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

33159 

Vol. 83, No. 137 

Tuesday, July 17, 2018 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0554; Product 

Identifier 2018–NM–064–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 certain 

Airbus Model A318 series airplanes; 

Model A319 series airplanes; Model 

A320 series airplanes; and Model A321– 

111, –112, –131, –211, –212, –213, –231, 

–232, –251N, –253N, and –271N 

airplanes. This proposed AD was 

prompted by a revision of an 

airworthiness limitation item (ALI) 

document, which requires more 

restrictive maintenance requirements 

and airworthiness limitations. This 

proposed AD would require revising the 

maintenance or inspection program, as 

applicable, to incorporate new 

maintenance requirements and 

airworthiness limitations. We are 

proposing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by August 31, 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, 

Airworthiness Office—EIAS, RondPoint Emile Dewoitine No: 2, 31700 

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 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– 

0554; 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 

regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for Docket Operations 

(phone: 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 Section, Transport 

Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 

telephone and fax 206–231–3223. 

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– 

2018–0554; Product Identifier 2018– 

NM–064–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 

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 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 2017–0168, 

dated September 7, 2017 (referred to 

after this as the Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information, or ‘‘the 

MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe condition 

for certain Airbus Model A318 series 

airplanes; Model A319 series airplanes; 

Model A320 series airplanes; and Model 

A321–111, –112, –131, –211, –212, 

–213, –231, –232, –251N, –253N, and 

–271N airplanes. The MCAI states: 

The airworthiness limitations for Airbus 

A320 family aeroplanes are currently defined 

and published in Airbus A318/A319/A320/ 

A321 Airworthiness Limitations Section 

(ALS) documents. The airworthiness 

limitations applicable to the Certification 

Maintenance Requirements (CMR), which are 

approved by EASA, are published in ALS 

Part 3. 

The instructions contained in the ALS Part 

3 have been identified as mandatory actions 

for continued airworthiness. Failure to 

comply with these instructions could result 

in an unsafe condition. 

Previously, EASA issued AD 2016–0092 

[which corresponds to FAA AD 2017–25–04, 

Amendment 39–19118 (82 FR 58098, 

December 11, 2017) (‘‘AD 2017–25–04’’)], to 

require accomplishment of all maintenance 

tasks as described in ALS Part 3 at Revision 

03. The new ALS Part 3 Revision 05 

(hereafter referred to as ‘‘the ALS’’ in this 

[EASA] AD) includes new and/or more 

restrictive requirements and extends the 

applicability to model A320–251N, A320– 

271N, A321–251N, A321–253N and A321– 

271N aeroplanes. 

For the reason described above, this 

[EASA] AD retains the requirements of EASA 

AD 2016–0092, which is superseded, and 

requires accomplishment of all maintenance 

tasks as described in the ALS. 

The unsafe condition is a safetysignificant latent failure (that is not 

annunciated), which, in combination 

with one or more other specific failures 

or events, could result in a hazardous or 

catastrophic failure condition. 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– 

0554. 

Relationship Between Proposed AD and 

AD 2017–25–04 

This NPRM does not propose to 

supersede AD 2017–25–04. Rather, we 

have determined that a stand-alone AD 

would be more appropriate to address 


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33160 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 137 / Tuesday, July 17, 2018 / Proposed Rules 

the changes in the MCAI. This proposed 

AD would require revising the 

maintenance or inspection program, as 

applicable, to incorporate new 

maintenance requirements and 

airworthiness limitations. 

Accomplishment of the proposed 

actions would then terminate all of the 

requirements of AD 2017–25–04. 

Related Service Information 

Under 1 CFR Part 51 

Airbus has issued Airbus A318/A319/ 

A320/A321 Airworthiness Limitations 

Section (ALS) Part 3, Certification 

Maintenance Requirements (CMR), 

Revision 05, dated April 6, 2017. The 

service information describes 

maintenance instructions and 

airworthiness limitations, including 

updated inspections and intervals to be 

incorporated into the maintenance or 

inspection program. 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. 

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 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 the 

relevant information and determined 

the unsafe condition described 

previously is likely to exist or develop 

on other products of these same type 

designs. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

revising the maintenance or inspection 

program to incorporate new or revised 

airworthiness limitation requirements, 

except as discussed under ‘‘Differences 

Between this Proposed AD and the 

MCAI.’’ 

This proposed AD would require 

revisions to certain operator 

maintenance documents to include new 

actions (e.g., inspections). Compliance 

with these actions is required by 14 CFR 

91.403(c). For airplanes that have been 

previously modified, altered, or repaired 

in the areas addressed by this proposed 

AD, the operator may not be able to 

accomplish the actions described in the 

revisions. In this situation, to comply 

with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator 

must request approval for an alternative 

method of compliance according to 

paragraph (j)(1) of this proposed AD. 

The request should include a 

description of changes to the required 

inspections that will ensure the 

continued operational safety of the 

airplane. 

Airworthiness Limitations Based on 

Type Design 

The FAA recently became aware of an 

issue related to the applicability of ADs 

that require incorporation of an ALS 

revision into an operator’s maintenance 

or inspection program. 

Typically, when these types of ADs 

are issued by civil aviation authorities 

of other countries, they apply to all 

airplanes covered under an identified 

type certificate (TC). The corresponding 

FAA AD typically retains applicability 

to all of those airplanes. 

In addition, U.S. operators must 

operate their airplanes in an airworthy 

condition, in accordance with 14 CFR 

91.7(a). Included in this obligation is the 

requirement to perform any 

maintenance or inspections specified in 

the ALS, and in accordance with the 

ALS as specified in 14 CFR 43.16 and 

91.403(c), unless an alternative has been 

approved by the FAA. 

When a type certificate is issued for 

a type design, the specific ALS, 

including the current revision in effect, 

is a part of that type design, as specified 

in 14 CFR 21.31(c). 

The sum effect of these operational 

and maintenance requirements is an 

obligation to comply with the ALS 

revision defined in the type design 

referenced in the manufacturer’s 

conformity statement. This obligation 

may introduce a conflict with an AD 

that requires a specific ALS revision if 

new airplanes are delivered with a later 

revision as part of their type design. 

Note: When a new airplane is delivered 

with a later ALS revision, the revised 

ALS must correct the unsafe condition 

associated with an existing AD, as 

specified in 14 CFR 21.21(b)(2). 

To address this conflict, the FAA has 

approved alternative methods of 

compliance (AMOCs) that allow 

operators to incorporate the most recent 

ALS revision (i.e., a later revision) into 

their maintenance/inspection programs, 

in lieu of the earlier ALS revision 

required by the AD. This eliminates the 

conflict and enables the operator to 

comply with both the AD and the type 

design. 

However, compliance with AMOCs is 

normally optional, and we recently 

became aware that some operators 

choose to retain the AD-mandated ALS 

revision in their fleet-wide 

maintenance/inspection programs, 

including those for new airplanes 

delivered with later ALS revisions, to 

help standardize the maintenance of the 

fleet. To ensure that operators comply 

with the applicable ALS revision for 

newly delivered airplanes containing a 

later revision than that specified in an 

AD, we plan to limit the applicability of 

ADs that mandate ALS revisions to 

those airplanes that are subject to an 

earlier revision of the ALS, either as part 

of the type design or as mandated by an 

earlier AD. 

This proposed AD therefore would 

apply to Airbus Model A318 series 

airplanes; Model A319 series airplanes; 

Model A320 series airplanes; and Model 

A321–111, –112, –131, –211, –212, 

–213, –231, –232, –251N, –253N, and 

–271N airplanes with an original 

certificate of airworthiness or original 

export certificate of airworthiness that 

was issued on or before the date of the 

ALS revision identified in this proposed 

AD. Operators of airplanes with an 

original certificate of airworthiness or 

original export certificate of 

airworthiness issued after that date must 

comply with the airworthiness 

limitations specified as part of the 

approved type design and referenced on 

the type certificate data sheet. 

Difference Between This Proposed AD 

and the MCAI 

The MCAI specifies that if there are 

findings from the ALS inspection tasks, 

corrective actions must be accomplished 

in accordance with Airbus maintenance 

documentation. However, this proposed 

AD does not include that requirement. 

Operators of U.S.-registered airplanes 

are required by general airworthiness 

and operational regulations to perform 

maintenance using methods that are 

acceptable to the FAA. We consider 

those methods to be adequate to address 

any corrective actions necessitated by 

the findings of ALS inspections required 

by this proposed AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 1,250 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this proposed AD: 

We have determined that revising the 

maintenance or inspection program 

takes an average of 90 work-hours per 

operator, although we recognize that 

this number may vary from operator to 

operator. In the past, we have estimated 

that this action takes 1 work-hour per 

airplane. Since operators incorporate 

maintenance or inspection program 

changes for their affected fleet(s), we 

have determined that a per-operator 

estimate is more accurate than a perairplane estimate. Therefore, we 

estimate the total cost per operator to be 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 137 / Tuesday, July 17, 2018 / Proposed Rules 33161 

$7,650 (90 work-hours × $85 per workhour). 

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–2018–0554; Product 

Identifier 2018–NM–064–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by August 31, 

2018. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD affects AD 2017–25–04, 

Amendment 39–19118 (82 FR 58098, 

December 11, 2017) (‘‘AD 2017–25–04’’). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to the Airbus airplanes 

identified in paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), (c)(3), 

and (c)(4) of this AD, certificated in any 

category, with an original certificate of 

airworthiness or original export certificate of 

airworthiness issued on or before April 6, 

2017. 

(1) Model A318–111, –112, –121, and –122 

airplanes. 

(2) Model A319–111, –112, –113, –114, 

–115, –131, –132, and –133 airplanes. 

(3) Model A320–211, –212, –214, –216, 

–231, –232, –233, –251N, and –271N 

airplanes. 

(4) Model A321–111, –112, –131, –211, 

–212, –213, –231, –232, –251N, –253N, and 

–271N airplanes. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 05, Time Limits/Maintenance 

Checks. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by a revision of an 

airworthiness limitation item (ALI) 

document, which requires more restrictive 

maintenance requirements and airworthiness 

limitations. We are issuing this AD to address 

a safety-significant latent failure (that is not 

annunciated), which, in combination with 

one or more other specific failures or events, 

could result in a hazardous or catastrophic 

failure condition. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Revision of Maintenance or Inspection 

Program 

Within 90 days after the effective date of 

this AD, revise the maintenance or inspection 

program, as applicable, to incorporate the 

information specified in Airbus A318/A319/ 

A320/A321 Airworthiness Limitations 

Section (ALS) Part 3, Certification 

Maintenance Requirements (CMR), Revision 

05, dated April 6, 2017 (‘‘ALS Part 3 CMR, 

R5’’). The initial compliance time for 

accomplishing the tasks specified in ALS 

Part 3 CMR, R5, is at the applicable time 

specified in ALS Part 3 CMR, R5, or within 

90 days after the effective date of this AD, 

whichever occurs later. 

(h) Terminating Actions for AD 2017–25–04 

Accomplishing the actions required by 

paragraph (g) of this AD terminates all of the 

requirements of AD 2017–25–04. 

(i) No Alternative Actions or Intervals 

After the maintenance or inspection 

program, as applicable, has been revised as 

required by paragraph (g) of this AD, no 

alternative actions (e.g., inspections) or 

intervals may be used unless the actions or 

intervals are approved as an alternative 

method of compliance (AMOC) in 

accordance with the procedures specified in 

paragraph (j)(1) of this AD. 

(j) 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 (k)(2) of this AD. Information may 

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

(i) 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. 

(ii) AMOCs applicable previously for AD 

2017–25–04 or AD 2014–22–08, Amendment 

39–18013 (79 FR 67042, November 12, 2014) 

that require incorporation of ALS Part 3 

CMR, R5, are considered approved as 

AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of 

this AD. 

(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 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); or 

Airbus’s EASA Design Organization 

Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, 

the approval must include the DOAauthorized signature. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) EASA AD 


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33162 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 137 / Tuesday, July 17, 2018 / Proposed Rules 

2017–0168, dated September 7, 2017, for 

related information. This MCAI may be 

found in the AD docket on the internet at 

http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2018–0554. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Section, Transport Standards 

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

Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206– 

231–3223. 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus, Airworthiness 

Office—EIAS, Rond-Point Emile Dewoitine 

No: 2, 31700 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 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 June 

19, 2018. 

Michael Kaszycki, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–13781 Filed 7–16–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0582; Product 

Identifier 2018–NM–085–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM); removal of airworthiness 

directive (AD). 

SUMMARY: We propose to remove AD 

93–14–19, which applies to certain The 

Boeing Company Model 767–200 and 

–300 series airplanes. AD 93–14–19 

requires inspections for disbonding of 

the trailing edge wedge of the leading 

edge slat; and repair, if necessary. Since 

we issued AD 93–14–19, an updated 

stability and control analysis showed 

that the worst-case scenario of a trailing 

edge wedge disbond in-flight would not 

adversely affect the controllability of the 

airplane. Accordingly, we propose to 

remove AD 93–14–19. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by August 31, 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. 

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– 

0582; 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 proposal, 

any comments received, and other 

information. The street address for 

Docket Operations (phone: 800–647– 

5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Wayne Lockett, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Section, FAA, Seattle ACO 

Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 

Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206– 

231–3524; email: wayne.lockett@

faa.gov. 

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– 

2018–0582; Product Identifier 2018– 

NM–085–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 

We issued AD 93–14–19, Amendment 

39–8644 (58 FR 41177, August 3, 1993) 

(‘‘AD 93–14–19’’), for certain The 

Boeing Company Model 767–200 and 

-300 series airplanes. AD 93–14–19 

requires visual inspections and either 

‘‘Coin Tap’’ inspections or ultrasonic 

inspections for disbonding of the 

trailing edge wedge of the leading edge 

slat, and repair, if necessary. AD 93–14– 

19 resulted from reports of wedge 

damage or disbonding; in two cases the 

damage resulted in loss of a portion of 

the trailing edge wedge. The trailing 

edge wedge disbonding was caused by 

moisture ingression at the wedge end 

seals and in the skin bonds along the 

spar chords. Moisture in the aluminum 

honeycomb core would cause corrosion 

that would eventually result in 

disbonding between the skin and the 

aluminum honeycomb core. We issued 

AD 93–14–19 to prevent the loss of a 

trailing edge wedge, which could result 

in reduced maneuver margins, reduced 

speed margins to stall, and unexpected 

roll before stall warning, all of which 

would adversely affect the 

controllability of the airplane. 

Actions Since AD 93–14–19 Was Issued 

Since we issued AD 93–14–19, an 

updated stability and control analysis 

showed that the worst-case scenario of 

a trailing edge wedge disbond in-flight 

would not adversely affect the 

controllability of the airplane. 

Simulation analysis shows that the 

airplane has sufficient lateral control up 

to the stick shaker to counter the rolling 

moment caused by a trailing edge wedge 

loss, at all flap settings. Therefore, the 

unsafe condition no longer exists on 

these products worldwide. 

FAA’s Conclusions 

Upon further consideration, we have 

determined that AD 93–14–19 must be 

removed. Accordingly, this proposed 

AD would remove AD 93–14–19. 

Removal of AD 93–14–19 would not 

preclude the FAA from issuing another 

related action or commit the FAA to any 

course of action in the future. 

Related Costs of Compliance 

AD 93–14–19 affects approximately 

180 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 

estimated costs for the actions required 

by AD 93–14–19 for U.S. operators is 

$79,200, or $440 per airplane. Removing 

AD 93–14–19 would eliminate those 

costs. 

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. 


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