actions and Intervals

    After accomplishing the revision required by paragraph (i) of 
this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., inspections) and intervals 
may be used unless the actions and intervals are approved as an 
alternative method of compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the 
procedures specified in paragraph (l)(1) of this AD.

(k) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for actions required by 
paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD, if those actions were performed 
before the effective date of this AD using Airbus Alert Operators 
Transmission (AOT) A29L005-16, dated January 28, 2016.

(l) 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: Vladimir 
Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
WA 98057-3356; telephone: 425-227-1138; 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 
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); or Airbus's EASA Design 
Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval 
must include the DOA-authorized signature.

(m) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) EASA AD 2016-0107, dated June 7, 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-2016-9117.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office--EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice 
Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone: +33 5 61 93 36 96; 
fax: +33 5 61 93 45 80; 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 September 26, 2016.
Dionne Palermo,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-23786 Filed 9-30-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P