26880 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 112 / Monday, June 11, 2018 / Proposed Rules 

distrib@embraer.com.br; internet: http://

www.flyembraer.com. You may view this 

service information at the FAA, Transport 

Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 

Moines, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

206–231–3195. 

Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on May 

31, 2018. 

Michael Kaszycki, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–12228 Filed 6–8–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0505; Product 

Identifier 2017–NM–178–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 A350–941 airplanes. This 

proposed AD was prompted by a report 

of an overheat failure mode of the 

hydraulic engine-driven pump, which 

could cause a fast temperature rise of 

the hydraulic fluid. This proposed AD 

would require modifying the hydraulic 

monitoring and control application 

(HMCA) software. We are proposing this 

AD to address the unsafe condition on 

these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by July 26, 2018. 

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 NPRM, 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 

continued-airworthiness.a350@

airbus.com; internet http://

www.airbus.com. You may view this 

service information at the FAA, 

Transport Standards Branch, 2200 

South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

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

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2018– 

0505; 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 NPRM, 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: 

Kathleen Arrigotti, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Section, Transport 

Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 

telephone and fax 206–231–3218. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposal. Send your comments to 

an address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– 

2018–0505; Product Identifier 2017– 

NM–178–AD’’ at the beginning of your 

comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this NPRM. We will consider 

all comments received by the closing 

date and may amend this NPRM 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 NPRM. 

Discussion 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD 2017–0200, 

dated October 10, 2017 (referred to after 

this as the Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information, or ‘‘the 

MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe condition 

for all Airbus Model A350–941 

airplanes. The MCAI states: 

In the Airbus A350 design, the hydraulic 

fluid cooling system is located in the fuel 

tanks. Recently, an overheat failure mode of 

the hydraulic engine-driven pump (EDP) was 

found. Such EDP failure may cause a fast 

temperature rise of the hydraulic fluid. 

This condition, if not detected and 

corrected, combined with an inoperative fuel 

tank inerting system, could lead to an 

uncontrolled overheat of the hydraulic fluid, 

possibly resulting in ignition of the fuel-air 

mixture in the affected fuel tank. 

To address this potential unsafe condition, 

Airbus issued a Major Event Revision (MER) 

of the A350 Master Minimum Equipment List 

(MMEL) that incorporates restrictions to 

avoid an uncontrolled overheat of the 

hydraulic system. Consequently, EASA 

issued Emergency AD 2017–0154–E to 

require implementation of these dispatch 

restrictions. 

Since EASA Emergency AD 2017–0154–E 

was issued, following further investigation, 

Airbus issued another MER of the A350 

MMEL that expands the number of restricted 

MMEL items. At the same time, Airbus 

revised Flight Operation Transmission (FOT) 

999.0068/17, to inform all operators about 

the latest MMEL restrictions. Consequently, 

EASA issued AD 2017–0180, retaining the 

requirements of EASA Emergency AD 2017– 

0154–E, which was superseded, and 

requiring implementation of the new Airbus 

A350 MMEL MER and, consequently, 

restrictions for aeroplane dispatch. 

Since EASA AD 2017–0180 was issued, 

Airbus developed a software (SW) update of 

the Hydraulic Monitoring and Control 

Application (HMCA) SW S4.2, introduction 

of which avoids uncontrolled overheat of the 

hydraulic system. HMCA SW S4.2 is 

embodied in production through Airbus 

modification (mod) 112090, and introduced 

in service through Airbus Service Bulletin 

(SB) A350–29–P012. 

For the reasons described above, this 

[EASA] AD retains the requirements of EASA 

AD 2017–0180, which is superseded, and 

requires modification of the aeroplane by 

installing HMCA SW S4.2. 

This [EASA] AD is still considered to be 

an interim action and further AD action may 

follow. 

You may examine the MCAI in the 

AD docket on the internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2018– 

0505. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

Airbus has issued Service Bulletin 

A350–29–P012, dated October 6, 2017. 

The service information describes 

procedures for modifying the HMCA 

software by installing HMCA software 

S4.2 upgrades. This service information 

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. 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 112 / Monday, June 11, 2018 / Proposed Rules 26881 

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. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 7 airplanes of U.S. registry. We 

estimate 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 

2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170 .......................................................................................... $450 $620 $4,340 

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. 

This proposed AD is issued in 

accordance with authority delegated by 

the Executive Director, Aircraft 

Certification Service, as authorized by 

FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance 

with that order, issuance of ADs is 

normally a function of the Compliance 

and Airworthiness Division, but during 

this transition period, the Executive 

Director has delegated the authority to 

issue ADs applicable to transport 

category airplanes to the Director of the 

System Oversight Division. 

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. 

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 (AD): 

Airbus: Docket No. FAA–2018–0505; Product 

Identifier 2017–NM–178–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by July 26, 

2018. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all Airbus Model A350– 

941 airplanes, certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 29, Hydraulic Power. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by a report of an 

overheat failure mode of the hydraulic 

engine-driven pump, which could cause a 

fast temperature rise of the hydraulic fluid. 

We are issuing this AD to address high 

hydraulic fluid temperature combined with 

an inoperative fuel tank inerting system, 

which could result in uncontrolled 

overheating of the hydraulic system and 

consequent ignition sources inside the fuel 

tank, which, combined with flammable fuel 

vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion 

and consequent loss of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Definition of Airplane Groups 

(1) Group 1 are airplanes on which the 

hydraulic monitoring and control application 

(HMCA) software (SW) S4.2 is not installed. 

(2) Group 2 are post-mod 112090 airplanes 

on which the HMCA SW S4.2 is installed. 

(h) Software Modification 

For Group 1 airplanes: Within 30 days after 

the effective date of this AD, modify the 

HMCA software by installing HMCA SW 

S4.2, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus 

Service Bulletin A350–29–P012, dated 

October 6, 2017. Where paragraphs 3.C.(1)(a) 

and 3.C.(2)(a) of Airbus Service Bulletin 

A350–29–P012, dated October 6, 2017, 

identify ‘‘SOFTWARE-**’’ and indicate that 

the ‘‘Software becomes’’ new software: For 

purposes of this AD, the new software titles/ 

descriptions might not match exactly with 

the airplane and the service information; the 

old and new software titles/descriptions are 

for reference only as an aid to operators. 

(i) Parts Prohibition 

At the applicable time specified in 

paragraph (i)(1) or (i)(2) of this AD: No 

person may install an HMCA software premod HMCA SW S4.2, on any airplane. 

(1) For Group 1 airplanes: After 

accomplishment of the modification required 

by paragraph (h) of this AD. 

(2) For Group 2 airplanes: As of the 

effective date of this AD. 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
26882 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 112 / Monday, June 11, 2018 / Proposed Rules 

(j) Other Acceptable Installation Method 

Installation of an HMCA SW standard 

approved after the effective date of this AD 

is acceptable for compliance with the 

corresponding actions required by paragraph 

(h) of this AD, provided the conditions 

required by paragraphs (j)(1) and (j)(2) of this 

AD are met. 

(1) The HMCA SW standard must be 

approved by the Manager, International 

Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA; 

the European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA); or Airbus’s EASA Design 

Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by 

the DOA, the approval must include the 

DOA-authorized signature. 

(2) The installation must be accomplished 

in accordance with the modification 

instructions approved by the Manager, 

International Section, Transport Standards 

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

DOA. If approved by the DOA, the approval 

must include the DOA-authorized signature. 

(k) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 

Section, Transport Standards 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 Section, send it 

to the attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (l)(2) of this AD. Information may 

be emailed to: 9-ANM-116-AMOCREQUESTS@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. 

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any 

requirement in this AD to obtain corrective 

actions from a manufacturer, the action must 

be accomplished using a method approved 

by the Manager, International Section, 

Transport Standards Branch, FAA; or the 

EASA; or Airbus’s EASA DOA. If approved 

by the DOA, the approval must include the 

DOA-authorized signature. 

(l) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) EASA AD 

2017–0200, dated October 10, 2017, for 

related information. You may examine the 

MCAI on the internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for and 

locating Docket No. FAA–2018–0505. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Kathleen Arrigotti, Aerospace 

Engineer, International Section, Transport 

Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th 

St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and 

fax 206–231–3218. 

(3) 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 

continued-airworthiness.a350@airbus.com; 

internet http://www.airbus.com. You may 

view this service information at the FAA, 

Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 206–231–3195. 

Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on May 

29, 2018. 

Jeffrey E. Duven, 

Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–12230 Filed 6–8–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0506; Product 

Identifier 2018–NM–045–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Airbus Model A350–941 airplanes. This 

proposed AD was prompted by the 

discovery of inadequate corrosion 

protection in certain areas of the 

horizontal stabilizer and the rear 

fuselage cone structure. This proposed 

AD would require application of sealant 

and protective treatment on the affected 

areas of the horizontal stabilizer and the 

rear fuselage cone structure and, for 

certain airplanes, modification of the 

trimmable horizontal stabilizer (THS) 

torsion box and re-identification of the 

elevator. We are proposing this AD to 

address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by July 26, 2018. 

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 NPRM, 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 

continued-airworthiness.a350@

airbus.com; internet http://

www.airbus.com. You may view this 

service information at the FAA, 

Transport Standards Branch, 2200 

South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

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

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2018– 

0506; 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 NPRM, 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: 

Kathleen Arrigotti, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Section, Transport 

Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 

telephone and fax 206–231–3218. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposal. Send your comments to 

an address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– 

2018–0506; Product Identifier 2018– 

NM–045–AD’’ at the beginning of your 

comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this NPRM. We will consider 

all comments received by the closing 

date and may amend this NPRM 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 NPRM. 

Discussion 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD 2018–0036, 

dated February 7, 2018 (referred to after 

this as the Mandatory Continuing 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS