Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 62 / Friday, March 30, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 19065 

the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that 

collection of information displays a current 

valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 

Control Number for this information 

collection is 2120–0056. Public reporting for 

this collection of information is estimated to 

be approximately 5 minutes per response, 

including the time for reviewing instructions, 

completing and reviewing the collection of 

information. All responses to this collection 

of information are mandatory. Comments 

concerning the accuracy of this burden and 

suggestions for reducing the burden should 

be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence 

Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 

Information Collection Clearance Officer, 

AES–200. 

(h) Related Information 

Refer to MCAI EASA AD No.: 2011–0209, 

dated October 26, 2011; DG Flugzeugbau 

GmbH TN No 500/4, dated August 30, 2011; 

and DG Flugzeugbau Working Instruction No. 

1, dated August 30, 2011, for related 

information. 

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) You must use the following service 

information to do the actions required by this 

AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 

Director of the Federal Register approved the 

incorporation by reference (IBR) under 5 

U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 of the 

following service information: 

(i) DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Technical Note 

No. 500/04, dated August 30, 2011; and 

(ii) DG Flugzeugbau Working Instruction 

No. 1 for TN500/04, dated August 30, 2011. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact DG-Flugzeugbau GmbH, 

Otto-Lilienthal-Weg 2, 76646 Bruchsal, 

Federal Republic of Germany; telephone: +49 

(0) 7251 3020140, fax: +49 (0) 7251 3020149; 

email: dirks@dg-flugzeugbau.de; Internet: 

www.dg-flugzeugbau.de. 

(3) You may review copies of the service 

information at the FAA, Small Airplane 

Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, 

Missouri 64106. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

(816) 329–4148. 

(4) You may also review copies of the 

service information that is incorporated by 

reference at the National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of this 

material at an NARA facility, call 202–741– 

6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/ 

federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ 

ibr_locations.html. 

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 

19, 2012. 

Earl Lawrence, 

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–7002 Filed 3–29–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0295; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–057–AD; Amendment 

39–16993; AD 2012–06–12] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Airbus Model A340–600 series 

airplanes. This AD requires a detailed 

inspection for abnormalities of the ball 

lock retainer on the off-wing ramp 

slides; for closure of the soft cover; for 

full engagement of the slide release pin; 

for broken, missing, and improper 

placement of the safety tie thread on the 

slide release pin; and for proper 

functioning of the vent valve; and 

replacement of the off-wing ramp slides 

if necessary. This AD was prompted by 

reports of in-flight loss of the blow-out 

panel and the slide unit from a righthand off-wing ramp-slide. We are 

issuing this AD to detect and correct 

abnormalities of the ball lock retainer, if 

the soft cover is open, if the slide pin 

release is not engaged or the safety tie 

thread is missing, broken, or improperly 

placed and the vent valve is not 

functioning properly, which could 

result in in-flight loss of the off-wing 

ramp slide. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 

16, 2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in the AD 

as of April 16, 2012. 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by May 14, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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; 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 Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

Washington 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 

Community, has issued EASA 

Airworthiness Directive 2011–0017, 

dated February 3, 2011 (referred to after 

this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe 

condition for the specified products. 

The MCAI states: 

An A340–600 operator has reported an inflight loss of the blow-out panel and the slide 

unit from a Right Hand (RH) off-wing rampslide. 

Investigation has revealed that the two 

main contributor factors of a potential inflight loss of the slide are the packboard soft 

covers not fully closed and the vent valve not 

activated. 

In flight, the air contained in the inflatable 

assembly could increase in volume due to air 

pressure changes. Consequently, pack growth 

could occur and apply loads on the 

packboard soft covers and the blow-out panel 

attachment hardware. To prevent a pack 

growth, a vent valve is installed and when 

activated can balance pressure inside the 

inflatable assembly with the ambient air 

pressure. 

Analysis indicates that non activation of 

the vent valve, followed by soft cover 

opening, could cause the packboard blow-out 

panel to separate from the slide enclosure, 

resulting in in-flight loss of the off-wing ramp 

slide, which would constitute an unsafe 

condition. 

For the reasons described above, this AD 

requires a one-time inspection [check] of the 

soft cover condition and check of the vent 

valve function on each off-wing ramp slide, 

and accomplishment of the applicable 

corrective actions [replacement of the offwing ramp slide]. 


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19066 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 62 / Friday, March 30, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

The one-time inspection consists of a 

detailed inspection for abnormalities of 

the ball lock retainer on the off-wing 

ramp slides; for closure of the soft cover; 

for full engagement of the slide release 

pin; for broken, missing, and improper 

placement of the safety tie thread on the 

slide release pin; and for proper 

functioning of the vent valve. You may 

obtain further information by examining 

the MCAI in the AD docket. 

Relevant Service Information 

Airbus has issued All Operators Telex 

A340–25A5191, dated January 18, 2011. 

The actions described in this service 

information are intended to correct the 

unsafe condition identified in the 

MCAI. 

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 and service information 

referenced above. 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 the same 

type design. 

There are no products of this type 

currently registered in the United States. 

However, this rule is necessary to 

ensure that the described unsafe 

condition is addressed if any of these 

products are placed on the U.S. Register 

in the future. 

FAA’s Determination of the Effective 

Date 

Since there are currently no domestic 

operators of this product, notice and 

opportunity for public comment before 

issuing this AD are unnecessary. 

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–2012–0295; 

Directorate Identifier 2011–NM–057– 

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 

received by the closing date and may 

amend this AD 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 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. 

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. 

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 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); and 

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. 

We prepared a regulatory evaluation 

of the estimated costs to comply with 

this AD and placed it in the AD docket. 

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 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new AD: 

2012–06–12 Airbus: Amendment 39–16993. 

Docket No. FAA–2012–0295; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–057–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes 

effective April 16, 2012. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Model A340– 

642 airplanes, certificated in any category, all 

manufacturer serial numbers. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 25: Equipment/Furnishings. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by reports of inflight loss of the blow-out panel and the slide 

unit from a right-hand off-wing ramp-slide. 

We are issuing this AD to detect and correct 

abnormalities of the ball lock retainer, if the 

soft cover is open, if the slide pin release is 

not engaged or the safety tie thread is missing 

or broken, and the vent valve is not 

functioning properly, which could result in 

in-flight loss of the off-wing ramp slide. 

(f) Compliance 

You are responsible for having the actions 

required by this AD performed within the 

compliance times specified, unless the 

actions have already been done. 

(g) Actions 

Within 90 days after the effective date of 

this AD, do a detailed inspection for 

abnormalities of the ball lock retainer on the 

off-wing ramp slides; for closure of the soft 

cover; for full engagement of the slide release 

pin; for broken, missing, and improper 

placement of the safety tie thread on the slide 

release pin; and for proper function of the 

vent valve; in accordance with Airbus All 

Operators Telex (AOT) A340–25A5191, dated 

January 18, 2011. If the ball lock retainer has 

abnormalities, the soft cover is open, or the 

slide pin release is not engaged, or the safety 

tie thread is broken, missing, or improperly 

placed, or the vent valve is not functioning 

properly, before further flight, replace the offwing ramp slide, in accordance with Airbus 

AOT A340–25A5191, dated January 18, 2011. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 62 / Friday, March 30, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 19067 

(h) Parts Installation 

As of the effective date of this AD, no 

person may install any off-wing ramp slide 

having part number 4A3931–X on any 

airplane, unless the check required by 

paragraph (g) of this AD has been done and 

none of the conditions specified in paragraph 

(g) of this AD are found. 

(i) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 

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 International Branch, send it to ATTN: 

Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057– 

3356; telephone (425) 227–1138; fax (425) 

227–1149. Information may be emailed to: 9- 

ANM-116-AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. 

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. The AMOC 

approval letter must specifically reference 

this AD. 

(2) Airworthy Product: For any 

requirement in this AD to obtain corrective 

actions from a manufacturer or other source, 

use these actions if they are FAA-approved. 

Corrective actions are considered FAAapproved if they are approved by the State 

of Design Authority (or their delegated 

agent). You are required to assure the product 

is airworthy before it is returned to service. 

(j) Related Information 

Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) European 

Aviation Safety Airworthiness Directive 

2011–0017, dated February 3, 2011; and 

Airbus AOT A340–25A5191, dated January 

18, 2011; for related information. 

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) You must use the following service 

information to do the actions required by this 

AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 

Director of the Federal Register approved the 

incorporation by reference (IBR) of the 

following service information under 5 U.S.C. 

552(a) and 1 CFR part 51: 

(i) Airbus All Operators Telex A340– 

25A5191, dated January 18, 2011. The 

document number and date are identified 

only on the first page of the document. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus SAS—Airworthiness 

Office—EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 

31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 

5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; email 

airworthiness.A330-A340@airbus.com; 

Internet http://www.airbus.com. 

(3) You may review copies of the service 

information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

Washington. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

425–227–1221. 

(4) You may also review copies of the 

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, call 202–741–6030, or go 

to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/

code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.

html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 9, 

2012. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–7004 Filed 3–29–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0294; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–047–AD; Amendment 

39–16992; AD 2012–06–11] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Airbus Model A321–131, –211, –212, 

and –231 airplanes. This AD requires a 

rotating probe inspection for cracking of 

the lower panel bore holes of the center 

wing box (CWB), and corrective actions 

if necessary. This AD was prompted by 

reports of incorrect installation of rib 

pads of the lower aft panel of the CWB 

due to poor clamping during drilling, 

and reports that metal chips trapped 

between panels and stiffeners could 

impact the fatigue life of CWB panels. 

We are issuing this AD to detect and 

correct cracking and damage in the bore 

holes of the rib pads of the lower 

forward and aft panels of the CWB 

which could result in reduced structural 

integrity of the wings. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 

16, 2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in the AD 

as of April 16, 2012. 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by May 14, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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; 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: 

Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 227–1405; 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 

Community, has issued EASA 

Airworthiness Directive 2011–0035, 

dated March 2, 2011 (referred to after 

this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe 

condition for the specified products. 

The MCAI states: 

During removal of one centre wing box 

(CWB) lower aft panel [due to reports of 

defects] during production, the following 

defects were found: 

—An excessive layer of sealant in between 

the lower panel and the rib pads, and 

—Small metal chips between the panel and 

rib pads. 

Investigations revealed that the metal chips 

trapped between parts (panels and stiffeners) 

have a possible impact on fatigue life of CWB 

panels. 

Consequently, cracks in the bore holes of 

the CWB lower panel may occur in service, 

thereby reducing the structural integrity of 

the aeroplane. 

For the reasons describe above, this AD 

requires a special detailed [rotating probe] 

inspection of CWB lower panel bore holes to 

detect any defect [damage] or crack and, 


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