[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 131 (Friday, July 11, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30829-30831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-13007]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 131 / Friday, July 11, 2025 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 30829]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-1360; Project Identifier AD-2024-00710-Q,T]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Goodrich Cabin Attendant Seats
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for Goodrich cabin attendant seats installed on Airbus SAS Model A330-
200 series, A330-200 Freighter series, A330-300 series, A330-841, A330-
941, A340-200 series, A340-300 series, A340-541, and A340-642
airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that track
attachments used on certain part-numbered seats are non-compliant. This
proposed AD would require replacing all seat track attachments and
hardware and re-identifying the seat with a new part number. The FAA is
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 25,
2025.
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 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.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2025-1360; 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, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For Goodrich material identified in this proposed AD,
contact Goodrich Aircraft Interior Products, 1275 North Newport Road,
Colorado Springs, CO 80916-2779; phone: 719-380-0391; email:
[email protected]; website: collinsaerospace.com.
You may view this material 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thanh-Phuong Ta, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712; phone:
303-342-1095; 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 using a method listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2025-1360;
Project Identifier AD-2024-00710-Q,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 this 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
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.
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
Thanh-Phuong Ta, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 3960 Paramount
Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712; phone: 303-342-1095; 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
The FAA has received a report from Goodrich Corporation Interiors
that track attachments used on certain part-numbered cabin attendant
seats are not compliant with the requirement for the seats to withstand
a dynamic load of 16 times the force of gravity (16g) in an accident
per Technical Standard Order TSO-C127(a) and 14 CFR 25.562(b). These
seats are installed on Airbus SAS Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, -
243, -223F, -243F, -301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, -
343, -841, and -941 airplanes, and Model A340-211, -212, -213, -311, -
312, -313, -541, and -642 airplanes. Due to flawed analysis and
incomplete testing that did not consider the dynamic strength and
geometry of the cast track attachments, the cabin attendant seat may
detach from the airplane. This condition, if not addressed, could
result in injury to the occupant or a blocked exit during an emergency
evacuation.
FAA's Determination
The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe
condition described previously is likely to exist or
[[Page 30830]]
develop on other products of the same type design.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed the following material:
Goodrich Service Bulletin 2057-25-071, Revision A, dated
November 27, 2017;
Goodrich Service Bulletin 2071-25-046, Revision C, dated
January 14, 2020;
Goodrich Service Bulletin 2157-25-092, Revision C, dated
May 18, 2022; and
Goodrich Service Bulletin 2201-25-013, Revision E, dated
May 20, 2024.
This material specifies procedures for replacing all seat track
attachments and hardware and then re-identifying the seat with a new
part number. These documents are distinct since they apply to different
airplane configurations.
This material 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.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the material already described, except for any differences
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.
See ``Differences Between this Proposed AD and the Referenced
Material'' for a discussion of these differences.
Difference Between This Proposed AD and the Referenced Material
Although Goodrich Service Bulletins 2057-25-071, 2071-25-046, 2157-
25-092, and 2201-25-013 recommend replacing the seat track attachments
within 4 years, this proposed AD would require replacing them within 2
years. The FAA has determined that replacement within 4 years would not
ensure an adequate level of safety for the affected fleet. In
developing an appropriate compliance time for this AD, the FAA
considered the manufacturer's recommendation, the degree of urgency
associated with the subject unsafe condition, the average utilization
of the affected fleet, and the time necessary to replace the seat track
attachments. In light of these factors, the FAA finds a 2-year
compliance time appropriate for affected airplanes to continue to
operate without compromising safety.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 59 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following
costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Replacement and seat reidentification. 15 work-hours x $85 per $1,500 $2,775 $163,725
hour = $1,275.
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The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some or all of the costs of
this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the
cost impact on affected operators.
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
The FAA 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) 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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
Goodrich: Docket No. FAA-2025-1360; Project Identifier AD-2024-
00710-Q,T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by August 25, 2025.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Goodrich cabin attendant seats, part numbers
2057-11XXXXXX with floor seating option, except for 2057-1 hard
point mounted seats; 2201-1XXYY and -2XXYY; 2157-7XXXXXXX and -
9XXXXXXX; and 2071-2XXXX and -A2XXXX. These seats are installed on
the Airbus SAS airplanes, certificated in any category, listed in
paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this AD.
(1) Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, -243, -223F, -243F, -301,
-302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, -343, -841, and -941
airplanes.
[[Page 30831]]
(2) Model A340-211, -212, -213, -311, -312, -313, -541, and -642
airplanes.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25, Equipment/
furnishings.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report that track attachments used on
certain cabin attendant seats are non-compliant. The FAA is issuing
this AD to prevent the cabin attendant seat from detaching from the
airplane. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in
injury to the occupant or a blocked exit during an emergency
evacuation.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Seat Track Attachment Replacement
Within 2 years after the effective date of this AD, replace the
seat track attachments and hardware and re-identify the seat with a
new part number in accordance with the applicable service
information identified in paragraphs (g)(1) through (4) of this AD,
except you are not required to discard parts. Instead, remove those
parts from service.
(1) Goodrich Service Bulletin 2057-25-071, Revision A, dated
November 27, 2017.
(2) Goodrich Service Bulletin 2071-25-046, Revision C, dated
January 14, 2020.
(3) Goodrich Service Bulletin 2157-25-092, Revision C, dated May
18, 2022.
(4) Goodrich Service Bulletin 2201-25-013, Revision E, dated May
20, 2024.
(h) Credit for Previous Actions
This paragraph provides credit for the actions required by
paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the
effective date of this AD using Goodrich Service Bulletin 2071-25-
046, Revision B, dated December 10, 2019, or Goodrich Service
Bulletin 2157-25-092, Revision B, dated January 12, 2021.
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
The Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety 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 Continued Operational Safety Branch,
send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph
(j)(1) 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
responsible Flight Standards Office.
(j) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Thanh-Phuong Ta,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood,
CA 90712; phone: 303-342-1095; email: [email protected].
(2) Material identified in this AD that is not incorporated by
reference is available at the address specified in paragraph (k)(3)
of this AD.
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Goodrich Service Bulletin 2057-25-071, Revision A, dated
November 27, 2017.
(ii) Goodrich Service Bulletin 2071-25-046, Revision C, dated
January 14, 2020.
(iii) Goodrich Service Bulletin 2157-25-092, Revision C, dated
May 18, 2022.
(iv) Goodrich Service Bulletin 2201-25-013, Revision E, dated
May 20, 2024.
(3) For Goodrich material identified in this AD, contact
Goodrich Aircraft Interior Products, 1275 North Newport Road,
Colorado Springs, CO 80916-2779; phone: 719-380-0391; email:
[email protected]; website: collinsaerospace.com.
(4) You may view this material 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.
(5) You may view this material at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].
Issued on July 9, 2025.
Lona C. Saccomando,
Acting Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-13007 Filed 7-10-25; 8:45 am]
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