11964 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Proposed Rules 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–0244; Directorate 

Identifier 2014–NM–127–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 A318, A319, and A320 

series airplanes. This proposed AD was 

prompted by a cracked upper cardan in 

the main landing gear (MLG). This 

proposed AD would require revising the 

maintenance or inspection program, as 

applicable, to reduce the life limits for 

the MLG upper cardan for certain 

installations. We are proposing this AD 

to prevent failure of the upper cardan in 

the MLG, which could result in MLG 

collapse and subsequent damage to the 

airplane and injury to occupants. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by April 20, 2015. 

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: 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, 

Airworthiness Office—EIAS, 1 Rond 

Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 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 

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue 

SW., Renton, WA. For information on 

the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 425–227–1221. Because this 

service information is incorporated by 

reference in AD 2014–23–15, 

Amendment 39–18031 (80 FR 3871, 

January 26, 2015), it is also available on 

the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2013– 

0692. 

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–2015– 

0244; 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: 

Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 

98057–3356; telephone 425–227–1405; 

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–2015–0244; Directorate Identifier 

2014–NM–127–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 

Union, has issued EASA Airworthiness 

Directive 2014–0141, dated June 4, 2014 

(referred to after this as the Mandatory 

Continuing Airworthiness Information, 

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

condition for all Airbus Model Airbus 

Model A318, A319, and A320 series 

airplanes. The MCAI states: 

During an A320–200 77T main landing 

gear (MLG) fatigue test by Messier BugattiDowty (MBD), an upper cardan was found 

with a crack, emanating from the grease hole/ 

main lug intersection. The affected upper 

cardan, Part Number (P/N) 201163620, is 

listed in the applicable Airworthiness 

Limitations Section (ALS) Part 1 with a 

demonstrated fatigue life of 60,000 landings. 

This condition, if not corrected, could lead 

to MLG upper cardan failure, possibly 

resulting in MLG collapse and subsequent 

damage to the aeroplane and injury to 

occupants. 

Prompted by these findings and further to 

analysis, it has been decided to reduce the 

life limit for certain installations of the P/N 

201163620 MLG upper cardan. 

For the reasons described above, this AD 

requires implementation of the new life 

limits, as applicable, and replacement of any 

affected MLG upper cardan units that have 

already exceeded the reduced limit. 

The reduced life limits for the affected 

MLG upper cardan are expected to be 

incorporated in a next revision of the Airbus 

A318/A319/A320/A321 ALS Part 1. 

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–2015– 

0244. 

Related AD 

AD 2014–23–15, Amendment 39– 

18031 (80 FR 3871, January 26, 2015), 

applicable to all Airbus Model A318, 

A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes, 

requires revising the maintenance or 

inspection program, as applicable, to 

incorporate certain Airworthiness 

Limitation Items. Paragraph (n)(1) of AD 

2014–23–15 requires incorporating Part 

1—Safe Life Airworthiness Limitation 

Items, of the Airbus A318/A319/A320/ 

A321 ALS, Revision 02, dated May 13, 

2011. AD 2014–23–15 corresponds to 

EASA AD 2013–0147, dated July 16, 

2013. This proposed AD would not 

supersede AD 2014–23–15, but would 

require a reduced life limit for MLG 

upper cardans having part number (P/N) 

201163620 and installed in certain 

airplane configurations. Accomplishing 

the requirement specified in paragraph 

(g) of this proposed AD terminates the 

life limit required by paragraph (n)(1) of 

AD 2014–23–15 for P/N 201163620, 

which is installed in certain airplane 

configurations identified in this 

proposed AD. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

Airbus has issued A318/A319/A320/

A321 ALS Part 1—Safe Life 

Airworthiness Limitation Items, 

Revision 02, dated May 13, 2011. This 

document provides revised instructions 

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Proposed Rules 11965 

and life limits for airworthiness 

limitations items. The actions described 

in this service information are intended 

to correct the unsafe condition 

identified in the MCAI. This service 

information is incorporated by reference 

in AD 2014–23–15, Amendment 39– 

18031 (80 FR 3871, January 26, 2015). 

It is reasonably available; see ADDRESSES

for ways to access this service 

information. 

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 these same 

type designs. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the MCAI or Service Information 

EASA AD 2014–0141, dated June 4, 

2014, requires replacement of each MLG 

upper cardan having P/N 201163620 

with a serviceable part within 3 months 

after the effective date of that EASA AD, 

or prior to exceeding new life limits, 

whichever occurs later. Instead of 

requiring the part replacement, this 

proposed AD would require only a 

revision to the maintenance or 

inspection program, as applicable, to 

incorporate the new reduced life limits. 

The affected airplanes operated in the 

U.S. fleet are below the reduced life 

limit thresholds and will not reach 

those thresholds within 3 months after 

the effective date of this proposed AD. 

Therefore this proposed AD would 

require revising the maintenance or 

inspection program, as applicable, 

within 30 days after the effective date of 

this proposed AD. Requiring a revision 

to the maintenance or inspection 

program, as applicable, rather than 

requiring individual repetitive actions 

(such as repetitively replacing a part 

prior to a life limit), requires operators 

to record AD compliance only at the 

time the revision is made. Repetitive 

actions specified in the airworthiness 

limitations must be complied with in 

accordance with section 91.403(c) of the 

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CRF 

91.403(c)). 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 851 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We also estimate that it would take 

about 1 work-hour 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 $72,335, or $85 per 

product. 

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. 

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–2015–0244; 

Directorate Identifier 2014–NM–127–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by April 20, 

2015. 

(b) Affected ADs 

Paragraph (g) of this AD terminates the life 

limit specified in paragraph (n)(1) of AD 

2014–23–15, Amendment 39–18031 (80 FR 

3871, January 26, 2015), for airplanes having 

a main landing gear (MLG) upper cardan part 

number (P/N) 201163620. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to the Airbus airplanes 

identified in paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), and 

(c)(3) of this AD, certificated in any category, 

all manufacturer serial numbers. 

(1) Model A318–111, –112, –121, and –122 

airplanes. 

(2) Model A319–111, –112, –113, –114, 

–115, –131, –132, and –133 airplanes. 

(3) Model A320–211, –212, –214, –231, 

–232, and –233 airplanes. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 32, Landing Gear. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by a cracked upper 

cardan in the MLG. We are issuing this AD 

to prevent failure of the upper cardan in the 

MLG, which could result in MLG collapse 

and subsequent damage to the airplane and 

injury to occupants. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Revision to Maintenance or Inspection 

Program 

For airplanes having a MLG upper cardan 

part number (P/N) 201163620: Within 30 

days after the effective date of this AD revise 

the maintenance or inspection program, as 

applicable, to incorporate the applicable life 

limits for the MLG upper cardan P/N 

201163620 specified in paragraphs (g)(1) 

through (g)(5) of this AD and the life limit 

clarifications specified in paragraph (h) of 

this AD. The initial compliance time for 

replacing the MLG upper cardan is prior to 

the applicable life limit specified in 

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11966 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Proposed Rules 

paragraphs (g)(1) through (g)(5) of this AD, or 

within 30 days after the effective date of this 

AD, whichever occurs later. Accomplishing 

this revision terminates the life limit required 

by paragraph (n)(1) of AD 2014–23–15, 

Amendment 39–18031 (80 FR 3871, January 

26, 2015), for the MLG upper cardan P/N 

201163620 for that airplane only. 

(1) For Airbus Model A319 series 

airplanes, pre-Airbus Modification 26644, 

excluding corporate jets post-Airbus 

Modification 28238, 28162, and 28342: The 

life limit is 50,590 total flight cycles. 

(2) For Airbus Model A319 series 

airplanes, post-Airbus Modification 26644, 

excluding corporate jets post-Airbus 

Modification 28238, 28162, and 28342: The 

life limit is 56,480 total flight cycles. 

(3) For Airbus Model A320 series airplanes 

pre-Airbus Modification 26644 having weight 

variant (WV) WV011, WV012, WV016, or 

WV018: The life limit is 50,590 total flight 

cycles. 

(4) For Airbus Model A320 series airplanes 

post-Airbus Modification 26644, having 

WV011, WV012, WV016, or WV018: The life 

limit is 56,480 total flight cycles. 

(5) For Airbus Model A320 series airplanes 

post-Airbus Modification 26644, having 

WV015 or WV017: The life limit is 42,140 

total flight cycles. 

(h) Additional Life Limit Clarifications 

(1) The life limits specified in paragraphs 

(g)(1) through (g)(5) of this AD are total flight 

cycles accumulated by the MLG since first 

installation on an airplane. 

(2) The life limits specified in paragraphs 

(g)(1) through (g)(5) of this AD are applicable 

only for the airplane model, configuration 

and WV specified in those paragraphs. 

(3) If a part is transferred between airplanes 

having a different life limit for the MLG unit, 

adjust the life limit using the method 

specified in Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 

ALS Part 1—Safe Life Airworthiness 

Limitation Items, Revision 02, dated May 13, 

2011, which is incorporated by reference in 

AD 2014–23–15, Amendment 39–18031 (80 

FR 3871, January 26, 2015). 

(4) An MLG unit on which Airbus 

Modification 26644 is installed is also known 

as ‘‘enhanced’’ landing gear and is identified 

as P/N 201582xxx Leg and Dressing Series. 

An MLG unit that does not have Airbus 

Modification 26644 installed is identified as 

P/N 201375xxx Leg and Dressing Series. (The 

xxx designation is a placeholder for 

numbers). 

(5) For airplanes with configurations not 

specified in paragraphs (g)(1) through (g)(5) 

of this AD, the life limit for the MLG unit is 

specified in Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 

ALS Part 1—Safe Life Airworthiness 

Limitation Items, Revision 02, dated May 13, 

2011, which is incorporated by reference in 

AD 2014–23–15, Amendment 39–18031 (80 

FR 3871, January 26, 2015). 

(i) No Alternative Actions and Intervals 

After the maintenance or inspection 

program, as applicable, 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 or 

intervals are approved as an alternative 

method of compliance (AMOC) in 

accordance with the procedures specified in 

paragraph (k)(1) of this AD. 

(j) Parts Installation Limitation 

As of the effective date of this AD, a MLG 

upper cardan having P/N 201163620 may be 

installed on an airplane, provided the part 

life has not exceeded the applicable life limit 

specified in paragraphs (g)(1) through (g)(5) 

of this AD, and is replaced with a serviceable 

part prior to exceeding the applicable life 

limit specified in paragraphs (g)(1) through 

(g)(5) of this AD. 

(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: 

Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356; 

telephone 425–227–1405; 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) 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 Branch, ANM– 

116, Transport Airplane Directorate, 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 

DOA-authorized signature. 

(l) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) European 

Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 

Directive 2014–0141, dated June 4, 2014, 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–2015–0244. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus, Airworthiness 

Office—EIAS, 1 Rond Point Maurice 

Bellonte, 31707 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 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 February 

3, 2015. 

Dionne Palermo, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–02923 Filed 3–5–15; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Food and Drug Administration 

21 CFR Part 15 

[Docket No. FDA–2014–N–1168] 

Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 

2012; Regulatory Science Initiatives; 

Public Hearing; Request for Comments 

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, 

HHS. 

ACTION: Notification of public hearing; 

request for comments. 

SUMMARY: The Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) is announcing a 

public hearing that will provide an 

overview of the current status of 

regulatory science initiatives for generic 

drugs and an opportunity for public 

input on research priorities in this area. 

FDA is seeking this input from a variety 

of stakeholders—industry, academia, 

patient advocates, professional societies, 

and other interested parties—as it 

fulfills its commitment under the 

Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 

2012 (GDUFA) to develop an annual list 

of regulatory science initiatives specific 

to generic drugs. FDA will take the 

information it obtains from the public 

hearing into account in developing the 

fiscal year (FY) 2016 Regulatory Science 

Plan. 

DATES: The public hearing will be held 

on June 5, 2015, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The public hearing may be extended or 

may end early depending on the level of 

public participation. 

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be 

held at the FDA White Oak Campus, 

10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 31 

Conference Center, the Great Room (Rm. 

1503), Silver Spring, MD 20993–0002. 

Entrance for the public hearing 

participants (non-FDA employees) is 

through Building 1, where routine 

security check procedures will be 

performed. For parking and security 

information, please refer to http://www.

fda.gov/AboutFDA/WorkingatFDA/

BuildingsandFacilities/WhiteOak

CampusInformation/ucm241740.htm. 

Registration and Requests for Oral 

Presentations: The FDA Conference 

Center at the White Oak location is a 

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