Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 179 / Friday, September 14, 2018 / Proposed Rules 46677 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0791; Product 

Identifier 2018–NM–043–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Airbus SAS Model A350–941 airplanes. 

This proposed AD was prompted by a 

determination that certain holes for the 

vertical tail plane (VTP) tension bolts 

connection are not properly protected 

against corrosion. This proposed AD 

would require modifying the VTP 

tension bolts connection by adding 

sealant and protective treatment to the 

head of the connection, at the barrel nut 

cavities, and in the surrounding area. 

We are proposing this AD to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 13, 

2018. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) material described in the ‘‘Related 

IBR material under 1 CFR part 51’’ 

section in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, 

contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 

50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 

221 89990 1000; email ADs@

easa.europa.eu; internet 

www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

IBR material on the EASA website at 

https://ad.easa.europa.eu. You may 

view this IBR material 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 in the AD docket on 

the internet at http://

www.regulations.gov. 

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– 

0791; 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 NPRM, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

the Docket Operations office (telephone 

800–647–5527) is in the ADDRESSES

section. Comments will be available in 

the AD docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kathleen Arrigotti, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Section, Transport 

Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 

telephone and fax 206–231–3218. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposal. Send your comments to 

an address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– 

2018–0791; Product Identifier 2018– 

NM–043–AD’’ at the beginning of your 

comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this NPRM. We will consider 

all comments received by the closing 

date and may amend this NPRM based 

on those comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this NPRM. 

Discussion 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD 2018–0045, 

dated February 15, 2018; corrected 

February 22, 2018 (‘‘EASA AD 2018– 

0045’’) (also referred to as the 

Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness 

Information, or ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct 

an unsafe condition for certain Airbus 

SAS Model A350–941 airplanes. The 

MCAI states: 

It was identified that the section 19 holes 

for the Vertical Tail Plane (VTP) tension bolts 

connection are not properly protected against 

corrosion. 

This condition, if not corrected, could 

reduce the structural integrity of the VTP 

[and could ultimately lead to reduced 

controllability of the airplane]. 

To address this unsafe condition, Airbus 

developed production mod 108307 and mod 

110696 to improve protection against 

corrosion, and issued the SB [Service 

Bulletin A350–55–P002] to provide inservice modification instructions. 

For the reasons described above, this 

[EASA] AD requires a modification by adding 

sealant and protective treatment to the head 

of the section 19 VTP tension bolts 

connection, at the barrel nut cavities and in 

the surrounding area. 

This [EASA] AD was corrected to clarify 

the text of the ‘‘Modification’’. 

Related IBR Material Under 1 CFR Part 

51 

EASA AD 2018–0045, dated February 

15, 2018; corrected February 22, 2018, 

describes procedures for modifying the 

VTP tension bolts connection by adding 

sealant and protective treatment to the 

head of the connection, at the barrel nut 

cavities, and in the surrounding area. 

This material 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 and it is 

publicly available through the EASA 

website. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of This Proposed AD 

This product has been approved by 

the aviation authority of another 

country, and is approved for operation 

in the United States. Pursuant to our 

bilateral agreement with the State of 

Design Authority, we have been notified 

of the unsafe condition described in the 

MCAI referenced above. We are 

proposing this AD because we evaluated 

all pertinent information and 

determined an unsafe condition exists 

and is likely to exist or develop on other 

products of the same type design. 

Explanation of Required Compliance 

Information 

In the FAA’s ongoing efforts to 

improve the efficiency of the AD 

process, the FAA worked with Airbus 

and EASA to develop a process to use 

certain EASA ADs as the primary source 

of information for compliance with 

requirements for corresponding FAA 

ADs. As a result, EASA AD 2018–0045 

will be incorporated by reference in the 

FAA final rule. This proposed AD 

would, therefore, require compliance 

with the provisions specified in EASA 

AD 2018–0045, except for any 

differences identified as exceptions in 

the regulatory text of this proposed AD. 

Service information referenced in EASA 

AD 2018–0045 that is required for 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
46678 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 179 / Friday, September 14, 2018 / Proposed Rules 

compliance with EASA AD 2018–0045 

will be available at http://

www.regulations.gov under Docket No. 

FAA–2018–0791 after the FAA final 

rule is published. 

Explanation of ‘‘RC’’ (Required for 

Compliance) 

EASA AD 2018–0045 might refer to 

service information that contains 

procedures or tests that are identified as 

RC. 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 

alternative method of compliance 

(AMOC), provided the procedures and 

tests identified as RC can be done and 

the airplane can be put back in an 

airworthy condition. 

Explanation of Change 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 

model. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 6 airplanes of U.S. registry. We 

estimate the following costs to comply 

with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REQUIRED ACTIONS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

50 work-hours × $85 per hour = $4,250 ..................................................................................... $9,200 $13,450 $80,700 

According to the manufacturer, some 

or all of the costs of this proposed 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 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 proposed AD is issued in 

accordance with authority delegated by 

the Executive Director, Aircraft 

Certification Service, as authorized by 

FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance 

with that order, issuance of ADs is 

normally a function of the Compliance 

and Airworthiness Division, but during 

this transition period, the Executive 

Director has delegated the authority to 

issue ADs applicable to transport 

category airplanes to the Director of the 

System Oversight Division. 

Regulatory Findings 

We determined that this proposed AD 

would not have federalism implications 

under Executive Order 13132. This 

proposed AD would not have a 

substantial direct effect on the States, on 

the relationship between the national 

Government and the States, or on the 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify this proposed regulation: 

1. Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866; 

2. Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under the 

DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures 

(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 

3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in 

Alaska; and 

4. Will not have a significant 

economic impact, positive or negative, 

on a substantial number of small entities 

under the criteria of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 

39 as follows: 

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS 

DIRECTIVES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

Airbus SAS: Docket No. FAA–2018–0791; 

Product Identifier 2018–NM–043–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by November 

13, 2018. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model 

A350–941 airplanes, certificated in any 

category, as identified in the European 

Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 

Airworthiness Directive 2018–0045, dated 

February 15, 2018; corrected February 22, 

2018 (‘‘EASA AD 2018–0045’’). 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 53, Fuselage; 55, Stabilizers. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by a determination 

that the section 19 holes for the vertical tail 

plane (VTP) tension bolts connection are not 

properly protected against corrosion. We are 

issuing this AD to address corrosion of the 

VTP tension bolts connection, which could 

reduce the structural integrity of the VTP, 

and could ultimately lead to reduced 

controllability of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Requirements 

Except as specified by paragraph (h) of this 

AD: Comply with all required actions and 

compliance times specified in, and in 

accordance with, EASA AD 2018–0045. 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2018–0045 

(1) For purposes of determining 

compliance with the requirements of this AD, 

where EASA AD 2018–0045 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(2) The ‘‘Remarks’’ section of EASA AD 

2018–0045 does not apply. 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 179 / Friday, September 14, 2018 / Proposed Rules 46679 

(i) 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 (j)(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 instructions 

from a manufacturer, the instructions must 

be accomplished using a method approved 

by the Manager, International Section, 

Transport Standards Branch, FAA; or 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): Any RC 

procedures and tests identified in the service 

information referenced in EASA AD 2018– 

0045 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. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) For information about EASA AD 2018– 

0045, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 

3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 

221 89990 6017; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; 

Internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may find 

this EASA AD on the EASA website at 

https://ad.easa.europa.eu. You may view this 

EASA AD 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. 

EASA AD 2018–0045 may be found in the 

AD docket on the internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for and 

locating Docket No. FAA–2018–0791. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Kathleen Arrigotti, Aerospace 

Engineer, International Section, Transport 

Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th 

St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and 

fax 206–231–3218. 

Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on 

August 16, 2018. 

Michael Kaszycki, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–19767 Filed 9–13–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–0839; Product 

Identifier 2017–NE–31–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Zodiac Seats 

France, Cabin Attendant Seats 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Zodiac Seats France 536-Series Cabin 

Attendant Seats. This proposed AD was 

prompted by potential risk of premature 

corrosion on the seat structure and 

clamps. This proposed AD would 

require inspection and modification of 

all Zodiac Seats France 536-Series Cabin 

Attendant Seats. We are proposing this 

AD to address the unsafe condition on 

these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by October 29, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12 140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this NPRM, contact Zodiac Service 

Europe, 61, rue Pierre Curie, 78 373 

Plaisir, France; phone: +33 (0)1 61 34 19 

58; email: zs.aog@zodiacaerospace.com; 

website: https://www.zodiacaerospace.

com/en/zodiac-aerospace-services/ 

contacts.You may view this service 

information at the FAA, Engine and 

Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 

District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. 

For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 781–238– 

7759. 

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–2017– 

0839; or in person at Docket Operations 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

The AD docket contains this NPRM, the 

mandatory continuing airworthiness 

information (MCAI), the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

Docket Operations (phone: 800–647– 

5527) is listed above. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Dorie Resnik, Aerospace Engineer, 

Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District 

Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 

781–238–7693; fax: 781–238–7199; 

email: dorie.resnik@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposal. Send your comments to 

an address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– 

2017–0839; Product Identifier 2017– 

NE–31–AD’’ at the beginning of your 

comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this NPRM. We will consider 

all comments received by the closing 

date and may amend this NPRM 

because of those comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this NPRM. 

Discussion 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, has issued EASA AD 2016– 

0167, dated August 17, 2016 (referred to 

after this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. The 

MCAI states: 

Cases of corrosion and cracks were found 

on Zodiac Seats France CAS 536 rear cabin 

attendant seats installed on some ATR 42 and 

ATR 72 aeroplanes. The detected damage 

was located on the lower parts of the 

attendant seat, at the level of the seat-to-floor 

interface. This condition, if not detected and 

corrected, could lead to failure of the seat 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS