6104 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 22 / Monday, February 3, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2014–0006; Directorate 

Identifier 2013–NM–147–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Airbus Model A330–200 Freighter, 

A330–200, A330–300, A340–200, and 

A340–300 series airplanes. This 

proposed AD was prompted by the 

results of endurance qualification tests 

on the trimmable horizontal stabilizer 

actuator (THSA), which revealed a 

partial loss of the no-back brake (NBB) 

efficiency in specific load conditions. 

This proposed AD would require 

inspecting certain THSAs to determine 

the number of total flight cycles the 

THSA has accumulated, and replacing 

the THSA if necessary. We are 

proposing this AD to detect and correct 

premature wear of the carbon friction 

disks on the NBB of the THSA, which 

could lead to reduced braking efficiency 

in certain load conditions and, in 

conjunction with the inability of the 

power gear train to keep the ball screw 

in its last commanded position, could 

result in uncommanded movements of 

the THS and loss of control of the 

airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by March 20, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Airbus SAS, 

Airworthiness Office—EAL, 1 Rond 

Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac 

Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 

96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; email 

airworthiness.A330-A340@airbus.com; 

Internet http://www.airbus.com. You 

may view this referenced service 

information at the FAA, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue 

SW., Renton, WA. For information on 

the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov; 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 proposed AD, 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: 

Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 

98057–3356; telephone 425–227–1138; 

fax 425–227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposed AD. Send your comments 

to an address listed under the 

ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2014–0006; Directorate Identifier 

2013–NM–147–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD 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 proposed AD. 

Discussion 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, has issued EASA 

Airworthiness Directive 2013–0144R1, 

dated August 27, 2013 (referred to after 

this as the Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information, or ‘‘the 

MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe condition 

for the specified products. The MCAI 

states: 

During endurance qualification tests on 

A380 Trimmable Horizontal Stabilizer 

Actuator (THSA), a partial loss of the no-back 

brake (NBB) efficiency was experienced. Due 

to THSA design similarity on the A330/A340 

fleet, a similar partial loss of the NBB 

efficiency was identified on THSA Part 

Number (P/N) 47147, installed on A330–300 

and A340–200/–300 aeroplanes, and on 

THSA P/N 47172, installed on A330–200/– 

300 and A340–200/–300 aeroplanes. 

Investigation results concluded that this 

particular malfunction was due an ageing/

endurance issue of the surfaces of the NBB 

carbon friction disks, leading to a partial loss 

of braking efficiency in some specific 

aerodynamic load conditions. 

This condition, if not detected and 

corrected and in conjunction with the power 

gear train not able to keep the ball screw in 

its last commanded position, could lead to 

uncommanded movements of the THSA, 

possibly resulting in the loss of control of the 

aeroplane. 

To address this potential unsafe condition, 

EASA issued * * * [an earlier AD] to require 

replacement of each THSA that has exceeded 

16,000 flight cycles (FC) in-service, to be sent 

in shop for NBB carbon disk replacement. 

Since that AD was issued, a need for 

clarification has been demonstrated, 

regarding the identification of the THSA 

‘‘affected’’ by this requirement. 

For this reason, EASA AD 2013–0144 is 

revised, confirming that the AD only affects 

those THSA identified by Part Number (P/N) 

in Airbus Alert Operator Transmission (AOT) 

A27L005–13. In addition, a note has been 

added to make clear that the life limits as 

specified in the current revision of ALS Part 

4 are still relevant for the affected THSA, as 

applicable to aeroplane model and THSA 

P/N. This AD addresses the life limit for the 

NBB installed on the THSA, not the life limit 

for the THSA itself. 

A further reduction of the life limit of the 

NBB, probably down to 12,000 FC, is under 

evaluation by EASA and further actions are 

likely to follow for the THSA that have 

exceeded that limit in service. In that context 

and to assess the operational status of the 

THSA of the A330–200/–300 and A340–200/ 

–300 fleet, this AD also requires 

identification of the THSA, collection of 

operational data, and reporting the results to 

Airbus. 

You may examine the MCAI in the 

AD docket on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating it in Docket No. FAA– 

2014–0006. 

Relevant Service Information 

Airbus has issued Alert Operators 

Transmission (AOT) A27L005–13, dated 

July 11, 2013. The actions described in 

this service information are intended to 

correct the unsafe condition identified 

in the MCAI. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 22 / Monday, February 3, 2014 / Proposed Rules 6105 

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 and service information 

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. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 76 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We also estimate that it would take 

about 6 work-hours per product to 

comply with the basic requirements of 

this proposed AD. The average labor 

rate is $85 per work-hour. Required 

parts would cost about $0 per product. 

Based on these figures, we estimate the 

cost of this proposed AD on U.S. 

operators to be $38,760, or $510 per 

product. 

In addition, we estimate that any 

necessary follow-on actions would take 

about 23 work-hours and require parts 

costing $722,556, for a cost of $724,511 

per product. We have no way of 

determining the number of aircraft that 

might need this action. 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

A federal agency may not conduct or 

sponsor, and a person is not required to 

respond to, nor shall a person be subject 

to penalty for failure to comply with a 

collection of information subject to the 

requirements of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act unless that collection of 

information displays a current valid 

OMB control number. The control 

number for the collection of information 

required by this proposed AD is 2120– 

0056. The paperwork cost associated 

with this proposed AD has been 

detailed in the Costs of Compliance 

section of this document and includes 

time for reviewing instructions, as well 

as completing and reviewing the 

collection of information. Therefore, all 

reporting associated with this proposed 

AD is mandatory. Comments concerning 

the accuracy of this burden and 

suggestions for reducing the burden 

should be directed to the FAA at 800 

Independence Ave. SW., Washington, 

DC 20591. ATTN: Information 

Collection Clearance Officer, AES–200. 

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 proposed 

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. 

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: Docket No. FAA–2014–0006; 

Directorate Identifier 2013–NM–147–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by March 20, 

2014. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to the Airbus airplanes 

identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(5) 

of this AD; certificated in any category; all 

manufacturer serial numbers. 

(1) Model A330–201, –202, –203, –223, and 

–243 airplanes. 

(2) Model A330–223F and –243F airplanes. 

(3) Model A330–301, –302, –303, –321, 

–322, –323, –341, –342, and –343 airplanes. 

(4) Model A340–211, –212, and –213 

airplanes. 

(5) Model A340–311, –312, and –313 

airplanes. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 27, Flight Controls. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by the results of 

endurance qualification tests on the 

trimmable horizontal stabilizer actuator 

(THSA), which revealed a partial loss of the 

no-back brake (NBB) efficiency in specific 

load conditions. We are issuing this AD to 

detect and correct premature wear of the 

carbon friction disks on the NBB of the 

THSA, which could lead to reduced braking 

efficiency in certain load conditions and, in 

conjunction with the inability of the power 

gear train to keep the ball screw in its last 

commanded position, could result in 

uncommanded movements of the THS and 

loss of control of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Inspection 

For airplanes having a THSA with a part 

number specified in Airbus Alert Operators 

Transmission (AOT) A27L005–13, dated July 

11, 2013: Within 30 days after the effective 

date of this AD, identify each THSA that has 

accumulated 10,000 total flight cycles or 

more since the THSA’s first installation on an 

airplane, and report the collected operational 

life data to Airbus, in accordance with the 

instruction of Airbus AOT A27L005–13, 

dated July 11, 2013. 

(h) THSA Replacement 

For airplanes having a THSA with a part 

number specified in Airbus AOT A27L005– 

13, dated July 11, 2013: At the applicable 

time specified in paragraph (h)(1), (h)(2), or 

(h)(3) of this AD, replace each affected THSA 

with a serviceable THSA, in accordance with 

the instructions of Airbus AOT A27L005–13, 

dated July 11, 2013. 

(1) For a THSA that has accumulated 

20,000 total flight cycles or more since the 

THSA’s first installation on an airplane, as of 

the effective date of this AD: Replace the 

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6106 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 22 / Monday, February 3, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

THSA within 12 months or 1,500 flight 

cycles after the effective date of this AD, 

whichever occurs first. 

(2) For a THSA that has accumulated 

16,000 total flight cycles or more, but less 

than 20,000 total flight cycles since the 

THSA’s first installation on an airplane, as of 

the effective date of this AD, and that is 

installed on an Airbus Model A330–201, 

–202, –203, –223, –223F, –243, –243F, –301, 

–302, –303, –321, –322, –323, –341, –342, or 

–343 airplane: Replace the THSA within 30 

months or 4,000 flight cycles after the 

effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 

first. 

(3) For a THSA that has accumulated 

16,000 total flight cycles or more, but less 

that 20,000 total flight cycles since the 

THSA’s first installation on an airplane, as of 

the effective date of this AD, and that is 

installed on an Airbus Model A340–211, 

–212, –213, –311, –312, or –313 airplane: 

Replace the THSA within 30 months or 3,000 

flight cycles after the effective date of this 

AD, whichever occurs first. 

(i) Definition of Serviceable THSA 

Except as required by paragraph (j)(2) of 

this AD, for the purposes of this AD a 

serviceable THSA is a THSA: 

(1) Having a part number identified in 

Airbus AOT A27L005–13, dated July 11, 

2013, that has accumulated fewer than 

20,000 total flight cycles since first 

installation on an airplane; or 

(2) Having a part number that is not 

identified in Airbus AOT A27L005–13, dated 

July 11, 2013. 

(j) Parts Installation Limitation and 

Replacement 

(1) As of 12 months after the effective date 

of this AD, no person may install on any 

airplane a THSA with a part number 

specified in Airbus AOT A27L005–13, dated 

July 11, 2013, that has accumulated 20,000 

total flight cycles or more since the THSA’s 

first installation on an airplane. For any 

airplane having a THSA with a part number 

specified in Airbus AOT A27L005–13, dated 

July 11, 2013, that has accumulated 20,000 

total flight cycles or more since the THSA’s 

first installation on an airplane: As of 12 

months after the effective date of this AD, 

before further flight, replace the affected 

THSA with a serviceable THSA, in 

accordance with Airbus AOT A27L005–13, 

dated July 11, 2013. 

(2) As of 30 months after the effective date 

of this AD, no person may install on any 

airplane a THSA with a part number 

specified in Airbus AOT A27L005–13, dated 

July 11, 2013, that has accumulated 16,000 

total flight cycles or more since the THSA’s 

first installation on an airplane. For any 

airplane having a THSA with a part number 

specified in Airbus AOT A27L005–13, dated 

July 11, 2013, that has accumulated 16,000 

total flight cycles or more since the THSA’s 

first installation on an airplane: As of 30 

months after the effective date of this AD, 

before further flight, replace the affected 

THSA with a serviceable THSA, in 

accordance with Airbus AOT A27L005–13, 

dated July 11, 2013. 

(k) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 

Branch, ANM–116, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 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 Branch, send it to ATTN: 

Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356; 

telephone 425–227–1138; fax 425–227–1149. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-ANM-116- 

AMOC-REQUESTS@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. The AMOC approval letter 

must specifically reference this AD. 

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement 

in this AD to obtain corrective actions from 

a manufacturer, use these actions if they are 

FAA-approved. Corrective actions are 

considered FAA-approved if they were 

approved by the State of Design Authority (or 

its delegated agent, or by the Design 

Approval Holder with a State of Design 

Authority’s design organization approval). 

For a repair method to be approved, the 

repair approval must specifically refer to this 

AD. You are required to ensure the product 

is airworthy before it is returned to service. 

(3) Reporting Requirements: A federal 

agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a 

person is not required to respond to, nor 

shall a person be subject to a penalty for 

failure to comply with a collection of 

information subject to the requirements of 

the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that 

collection of information displays a current 

valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 

Control Number for this information 

collection is 2120–0056. Public reporting for 

this collection of information is estimated to 

be approximately 5 minutes per response, 

including the time for reviewing instructions, 

completing and reviewing the collection of 

information. All responses to this collection 

of information are mandatory. Comments 

concerning the accuracy of this burden and 

suggestions for reducing the burden should 

be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence 

Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 

Information Collection Clearance Officer, 

AES–200. 

(l) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) European 

Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 

Directive 2013–0144R1, dated August 27, 

2013, 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 it in Docket No. 

FAA–2014–0006. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness 

Office—EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 

31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 

5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; email 

airworthiness.A330-A340@airbus.com; 

Internet http://www.airbus.com. You may 

view this service information at the FAA, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 

22, 2014. 

Jeffrey E. Duven, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–02156 Filed 1–31–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2014–0008; Directorate 

Identifier 2013–NM–076–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Embraer S.A. 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede 

Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012–23– 

09, for all Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 190– 

100 STD, –100 LR, and –100 IGW 

airplanes; and Model ERJ 190–200 STD, 

–200 LR, and –200 IGW airplanes. AD 

2012–23–09 currently requires revising 

the maintenance program to incorporate 

modifications in airworthiness 

limitations specified in Embraer S.A. 

ERJ 190 195 Maintenance Review Board 

Report (MRBR). Since we issued AD 

2012–23–09, we have determined that 

more restrictive maintenance 

requirements and airworthiness 

limitations are necessary. This proposed 

AD would require revising the 

maintenance or inspection program to 

incorporate modifications in the 

airworthiness limitations specified in 

Embraer S.A. ERJ 190 195 MRBR to 

include new inspection tasks and their 

respective thresholds and intervals. We 

are proposing this AD to detect and 

correct fatigue cracking of structural 

components, which could result in 

reduced structural integrity of the 

airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by March 20, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

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