[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 44 (Monday, March 7, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12565-12569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04665]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0883; Project Identifier AD-2021-00307-T; 
Amendment 39-21950; AD 2022-04-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-16-
01, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 
series airplanes. AD 2020-16-01 required repetitive cleaning and 
greasing of affected cargo door seals (both original equipment 
manufacturer (OEM) and parts manufacturer approval (PMA) parts). This 
AD was prompted by reports of low halon concentration in the forward 
and aft cargo compartments due to air leakage through cargo compartment 
door seals, and the FAA's determination that improved cargo door seals 
must be installed and that certain flight operations must be limited 
until the improved cargo door seals are installed. This AD retains 
certain actions required by AD 2020-16-01 and requires replacing 
certain forward and aft cargo compartment door seals with new seals and 
installing a placard on the cargo compartment doors; and for certain 
airplanes, revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to 
implement an operational limitation for certain routes. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 11, 2022.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of April 11, 
2022.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of 
October 20, 2021 (86 FR 51265, September 15, 2021).

ADDRESSES: For Airbus service information identified in this final 
rule, contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office--EIAS, Rond-Point Emile 
Dewoitine No: 2, 31700 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. For European Union Aviation Safety 
Agency

[[Page 12566]]

(EASA) material identified in this final rule, contact EASA, Konrad-
Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; 
email [email protected]; internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may find 
this material on the EASA website at https://ad.easa.europa.eu. You may 
view this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products 
Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, 
WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 206-231-3195. It is also available at https://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0883.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0883; 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 final rule, any 
comments received, and other information. The address for Docket 
Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-
30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE, Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Marshall, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Section, FAA, Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5524; fax: 404-474-5606; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2020-16-01, Amendment 39-21185 (85 FR 
47013, August 4, 2020) (AD 2020-16-01). AD 2020-16-01 applied to all 
Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. AD 2020-
16-01 required repetitive cleaning and greasing of affected cargo door 
seals (both OEM and PMA parts). The NPRM published in the Federal 
Register on October 22, 2021 (86 FR 58597). The NPRM was prompted by 
reports of low halon concentration in the forward and aft cargo 
compartments due to air leakage through cargo compartment door seals, 
and the FAA's determination that additional rulemaking is necessary to 
require replacement of PMA part number (P/N) D5237106020400S with 
improved cargo door seals and to limit certain flight operations until 
the improved cargo door seals are installed. In the NPRM, the FAA 
proposed to retain certain actions required by AD 2020-16-01; require 
replacing certain forward and aft cargo compartment door seals with new 
seals and installing a placard on the cargo compartment doors; and for 
certain airplanes, implement an operational limitation for certain 
routes. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to limit the applicability to 
airplanes that have certain PMA parts installed because the FAA issued 
AD 2021-18-04, Amendment 39-21705 (86 FR 51265, September 15, 2021) (AD 
2021-18-04) to address the OEM parts.
    The FAA is issuing this AD to address low halon concentration. This 
condition, if not corrected, could affect the fire extinguishing system 
efficiency in the cargo compartments, possibly resulting in failure of 
the system to contain a cargo compartment fire.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from Air Line Pilots Association, Inc. 
(ALPA), who supported the NPRM without change, and United Airlines, who 
also supported the NPRM. The FAA also received additional comments from 
United Airlines. The following presents the comments received on the 
NPRM and the FAA's response to each comment.

Request for Clarification if the Proposed AD Replaces or Supersedes a 
Certain AD

    United Airlines requested that the FAA clarify whether the proposed 
AD would ``supersede'' AD 2020-16-01, as specified in the SUMMARY of 
the NPRM, or would ``replace'' AD 2020-16-01, as specified in paragraph 
(b) of the proposed AD.
    The FAA agrees to clarify. The words supersede and replace have the 
same meaning and are interchangeable. The word ``replace'' used in 
paragraph (b) of this AD is required by the Office of the Federal 
Register. The FAA has not changed this AD in this regard.

Request To Allow Later Revisions of Service Information

    United Airlines requested that the FAA allow the use of later 
approved revisions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-52-1195, Revision 
01, dated December 15, 2020, and Airbus Service Bulletin A320-52-1196, 
dated October 12, 2020, as acceptable methods of compliance with the 
requirements of the new proposed AD.
    The FAA may not refer to any document that does not yet exist in an 
AD. In general terms, the FAA is required by Office of the Federal 
Register (OFR) regulations for approval of materials incorporated by 
reference, as specified in 1 CFR 51.1(f), to either publish the service 
document contents as part of the actual AD language; or submit the 
service document to the OFR for approval as referenced material, in 
which case the FAA may only refer to such material in the text of an 
AD. The AD may refer to the service document only if the OFR approved 
it for incorporation by reference. See 1 CFR part 51.
    To allow operators to use later revisions of the referenced 
document (issued after publication of the AD), either the FAA must 
revise the AD to reference specific later revisions, or operators must 
request approval to use later revisions as an alternative method of 
compliance with this AD under the provisions of paragraph (m) of this 
AD.

Inquiry Regarding Affected AD Number in AD 2018-18-04

    United Airlines stated that paragraph (b) of AD 2021-18-04, 
``Affected ADs,'' refers to AD 2020-16-01. United Airlines inquired 
whether the FAA is planning to revise the ``Affected ADs'' paragraph of 
AD 2021-18-04 with the new proposed AD number that is superseding or 
replacing AD 2020-16-01.
    The FAA agrees to clarify. AD 2021-18-04 applies only to OEM parts 
and affects AD 2020-16-01 because AD 2020-16-01 applied to both OEM 
parts and PMA parts. This AD applies only to PMA parts and supersedes 
AD 2020-16-01. The terminating actions for cleaning and greasing as 
required by AD 2021-18-04, AD 2020-16-01, and this new AD (that will 
replace AD 2020-16-01), are the same: Replace the seals with new seal 
part numbers as specified in the service information. However, AD 2021-
18-04 does not affect this AD as each AD is independent of each other. 
It is not necessary to change paragraph (b) of AD 2021-18-04 to refer 
to this AD because this AD does not contain any requirements for OEM 
parts.

Clarification of Operational Limitation

    Paragraph (j) of the proposed AD included an operational limitation 
and specified that amending the existing AFM was one method to comply 
with the requirement. The FAA has determined that revising the existing 
AFM is the method most operators would use to comply with the 
requirement. In addition, the FAA determined the AFM revision should 
refer to the operational limitation language as specified in a figure 
for clarity. The FAA has revised paragraph

[[Page 12567]]

(j) of this AD to require revising the existing AFM to include an 
operational limitation specified in figure 1 to paragraph (j) of this 
AD. Operators may request an alternative method of compliance using the 
procedures specified in paragraph (m) of this AD if they have 
alternative methods to comply with the operational limitations that 
provide an equivalent level of safety.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered any comments 
received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as 
proposed. Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as 
proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic 
burden on any operator.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Airbus Service Bulletin A320-52-1195, Revision 01, 
dated December 15, 2020, and Airbus Service Bulletin A320-52-1196, 
dated October 12, 2020. This service information specifies procedures 
for replacing the forward and aft cargo compartment door seals with new 
seals, among other actions, and installing a placard on the cargo 
compartment doors. These documents are distinct since they apply to 
different airplane models.
    This AD also requires European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 
AD 2021-0049, dated February 18, 2021, which the Director of the 
Federal Register approved for incorporation by reference as of October 
20, 2021 (86 FR 51265, September 15, 2021).
    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 ADDRESSES.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 1,768 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
             Action                   Labor cost          Parts cost       Cost per product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cleaning and greasing (retained   1 work-hour x $85   $0................  $85, per cleaning/  $150,280, per
 actions from AD 2020-16-01).      per hour = $85,                         greasing cycle.     cleaning/greasing
                                   per cleaning/                                               cycle.
                                   greasing cycle.
Cargo door seal replacement and   8 work-hours x $85  Up to $5,680......  Up to $6,360......  Up to $11,244,480.
 placard installation (new         per hour = $680.
 action).
AFM revision (new action).......  1 work-hour x $85   $0................  $85...............  Up to $150,280
                                   per hour = $85.                                             (Group 3
                                                                                               airplanes only).
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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.
    The FAA is 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

    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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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 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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-16-01, Amendment 39-21185 
(85 FR 47013, August 4, 2020); and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:

2022-04-08 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-21950; Docket No. FAA-2021-0883; 
Project Identifier AD-2021-00307-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective April 11, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2020-16-01, Amendment 39-21185 (85 FR 47013, 
August 4, 2020) (AD 2020-16-01).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the Airbus SAS airplanes identified in 
paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this AD, certificated in any 
category, equipped with any parts manufacturer approval (PMA) part 
approved for the type design forward and aft cargo compartment door 
seal part number (P/N) D5237106020400, including but not limited to 
PMA P/N D5237106020400S.
    (1) Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes.
    (2) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -
151N, -153N, and -171N airplanes.
    (3) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -215, -216, -231, -232, -233, -
251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes.
    (4) Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -
251N, -251NX,

[[Page 12568]]

-252N, -252NX, -253N, -253NX, -271N, -271NX, -272N, and -272NX 
airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 26, Fire 
protection; 52, Doors.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of low halon concentration in 
the forward and aft cargo compartments due to air leakage through 
cargo compartment door seals, and the certification of improved 
cargo door seals. The FAA is issuing this AD to address low halon 
concentration. This condition, if not corrected, could affect the 
fire extinguishing system efficiency in the cargo compartments, 
possibly resulting in failure of the system to contain a cargo 
compartment fire.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Definition

    For the purposes of this AD, a ``PMA part'' is defined as any 
PMA part approved for the type design forward and aft cargo 
compartment door seal P/N D5237106020400, including but not limited 
to PMA P/N D5237106020400S.

(h) Retained Cleaning and Greasing, With Revised Compliance Language

    This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD 
2020-16-01, with revised compliance language. Within 6 months after 
the airplane date of manufacture, or 3 months after August 19, 2020 
(the effective date of AD 2020-16-01), whichever occurs later, and, 
thereafter, at intervals not exceeding 6 months, clean and grease 
each PMA part, in accordance with the instructions specified in 
paragraph (1) or (2) of European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 
AD 2021-0049, dated February 18, 2021. Accomplishing the actions 
required by paragraph (i) of this AD on an airplane terminates the 
actions required by this paragraph for that airplane only, and for 
the specific cargo door locations with PMA parts only.

(i) Modification

    Within 96 months after the effective date of this AD, replace 
the seals of the PMA part with new seals and install a placard on 
the cargo compartment doors, in accordance with the method specified 
in paragraph (i)(1) or (2) of this AD. Accomplishing the actions 
required by this paragraph terminates the actions required by 
paragraph (h) of this AD for that airplane only, and for the 
specific cargo door locations where PMA parts were replaced only.
    (1) Do the actions in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-52-1195, Revision 01, 
dated December 15, 2020, or Airbus Service Bulletin A320-52-1196, 
dated October 12, 2020, as applicable, except where the procedures 
refer to P/N D5237106020400, those procedures must be used for the 
PMA part.
    (2) Do the actions in accordance with the procedures specified 
in paragraph (m)(1) of this AD.

(j) Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Revision--Operational Limitation

    For Model A319 airplanes on which Airbus mod 26402, mod 34881 or 
mod 34882 has been embodied in production, or Airbus Service 
Bulletin A320-26-1066 or Airbus Service Bulletin A320-26-1076 has 
been embodied in service: Within 9 months or 1,600 flight hours 
after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, revise 
the Limitations section of the existing AFM to incorporate the 
information specified in Figure 1 to paragraph (j) of this AD. This 
may be done by inserting a copy of figure 1 to paragraph (j) of this 
AD into the Limitations Section of the existing AFM. Accomplishing 
the modification required by paragraph (i) of this AD terminates the 
requirements of this paragraph, and after the modification has been 
done, the AFM limitation required by this paragraph must be removed 
from the existing AFM before further flight after the modification.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR07MR22.002

(k) Credit for Previous Actions

    (1) This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in 
paragraph (h) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this AD using Airbus Technical Adaption 80774334/
003/2020, Issue 1, dated April 1, 2020.
    (2) This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in 
paragraph (h) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this AD using EASA AD 2020-0133, dated June 10, 
2020 (which was incorporated by reference in AD 2020-16-01).
    (3) This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in 
paragraph (i) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this AD using Airbus Service Bulletin A320-52-
1195, dated October 12, 2020.

(l) Parts Installation Prohibition

    Do not install a PMA part, or a door equipped with a PMA part, 
on any airplane, as required by paragraph (l)(1) or (2) of this AD, 
as applicable.
    (1) For airplanes with a PMA part installed as of the effective 
date of this AD: After modification of the airplane as required by 
paragraph (i) of this AD.
    (2) For airplanes that do not have a PMA part installed as of 
the effective date of this AD: As of the effective date of this AD.

(m) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Atlanta 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 responsible Flight Standards Office, 
as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of 
the certification office, send it to the attention of the person 
identified in Related Information.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
    (3) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, Atlanta ACO 
Branch, FAA.
    (4) Required for compliance (RC): Except as specified by 
paragraph (m)(3) of this AD, if any service information contains 
procedures or tests that are identified as RC, those procedures and 
tests must be done to comply with this AD; any procedures or tests 
that are not identified as RC are recommended. Those procedures and 
tests that are not identified as RC may be deviated from using 
accepted methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or 
inspection program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided 
the procedures and tests identified as RC can be done and the 
airplane can be put back in an airworthy condition. Any 
substitutions or changes to procedures or tests identified as RC 
require approval of an AMOC.

[[Page 12569]]

(n) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact John Marshall, 
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA, Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5524; fax: 
404-474-5606; email: [email protected].
    (2) Service information identified in this AD that is not 
incorporated by reference is available at the addresses specified in 
paragraphs (o)(5), (6), and (7) of this AD.

(o) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
    (3) The following service information was approved for IBR on 
April 11, 2022.
    (i) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-52-1195, Revision 01, dated 
December 15, 2020.
    (ii) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-52-1196, dated October 12, 
2020.
    (4) The following service information was approved for IBR on 
October 20, 2021 (86 FR 51265, September 15, 2021).
    (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2021-0049, 
dated February 18, 2021.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (5) For Airbus service information identified in this AD, 
contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office--EIAS, Rond-Point Emile 
Dewoitine No: 2, 31700 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.
    (6) For EASA AD 2021-0049, contact the EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-
Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email 
[email protected]; internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 
EASA AD on the EASA website at https://ad.easa.europa.eu.
    (7) You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability 
of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
    (8) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, email [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on February 11, 2022.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-04665 Filed 3-4-22; 8:45 am]
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