[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 72 (Monday, April 15, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15160-15162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07426]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0207; Product Identifier 2019-NE-02-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Safran Aerosystems Life Jackets

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 Safran Aerosystems (formerly Zodiac Aerospace Services) life 
jackets. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of defective welding 
on certain life jackets around the inflation system. This proposed AD 
would require removal and replacement of the affected life jackets. We 
are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 30, 2019.

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 Zodiac 
Aerospace Services, 61 Rue Pierre Curie, CS20001, 78370 Plaisir Cedex, 
France; phone: + 33 1 61 34 23 23; fax: + 33 1 61 34 21 13; email: 
[email protected]; internet: http://tpi.services.zodiacaerospace.com. You may view this service information 
at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 District 
Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.

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-2019-
0207; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), 
the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is listed above. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin King, Aerospace Engineer, Boston 
ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803; phone 
781-238-7655; 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 proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2019-0207; 
Product Identifier 2019-NE-02-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM 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 we 
receive about this NPRM.

Discussion

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has 
issued EASA AD 2019-0010, dated January 23, 2019 (referred to after 
this as ``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on these 
products. The MCAI states:

    Defective welding around the inflation system has been 
reportedly found on certain

[[Page 15161]]

life jackets on the production line. Subsequent investigation 
results identified a batch of life jackets which might be affected 
by this manufacturing defect.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to inability of the 
life jacket to perform its intended function, possible resulting in 
injury to the user of that life jacket.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Safran Aerosystems 
issued the SB, providing the list of affected parts, and the repair 
SB, providing instructions to repair affected parts.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
replacement of affected life jackets, and allows their 
(re)installation on an aircraft only after having being repaired.

    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-2019-0207.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Zodiac Aerospace Services Service Bulletin (SB) 25-65-
33, Revision 01, dated January 8, 2019, and Zodiac Aerospace Services 
SB 25-65-34, Original Issue, dated January 8, 2019. Zodiac Aerospace 
Services SB 25-65-33 describes procedures for identifying the affected 
life jackets by part number and serial number. Zodiac Aerospace 
Services SB 25-65-34 describes procedures for repairing the affected 
life jackets. 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

    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 the relevant 
information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition 
described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of 
the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require removal and replacement of the 
affected life jackets.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects an unknown number of life 
jackets installed on, but not limited to, ATR-GIE Avions de Transport 
Regional ATR 42 and ATR 72, Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321, Airbus A330, 
Airbus A340, Airbus A350, and Airbus A380 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
Operators have the option to replace or repair the affected life 
jackets. We have no way of determining the number of life jackets that 
might be replaced or repaired.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                     Cost per
                   Action                                 Labor cost                Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspect life jacket........................  0.1 work-hours x $85 per hour =                  $0           $8.50
                                              $8.50.
Replace life jacket........................  0.5 work-hours x $85 per hour =                  96          138.50
                                              $42.50.
Repair life jacket.........................  0.5 work-hours x $85 per hour =                   0           42.50
                                              $42.50.
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    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, 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, 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.

[[Page 15162]]

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Safran Aerosystems (formerly Zodiac Aerospace Services): Docket No. 
FAA-2019-0207; Product Identifier 2019-NE-02-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by May 30, 2019.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    (1) This AD applies to Safran Aerosystems life jackets with part 
number (P/N) 210225-2, P/N 216200-0, or P/N 216203-0, and with a 
serial number listed in Table 1 of Zodiac Aerospace Services Service 
Bulletin (SB) 25-65-33, Revision 01, dated January 8, 2019, that are 
not marked with ``Mod.per SB 25-65-34'' in the identification area.
    (2) These appliances are installed on, but not limited to, ATR-
GIE Avions de Transport Regional ATR 42 and ATR 72, Airbus A318/
A319/A320/A321, Airbus A330, Airbus A340, Airbus A350, and Airbus 
A380 airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2561, Life Jacket.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of defective welding on certain 
life jackets around the inflation system. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of the life jacket. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could result in injury to the wearer of the life jacket.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Within six months after the effective date of this AD, remove 
each affected life jacket from the airplane and, before further 
flight, replace the life jacket with a life jacket eligible for 
installation.

(h) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install on any 
airplane an affected life jacket unless it has been repaired and 
marked to indicate compliance with such repair in accordance with 
Zodiac Aerospace Services SB 25-65-34, Original Issue, dated January 
8, 2019, or a method approved by the FAA.

(i) Definition

    A life jacket eligible for installation is a new life jacket or 
a life jacket repaired in accordance with Zodiac Aerospace Services 
SB 25-65-34, Original Issue, dated January 8, 2019, or by a method 
approved by the FAA.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Boston ACO 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, send your request 
to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District 
Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the 
manager of the ACO Branch, send it to the attention of the person 
identified in paragraph (k)(1) of this AD.
    (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.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Erin King, 
Aerospace Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA, 01803; phone 781-238-7655; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2019-0010, dated January 23, 2019, for more information. You may 
examine the EASA AD in the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. 
FAA-2019-0207.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Zodiac Aerospace Services, 61 Rue Pierre Curie, CS20001, 78370 
Plaisir Cedex, France; phone: + 33 1 61 34 23 23; fax: + 33 1 61 34 
21 13; email: [email protected]; internet: 
http://tpi.services.zodiacaerospace.com. You may view this 
referenced service information at the FAA, Engine and Propeller 
Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
781-238-7759.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on April 10, 2019.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-07426 Filed 4-12-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P