47054 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 181 / Tuesday, September 18, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0396; Product 

Identifier 2017–NM–156–AD; Amendment 

39–19400; AD 2018–18–21] 

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 all 

Airbus SAS Model A300 B4–600, B4– 

600R, and F4–600R series airplanes, and 

Model A300 C4–605R Variant F 

airplanes (collectively called Model 

A300–600 series airplanes), and Model 

A310 series airplanes. This AD was 

prompted by a determination that new 

or more restrictive maintenance 

requirements and airworthiness 

limitations are necessary. This AD 

requires revising the maintenance or 

inspection program, as applicable, to 

incorporate new or more restrictive 

maintenance requirements and 

airworthiness limitations. We are 

issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective October 23, 

2018. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of October 23, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this final rule, contact 

Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office— 

EAW, 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– 

0396. 

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– 

0396; 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 

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: Dan 

Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Section, Transport 

Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 

telephone and fax 206–231–3225. 

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 all Airbus SAS Model A300 

B4–600, B4–600R, and F4–600R series 

airplanes, and Model A300 C4–605R 

Variant F airplanes (collectively called 

Model A300–600 series airplanes), and 

Model A310 series airplanes. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

May 8, 2018 (83 FR 20743). The NPRM 

was prompted by a determination that 

new or more restrictive maintenance 

requirements and airworthiness 

limitations are necessary. The NPRM 

proposed to require revising the 

maintenance or inspection program, as 

applicable, to incorporate new or more 

restrictive 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 AD 2017–0202, 

dated October 12, 2017 (referred to after 

this as the Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information, or ‘‘the 

MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe condition 

for all Airbus SAS Model A300 B4–600, 

B4–600R, and F4–600R series airplanes, 

and Model A300 C4–605R Variant F 

airplanes (collectively called Model 

A300–600 series airplanes), and Model 

A310 series airplanes. The MCAI states: 

Maintenance requirements and 

airworthiness limitations for the Airbus 

A310, A300–600 and A300–600ST family 

aeroplanes, which are approved by EASA, 

are currently defined and published in the 

Airbus A310 and A300–600 Airworthiness 

Limitations Section (ALS) documents. The 

System Equipment Maintenance 

Requirements (SEMR) for the Airbus A310 

and A300–600, are specified in the Airbus 

A310 and Airbus A300–600 (including 

A300–600ST) ALS Part 4 documents. These 

instructions have been identified as 

mandatory for continuing airworthiness. 

Failure to accomplish these instructions 

could result in an unsafe condition. 

EASA previously issued AD 2013–0075 

[which corresponds to FAA AD 2015–02–16, 

Amendment 39–18083 (80 FR 5028, January 

30, 2015) (‘‘AD 2015–02–16’’)] to require the 

implementation of the maintenance 

requirements and associated airworthiness 

limitations as specified in Airbus A310 and 

A300–600 ALS Part 4 documents at Revision 

02. 

Since that [EASA] AD was issued, new or 

more restrictive maintenance requirements 

and airworthiness limitations were approved 

by EASA. Consequently, Airbus published 

Revision 03 of A310 and A300–600 ALS Part 

4 documents, compiling all ALS Part 4 

changes approved since previous Revision 

02. 

For the reasons described above, this new 

[EASA] AD retains the requirements of EASA 

AD 2013–0075, which is superseded, and 

requires the implementation of the actions 

specified in Airbus A310 ALS Part 4 Revision 

03 and Airbus A300–600 ALS Part 4 Revision 

03. 

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– 

0396. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this final rule. 

The following presents the comments 

received on the NPRM and the FAA’s 

response to each comment. FedEx 

Express stated that they had no 

objections to the proposed AD. 

Request To Release Related ADs at the 

Same Time 

Airbus requested in docket numbers, 

FAA–2018–0390 and FAA–2018–0365 

that we release this final rule and the 

following related ADs at the same time 

to provide clarity to operators. All four 

pending ADs are related to the removal 

of the same 15 nose landing gear parts 

from ALS Part 1, on different airplane 

models. 

• Docket No. FAA–2018–0390, 

Product Identifier 2017–NM–130–AD 

(EASA AD 2017–0145, dated August 31, 

2017). 

• Docket No. FAA–2018–0364, 

Product Identifier 2017–NM–154–AD 

(EASA AD 2017–0204, dated October 

12, 2017). 

• Docket No. FAA–2018–0365, 

Product Identifier 2017–NM–155–AD 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 181 / Tuesday, September 18, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 47055 

(EASA AD 2017–0203, dated October 

12, 2017). 

We agree with the commenter’s 

request insofar as we can control the 

publication schedule. While we cannot 

ensure that all four final rules will be 

published on the same date, we will 

coordinate with the Office of the Federal 

Register (OFR) regarding publication of 

all four final rules at the same time. 

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 A310 

Airworthiness Limitations Section 

(ALS) Part 4, ‘‘System Equipment 

Maintenance Requirements (SEMR),’’ 

Revision 03, dated August 28, 2017; and 

A300–600 Airworthiness Limitations 

Section (ALS) Part 4, ‘‘System 

Equipment Maintenance Requirements 

(SEMR),’’ Revision 03, dated August 28, 

2017. This service information describes 

new maintenance requirements and 

airworthiness limitations. 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 127 

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 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 

$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 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): 

2018–18–21 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39– 

19400; Docket No. FAA–2018–0396; 

Product Identifier 2017–NM–156–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective October 23, 2018. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD affects AD 2015–02–16, 

Amendment 39–18083 (80 FR 5028, January 

30, 2015) (‘‘AD 2015–02–16’’). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to the Airbus SAS 

airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) 

through (c)(5) of this AD, certificated in any 

category, all manufacturer serial numbers. 

(1) Model A300 B4–601, B4–603, B4–620, 

and B4–622 airplanes. 

(2) Model A300 B4–605R and B4–622R 

airplanes. 

(3) Model A300 F4–605R and F4–622R 

airplanes. 

(4) Model A300 C4–605R Variant F 

airplanes. 

(5) Model A310–203, –204, –221, –222, 

–304, –322, –324, and –325 airplanes. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 05, Time Limits/Maintenance 

Checks. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by a determination 

that new or more restrictive maintenance 

requirements and airworthiness limitations 

are necessary. 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 

life-limited parts, and reduced structural 

integrity or controllability of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 


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47056 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 181 / Tuesday, September 18, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 

(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 

A310 Airworthiness Limitations Section 

(ALS) Part 4, ‘‘System Equipment 

Maintenance Requirements (SEMR),’’ 

Revision 03, dated August 28, 2017; or A300– 

600 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) 

Part 4, ‘‘System Equipment Maintenance 

Requirements (SEMR),’’ Revision 03, dated 

August 28, 2017; as applicable. The initial 

compliance time for doing the revised actions 

is at the applicable time specified in Airbus 

A310 Airworthiness Limitations Section 

(ALS) Part 4, ‘‘System Equipment 

Maintenance Requirements (SEMR),’’ 

Revision 03, dated August 28, 2017, or A300– 

600 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) 

Part 4, ‘‘System Equipment Maintenance 

Requirements (SEMR),’’ Revision 03, dated 

August 28, 2017; as applicable; or within 90 

days after the effective date of this AD; 

whichever occurs later. 

(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 2015–02–16 

Accomplishing the actions required by this 

AD terminates all requirements of AD 2015– 

02–16. 

(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 AD 

2017–0202, dated October 12, 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–2018–0396. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Section, Transport Standards 

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

Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206– 

231–3225. 

(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 A300–600 Airworthiness 

Limitations Section (ALS) Part 4, ‘‘System 

Equipment Maintenance Requirements 

(SEMR),’’ Revision 03, dated August 28, 

2017. 

(ii) Airbus A310 Airworthiness Limitations 

Section (ALS) Part 4, ‘‘System Equipment 

Maintenance Requirements (SEMR),’’ 

Revision 03, dated August 28, 2017. 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness 

Office—EAW, 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 

August 24, 2018. 

James Cashdollar, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–19856 Filed 9–17–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0364; Product 

Identifier 2017–NM–154–AD; Amendment 

39–19398; AD 2018–18–19] 

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 all 

Airbus SAS Model A300 and A310 

series airplanes; and Model A300 B4– 

600, B4–600R, and F4–600R series 

airplanes, and Model A300 C4–605R 

Variant F airplanes (collectively called 

Model A300–600 series airplanes). This 

AD was prompted by a determination 

that new or more restrictive 

maintenance requirements and 

airworthiness limitations are necessary. 

This AD requires revising the 

maintenance or inspection program, as 

applicable, to incorporate new or more 

restrictive maintenance requirements 

and airworthiness limitations. We are 

issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective October 23, 

2018. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of October 23, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this final rule, contact 

Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office— 

EAW, 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– 

0364. 

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– 

0364; or in person at Docket Operations 


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