69110 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 192 / Thursday, October 5, 2023 / Proposed Rules 

the airplane, and the approval must 

specifically refer to this AD. 

(m) Related Information

(1) For more information about this AD,

contact Joseph Hodgin, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des 

Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206–231–3962; 

email: Joseph.J.Hodgin@faa.gov. 

(2) Service information identified in this

AD that is not incorporated by reference is 

available at the addresses specified in 

paragraphs (n)(3) and (4) of this AD. 

(n) 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 the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin

767–53A0301 RB, Revision 2, dated May 24, 

2023. 

(ii) [Reserved]

(3) For service information identified in

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data 

Services (C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd., 

MC 110–SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740–5600; 

telephone 562–797–1717; website 

myboeingfleet.com. 

(4) You may view this service information

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 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, 

email fr.inspection@nara.gov, or go to: 

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued on September 28, 2023. 

Victor Wicklund, 

Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–22066 Filed 10–4–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2023–1897; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2023–00921–T] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for 

certain Airbus SAS Model A320–214, 

A320–216, A320–251N, A320–271N, 

and A321–253NX airplanes. This 

proposed AD was prompted by a quality 

review of the forward cargo door frameto-fuselage skin panel assembly 

identified several fastener holes that 

deviated from the manufacturing 

requirements. This proposed AD would 

require repetitive special detailed 

inspections of the affected area for 

discrepancies and, depending on 

findings, accomplishment of applicable 

corrective actions, as specified in a 

European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD, which is proposed for 

incorporation by reference (IBR). 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 November 20, 

2023. 

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–2023–1897; 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, the mandatory 

continuing airworthiness information 

(MCAI), any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

Docket Operations is listed above. 

Material Incorporated by Reference: 

• For material that is proposed for

IBR in this AD, contact EASA, KonradAdenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, 

Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; 

email ADs@easa.europa.eu; website 

easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

material on the EASA website 

ad.easa.europa.eu. It is also available at 

regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA– 

2023–1897. 

• You may view this material at the

FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 

216th Street, Des Moines, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 206–231–3195. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Timothy Dowling, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, 

Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 

telephone: 206–231–3667; email: 

timothy.p.dowling@faa.gov. 

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–2023–1897; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2023–00921–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 Timothy Dowling, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 

Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, 

NY 11590; telephone: 206–231–3667; 

email: timothy.p.dowling@faa.gov. Any 

commentary that the FAA receives 

which is not specifically designated as 

CBI will be placed in the public docket 

for this rulemaking. 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 192 / Thursday, October 5, 2023 / Proposed Rules 69111 

Background 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD 2023–0153, 

dated July 26, 2023 (EASA AD 2023– 

0153) (also referred to as the MCAI), to 

correct an unsafe condition for certain 

Airbus SAS Model A320–214, A320– 

216, A320–251N, A320–271N, and 

A321–253NX airplanes. The MCAI 

states a quality review of the forward 

cargo door frame-to-fuselage skin panel 

assembly identified several drillings as 

deviating from manufacturing 

requirements, creating oversized 

fastener holes, which could lead to 

cracking. This condition, if not 

addressed, could lead to reduced 

structural integrity of the fuselage. 

The FAA is proposing this AD to 

address the unsafe condition on these 

products. You may examine the MCAI 

in the AD docket at regulations.gov 

under Docket No. FAA–2023–1897. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2023–0153 specifies 

procedures for repetitive special 

detailed inspections of the affected area 

for discrepancies and, depending on 

findings, accomplishment of applicable 

corrective action. The special detailed 

inspection consists of a rototest 

inspection for cracking of the forward 

cargo door frame to fuselage skin panel, 

and if no cracking is found, checking 

the fastener hole diameters. Corrective 

actions include installing oversized 

fasteners if the fastener hole diameter is 

less than or equal to the specified 

nominal diameter, contacting the 

manufacturer for repair instructions if 

the fastener hole diameter is greater 

than the specified nominal diameter, 

and repairing any cracking by 

contacting the manufacturer for repair 

instructions. 

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 ADDRESSES section. 

FAA’s Determination 

This product has been approved by 

the aviation authority of another 

country and is approved for operation in 

the United States. Pursuant to the FAA’s 

bilateral agreement with this State of 

Design Authority, it has notified the 

FAA of the unsafe condition described 

in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA 

is issuing this NPRM after determining 

that the unsafe condition described 

previously is likely to exist or develop 

in other products of the same type 

design. 

Proposed AD Requirements in This 

NPRM 

This proposed AD would require 

accomplishing the actions specified in 

EASA AD 2023–0153 described 

previously, except for any differences 

identified as exceptions in the 

regulatory text of this proposed AD. 

Explanation of Required Compliance 

Information 

In the FAA’s ongoing efforts to 

improve the efficiency of the AD 

process, the FAA developed a process to 

use some civil aviation authority (CAA) 

ADs as the primary source of 

information for compliance with 

requirements for corresponding FAA 

ADs. The FAA has been coordinating 

this process with manufacturers and 

CAAs. As a result, the FAA proposes to 

incorporate EASA AD 2023–0153 by 

reference in the FAA final rule. This 

proposed AD would, therefore, require 

compliance with EASA AD 2023–0153 

in its entirety through that 

incorporation, except for any differences 

identified as exceptions in the 

regulatory text of this proposed AD. 

Using common terms that are the same 

as the heading of a particular section in 

EASA AD 2023–0153 does not mean 

that operators need comply only with 

that section. For example, where the AD 

requirement refers to ‘‘all required 

actions and compliance times,’’ 

compliance with this AD requirement is 

not limited to the section titled 

‘‘Required Action(s) and Compliance 

Time(s)’’ in EASA AD 2023–0153. 

Service information required by EASA 

AD 2023–0153 for compliance will be 

available at regulations.gov under 

Docket No. FAA–2023–1897 after the 

FAA final rule is published. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD, if 

adopted as proposed, would affect 8 

airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA 

estimates the following costs to comply 

with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REQUIRED ACTIONS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

42.5 work-hours × $85 per hour = $3,613 .................................................................................. $100 $3,713 $29,704 

The FAA has received no definitive 

data on which to base the cost estimates 

for the on-condition repairs specified in 

this proposed AD. 

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, 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
69112 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 192 / Thursday, October 5, 2023 / Proposed Rules 

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 

■ 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: 

Airbus SAS: Docket No. FAA–2023–1897; 

Project Identifier MCAI–2023–00921–T. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) by November 

20, 2023. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model 

A320–214, A320–216, A320–251N, A320– 

271N, and A321–253NX airplanes, 

certificated in any category, as identified in 

European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2023–0153, dated July 26, 2023 

(EASA AD 2023–0153). 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 53, Fuselage. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a quality review 

of the forward cargo door frame-to-fuselage 

skin panel assembly identified several 

drillings as deviating from manufacturing 

requirements, creating oversized fastener 

holes. The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

oversized fastener holes and cracking. The 

unsafe condition, if not detected and 

corrected, could result in reduced structural 

integrity of the fuselage. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Requirements 

Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and 

(i) of this AD: Comply with all required 

actions and compliance times specified in, 

and in accordance with, EASA AD 2023– 

0153. 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2023–0153 

(1) Where EASA AD 2023–0153 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(2) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2023– 

0153 specifies ‘‘If, during any SDI as required 

by paragraph (1) of this AD, any discrepancy 

is detected, as defined in the SB, before next 

flight, accomplish the applicable corrective 

action(s) in accordance with the instructions 

of the SB,’’ this AD requires replacing those 

words with ‘‘If, during any SDI as required 

by paragraph (1) of this AD, no cracking is 

found, before next flight, accomplish the 

applicable corrective actions in accordance 

with the instructions of the SB; and if, during 

any SDI as required by paragraph (1) of this 

AD, any cracking is found, before next flight, 

repair the cracking using a method approved 

by the Manager, 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) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2023– 

0153 specifies the repair be done in 

accordance with ‘‘approved Airbus repair 

instructions,’’ for this AD the repair must 

have been done using a method approved by 

the Manager, International Validation 

Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus SAS’s 

EASA DOA. If approved by the DOA, the 

approval must include the DOA-authorized 

signature. 

(4) This AD does not adopt the ‘‘Remarks’’ 

section of EASA AD 2023–0153. 

(i) No Reporting Requirement 

Although the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2023–0153 specifies 

to submit certain information to the 

manufacturer, this AD does not include that 

requirement. 

(j) Additional AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, 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 manager of the International Validation 

Branch, mail it to the address in paragraph 

(k) of this AD or email to: 9-AVS-AIR-730- 

AMOC@faa.gov. If mailing information, also 

submit information by email. 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, International Validation 

Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus SAS’s 

EASA DOA. If approved by the DOA, the 

approval must include the DOA-authorized 

signature. 

(3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except 

as required by paragraphs (i) and (j)(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. 

(k) Additional Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Timothy Dowling, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 

410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone: 206– 

231–3667; email: timothy.p.dowling@faa.gov. 

(l) 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 2023–0153, dated July 26, 2023. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For EASA AD 2023–0153, contact 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 

000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; website 

easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA AD 

on the EASA website ad.easa.europa.eu. 

(4) You may view this material at the FAA, 

Airworthiness Products Section, Operational 

Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th Street, Des 

Moines, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

206–231–3195. 

(5) You may view this material that is 

incorporated by reference at the National 

Archives and Records Administration 

(NARA). For information on the availability 

of this material at NARA, email 

fr.inspection@nara.gov, or go to: 

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued on September 28, 2023. 

Victor Wicklund, 

Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–22070 Filed 10–4–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1