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.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

15332 

Vol. 78, No. 47 

Monday, March 11, 2013 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0207; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–071–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede an 

existing airworthiness directive (AD) 

that applies to all The Boeing Company 

Model 737–300, –400, and –500 series 

airplanes. The existing AD currently 

requires repetitive inspections of the 

downstop assemblies on the main tracks 

of the No. 2, 3, 4, and No. 5 slats and 

the inboard track of the No. 1 and 6 slats 

to verify if any parts are missing, 

damaged, or in the wrong order; other 

specified actions; and related 

investigative and corrective actions if 

necessary. Since we issued that AD, the 

manufacturer has developed a 

modification, which, when installed, 

would terminate the repetitive 

inspections. This proposed AD would 

add an inspection of the slat can interior 

for foreign object debris (FOD), and 

removal of any FOD found; modification 

of the slat track hardware; an inspection 

for FOD and for damage to the interior 

surface of the slat cans; and related 

investigative and corrective actions, if 

necessary. We are proposing this AD to 

prevent loose or missing parts in the 

main slat track downstop assemblies, 

which could puncture the slat track 

housing and result in a fuel leak and 

consequent fire. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by April 25, 2013. 

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 

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: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, P. O. Box 3707, 

MC 2H–65, Seattle, Washington 98124– 

2207; telephone 206–544–5000, 

extension 1; fax 206–766–5680; Internet 

https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You 

may review copies of the referenced 

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. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov; or in person at the 

Docket Management Facility between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 

docket contains this proposed AD, the 

regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for the Docket Office 

(phone: 800–647–5527) is in the 

ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Nancy Marsh, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, 

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office 

(ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; phone: (425) 

917–6440; fax: (425) 917–6590; email: 

nancy.marsh@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposed AD. Send your comments 

to an address listed under the 

ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2013–0207; Directorate Identifier 

2011–NM–071–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed 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 proposed AD. 

Discussion 

On March 11, 2008, we issued AD 

2008–06–29, Amendment 39–15441 (73 

FR 15397, March 24, 2008), for all The 

Boeing Company Model 737–300, -400, 

and -500 series airplanes. That AD 

requires repetitive inspections of the 

downstop assemblies on the main tracks 

of the No. 2, 3, 4, and 5 slats and the 

inboard track of the No. 1 and 6 slats to 

verify if any parts are missing, damaged, 

or in the wrong order; and related 

investigative and corrective actions if 

necessary. That AD resulted from 

reports of fuel leaking from a puncture 

in the slat track housing. We issued that 

AD to detect and correct loose or 

missing parts in the main slat track 

downstop assemblies, which could 

puncture the slat track housing and 

result in a fuel leak and consequent fire. 

Actions Since Existing AD (73 FR 

15397, March 24, 2008) Was Issued 

The preamble to AD 2008–06–29, 

Amendment 39–15441 (73 FR 15397, 

March 24, 2008), specifies that we 

consider the requirements ‘‘interim 

action’’ and that the manufacturer was 

developing a modification to address 

the unsafe condition. That AD explains 

that we might consider further 

rulemaking if a modification is 

developed, approved, and available. The 

manufacturer now has developed such a 

modification, and we have determined 

that further rulemaking is indeed 

necessary; this proposed AD follows 

from that determination. 

Relevant Service Information 

AD 2008–06–29, Amendment 39– 

15441 (73 FR 15397, March 24, 2008), 

refers to Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

737–57A1301, dated February 5, 2008, 

as the appropriate source of service 

information for the required actions. 


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Boeing has since revised this service 

information. We reviewed Boeing 

Service Bulletin 737–57A1301, Revision 

3, dated August 11, 2011, which adds 

procedures for inspecting the slat can 

interior for foreign object debris (FOD), 

removing any FOD found, modifying the 

slat track hardware; an inspection for 

FOD and a one-time inspection for 

damage to the interior surface of the slat 

cans for the inboard and outboard tracks 

of slats No. 2 through 5 and the inboard 

slats of tracks No. 1 and 6; and related 

investigative and corrective actions if 

necessary. Modifying the slat track 

hardware eliminates the need for the 

repetitive inspections. 

Related investigative actions include a 

determination of the wall thickness of 

damaged slat cans, and an inspection for 

clearance between the bottom of the slat 

can and slat main track. Corrective 

actions include a blend-out repair or 

replacement of the slat can with a new 

or serviceable slat can, proper torque of 

nuts, and installation of a tapered filler. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are proposing this AD because we 

evaluated all the relevant information 

and determined the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop in other products of the same 

type design. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would retain all 

requirements of AD 2008–06–29, 

Amendment 39–15441 (73 FR 15397, 

March 24, 2008), and also would require 

the actions specified in the service 

information described previously. 

Change to Existing AD (73 FR 15397, 

March 24, 2008) 

This proposed AD would retain all 

requirements of AD 2008–06–29, 

Amendment 39–15441 (73 FR 15397, 

March 24, 2008). Since AD 2008–06–29 

was issued, the AD format has been 

revised, and certain paragraphs have 

been rearranged. As a result, the 

corresponding paragraph identifiers 

have changed in this proposed AD, as 

listed in the following table: 

REVISED PARAGRAPH IDENTIFIERS

Requirement in AD 2008–06–29, Amendment 39-15441 (73 FR 15397, 

March 24, 2008) Corresponding requirement in this proposed AD 

paragraph (d) paragraph (e) 

paragraph (e) paragraph (f) 

paragraph (f) paragraph (g) 

In addition, Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes has received an Organization 

Designation Authorization (ODA), 

which replaces the previous designation 

as a Delegation Option Authorization 

(DOA) holder. We have revised 

paragraph (k) of this proposed AD to 

add delegation of authority to Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes ODA to approve 

an alternative method of compliance for 

certain repairs required by this 

proposed AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 568 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on 

U.S. operators 

Inspection of slat track housing [retained actions 

from existing AD 2008-06-29, Amendment 39– 

15441, (73 FR 15397, March 24, 2008)].

4 work-hours × $85 per hour = $340 per inspection 

cycle.

$0 $340 $193,120 

One-time detailed inspection of slat can [new proposed action].5 work-hours × $85 per hour = $85 ......................... $0 $425 $241,400 

Installation of modification [new proposed action] .... 12 work-hours × $85 per hour = $1,020 .................. $3,124 $4,144 $2,353,792 

We have received no definitive data 

that would enable us to provide a cost 

estimate for the on-condition actions 

specified in this proposed 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 have 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) Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under 

the DOT Regulatory Policies and 

Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 

1979), 

(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. 


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15334 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 47 / Monday, March 11, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

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 

■ 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 

removing airworthiness directive (AD) 

2008–06–29, Amendment 39–15441 (73 

FR 15397, March 24, 2008), and adding 

the following new AD: 

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA– 

2013–0207; Directorate Identifier 2011– 

NM–071–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

AD action by April 25, 2013. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD supersedes AD 2008–06–29, 

Amendment 39–15441 (73 FR 15397, March 

24, 2008). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all The Boeing 

Company Model 737–300, -400, and -500 

series airplanes, certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/ 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America 

Code 57: Wings. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports of fuel 

leaking from a puncture in the slat track 

housing (referred to as ‘‘slat can’’). We are 

issuing this AD to prevent loose or missing 

parts in the main slat track downstop 

assemblies, which could puncture the slat 

track housing and result in a fuel leak and 

consequent fire. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Retained Inspection of Downstop 

Assemblies and Corrective Action 

This paragraph restates the requirements of 

paragraph (f) of AD 2008–06–29, Amendment 

39–15441 (73 FR 15397, March 24, 2008), 

with revised service information. At the 

applicable times specified in Table 1 of 

paragraph 1.E. of Boeing Service Bulletin 

737–57A1301, dated February 5, 2008; or 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737–57A1301, 

Revision 3, dated August 11, 2011; except as 

provided by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD: Do 

a detailed inspection or borescope inspection 

of the downstop assemblies on the main 

tracks of the No. 2, 3, 4, and 5 slats and the 

inboard track of the No. 1 and 6 slats to verify 

if any parts are missing, damaged, or 

installed in the wrong order; and do all the 

other specified, related investigative, and 

corrective actions as applicable; by 

accomplishing all of the applicable actions 

specified in the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

737–57A1301, dated February 5, 2008; or 

Boeing Service Bulletin 737–57A1301, 

Revision 3, dated August 11, 2011; except as 

provided by paragraphs (g)(2) and (g)(3) of 

this AD. Repeat the inspection thereafter at 

the applicable times specified in Table 1 of 

paragraph 1.E. of Boeing Service Bulletin 

737–57A1301, dated February 5, 2008; or 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737–57A1301, 

Revision 3, dated August 11, 2011. Do all 

applicable related investigative and 

corrective actions before further flight. As of 

the effective date of this AD, only Boeing 

Service Bulletin 737–57A1301, Revision 3, 

dated August 11, 2011, may be used to 

accomplish the actions required by this 

paragraph. 

(1) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

737–57A1301, dated February 5, 2008, or 

Boeing Service Bulletin 737–57A1301, 

Revision 3, dated August 11, 2011, specifies 

counting the compliance time from ‘‘the date 

on the service bulletin,’’ this AD requires 

counting the compliance time from April 8, 

2008 (the effective date of AD 2008–06–29, 

Amendment 39–15441 (73 FR 15397, March 

24, 2008)). 

(2) For airplanes on which any downstop 

assembly part is missing or damaged, a 

borescope inspection of the inside of the slat 

track housing for loose parts and damage to 

the wall of the slat track housing may be 

accomplished in lieu of the detailed 

inspection of the inside of the slat track 

housing that is specified in Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 737–57A1301, dated 

February 5, 2008; or Boeing Service Bulletin 

737–57A1301, Revision 3, dated August 11, 

2011. As of the effective date of this AD, only 

Boeing Service Bulletin 737–57A1301, 

Revision 3, dated August 11, 2011, may be 

used to do the actions specified in this 

paragraph. 

(3) If any damaged slat track housing is 

found during any inspection required by 

paragraph (g) of this AD: Before further flight, 

repair in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Service Bulletin 737–57A1301, Revision 3, 

dated August 11, 2011; replace the slat can 

with a new slat can having the same part 

number, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Service Bulletin 737–57A1301, Revision 3, 

dated August 11, 2011; or repair the slat can 

using a method approved in accordance with 

the procedures specified in paragraph (k) of 

this AD. 

(h) New Detailed Inspection for Foreign 

Object Debris (FOD) 

Within 24 months after the effective date 

of this AD, do a one-time detailed inspection 

of the slat can interior to detect FOD, in 

accordance with Part III of the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Service Bulletin 737–57A1301, Revision 3, 

dated August 11, 2011. If any FOD is found, 

before further flight, remove it, in accordance 

with the Accomplishment Instructions of 

Boeing Service Bulletin 737–57A1301, 

Revision 3, dated August 11, 2011. 

(i) New Modification and Inspection 

Within 72 months or 15,000 flight cycles, 

whichever occurs first, after the effective date 

of this AD: Modify the slat track hardware by 

installing new downstop assembly hardware, 

and do a detailed inspection for FOD and a 

one-time inspection for damage to the 

interior surface of the slat can for the inboard 

and outboard tracks of slats 2 through 5, and 

the inboard slats of tracks 1 and 6; and do 

all applicable related investigative and 

corrective actions; in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Service Bulletin 737–57A1301, Revision 3, 

dated August 11, 2011. Do all applicable 

related investigative and corrective actions 

before further flight. Accomplishment of the 

actions required by this paragraph terminates 

the inspections required by paragraphs (g) 

and (h) of this AD. 

(j) Credit for Previous Actions 

This paragraph provides credit for the 

actions required by paragraphs (g), (h), and 

(i) of this AD, if those actions were performed 

before the effective date of this AD using 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737–57A1301, 

Revision 1, dated September 24, 2009; or 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737–57A1301, 

Revision 2, dated January 17, 2011; which are 

not incorporated by reference in this AD. 

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft 

Certification Office (ACO), 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 manager of the ACO, send it to the 

attention of the person identified in the 

Related Information section of this AD. 

Information may be emailed to: 9–ANMSeattle-ACO–AMOC-Requests@faa.gov. 

(2) 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. 

(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable 

level of safety may be used for any repair 

required by this AD if it is approved by the 

Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization 

Designation Authorization (ODA) that has 

been authorized by the Manager, Seattle 

ACO, to make those findings. For a repair 

method to be approved, the repair must meet 

the certification basis of the airplane, and the 

approval must specifically refer to this AD. 

(4) AMOCs approved previously in 

accordance with AD 2008–06–29, 

Amendment 39–15441 (73 FR 15397, March 

24, 2008), are approved as AMOCs for the 

corresponding provisions of this AD. 


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(l) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Nancy Marsh, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, Seattle 

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356; 

phone: (425) 917–6440; fax: (425) 917–6590; 

email: nancy.marsh@faa.gov. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services 

Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H–65, 

Seattle, Washington 98124–2207; telephone 

206–544–5000, extension 1; fax 206–766– 

5680; Internet https:// 

www.myboeingfleet.com. You may review 

copies of the referenced 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. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 

28, 2013. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–05505 Filed 3–8–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0208; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–NM–204–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and 

A321 series airplanes. This proposed 

AD was prompted by a determination 

that certain maintenance activities, such 

as repairs or the accumulation of paint 

layers, might cause the weight of an 

elevator to exceed the certified limits. 

This proposed AD would require 

checking the weight of certain elevators, 

and corrective action if necessary; and 

re-identifying the elevators. We are 

proposing this AD to detect and correct 

elevators that exceed the certified 

weight limits, which could result in 

reduced control of the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by April 25, 2013. 

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. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Airbus, 

Airworthiness Office—EIAS, 1 Rond 

Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac 

Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 

96; fax +33 5 61 93 44 51; email 

account.airworth-eas@airbus.com; 

Internet http://www.airbus.com. You 

may review copies of the referenced 

service information at the FAA, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 

Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

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 proposed 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, WA 

98057–3356; telephone (425) 227–1405; 

fax (425) 227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposed AD. Send your comments 

to an address listed under the 

ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2013–0208; Directorate Identifier 

2012–NM–204–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD based on 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 proposed AD. 

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 2012–0221, 

dated October 23, 2012 (referred to after 

this as the Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information, or ‘‘the 

MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe condition 

for the specified products. The MCAI 

states: 

It has been identified that maintenance 

activities, such as repairs or the 

accumulation of paint layers, may cause the 

weight of an elevator to exceed the certified 

limits. 

This condition, if not detected and 

corrected, could result in reduced control of 

the aeroplane. 

For the reasons described above, this 

[EASA] AD requires a onetime weight check 

of both left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) 

elevators, accomplishment of corrective 

actions, as applicable, depending on 

findings, and re-identification of the 

elevators. 

The monitoring of elevator weight 

evolution after having complied with this 

[EASA] AD is ensured by Airbus A318/A319/ 

A320/A321 ALS Part 2 CDCCL (Critical 

Design Configuration Control Limitations), 

compliance with which is currently required 

by EASA AD 2010–0071R1 [which 

corresponds to FAA AD 2011–14–06, 

Amendment 39–16741 (76 FR 42024, July 18, 

2011)]. 

Corrective action includes removing the 

paint from the elevator surface and 

repainting, or replacing the elevator 

with a serviceable elevator if the weight 

estimate is over the certified weight 

limit; and repairing the elevator. You 

may obtain further information by 

examining the MCAI in the AD docket. 

Relevant Service Information 

Airbus has issued Service Bulletin 

A320–55–1034, including Appendices 1 

and 2, dated August 19, 2011; and 

Service Bulletin A320–55–1042, 

Revision 01, dated June 29, 2012. 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 Proposed AD 

This product has been approved by 

the aviation authority of another 


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