[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5304-5306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02354]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0030; Product Identifier 2014-NM-161-AD; Amendment 
39-19180; AD 2018-03-07]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Airbus Model A330-202, -203, -223, and -243 airplanes; and Model A340-
211, -212, -311, and -313 airplanes. This AD requires contacting the 
FAA to obtain instructions for addressing the unsafe condition on these 
products, and doing the actions specified in those instructions. This 
AD was prompted by a report of a hard contact that was found between 
the constant speed motor/generator feeder line route 6G/6E and the 
optional cabin temperature control pipe on the upper shell between 
certain frames. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition 
on these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective February 22, 2018.
    We must receive comments on this AD by March 26, 2018.

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: 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.

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-2018-
0030; 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 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 Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 1601 Lind 
Avenue SW, Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone: 425-227-1138; fax: 425-
227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 
2014-0161, dated July 10, 2014 (referred to after this as the Mandatory 
Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to correct an 
unsafe condition for certain Airbus Model A330-202, -203, -223, and -
243 airplanes; and Model A340-211, -212, -311, and -313 airplanes. The 
MCAI states:

    A hard contact was found on an A330 aeroplane during production 
between the Constant Speed Motor/Generator (CSM/G) feeder line route 
6G/6E (Functional Item Number 1526VB) and the optional cabin 
temperature control pipe on the upper shell between Frame (FR)37.4 
and FR38 on stringer 5, right hand (RH) side.
    This condition, if not corrected, may lead to chafing and, 
consequently, a short circuit when the emergency generation is 
activated, resulting in the loss of emergency generation. The loss 
of normal generation combined with the loss of emergency generation 
jeopardizes the aeroplane safe flight.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Airbus developed a 
modification to provide adequate clearance between harness 1526VB 
and the affected (optional) air-conditioning temperature control 
pipe. A340-200/-300 aeroplanes equipped with this optional cabin 
temperature control pipe are also affected by this issue. The 
modification can be embodied in service through Airbus Service 
Bulletin (SB) A330-92-3125, or SB A340-92-4097, as applicable.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
modification of the CSM/G mounting with installation of new stacking 
and/or longer bracket, depending on aeroplane configuration.

    You may examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-
0030.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This 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. We are 
issuing this AD because we evaluated all pertinent information and 
determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or 
develop on other products of these same type designs.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    Since there are currently no domestic operators of this product, we 
find good cause that notice and opportunity for prior public comment 
are unnecessary. In addition, for the reason(s) stated above, we find 
that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 
30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public 
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2018-0030; Product 
Identifier 2014-NM-161-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all 
comments

[[Page 5305]]

received by the closing date and may amend this 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 AD.

Costs of Compliance

    Currently, there are no affected U.S.-registered airplanes. This AD 
requires contacting the FAA to obtain instructions for addressing the 
unsafe condition, and doing the actions specified in those 
instructions. Based on the actions specified in the MCAI AD, we are 
providing the following cost estimates for an affected airplane that is 
placed on the U.S. Register in the future:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                        Labor cost                Parts cost           Cost per product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modification.......................  Up to 17 work-hours x $85   Up to $256...........  Up to $1,701.
                                      per hour = $1,445.
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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.
    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 transport category airplanes to 
the Director of the System Oversight Division.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this AD will not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 that this AD:
    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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 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):

2018-03-07 Airbus: Amendment 39-19180; Docket No. FAA-2018-0030; 
Product Identifier 2014-NM-161-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective February 22, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) 
and (c)(2) of this AD, certificated in any category.
    (1) Airbus Model A330-202, -203, -223, and -243 airplanes, all 
manufacturer serial numbers on which Airbus modification 45775, 
45790, 45795, 46165, 46779, 48099, 48454, 52131, 52802, 53730, 
53819, 54310, 54410, 54420, 54530, 55231, 55630, 56080, 56260, 
56620, 57186, 57430, 200774, 201071, 201298, 201888, 202558, or 
203045 has been embodied in production, except those on which Airbus 
modification 203395 has been embodied in production.
    (2) Airbus Model A340-211, -212, -311, and -313 airplanes, all 
manufacturer serial numbers on which Airbus modification 40413, 
40550, 40901, 42021, 43590, or 46487 has been embodied in 
production, except those on which Airbus modification 203395 has 
been embodied in production.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 92, Electrical 
system installation.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report of a hard contact that was 
found between the constant speed motor/generator feeder line route 
6G/6E and the optional cabin temperature control pipe on the upper 
shell between certain frames. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
chafing, which can lead to a short circuit when the emergency 
generation is activated and a consequent loss of emergency 
generation. The loss of normal generation combined with the loss of 
emergency generation could adversely affect the airplane's continued 
safe flight and landing.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Action(s)

    Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, request 
instructions from the Manager, International Section, Transport 
Standards Branch, FAA, to address the unsafe condition specified in 
paragraph (e) of this AD; and accomplish the action(s) at the times 
specified in, and in accordance with, those instructions. Guidance 
can be found in Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2014-0161, dated 
July 10, 2014.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, International Section, Transport Standards Branch, 
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,

[[Page 5306]]

send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the International Section, send it to the attention of 
the person identified in paragraph (i)(2) of this AD. 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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) Refer to MCAI EASA AD 2014-0161, dated July 10, 2014, for 
related information. You may examine the MCAI on the internet at 
http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2018-0030.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Vladimir 
Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, International Section, Transport 
Standards Branch, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW, Renton, WA 98057-3356; 
telephone: 425-227-1138; fax: 425-227-1149.

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 26, 2018.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-02354 Filed 2-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P