[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 236 (Monday, December 11, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58137-58139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26571]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0688; Product Identifier 2017-NE-23-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Zodiac Seats France, Cabin Attendant 
Seats

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

[[Page 58138]]

Zodiac Seats France, 537 series cabin attendant seats. This proposed AD 
was prompted by operator reports that safety belt wear was found at the 
attachment to the cabin attendant seat. This proposed AD would require 
inspecting the safety belt webbing, and modifying and re-marking each 
affected cabin attendant seat. We are proposing this AD to correct the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this NPRM by January 25, 2018.

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.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Zodiac 
Seats France, Rue Robert Marechal Senior B.P. 69, 36100 Issoudun, 
France; phone: +33 (0) 9 70 83 08 30; fax: +33 (0) 2 54 03 39 00; 
email: [email protected]; Internet: http://www.services.zodiacaerospace.com. You may view this service information 
at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation 
Division, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125.

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-2017-
0688; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, 
and other information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-
647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in 
the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dorie Resnik, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Boston ACO Branch, Compliance and Airworthiness Division, 1200 District 
Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7693; fax: 781-238-7199; 
email: [email protected].

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-2017-0688; 
Product Identifier 2017-NE-23-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 because of 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 
with FAA personnel concerning 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 
AD 2016-0163, dated August 10, 2016 (referred to hereafter as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    Cases were reported by operators of finding safety belt worn out 
at the attachment to the cabin attendant seat. This kind of belt 
damage is due to chafing between the belt and the surrounding metal 
lap belt fitting of the cabin attendant seat. This condition, if not 
detected and corrected, could lead to failure of the attendant seat 
to perform its intended function, possibly resulting in injury to 
the seat occupant. Prompted by these occurrences, Zodiac Seats 
France issued Service Bulletin (SB) No. 537-25-003, providing 
instructions to modify the affected seats. For the reason described 
above, this AD requires a modification of the seat pan shaft by 
installing new seat pan spacers, and subsequent re-identification 
with a new P/N.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0688.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Zodiac Seats France Service Bulletin (SB) No. 537-25-
003, Revision 1, dated August 29, 2016. The SB describes procedures for 
installing an anti-rotation device on the seat pan shaft to limit the 
rotation of the safety belt on ATR 42 and ATR 72 airplanes. We also 
reviewed Service Information Letter (SIL) 537-01, dated July 31, 2015. 
The SIL provides details to identify if the safety belt must be removed 
and replaced and provides instructions on safety belt storage to avoid 
this premature wear. 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 EASA, and is approved for 
operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement 
with the European Community, EASA has notified us of the unsafe 
condition described in the MCAI and service information referenced 
above. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all information 
provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition exists and is 
likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design. 
This proposed AD would require inspecting, modifying, and re-marking 
certain cabin attendant seats.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 55 seat assemblies 
installed on, but not limited to, ATR 42 and ATR 72 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seat inspection and modification......  0.5 work-hours x $85 per            $300         $342.50      $18,837.50
                                         hour = $42.50.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 58139]]

    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed 
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to engines and propellers, and 
associated appliances to the Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards 
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division.

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 to the extent 
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, 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):

Zodiac Seats France (formerly SICMA Aero Seat): Docket No. FAA-2017-
0688; Product Identifier 2017-NE-23-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by January 25, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Zodiac Seats France cabin attendant 
seats, 537 series, part numbers 53701-( )( )-( )( )( ).
    These appliances are installed on, but not limited to, ATR 42 
and ATR 72 airplanes of U.S. registry.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 2500 Code, Cabin 
Equipment/Furnishings.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by operator reports that safety belt wear 
was found at the attachment to the cabin attendant seat. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of these attendant seats.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    Within 720 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, 
inspect safety belt webbing, modify and re-mark each affected cabin 
attendant seat using sections (2)(A) through (2)(B) of Zodiac Seats 
France Service Bulletin (SB) No. 537-25-003, Revision 1, dated 
August 29, 2016 and Zodiac Seats France Service Information Letter 
537-01, dated July 31, 2015.

(g) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install any affected 
cabin attendant seat on any aircraft.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, FAA, Boston ACO Branch, Compliance and 
Airworthiness Division, 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 manager of the Boston ACO 
Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in 
paragraph (i)(1) of this AD. You may email your request to: [email protected].
    (2) 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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Dorie Resnik, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Boston ACO Branch, Compliance and 
Airworthiness Division, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7693; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2016-0163, 
dated August 10, 2016, for more information. You may examine the 
MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2017-0688.
    (3) Zodiac Seats France SB No. 537-25-003, Revision 1, dated 
August 29, 2016, and Zodiac Seats France Service Information Letter 
537-01, dated July 31, 2015 can be obtained from Zodiac Seats 
France, using the contact information in paragraph (i)(4) of this 
proposed AD.
    (4) For service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact Zodiac Seats France, Rue Robert Marechal Senior B.P. 69, 
36100 Issoudun, France; phone: +33 (0) 9 70 83 08 30; fax: +33 (0) 2 
54 03 39 00; email: [email protected]; Internet: http://www.services.zodiacaerospace.com.
    (5) You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, 
Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation 
Division, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For information on 
the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on December 5, 2017.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-26571 Filed 12-8-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P