This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

76949 

Vol. 85, No. 231 

Tuesday, December 1, 2020 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2020–0780; Product 

Identifier 2020–NM–103–AD; Amendment 

39–21342; AD 2020–24–12] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Airbus SAS Model A350–941 airplanes. 

This AD was prompted by reports that 

certain central wing box (CWB) 

fasteners had rotated inside the fastener 

holes due to insufficient friction for the 

application. This AD requires 

replacement of the affected fasteners, as 

specified in a European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is 

incorporated by reference. The FAA is 

issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective January 5, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of January 5, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For material incorporated 

by reference (IBR) in this AD, contact 

the EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 

50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 

221 8999 000; email ADs@

easa.europa.eu; internet 

www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

IBR material on the EASA website at 

https://ad.easa.europa.eu. You may 

view this IBR 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. 

It is also available in the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2020– 

0780. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2020– 

0780; 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: 

Kathleen Arrigotti, Aerospace Engineer, 

Large Aircraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 

telephone and fax 206–231–3218; email 

kathleen.arrigotti@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

The EASA, which is the Technical 

Agent for the Member States of the 

European Union, has issued EASA AD 

2020–0123, dated May 29, 2020 (EASA 

AD 2020–0123) (also referred to as the 

Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness 

Information, or ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct 

an unsafe condition for certain Airbus 

SAS Model A350–941 airplanes. 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to certain Airbus SAS Model 

A350–941 airplanes. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

August 25, 2020 (85 FR 52284). The 

NPRM was prompted by reports that 

certain CWB fasteners had rotated 

inside the fastener holes due to 

insufficient friction for the application. 

The NPRM proposed to require 

replacement of the affected fasteners, as 

specified in an EASA AD. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

CWB fastener rotation. This condition, if 

not corrected, could lead to cracking of 

the fastener head sealant cover, 

followed by fuel vapor leakage inside 

the cabin, possibly resulting in injury to 

airplane occupants. See the MCAI for 

additional background information. 

Comments 

The FAA gave the public the 

opportunity to participate in developing 

this final rule. The FAA received no 

comments on the NPRM or on the 

determination of the cost to the public. 

Conclusion 

The FAA reviewed the relevant data 

and determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this 

final rule as proposed, except for minor 

editorial changes. The FAA has 

determined that these minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the NPRM for 

addressing the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2020–0123 describes 

procedures for replacement of the 

affected CWB fasteners with fasteners 

having improved friction efficiency. 

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. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 13 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 

FAA estimates the following costs to 

comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REQUIRED ACTIONS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

307 work-hours × $85 per hour = $26,095 ................................................................................. $5,900 $31,995 $415,935 


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76950 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 231 / Tuesday, December 1, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 

According to the manufacturer, some 

or all of the costs of this AD may be 

covered under warranty, thereby 

reducing the cost impact on affected 

individuals. The FAA does not control 

warranty coverage for affected 

individuals. As a result, the FAA has 

included all known costs in this 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. 

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. 

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 airworthiness 

directive: 

2020–24–12 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39– 

21342; Docket No. FAA–2020–0780; 

Product Identifier 2020–NM–103–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective January 5, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model 

A350–941 airplanes, certificated in any 

category, as identified in European Union 

Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020– 

0123, dated May 29, 2020 (‘‘EASA AD 2020– 

0123’’). 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 57, Wings. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by reports that 

certain central wing box (CWB) fasteners had 

rotated inside the fastener holes due to 

insufficient friction for the application. The 

FAA is issuing this AD to address CWB 

fastener rotation. This condition, if not 

corrected, could lead to cracking of the 

fastener head sealant cover, followed by fuel 

vapor leakage inside the cabin, possibly 

resulting in injury to airplane occupants. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Requirements 

Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this 

AD: Comply with all required actions and 

compliance times specified in, and in 

accordance with, EASA AD 2020–0123. 

(h) Exception to EASA AD 2020–0123 

The ‘‘Remarks’’ section of EASA AD 2020– 

0123 does not apply to this AD. 

(i) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, Large Aircraft 

Section, International Validation 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 Large Aircraft 

Section, International Validation Branch, 

send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (j) of this AD. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR730-AMOC@faa.gov. Before using any 

approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 

principal inspector, or lacking a principal 

inspector, the manager of the responsible 

Flight Standards Office. 

(2) 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, Large Aircraft Section, 

International Validation Branch, FAA; or 

EASA; or Airbus SAS’s EASA Design 

Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by 

the DOA, the approval must include the 

DOA-authorized signature. 

(3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except 

as required by paragraph (i)(2) 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. 

(j) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Kathleen Arrigotti, Aerospace 

Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, 

International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 

South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 

telephone and fax 206–231–3218; email 

kathleen.arrigotti@faa.gov. 

(k) 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. 

(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2020–0123, dated May 29, 2020. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For AD 2020–0123, contact the EASA, 

Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, 

Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email 

ADs@easa.europa.eu; internet 

www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

EASA AD on the EASA website at https://

ad.easa.europa.eu. 

(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. This material may be found 

in the AD docket on the internet at https:// 

www.regulations.gov by searching for and 

locating Docket No. FAA–2020–0780. 

(5) You may view this material that is 

incorporated by reference at the National 

Archives and Records Administration 


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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 231 / Tuesday, December 1, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 76951 

(NARA). For information on the availability 

of this material at NARA, email fedreg.legal@

nara.gov, or go to: https://www.archives.gov/ 

federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. 

Issued on November 20, 2020. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2020–26436 Filed 11–30–20; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2019–0484; Product 

Identifier 2020–NM–051–AD; Amendment 

39–21341; AD 2020–24–11] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Airbus SAS Model A330–200, A330– 

200 Freighter, A330–300, A340–200, 

A340–300, A340–500, and A340–600 

series airplanes. This AD was prompted 

by a report that an airplane failed to 

extend its nose landing gear (NLG) using 

the free fall method, due to loss of the 

green hydraulic system. This AD 

requires repetitive tests of affected free 

fall actuators (FFA), and replacement of 

any affected FFA with a serviceable 

FFA, as specified in a European Union 

Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, 

which is incorporated by reference. The 

FAA is issuing this AD to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective January 5, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of January 5, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For material incorporated 

by reference (IBR) in this AD, contact 

the EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 

50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 

221 8999 000; email ADs@

easa.europa.eu; internet 

www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

IBR material on the EASA website at 

https://ad.easa.europa.eu. You may 

view this IBR 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. 

It is also available in the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2019– 

0484. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2019– 

0484; 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: 

Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, 

Large Aircraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 

telephone and fax 206–231–3229; email 

vladimir.ulyanov@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

The EASA, which is the Technical 

Agent for the Member States of the 

European Union, has issued EASA AD 

2020–0076, dated March 30, 2020 

(‘‘EASA AD 2020–0076’’) (also referred 

to as the Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information, or ‘‘the 

MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe condition 

for all Airbus SAS Model A330–200, 

A330–200 Freighter, A330–300, A340– 

200, and A340–300 series airplanes; 

Model A340–541 and –542 airplanes; 

and Model A340–642 and –643 

airplanes. Airbus SAS Model A340–542 

and A340–643 airplanes are not 

certificated by the FAA and are not 

included on the U.S. type certificate 

data sheet; this AD therefore does not 

include those airplanes in the 

applicability. 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to all Airbus SAS Model A330– 

200, A330–200 Freighter, A330–300, 

A340–200, A340–300, A340–500, and 

A340–600 series airplanes. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

June 30, 2020 (85 FR 39110). The NPRM 

was prompted by a report that an 

airplane failed to extend its NLG using 

the free fall method, due to loss of the 

green hydraulic system. The NPRM 

proposed to require repetitive tests of 

affected FFAs, and replacement of any 

affected FFA with a serviceable FFA, as 

specified in an EASA AD. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

detached magnets on both electrical 

motors of the FFAs, which could 

prevent landing gear extension by the 

free fall method, possibly resulting in 

loss of control of the airplane after 

landing. See the MCAI for additional 

background information. 

Comments 

The FAA gave the public the 

opportunity to participate in developing 

this final rule. The following presents 

the comments received on the NPRM 

and the FAA’s response to each 

comment. 

Support for the NPRM 

The Air Line Pilots Association, 

International (ALPA) and American 

Airlines expressed support for the 

proposed AD. 

Request To Supersede AD 98–03–03 

American Airlines recommended that 

the proposed AD supersede AD 98–03– 

03, Amendment 39–10295 (63 FR 4374, 

January 29, 1998) (AD 98–03–03). The 

commenter asserted that Appendix 4 of 

Airbus All Operators Transmission 

(AOT) 32L012–18, Revision 01, dated 

May 16, 2019; Revision 02, dated July 3, 

2019; and Revision 03, dated January 

21, 2020; includes FFA serial numbers 

that were the subject of AD 98–03–03. 

The commenter also pointed out that 

the specific serial numbers impacted by 

AD 98–03–03 are shown in Lucas 

Aerospace Alert Service Bulletin 

AR024–A32–001, dated July 28, 1995, 

which was referenced as an additional 

source of service information in AD 98– 

03–03. 

The FAA does not agree to supersede 

AD 98–03–03, which affects, in part, 

Model A330 series airplanes, as listed in 

Airbus Service Bulletin A330–32–3042, 

Revision 1, dated September 19, 1995. 

That service bulletin lists Model A330– 

301, –321, –322, and –342 series 

airplanes with specific manufacturer 

serial numbers (MSNs). None of those 

airplanes are registered in the U.S. This 

AD affects all Model A330–200 and 

A330–300 series airplanes, including all 

MSNs. In addition, AD 98–03–03 affects 

FFAs with part numbers (P/Ns) 

AR02403, AR02404, and AR02405, 

while this AD affects FFAs with P/N 

AR02404 only. AD 98–03–03 also 

addresses a different unsafe condition 

than is addressed in this AD. For these 

reasons, the FAA has determined that it 

is inappropriate for this AD to 

supersede AD 98–03–03. The FAA has 

not changed this AD with regard to this 

request. 


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