Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 8, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 38959 

potential for an uncontrolled fire below the 

passenger compartment floor and other 

locations outside the areas covered by smoke 

detection and fire protection systems. We are 

issuing this AD to detect and replace BMS 8– 

39 flexible urethane foam in certain areas, 

which, if exposed to an ignition source, 

could cause an uncontrolled fire leading to 

loss of control of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

Within 72 months after the effective date 

of this AD, do all actions identified as ‘‘RC’’ 

(required for compliance) in, and in 

accordance with, the Accomplishment 

Instructions of the applicable service 

information identified in paragraphs (g)(1), 

(g)(2), and (g)(3) of this AD. 

(1) For airplanes identified in paragraph 

(c)(1) of this AD: Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 747–53–2877, dated August 

5, 2014. 

(2) For airplanes identified in paragraph 

(c)(2) of this AD: Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 747–25–3646, Revision 1, 

dated August 2, 2017. 

(3) For airplanes identified in paragraph 

(c)(3) of this AD: Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 747–25–3692, dated June 22, 

2016. 

(h) Credit for Previous Actions 

This paragraph provides credit for the 

actions specified in paragraph (g)(2) of this 

AD, if those actions were performed before 

the effective date of this AD using Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 747–25– 

3646, dated June 19, 2015. 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Seattle ACO 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 manager of the 

certification office, send it to the attention of 

the person identified in paragraph (j)(1) of 

this AD. Information may be emailed to: 

9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@

faa.gov. 

(2) 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. 

(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable 

level of safety may be used for any repair, 

modification, or alteration required by this 

AD if it is approved by the Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes Organization 

Designation Authorization (ODA) that has 

been authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO 

Branch, to make those findings. To be 

approved, the repair method, modification 

deviation, or alteration deviation must meet 

the certification basis of the airplane, and the 

approval must specifically refer to this AD. 

(4) For service information that contains 

steps that are labeled as Required for 

Compliance (RC), the provisions of 

paragraphs (i)(4)(i) and (i)(4)(ii) of this AD 

apply. 

(i) The steps labeled as RC, including 

substeps under an RC step and any figures 

identified in an RC step, must be done to 

comply with the AD. If a step or substep is 

labeled ‘‘RC Exempt,’’ then the RC 

requirement is removed from that step or 

substep. An AMOC is required for any 

deviations to RC steps, including substeps 

and identified figures. 

(ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be 

deviated from using accepted methods in 

accordance with the operator’s maintenance 

or inspection program without obtaining 

approval of an AMOC, provided the RC steps, 

including substeps and identified figures, can 

still be done as specified, and the airplane 

can be put back in an airworthy condition. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Scott Craig, Aerospace Engineer, 

Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems 

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

Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206–231– 

3566; email: Michael.S.Craig@faa.gov. 

(2) Service information identified in this 

AD that is not incorporated by reference is 

available at the addresses specified in 

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

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the service information listed in this 

paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. 

(2) You must use this service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 747–25–3646, Revision 1, dated 

August 2, 2017. 

(ii) Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 747–25–3692, dated June 22, 2016. 

(iii) Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 747–53–2877, dated August 5, 2014. 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data 

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

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

telephone 562–797–1717; internet https://

www.myboeingfleet.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. 2018–16509 Filed 8–7–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0077; Product 

Identifier 2017–NM–126–AD; Amendment 

39–19352; AD 2018–16–12] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

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 Model A319 and A320 series 

airplanes; and A321–111, –112, –131, 

–211, –212, –213, –231, and –232 

airplanes. This AD was prompted by 

reports of battery retaining rod failures 

due to quality defects of the material 

used during parts manufacturing. This 

AD requires a detailed inspection of the 

battery support assemblies to identify 

the battery retaining rod manufacturer, 

replacement of the battery retaining rods 

with serviceable battery retaining rods if 

necessary, and the addition of the 

applicable service information label on 

each battery retaining rod if necessary. 

We are issuing this AD to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective September 

12, 2018. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of September 12, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this final rule, contact 

Airbus, Airworthiness Office—EIAS, 2 

Rond Point Emile Dewoitine, 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 referenced 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 


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and locating Docket No. FAA–2018– 

0077. 

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– 

0077; 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 AD, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

the Docket Office (telephone 800–647– 

5527) is Docket Management Facility, 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Docket Operations, M–30, West 

Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

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 Model A319 and 

A320 series airplanes; and Model A321– 

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

and –232 airplanes. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

February 12, 2018 (83 FR 5960) (‘‘the 

NPRM’’). 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD 2017– 

0161R1, dated September 19, 2017; 

corrected September 20, 2017 (referred 

to after this as the Mandatory 

Continuing Airworthiness Information, 

or ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe 

condition for certain Airbus Model 

A319 and A320 series airplanes; and 

Model A321–111, –112, –131, –211, 

–212, –213, –231, and –232 airplanes. 

The MCAI states: 

Several occurrences have been reported of 

battery rod failures on certain Airbus 

aeroplanes. Subsequent examination of 

broken rod parts determined that these 

failures were due to quality defects of the 

material used during parts manufacturing. 

Each battery is secured on an aeroplane by 

two rods. Failure of one rod, in case of severe 

turbulence during flight or hard landing, 

could lead to battery displacement, or roll on 

the remaining rod side, up to a point where 

the remaining rod could be disengaged. The 

battery could ultimately detach from its 

housing and damage relays, connectors, 

contactor boxes, air ducts and surrounding 

structure. 

This condition, if not detected and 

corrected, could lead to the loss of the 

normal electrical generation not followed by 

an automatic recovery of essential network. 

To address this potential unsafe condition, 

Airbus issued Alert Operators Transmission 

(AOT) A92N001–16 (later revised) and EASA 

issued AD 2016–0204 [which corresponds to 

FAA AD 2016–25–24 (81 FR 90958, 

December 16, 2016) (‘‘AD 2016–25–24’’)] 

requiring repetitive general visual 

inspections (GVI) of the four battery rods 

(two per battery), and, in case of findings, 

replacement of battery rods. 

Since that [EASA] AD was issued, the 

manufacturer of the broken battery retaining 

rods has been identified, which allows 

proper identification of the affected parts and 

their withdrawal from service. Consequently, 

Airbus issued [service bulletin] SB A320–92– 

1116 and SB A320–92–1118 to provide the 

necessary instructions to the affected 

operators. No rods delivered as spare parts 

are affected by the manufacturing issue. 

For the reason described above, this 

[EASA] AD retains the requirements of EASA 

AD 2016–0204, which is superseded, and 

requires replacement of battery retaining rods 

depending on manufacturer identification. 

This [EASA] AD also provides a terminating 

action for the repetitive inspections. 

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– 

0077. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comments 

received on the NPRM and the FAA’s 

response to each comment. 

Request To Revise the Compliance 

Time 

Air Line Pilots Association, 

International (ALPA) requested that we 

revise the compliance time. ALPA 

stated that the proposed AD specifies a 

compliance time of within 24 months 

after the AD effective date. ALPA 

commented that because the proposed 

AD is related to quality, it believes this 

compliance time is insufficient. ALPA 

also commented that since the issuance 

of the manufacturer’s service 

information, operators have had over 12 

months to comply with the required 

corrective actions. ALPA stated that, 

additionally, the time estimated to 

complete the inspections and 

replacement of the affected parts is 

minimal. ALPA recommended that we 

consider a compliance time of within 12 

months after the AD effective date. 

We disagree with the commenter. 

While some U.S. operators have had 

time to plan and schedule the work 

contained in the Airbus service 

information, there is no obligation for 

any U.S. operator to perform those 

actions without a regulatory 

requirement. Therefore, we agree with 

EASA’s decision to allow a 24-month 

compliance time to plan, schedule, and 

accomplish the actions necessary to 

remove the unsafe condition. If 

additional data are presented that would 

justify a shorter compliance time, we 

may consider further rulemaking on this 

issue. We have not changed this AD in 

this regard. 

Request To Revise the Definition of 

Serviceable Rod 

Delta Airlines (DAL) requested that 

we revise the definition of a serviceable 

rod in paragraph (g) of the proposed AD. 

DAL stated to add an additional 

paragraph that specifies: 

A battery retaining rod with an ISB 

[inspection service bulletin] label installed in 

accordance with the accomplishment 

instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320– 

92–1116, Revision 00, dated January 31, 2017 

(for Airbus Model A319 and A320 series 

airplanes; and A321–111, –112, –131, –211, 

–212, –213, –231, and –232 airplanes); or 

Airbus Service Bulletin A320–92–1118, 

Revision 00, dated January 31, 2017 (for 

Airbus Model A320–251N and –271N 

airplanes). 

We partially agree with revising the 

definition of a serviceable rod in 

paragraph (g) of this AD. We have 

determined that the installation of the 

ISB label does not affect the unsafe 

condition and have removed the 

requirement from this AD. We have 

coordinated this changed with EASA. 

Furthermore, we have revised paragraph 

(g) of this AD to clarify that the battery 

retaining rod used for replacement must 

be positively identified as a serviceable 

battery retaining rod. 

Request for Clarification Regarding 

Manufacturer Serial Numbers 

United Airlines (UAL) requested 

clarification regarding manufacturer 

serial numbers in the proposed AD. 

UAL stated that the manufacturer serial 

numbers are not applicable to the 

proposed AD as identified in Airbus 

Service Bulletin A320–92–1116, 

Revision 00, dated January 31, 2017, 

and Airbus Service Bulletin A320–92– 

1118, Revision 00, dated January 31, 

2017. UAL stated that, although the 

machining that caused the failure mode 

is identified in the service information, 

the same battery retaining rod part 

number used in pre- and post-service 

information remains unchanged. UAL 

commented that it is unclear whether a 

serial number, batch number, or date 

exists for those battery retaining rods. 

UAL also asked how were the battery 


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retaining rod spares deemed to be 

serviceable in paragraph (g)(1) of the 

proposed AD? 

We agree to provide clarification for 

the commenter. According to EASA AD 

2017–0161R1, dated September 19, 

2017; corrected September 20, 2017; no 

spares with manufacturing defects were 

delivered by Airbus. Only a certain 

batch of defective parts were installed in 

production on certain manufacturer 

serial numbers as specified in Airbus 

Service Bulletin A320–92–1116, 

Revision 00, dated January 31, 2017; 

and Airbus Service Bulletin A320–92– 

1118, Revision 00, dated January 31, 

2017. If an operator does not have an 

airplane affected as specified in the 

service information, then there is no 

concern relative to defective spare parts. 

We have not changed this AD in this 

regard. 

Request To Clarify the Identification of 

Affected Parts 

DAL requested that we clarify the 

identification of the affected parts in 

paragraph (h) of the proposed AD. DAL 

stated that the detailed inspection to 

identify the battery retaining rod 

manufacturer should be of the battery 

support assemblies and not the battery 

retaining rods. 

We agree with the commenter’s 

request. We have revised paragraph (h) 

of this AD to require a detailed 

inspection of the battery support 

assemblies to identify the manufacturer 

of the battery retaining rods. 

Request To Include an Additional 

Method of Compliance to the AD 

Requirements 

DAL requested that we add an 

additional method of compliance for 

paragraphs (h), (i), and (j) of the 

proposed AD. DAL stated that the 

language, ‘‘or using a method approved 

by the Manager, International Section, 

Transport Standards Branch, FAA; or 

EASA; or Airbus’s EASA Design 

Organization Approval (DOA),’’ should 

be included as an option to using the 

service information. DAL also stated 

that this language should be considered 

standard wording for future ADs as 

applicable. 

We disagree with the commenter’s 

request. We have already provided a 

method of compliance (MOC) for 

paragraphs (h), (i), and (j) of this AD in 

accordance with the applicable service 

information. Any deviations from the 

required MOC would need an 

evaluation in form of an AMOC. DAL’s 

proposed option is generally utilized in 

cases where no MOC has been 

established or we have known 

information that the MOC may not be 

applicable for all airplanes in the U.S 

fleet. We have not changed the AD in 

this regard. 

Request To Not Require Certain Service 

Information Labels on the Battery Rod 

DAL and American Airlines (AA) 

requested that we not mandate that a 

service information label be attached to 

each battery retaining rod as required by 

the Airbus service information specified 

in paragraphs (j) and (l) of the proposed 

AD. AA also requested that we not 

mandate attachments of a service 

information label as part of the 

replacement required by paragraph (i) of 

the proposed AD. DAL stated that it has 

7 affected airplanes that would have a 

different final configuration than the 

current and future fleet of 348 airplanes 

in its A320FAM fleet. 

AA stated that all battery retaining 

rods provided by Airbus post August 

2016 are marked and stamped with 

manufactures part number (MPN) 

D8241023700000. AA commented that 

this marking of the new battery 

retaining rods can be used in lieu of the 

information service bulletin (ISB) label. 

AA also commented that it plans to 

replace all existing battery retaining 

rods with the new battery retaining rods 

that are marked with MPN 

D8241023700000. 

In addition, AA stated that installing 

the ISB label on the battery retaining 

rods on 128 of its A319/A320 airplanes 

does not add a safety value, but will put 

a burden on AA to maintain two 

different configurations of battery 

retaining rod installation between 128 

airplanes that are effected by the service 

information in the proposed AD and 265 

airplanes that are not affected by the 

service information in the proposed AD. 

We agree with the commenters’ 

request. We agree that the ISB label is 

not necessary to mitigate the risk 

addressed in this AD. Therefore, we 

have determined that the installation of 

ISB label should be optional and not a 

required for compliance (RC) step. 

However, 14 CFR 39.9, specifies that 

operators have a continuing obligation 

to maintain compliance with an AD, 

and the installation of the ISB label or 

an equivalent method to identify a 

serviceable battery retaining rod 

provides the operators with a simplified 

way to demonstrate compliance with 

the AD requirements. We have removed 

paragraph (j) of the proposed AD and 

revised paragraph (l) of this AD to revise 

the terminating action requirements. We 

have also added paragraph (j) of this AD 

to provide an exception to paragraph (i) 

of this AD, which specifies that 

installing the ISB label is not a 

requirement in this AD. 

Request To Revise the Terminating 

Action Paragraph 

DAL requested that paragraph (l) of 

the proposed AD, ‘‘Terminating 

Action,’’ be revised to read, 

‘‘Replacement of all battery retaining 

rods,’’ and not, ‘‘Replacement of all 

battery retaining rods marked 

‘SA. . . .’ ’’ DAL stated that the battery 

retaining rods are not marked with 

‘‘SA,’’ only the battery support 

assemblies. 

We agree with the commenter’s 

request and have revised the AD 

accordingly. 

Request To Use Alternate Part Numbers 

Spirit Airlines requested that either 

the service information or the proposed 

AD be revised to provide the use of 

alternate materials to label part number 

(P/N) ASNE0248A1–4H9. Spirit Airlines 

stated that P/N ASNE0248A1–4H9 is no 

longer available, and that alternate P/N 

E0248A1–4H9P and P/N ASNE0248A1– 

4H9T may be obtained from Airbus. 

Spirit Airlines believes that use of these 

alternate part numbers would provide 

an equivalent level of safety as 

referenced in Airbus Dossier Reference 

80403684/003, dated January 8, 2018, 

and Airbus Retrofit Information Letter 

SA92M16012714 R00, dated February 1, 

2017. 

DAL requested that a previously 

approved AMOC be used in the 

proposed AD. DAL stated that in 

paragraph (h) and (j) of the proposed 

AD, Airbus Service Bulletin A320–92– 

1116, Revision 00, dated January 31, 

2017, calls out a non-procurable part 

number for the identification label. 

Therefore, DAL proposed that 

recognition of AMOC AIR–676–18–152, 

issued against AD 2016–25–24, which 

allows an alternate label part number, 

be added to paragraph (m) of the 

proposed AD as an acceptable method 

of compliance to the proposed AD. 

We partially agree with the 

commenters request. As we stated 

previously, we have determined that 

installation of an ISB label is not an RC 

step. Therefore, a previously issued 

AMOC for allowing alternate label part 

numbers is unnecessary. However, we 

would like to remind operators that 14 

CFR 39.9 specifies an operator’s 

continuing obligation to maintain 

compliance with an AD, and installation 

of an ISB label or an equivalent method 

provides operators with a method to 

demonstrate the affected battery 

retaining rods have been removed and 

replaced with serviceable retaining rods 

in compliance with the AD 

requirements. 


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Differences Between This AD and the 

MCAI 

The MCAI includes a requirement to 

install an ISB label. This AD does not 

include that requirement. We have 

determined that the ISB label is not 

necessary to mitigate the risk addressed 

in this AD. However, 14 CFR 39.9, 

specifies that operators have a 

continuing obligation to maintain 

compliance with an AD, and the 

installation of the ISB label or an 

equivalent method to identify a 

serviceable battery retaining rod 

provides the operators with a simplified 

way to demonstrate compliance with 

the AD requirements. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comments received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this AD 

with the changes described previously 

and minor editorial changes. We have 

determined that these minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the NPRM for 

correcting the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM. 

We also determined that these 

changes will not increase the economic 

burden on any operator or increase the 

scope of this AD. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

Airbus has issued Service Bulletin 

A320–92–1116, Revision 00, dated 

January 31, 2017; and Service Bulletin 

A320–92–1118, Revision 00, dated 

January 31, 2017. This service 

information describes a detailed 

inspection of the battery support 

assemblies to identify the battery 

retaining rod manufacturer, replacement 

of the battery retaining rods with 

serviceable battery retaining rods if 

necessary, and adding the applicable 

service information label on each 

battery retaining rod if necessary. These 

documents are distinct since they apply 

to different airplane models. 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 330 

airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Inspection ................................ 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 ......................................... $0 $85 $28,050 

We estimate the following costs to do 

any necessary replacement that would 

be required based on the results of the 

inspection. We have no way of 

determining the number of aircraft that 

might need this replacement: 

ON-CONDITION COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Replacement .................................... 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 ............................................................ $0 $85 

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 to the Director of the System 

Oversight Division. 

Regulatory Findings 

We determined that 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: 


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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): 

2018–16–12 Airbus: Amendment 39–19352; 

Docket No. FAA–2018–0077; Product 

Identifier 2017–NM–126–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective September 12, 2018. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD affects AD 2016–25–24, 

Amendment 39–18750 (81 FR 90958, 

December 16, 2016) (‘‘AD 2016–25–24’’). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Model A319– 

111, –112, –113, –114, –115, –131, –132, and 

–133 airplanes; Model A320–211, –212, –214, 

–216, –231, –232, –233, –251N, and –271N 

airplanes; and Model A321–111, –112, –131, 

–211, –212, –213, –231, and –232 airplanes, 

certificated in any category, as identified in 

Airbus Service Bulletin A320–92–1116, 

Revision 00, dated January 31, 2017; or 

Airbus Service Bulletin A320–92–1118, 

Revision 00, dated January 31, 2017. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 92, Electrical system 

installation. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

battery retaining rod failures due to quality 

defects of the material used during parts 

manufacturing. We are issuing this AD to 

detect and correct broken battery retaining 

rods, which, in the event of a hard landing 

or severe turbulence, could cause the battery 

to detach from its housing, resulting in 

damage to other electrical equipment and 

surrounding structure. This condition could 

lead to loss of normal electrical power 

generation and subsequent inability to restore 

electrical power to essential airplane 

systems. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Definition of a Serviceable Rod 

For the purpose of this AD, a serviceable 

battery retaining rod is defined in paragraphs 

(g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD. 

(1) A battery retaining rod provided as a 

spare part by Airbus. 

(2) A battery retaining rod previously fitted 

on a battery support assembly installed on an 

airplane manufacturer serial number that is 

not specified in Airbus Service Bulletin 

A320–92–1116, Revision 00, dated January 

31, 2017 (for Airbus Model A319 and A320 

series airplanes; and Model A321–111, –112, 

–131, –211, –212, –213, –231, and –232 

airplanes); or Airbus Service Bulletin A320– 

92–1118, Revision 00, dated January 31, 2017 

(for Airbus Model A320–251N and –271N 

airplanes), provided the battery retaining rod 

used for replacement can be positively 

identified as a serviceable battery retaining 

rod. 

(h) Identification of Affected Parts 

Within 24 months after the effective date 

of this AD: Accomplish a detailed inspection 

of the battery support assemblies to identify 

the battery retaining rod manufacturer, in 

accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions of the Airbus Service Bulletin 

A320–92–1116, Revision 00, dated January 

31, 2017 (for Airbus Model A319 and A320 

series airplanes, and Model A321–111, –112, 

–131, –211, –212, –213, –231, and –232 

airplanes); or Airbus Service Bulletin A320– 

92–1118, Revision 00, dated January 31, 2017 

(for Airbus Model A320–251N and –271N 

airplanes). 

(i) Replacement of Affected Parts if Marking 

Is Found on Battery Support Assembly 

If, during the inspection specified in 

paragraph (h) of this AD, the quality stamp 

on any battery support assemblies are found 

marked with an ‘‘SA’’ manufacturer 

identification, before further flight, replace 

the battery retaining rods with serviceable 

battery retaining rods, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of the Airbus 

Service Bulletin A320–92–1116, Revision 00, 

dated January 31, 2017 (for Airbus Model 

A319 and A320 series airplanes; and Model 

A321–111, –112, –131, –211, –212, –213, 

–231, and –232 airplanes); or Airbus Service 

Bulletin A320–92–1118, Revision 00, dated 

January 31, 2017 (for Airbus Model A320– 

251N and –271N airplanes); except as 

provided by paragraph (j) of this AD. 

(j) Exception to the Service Information 

Although Airbus Service Bulletin A320– 

92–1116, Revision 00, dated January 31, 

2017; and Airbus Service Bulletin A320–92– 

1118, Revision 00, dated January 31, 2017; 

specify to install inspection service bulletin 

(ISB) labels, this AD does not include that 

requirement. 

(k) Parts Installation Prohibition 

As of the effective date of this AD, no 

person may install, on any airplane, a nonserviceable battery retaining rod. 

(l) Terminating Action 

Replacement of all battery retaining rods 

with a serviceable battery retaining rod as 

required by paragraph (i) of this AD 

constitutes terminating action for all 

requirements of AD 2016–25–24 for that 

airplane. 

(m) 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 (n)(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’s EASA Design Organization 

Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, 

the approval must include the DOAauthorized signature. 

(3) Required for Compliance (RC): If any 

service information contains procedures or 

tests that are identified as RC, those 

procedures and tests must be done to comply 

with this AD; any procedures or tests that are 

not identified as RC are recommended. Those 

procedures and tests that are not identified 

as RC may be deviated from using accepted 

methods in accordance with the operator’s 

maintenance or inspection program without 

obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided 

the procedures and tests identified as RC can 

be done and the airplane can be put back in 

an airworthy condition. Any substitutions or 

changes to procedures or tests identified as 

RC require approval of an AMOC. 

(n) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) EASA AD 

2017–0161R1, dated September 19, 2017; 

corrected September 20, 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–2018–0077. 

(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. 

(o) 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 Service Bulletin A320–92–1116, 

Revision 00, dated January 31, 2017. 

(ii) Airbus Service Bulletin A320–92–1118, 

Revision 00, dated January 31, 2017. 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus, Airworthiness 

Office—EIAS, 2 Rond Point Emile Dewoitine, 

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 


amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES
38964 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 8, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 

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 

27, 2018. 

James Cashdollar, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–16736 Filed 8–7–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission 

18 CFR Parts 154, 260, and 284 

[Docket Nos. RM18–11–000, RP18–415–000; 

Order No. 849] 

Interstate and Intrastate Natural Gas 

Pipelines; Rate Changes Relating to 

Federal Income Tax Rate; American 

Forest & Paper Association 

Correction 

In rule document 2018–15786 

appearing on pages 36672–36717 in the 

issue of July 30, 2018, make the 

following correction: 

§ 260.402 [Corrected] 

■ On page 36715, in § 260.402, in the 

second column, under Amendatory 

Instruction 4, in the first line, 

‘‘§ 60.402’’ should read ‘‘§ 260.402’’. 

[FR Doc. C1–2018–15786 Filed 8–7–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 1301–00–D 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

40 CFR Part 52 

[EPA–R06–OAR–2017–0699; FRL–9981– 

41—Region 6] 

Air Plan Approval; Arkansas 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Direct final rule. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Clean 

Air Act (CAA or the Act), the 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

is approving portions of the revisions to 

the Arkansas State Implementation Plan 

(SIP) submitted by the Arkansas 

Department of Environmental Quality 

(ADEQ) on March 24, 2017. Most of the 

revisions are administrative in nature 

and make the SIP current with Federal 

rules. The EPA is also making 

ministerial changes to the Code of 

Federal Register (CFR) to reflect SIP 

actions pertaining to the Arkansas 

Prevention of Significant Deterioration 

(PSD) program. 

DATES: This rule is effective on 

November 6, 2018 without further 

notice, unless the EPA receives relevant 

adverse comment by September 7, 2018. 

If the EPA receives such comment, the 

EPA will publish a timely withdrawal in 

the Federal Register informing the 

public that this rule will not take effect. 

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, 

identified by Docket No. EPA–R06– 

OAR–2017–0699, at http://

www.regulations.gov or via email to 

paige.carrie@epa.gov. Follow the online 

instructions for submitting comments. 

Once submitted, comments cannot be 

edited or removed from Regulations.gov. 

The EPA may publish any comment 

received to its public docket. Do not 

submit electronically any information 

you consider to be Confidential 

Business Information (CBI) or other 

information whose disclosure is 

restricted by statute. Multimedia 

submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be 

accompanied by a written comment. 

The written comment is considered the 

official comment and should include 

discussion of all points you wish to 

make. The EPA will generally not 

consider comments or comment 

contents located outside of the primary 

submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or 

other file sharing system). For 

additional submission methods, please 

contact Carrie Paige, 214–665–6521, 

paige.carrie@epa.gov. For the full EPA 

public comment policy, information 

about CBI or multimedia submissions, 

and general guidance on making 

effective comments, please visit http:// 

www2.epa.gov/dockets/commentingepa-dockets. 

Docket: The index to the docket for 

this action is available electronically at 

www.regulations.gov and in hard copy 

at EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, 

Suite 700, Dallas, Texas. While all 

documents in the docket are listed in 

the index, some information may be 

publicly available only at the hard copy 

location (e.g., copyrighted material), and 

some may not be publicly available at 

either location (e.g., CBI). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Carrie Paige, 214–665–6521, 

paige.carrie@epa.gov. To inspect the 

hard copy materials, please schedule an 

appointment with Ms. Paige or Mr. Bill 

Deese at 214–665–7253. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Throughout this document ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ 

and ‘‘our’’ means the EPA. 

I. Background 

The SIP is a set of air pollution 

regulations, control strategies, and 

technical analyses developed by the 

state to ensure that the state meets the 

National Ambient Air Quality Standards 

(NAAQS). These ambient standards are 

established under section 109 of the Act 

and they currently address six criteria 

pollutants: Carbon monoxide, lead, 

nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate 

matter, and sulfur dioxide. The SIP is 

required by Section 110 of the Act and 

can be extensive, containing state 

regulations or other enforceable 

documents and supporting information 

such as emission inventories, 

monitoring networks, and modeling 

demonstrations. 

On March 24, 2017, the Governor of 

Arkansas submitted to the EPA 

revisions to the Arkansas SIP. The 

submittal includes revisions to the 

Regulations of the Arkansas Plan of 

Implementation for Air Pollution 

Control enacted at Arkansas Annotated 

Code (‘‘Ark. Code Ann.’’) Regulation 19 

(‘‘Reg. 19’’), Chapters 1–5, 7, 9, 11, 13– 

15, Appendix A, and Appendix B, and 

the Infrastructure and NAAQS SIPs. 

EPA has taken separate action on the 

following portions of this submittal: (1) 

On December 21, 2017, EPA approved 

the revisions to Reg. 19, Chapter 2, that 

address the definition of ‘‘Volatile 

Organic Compounds’’ (see 82 FR 60517); 

(2) On February 14, 2018, EPA approved 

the Infrastructure portion (see 83 FR 

6470); (3) On June 29, 2018, EPA 

approved the revisions to Reg. 19, 

Chapter 4, that address Minor New 

Source Review (see 83 FR 30553); And, 

(4) on June 29, 2018, EPA proposed to 

approve the revisions that address 

interstate transport requirements for the 

2012 PM2.5 NAAQS and the revisions to 

Reg. 19, Chapter 2 and Appendix B, that 

address the definition of 2012 PM2.5 in 

the definition of ‘‘NAAQS’’ and the 

table for ‘‘Particle Pollution, PM2.5’’ (see 

83 FR 30622). Because these prior EPA 

actions did not address all the 

submitted revisions to Reg. 19, Chapter 

2 and Appendix B, today’s action 

addresses the remaining submitted 

revisions to Reg. 19, Chapter 2 and 

Appendix B, and the submitted 

revisions to Reg. 19, Chapters 1, 3, 5, 13, 

14, and 15. For a detailed list of each 

revision with our evaluation, please see 

our Technical Support Document (TSD) 

in the docket for this rulemaking. 

II. Summary of Revisions to the 

Arkansas SIP and EPA Evaluation 

A. Non-Substantive Changes 

Non-substantive changes were made 

to Regulation 19, Chapter 1, Sections 


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