This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

39581 

Vol. 83, No. 155 

Friday, August 10, 2018 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0168; Product 

Identifier 2017–NM–135–AD; Amendment 

39–19344; AD 2018–16–04] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, and 

A320 series airplanes, and Model A321– 

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

–232, –251N, –253N, and –271N 

airplanes. This AD was prompted by a 

revision of an airworthiness limitations 

document that specifies more restrictive 

maintenance requirements and 

airworthiness limitations. This AD 

requires revising the maintenance or 

inspection program, as applicable, to 

incorporate the specified maintenance 

requirements and airworthiness 

limitations. We are issuing this AD to 

address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: This AD is effective September 

14, 2018. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of September 14, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this final rule, contact 

Airbus SAS, 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.airwortheas@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. 

It is also available on the internet at 

http://www.regulations.gov by searching 

for and locating Docket No. FAA–2018– 

0168. 

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– 

0168; 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 final rule, 

the regulatory evaluation, any 

comments received, and other 

information. The 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: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to certain Airbus SAS Model 

A318, A319, and A320 series airplanes, 

and Model A321–111, –112, –131, –211, 

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

and –271N airplanes. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

April 2, 2018 (83 FR 13885). The NPRM 

was prompted by a revision of an 

airworthiness limitations document that 

specifies more restrictive maintenance 

requirements and airworthiness 

limitations. The NPRM proposed to 

require revising the maintenance or 

inspection program, as applicable, to 

incorporate the specified maintenance 

requirements and airworthiness 

limitations. 

We are issuing this AD to address the 

risks associated with the effects of aging 

on airplane systems. Such effects could 

change system characteristics, leading to 

an increased potential for failure of 

certain life-limited parts, and reduced 

structural integrity or controllability of 

the airplane. 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA Airworthiness 

Directive 2017–0170, 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 

SAS Model A318, A319, and A320 

series airplanes, and Model A321–111, 

–211, –212, –213, –231, –232, –251N, 

–253N, and –271N airplanes. The MCAI 

states: 

The System Equipment Maintenance 

Requirements (SEMR) for Airbus A320 family 

aeroplanes, which are approved by EASA, 

are currently defined and published in the 

Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 

Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) Part 

4 document. These instructions have been 

identified as mandatory for continued 

airworthiness. 

Failure to accomplish these instructions 

could result in an unsafe condition. 

Previously, EASA issued AD 2016–0093 

[which corresponds to FAA AD 2017–19–24, 

Amendment 39–19054 (82 FR 44900, 

September 27, 2017) (‘‘AD 2017–19–24’’),] to 

require accomplishment of all maintenance 

tasks as described in ALS Part 4 at Revision 

03. ALS Part 4 Revision 04 was not mandated 

because no significant changes were 

introduced with this Revision. The new ALS 

Part 4 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 2016–0093, which is superseded, and 

requires accomplishment of all tasks as 

described in the ALS. 

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– 

0168. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this final rule. 

We have considered the comment 

received. United Airlines indicated that 

they had no objection to the NPRM. 

Explanation of Changes to Applicability 

We have revised the applicability of 

this AD to identify model designations 

as published in the most recent type 

certificate data sheet for the affected 

models. 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES
39582 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 155 / Friday, August 10, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comment received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this 

final rule as proposed, except for minor 

editorial changes. We have determined 

that these minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the NPRM for 

addressing the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

Airbus SAS has issued Airbus SAS 

A318/A319/A320/A321 Airworthiness 

Limitations Section (ALS) Part 4, 

‘‘System Equipment Maintenance 

Requirements (SEMR),’’ Revision 05, 

dated April 6, 2017. This service 

information describes preventive 

maintenance requirements and includes 

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. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 1,133 

airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this AD: 

We have determined that revising the 

maintenance or inspection program 

takes an average of 90 work-hours per 

operator, although this figure 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 per-airplane estimate. 

Therefore, we estimate the total cost per 

operator to be $7,650 (90 work-hours × 

$85 per work-hour). 

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 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 and associated appliances to 

the Director of the System Oversight 

Division. 

Regulatory Findings 

This AD will not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This AD will not have a 

substantial direct effect on the States, on 

the relationship between the national 

government and the States, or on the 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify that this AD: 

(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. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 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): 

2018–16–04 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39– 

19344; Docket No. FAA–2018–0168; 

Product Identifier 2017–NM–135–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective September 14, 2018. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD affects AD 2017–19–24, 

Amendment 39–19054 (82 FR 44900, 

September 27, 2017) (‘‘AD 2017–19–24’’). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to the Airbus SAS 

airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) 

through (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 limitations document that 

specifies more restrictive maintenance 

requirements and airworthiness limitations. 

We are issuing this AD to mitigate the risks 

associated with the effects of aging on 

airplane systems. Such effects could change 

system characteristics, leading to an 

increased potential for failure of certain lifelimited parts, and reduced structural 

integrity or controllability of the airplane. 

(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 Airbus 

SAS A318/A319/A320/A321 Airworthiness 

Limitations Section (ALS) Part 4, ‘‘System 

Equipment Maintenance Requirements 

(SEMR),’’ Revision 05, dated April 6, 2017. 

The initial compliance time for doing the 

revised actions is at the applicable time 

specified in Airbus SAS A318/A319/A320/ 

A321 ALS Part 4, ‘‘System Equipment 

Maintenance Requirements (SEMR),’’ 

Revision 05, dated April 6, 2017. 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 155 / Friday, August 10, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 39583 

(h) No Alternative Actions or Intervals 

After the maintenance or inspection 

program 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 and intervals are 

approved as an alternative method of 

compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the 

procedures specified in paragraph (j)(1) of 

this AD. 

(i) Terminating Action for AD 2017–19–24 

Accomplishing the actions required by this 

AD terminates all requirements of AD 2017– 

19–24. 

(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. 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 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); or 

Airbus SAS’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 

Airworthiness Directive 2017–0170, 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–2018–0168. 

(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. 

(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) Airbus SAS A318/A319/A320/A321 

Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) Part 

4, ‘‘System Equipment Maintenance 

Requirements (SEMR),’’ Revision 05, dated 

April 6, 2017. 

(ii) Reserved. 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus SAS, 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. 

(4) 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. 

(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, call 

202–741–6030, or go to: http://

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

Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on July 

23, 2018. 

James Cashdollar, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–16735 Filed 8–9–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–0426; Airspace 

Docket No. 17–AEA–8] 

RIN–2120–AA66 

Establishment of Class E Airspace; 

Freeport, PA 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: This action establishes Class 

E airspace extending upward from 700 

feet above the surface in Freeport, PA, 

to accommodate new area navigation 

(RNAV) global positioning system (GPS) 

standard instrument approach 

procedures serving McVille Airport. 

Controlled airspace is necessary for the 

safety and management of instrument 

flight rules (IFR) operations at this 

airport. 

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, November 8, 

2018. The Director of the Federal 

Register approves this incorporation by 

reference action under title 1, Code of 

Federal Regulations, part 51, subject to 

the annual revision of FAA Order 

7400.11 and publication of conforming 

amendments. 

ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.11B, 

Airspace Designations and Reporting 

Points, and subsequent amendments can 

be viewed on line at http://

www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. 

For further information, you can contact 

the Airspace Policy Group, Federal 

Aviation Administration, 800 

Independence Avenue SW, Washington, 

DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267–8783. 

The Order is also available for 

inspection at the National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of FAA 

Order 7400.11B at NARA, call (202) 

741–6030, or go to https://

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

ibr-locations.html. 

FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace 

Designations and Reporting Points, is 

published yearly and effective on 

September 15. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John 

Fornito, Operations Support Group, 

Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 1701 Columbia Ave, 

College Park, GA 30337; telephone (404) 

305–6364. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

The FAA’s authority to issue rules 

regarding aviation safety is found in 

Title 49 of the United States Code. 

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. This proposed 

rulemaking is promulgated under the 

authority described in Subtitle VII, Part, 

A, Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that 

section, the FAA is charged with 

prescribing regulations to assign the use 

of airspace necessary to ensure the 

safety of aircraft and the efficient use of 

airspace. This regulation is within the 

scope of that authority as it establishes 

Class E airspace at McVille Airport, 

Freeport, PA, to support IFR operations 

in standard instrument approach 

procedures at this airport. 

History 

The FAA published a notice of 

proposed rulemaking in the Federal 

Register (83 FR 22888, May 17, 2018) 

for Docket No. FAA–2017–0426 to 

establish Class E airspace extending 

upward from 700 feet above the surface 

within a 7.6-mile radius of McVille 

Airport, Freeport, PA. Interested parties 

were invited to participate in this 

rulemaking effort by submitting written 

comments on the proposal to the FAA. 

No comments were received. 

Class E airspace designations are 

published in paragraph 6005 of FAA 

Order 7400.11B dated August 3, 2017, 

and effective September 15, 2017, which 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES