[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 116 (Thursday, June 16, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36274-36276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-12935]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-1105; Project Identifier AD-2020-01459-T]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to remove Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-
25-03, which applies to all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 
series airplanes. AD 2020-25-03 requires repetitive checks of the 
pressure gauges on the inflation reservoir of each emergency escape 
slide/raft to determine the amount of pressure, and applicable 
corrective actions. AD 2020-25-03 also provides optional terminating 
action for the repetitive checks. AD 2020-25-03 is no longer necessary 
because the unsafe condition no longer exists. Accordingly, the FAA 
proposes to remove AD 2020-25-03.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 1, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR

[[Page 36275]]

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-1105; 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 proposed AD, any 
comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, Large 
Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 
216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3225; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-1105; Project Identifier 
AD-2020-01459-T'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
the proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this proposed AD.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Dan 
Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International 
Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 
telephone and fax 206-231-3225; email [email protected]. Any 
commentary that the FAA receives that is not specifically designated as 
CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, previously issued AD 2020-0236, dated October 27, 2020 
(EASA AD 2020-0236) (also referred to as the Mandatory Continuing 
Airworthiness Information, or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition 
for all Airbus SAS Model A318 series airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -
113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -151N, -153N, and -171N airplanes; 
Model A320-211, -212, -214, -215, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -252N, 
-253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes; and Model A321 series 
airplanes.
    The FAA issued corresponding AD 2020-25-03, Amendment 39-21345 (85 
FR 79415, December 10, 2020) (AD 2020-25-03), for those airplanes 
except for Model A319-153N and A320-215 airplanes, which are not 
included on the U.S. type certificate data sheet. AD 2020-25-03 
requires repetitive checks of the pressure gauges on the inflation 
reservoir of each emergency escape slide/raft to determine the amount 
of pressure, and applicable corrective actions. AD 2020-25-03 also 
provides optional terminating action for the repetitive checks. AD 
2020-25-03 was prompted by a report of a loud bang heard during 
airplane boarding. A subsequent inspection revealed that one emergency 
escape slide/raft was found with zero reservoir pressure due to a burst 
rupture disk assembly in the inflation reservoir, which was probably 
caused by a manufacturing defect. The FAA issued AD 2020-25-03 to 
address insufficient reservoir pressure in an emergency escape slide/
raft, which would prevent the deployment of the emergency escape slide/
raft during an emergency, possibly resulting in injury to the 
occupants.

Actions Since AD 2020-25-03 Was Issued

    Since the FAA issued AD 2020-25-03, EASA issued AD 2020-0236-CN, 
dated May 16, 2022, to cancel EASA AD 2020-0236. EASA has advised the 
FAA that SAFRAN Aerosystems, the manufacturer of the affected parts, 
produced service information with instructions for replacement of the 
rupture disk during overhaul of the affected parts. EASA reports that 
no rupture disk failures have occurred in service or during overhaul. 
Consequently, new risk analysis determined that an unsafe condition no 
longer exists that would warrant AD action.
    On March 16, 2022, the FAA issued Special Airworthiness Information 
Bulletin (SAIB) 2022-06 to recommend replacement of the affected parts 
during overhaul.

FAA's Conclusions

    Upon further consideration, the FAA has determined that AD 2020-25-
03 is no longer appropriate. Accordingly, this proposed AD would remove 
AD 2020-25-03. Removal of AD 2020-25-03 would not preclude the FAA from 
issuing another related action or commit the FAA to any course of 
action in the future.

Related Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would add no cost. This proposed AD would remove 
AD 2020-25-03 from 14 CFR part 39; therefore, operators would no longer 
be required to show compliance with that AD.

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

[[Page 36276]]

necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the 
scope of that authority.

Regulatory Findings

    The FAA has 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 that the proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive AD 2020-25-03, Amendment 39-21345 
(85 FR 79415, December 10, 2020), and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:

Airbus SAS: Docket No. FAA-2020-1105; Project Identifier AD-2020-
01459-T.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by August 1, 
2022.

(b) Affected Airworthiness Directive (AD)

    This AD replaces AD 2020-25-03, Amendment 39-21345 (85 FR 79415, 
December 10, 2020).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Airbus SAS airplanes, certificated in any 
category, identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this AD.
    (1) Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes.
    (2) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -
151N, and -171N airplanes.
    (3) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -
252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes.
    (4) Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -
251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX, 
and -272NX airplanes.

(d) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Dan Rodina, 
Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation 
Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 
and fax 206-231-3225; email [email protected].

    Issued on June 10, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-12935 Filed 6-15-22; 8:45 am]
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