60798 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 191 / Wednesday, October 2, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

Dated: September 30, 2013. 

Charles A. Barth, 

Director, Office of the Federal Register. 

[FR Doc. 2013–24217 Filed 9–30–13; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 1505–02–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0363; Directorate 

Identifier 2013–NM–031–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Supplemental notice of 

proposed rulemaking (NPRM); 

reopening of comment period. 

SUMMARY: We are revising an earlier 

proposed airworthiness directive (AD) 

for all Airbus Model A330–200, –300 

and –200 Freighter series airplanes, and 

Model A340–200, –300, –500, and –600 

series airplanes. The NPRM proposed to 

require, for certain airplanes, revising 

the airplane flight manual (AFM) to 

advise the flight crew of emergency 

procedures for addressing Angle of 

Attack (AOA) sensor blockage. The 

NPRM also proposed to mandate 

replacing the AOA sensor conic plates 

with AOA sensor flat plates, which is a 

terminating action for the AFM revision. 

The NPRM was prompted by a report 

that an airplane equipped with AOA 

sensors installed with conic plates 

recently experienced blockage of all 

sensors during climb, leading to 

autopilot disconnection and activation 

of the alpha protection (Alpha Prot) 

when Mach number was increased. For 

certain airplanes, this action revises the 

NPRM by adding a modification of the 

installation of certain AOA sensor flat 

plates. We are proposing this AD to 

prevent reduced control of the airplane. 

Since these actions impose an 

additional burden over that proposed in 

the NPRM, we are reopening the 

comment period to allow the public the 

chance to comment on these proposed 

changes. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 18, 

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 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. 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 MCAI, 

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, WA 

98057–3356; phone: 425–227–1138; 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–2013–0363; Directorate Identifier 

2013–NM–031–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 

We proposed to amend 14 CFR part 

39 with an earlier NPRM for the 

specified products, which was 

published in the Federal Register on 

May 3, 2013 (78 FR 25902). The earlier 

NPRM proposed to require actions 

intended to address the unsafe 

condition for the products listed above. 

Actions Since Previous NPRM Was 

Issued 

Since the NPRM (78 FR 25902, May 

3, 2013) was issued, Airbus has issued 

revised service information, identified 

below, due to an error in the 

Accomplishment Instructions in the 

original service information for the 

installation. For airplanes on which the 

installation in the original service 

information was done, the revised 

service information adds a modification 

of that installation of the two AOA 

sensor flat plates on the right-hand side 

of the fuselage. The modification 

ensures that both plates are flush with 

the fuselage. 

Revised Service Information 

• Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A330–34–3293, Revision 01, including 

Appendix 01, dated June 12, 2013. 

• Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A340–34–4273, Revision 01, including 

Appendix 01, dated June 12, 2013. 

• Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A340–34–5093, Revision 01, including 

Appendix 01, dated June 12, 2013. 

The actions described in this service 

information are intended to correct the 

unsafe condition identified in the 

MCAI. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

comment on the NPRM (78 FR 25902, 

May 3, 2013). The following presents 

the comments received on the NPRM 

and the FAA’s response to each 

comment. 

Airbus asked that we replace the 

original issues of the service 

information specified in the earlier 

NPRM (Airbus Mandatory Service 

Bulletin A330–34–3293, dated January 

31, 2013; and Airbus Mandatory Service 

Bulletins A340–34–4273 and A340–34– 

5093, both dated January 30, 2013). 

Airbus stated that revised service 

information was issued to correct an 

error in the Accomplishment 

Instructions of the original issues of the 

service information, as specified under 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS

Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 191 / Wednesday, October 2, 2013 / Proposed Rules 60799 

the ‘‘Relevant Service Information’’ 

section in the earlier NPRM (78 FR 

25902, May 3, 2013). 

We agree with the commenter and 

have replaced the references to 

accomplishing the actions in accordance 

with the original issue of the service 

information in the earlier NPRM (78 FR 

25902, May 3, 2013) with accomplishing 

the actions in accordance with the 

revised service information identified 

previously. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of This Proposed 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 proposing this 

AD because we evaluated all pertinent 

information and determined an unsafe 

condition exists and is likely to exist or 

develop on other products of the same 

type design. 

Certain changes described above 

expand the scope of the earlier NPRM 

(78 FR 25902, May 3, 2013). As a result, 

we have determined that it is necessary 

to reopen the comment period to 

provide additional opportunity for the 

public to comment on this proposed 

AD. 

Difference Between the Proposed AD 

and the MCAI or Service Information 

The revised service information 

specifies an imprecise compliance time 

for modifying the installation of the 

AOA sensor conic plates (i.e., ‘‘at next 

C-check at the latest’’). The SNPRM 

would require modifying the 

installation within 5 months after the 

effective date of the AD. We have 

coordinated this difference with the 

European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, and Airbus. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 64 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 

AFM Revision .................................................. 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 ................. $0 $85 $5,440 

Replacement of certain AOA sensor conic 

plates.

7 work-hours × $85 per hour = $595 ............. 0 595 38,080 

Modification of installations of certain AOA 

sensor flat plates.

5 work-hours × $85 per hour = $425 ............. 0 425 27,200 

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 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. 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. 

We prepared a regulatory evaluation 

of the estimated costs to comply with 

this proposed 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. 

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 AD: 

Airbus: Docket No. FAA–2013–0363; 

Directorate Identifier 2013–NM–031–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by November 

18, 2013. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to the Airbus airplanes, 

certificated in any category, as identified in 

paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD. 

(1) Model A330–201, –202, –203, –223, 

–223F, –243, –243F, –301, –302, –303, –321, 

–322, –323, –341, –342, and –343 airplanes, 

all manufacturer serial numbers. 

(2) Model A340–211, –212, –213, –311, 

–312, –313, –541 and –642 airplanes, all 

manufacturer serial numbers. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America 

Code 34: Navigation. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by a report that an 

airplane equipped with Angle of Attack 

(AOA) sensors installed with conic plates 

recently experienced blockage of all sensors 

during climb, leading to autopilot 

disconnection and activation of the alpha 

protection (Alpha Prot) when Mach number 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS

60800 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 191 / Wednesday, October 2, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

was increased. We are issuing this AD to 

prevent reduced control of the airplane. 

(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) Airplane Flight Manual Revision 

For airplanes identified in paragraphs 

(g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD, except as 

provided by paragraph (j) of this AD: Within 

10 days after the effective date of this AD, 

revise the Emergency Procedures of the 

Airbus A330 and A340 Airplane Flight 

Manuals (AFMs), as applicable, by 

incorporating Airbus A330 Temporary 

Revision TR293, Issue 1.0, dated December 4, 

2012; or Airbus A340 Temporary Revision 

TR294, Issue 1.0, dated December 4, 2012; as 

applicable; to advise the flight crew of 

emergency procedures for addressing AOA 

sensor blockage. This can be done by 

inserting the Airbus A330 Temporary 

Revision TR293, Issue 1.0, dated December 4, 

2012; or Airbus A340 Temporary Revision 

TR294, Issue 1.0, dated December 4, 2012; 

into the applicable AFM. When the 

information in Airbus A330 Temporary 

Revision TR293, Issue 1.0, dated December 4, 

2012; and Airbus A340 Temporary Revision 

TR294, Issue 1.0, dated December 4, 2012; is 

included in the general revisions of the 

applicable AFM, the general revisions may be 

incorporated into the AFM, and the 

temporary revisions may be removed. 

(1) Model A330–201, –202, –203, –223, 

223F, –243, –243F, –301, –302, –303, –321, 

–322, –323, –341, –342, and –343 airplanes, 

all manufacturer serial numbers, on which 

Airbus modification 201609 or 201610 has 

been embodied in production; or on which 

Airbus Service Bulletin A330–34–3255 has 

been embodied in service. 

(2) Model A340–211, –212, –213, –311, 

–312, –313, –541, and –642 airplanes, all 

manufacturer serial numbers, on which 

Airbus modification 201609 or 201610 has 

been embodied in production; or on which 

Airbus Service Bulletin A340–34–4250 or 

A340–34–5081, as applicable, has been 

embodied in service. 

(h) Replacement 

Except as provided by paragraph (j) of this 

AD: Within 5 months after the effective date 

of this AD, replace all AOA sensor conic 

plates having part number (P/N) 

F3411060200000 or P/N F3411060900000 

with an applicable AOA sensor flat plate 

identified in paragraph (h)(1) or (h)(2) of this 

AD. Performing this replacement constitutes 

terminating action for the AFM revision 

required by paragraph (g) of this AD; and 

Airbus A330 Temporary Revision TR293, 

Issue 1.0, dated December 4, 2012, and 

Airbus A340 Temporary Revision TR294, 

Issue 1.0, dated December 4, 2012, to the 

Airbus A330 and A340 AFMs, as applicable, 

must be removed from the AFMs before 

further flight after doing the replacement. 

(1) Replace with a flat plate having P/N 

F3411007920200 or P/N F3411007920300, as 

applicable, in accordance with the applicable 

service information specified in paragraph 

(h)(1)(i), (h)(1)(ii), or (h)(1)(iii) of this AD. 

(i) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A330–34–3293, Revision 01, including 

Appendix 01, dated June 12, 2013. 

(ii) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A340–34–4273, Revision 01, including 

Appendix 01, dated June 12, 2013. 

(iii) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A340–34–5093, Revision 01, including 

Appendix 01, dated June 12, 2013. 

(2) Replace with a flat plate having P/N 

F3411007920000 or P/N F3411007920100, in 

accordance with a method approved by 

either the Manager, International Branch, 

ANM–116, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

FAA; or the European Aviation Safety 

Agency (EASA) or its delegated agent. 

(i) Modification of Installation 

For airplanes on which any AOA sensor 

conic plate has been replaced with an AOA 

sensor flat plate, in accordance with the 

applicable service information specified in 

paragraph (i)(1)(i), (i)(1)(ii), or (i)(1)(iii) of 

this AD: Within 5 months after the effective 

date of this AD, modify the installation of the 

AOA sensor flat plates so that the plates are 

flush with the fuselage in accordance with 

the applicable service information identified 

in paragraph (h)(1)(i), (h)(1)(ii),or (h)(1)(iii) of 

this AD. 

(i) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A330–34–3293, including Appendix 01, 

dated January 31, 2013. 

(ii) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A340–34–4273, including Appendix 01, 

dated January 30, 2013. 

(iii) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A340–34–5093, including Appendix 01, 

dated January 30, 2013. 

(j) Exception to Paragraphs (g) and (h) of 

This AD 

For airplanes on which Airbus 

Modification 203285 (improved AOA flat 

plate protection treatment) has been 

embodied in production: The actions 

specified in paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD 

are not required, provided that, since first 

flight, no AOA probe conic plate having P/ 

N F3411060200000 or P/N F3411060900000 

has been installed. 

(k) Parts Installation Prohibition 

As of the effective date of this AD, no 

person may install, on any airplane, an AOA 

sensor conic plate having P/N 

F3411060200000 or P/N F3411060900000 or 

an AOA protection cover having P/N 

98D34203003000. 

(l) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 

Branch, ANM–116, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 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 FAA-approved 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. 

(m) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information EASA 

Airworthiness Directive 2013–0023, dated 

February 1, 2013, for related information, 

which can be found in the AD docket on the 

Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this proposed 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. 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. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

September 23, 2013. 

Jeffrey E. Duven, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–24058 Filed 10–1–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0835; Directorate 

Identifier 2013–NM–095–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier 

Inc., Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC–8–102, 

–103, –106, –201, –202, –301, –311, and 

–315 airplanes. This proposed AD 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS