44202 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 169 / Thursday, August 30, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 

repair instructions, this AD requires repair 

using a method approved in accordance with 

the procedures specified in paragraph (j) of 

this AD. 

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Los Angeles 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 (k) of this 

AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-ANMLAACO-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, Los Angeles 

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. 

(k) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact David Truong, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Section, FAA, Los Angeles ACO 

Branch, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 

Lakewood, CA 90712–4137; phone: 562–627– 

5224; fax: 562–627–5210; email: 

david.truong@faa.gov. 

(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 the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 

737–53A1377 RB, dated December 11, 2017. 

(ii) Reserved. 

(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 

August 17, 2018. 

Michael Kaszycki, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–18658 Filed 8–29–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0411; Product 

Identifier 2017–NM–157–AD; Amendment 

39–19376; AD 2018–17–22] 

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 A319–115 and –132 

airplanes, and Model A320–214, –216, 

–232, and –233 airplanes. This AD was 

prompted by a report indicating that 

certain modified airplanes do not have 

electrical ground wires on the fuel level 

sensing control unit (FLSCU), which 

adversely affects the fuel gravity feeding 

operation. This AD requires 

modification of the FLSCU wiring. We 

are issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective October 4, 

2018. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of October 4, 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; phone: 

+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. 

It is also available on the internet at 

http://www.regulations.gov by searching 

for and locating Docket No. FAA–2018– 

0411. 

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– 

0411; 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; 

phone 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 

A319–115 and –132 airplanes, and 

Model A320–214, –216, –232, and –233 

airplanes. The NPRM published in the 

Federal Register on May 15, 2018 (83 

FR 22426). The NPRM was prompted by 

a report indicating that certain modified 

airplanes do not have electrical ground 

wires on the FLSCU, which adversely 

affects the fuel gravity feeding 

operation. The NPRM proposed to 

require modification of the FLSCU 

wiring. 

We are issuing this AD to address 

reduced fuel pressure at the engine 

inlet, potentially resulting in an 

uncommanded in-flight shutdown when 

flying at the fuel gravity feed ceiling 

levels. 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD 2017–0216, 

dated October 30, 2017 (referred to after 

this as the Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information, or ‘‘the 

MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe condition 

for certain Airbus SAS Model A319–115 

and –132 airplanes, and Model A320– 

214, –216, –232, and –233 airplanes. 

The MCAI states: 

Airbus introduced mod 154327 on A319 

and A320 aeroplanes which substituted the 

pump fuel feed system from the centre fuel 

tank with a jet pump transfer system, based 

on the Airbus A321 design. Following the 

modification introduction, it was discovered 

that the modified aeroplanes do not have 

electrical ground signals that replicate those 

from the deleted centre tank pump pressure 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 169 / Thursday, August 30, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 44203 

switches. These signals are used as part of 

the fuel recirculation inhibition request logic. 

Subsequent investigation determined that 

ground wires had not been installed on the 

fuel level sensor control units (FLSCU) of 

post-mod aeroplanes, due to a drawing error 

on the fuel system recirculation principle 

diagram. Without these ground wires 

providing inputs, the FLSCU logic is not 

correctly implemented for gravity feeding 

operation. 

This condition, if not corrected, could lead 

to reduced fuel pressure at the engine inlet, 

possibly resulting in an uncommanded 

inflight shut-down when flying at the gravity 

feed ceiling levels, as defined in the Aircraft 

Flight Manual (AFM). 

To address this potential unsafe condition, 

Airbus issued AFM Temporary Revision (TR) 

695 Issue 1 and AFM TR 699 Issue 1 to 

prohibit the use of Jet B and JP4 fuel, and 

AFM TR 700 Issue 1 to provide instructions 

for amendment of the gravity feed procedure 

for the other fuels. 

Consequently, EASA issued AD 2016–0205 

[which corresponds to FAA AD 2016–25–23, 

Amendment 39–18749 (81 FR 90971, 

December 16, 2016) (‘‘AD 2016–25–23’’)], 

requiring amendment of the applicable AFM 

to include the new gravity feed procedure 

and to reduce the list of authorised fuels. 

Since that [EASA] AD was issued, Airbus 

developed a wiring modification to restore 

the intended FLSCU logic, and issued 

Service Bulletin (SB) A320–28–1242, later 

revised, providing instructions to modify 

affected aeroplanes. 

For the reason described above, this 

[EASA] AD retains the requirements of EASA 

AD 2016–0205, which is superseded, and 

requires modification of FLSCU wiring. This 

[EASA] AD also allows, after that 

modification, to remove the previously 

inserted AFM TR’s from the applicable AFM. 

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– 

0411. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this final rule. 

We have considered the comment 

received. The Air Line Pilots 

Association, International (ALPA) stated 

that it supports the NPRM. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comments received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this 

final rule 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 

addressing 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 final rule. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

Airbus SAS has issued Service 

Bulletin A320–28–1242, Revision 01, 

dated October 3, 2017. The service 

information describes procedures for 

modification of the FLSCU wiring. 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 58 

airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

14 work-hours × $85 per hour = $1,190 ..................................................................................... $204 $1,394 $80,852 

According to the manufacturer, some 

of the costs of this AD may be covered 

under warranty, thereby reducing the 

cost impact on affected individuals. We 

do not control warranty coverage for 

affected individuals. As a result, we 

have included all known costs in our 

cost estimate. 

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: 


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44204 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 169 / Thursday, August 30, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 

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): 

2018–17–22 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39– 

19376; Docket No. FAA–2018–0411; 

Product Identifier 2017–NM–157–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective October 4, 2018. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD affects AD 2016–25–23, 

Amendment 39–18749 (81 FR 90971, 

December 16, 2016) (‘‘AD 2016–25–23’’). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model 

A319–115 and –132 airplanes, and Model 

A320–214, –216, –232, and –233 airplanes, 

certificated in any category, all manufacturer 

serial numbers on which Airbus modification 

154327 has been embodied in production, 

except those on which Airbus modification 

158740 has been embodied. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 28, Fuel. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by a report 

indicating that certain modified airplanes do 

not have electrical ground wires on the fuel 

level sensing control unit (FLSCU), which 

adversely affects the fuel gravity feeding 

operation. We are issuing this AD to prevent 

reduced fuel pressure at the engine inlet, 

potentially resulting in an uncommanded inflight shutdown when flying at the fuel 

gravity feed ceiling levels. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Modification 

Within 24 months after the effective date 

of this AD, modify the FLSCU wiring in 

accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320– 

28–1242, Revision 01, dated October 3, 2017. 

(h) Terminating Action for AD 2016–25–23 

and Amendment of the Airplane Flight 

Manual (AFM) 

Modification of an airplane as required by 

paragraph (g) of this AD terminates all of the 

requirements of AD 2016–25–23 for that 

airplane. After modification of an airplane as 

required by paragraph (g) of this AD, remove 

Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 Temporary 

Revision TR695, Issue 1.0, dated August 1, 

2016; or Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 

Temporary Revision TR699, Issue 1.0, dated 

August 1, 2016; as applicable; and Airbus 

A318/A319/A320/A321 Temporary Revision 

TR700, Issue 1.0, dated August 1, 2016, from 

the applicable AFM of that airplane. 

(i) Credit for Previous Actions 

This paragraph provides credit for actions 

required by paragraph (g) of this AD, if those 

actions were performed before the effective 

date of this AD using Airbus Service Bulletin 

A320–28–1242, dated December 21, 2016. 

(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. 

(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. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) EASA AD 

2017–0216, dated October 30, 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–2018–0411. 

(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; phone 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 Service Bulletin A320–28–1242, 

Revision 01, dated October 3, 2017. 

(ii) Reserved. 

(3) For Airbus SAS service information 

identified in this AD, contact Airbus SAS, 

Airworthiness Office—EIAS, Rond-Point 

Emile Dewoitine No: 2, 31700 Blagnac Cedex, 

France; phone: +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 

August 17, 2018. 

Michael Kaszycki, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–18662 Filed 8–29–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0031; Product 

Identifier 2017–NM–127–AD; Amendment 

39–19374; AD 2018–17–20] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

The Boeing Company Model 727 

airplanes. This AD was prompted by 

significant changes made to the 

airworthiness limitations (AWLs) 

related to fuel tank ignition prevention. 

This AD requires revising the 

maintenance or inspection program, as 

applicable, to incorporate the latest 

revision of the AWLs. We are issuing 

this AD to address the unsafe condition 

on these products. 


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