This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of

new books are listed in the first FEDERAL

REGISTER issue of each week.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

12405 

Vol. 81, No. 46 

Wednesday, March 9, 2016 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–3149; Directorate 

Identifier 2015–NM–014–AD; Amendment 

39–18394; AD 2016–03–07] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

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 Model A330–200, –200 

Freighter, and –300 series airplanes, and 

all Airbus Model A340–200, –300, –500, 

and –600 series airplanes. This AD was 

prompted by reports of premature aging 

of certain chemical oxygen generators in 

the passenger compartment that resulted 

in failure of the generators to activate. 

This AD requires inspecting to 

determine if certain passenger chemical 

oxygen generators are installed, and 

replacement of affected generators. We 

are issuing this AD to prevent failure of 

the chemical oxygen generator to 

activate during an emergency situation, 

which could result in unavailability of 

oxygen and possible incapacitation of 

the occupants. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 

13, 2016. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of April 13, 2016. 

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD 

docket on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov/#!docket

Detail;D=FAA-2015-3149; or in person 

at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC. 

For Airbus service information 

identified in this final rule, 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. 

For B/E Aerospace service 

information identified in this final rule, 

contact B/E Aerospace Inc., 10800 

Pflumm Road, Lenexa, KS 66215; 

telephone 913–338–9800; fax 913–469– 

8419; Internet http://beaerospace.com/

home/globalsupport. 

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. It is also 

available on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

3149. 

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: 

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 Model A330–200, 

–200 Freighter, and –300 series 

airplanes; and all Airbus Model A340– 

200, –300, –500, and –600 series 

airplanes. The NPRM published in the 

Federal Register on August 31, 2015 (80 

FR 52419). 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA Airworthiness 

Directive 2015–0119, dated June 24, 

2015, correction January 12, 2016 

(referred to after this as the Mandatory 

Continuing Airworthiness Information, 

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

condition for all Airbus Model A330– 

200, –200 Freighter, and –300 series 

airplanes; and Model A340–200, –300, 

–500, and –600 series airplanes. The 

MCAI states: 

Reports have been received indicating 

premature ageing of certain passenger 

chemical oxygen generators, Part Number (P/ 

N) 117042–XX (XX representing any 

numerical value), manufactured by B/E 

Aerospace. Some operators reported that 

when they tried to activate generators, some 

older units failed to activate. Given the 

number of failed units reported, all the 

generators manufactured in 1999, 2000, and 

2001 were considered unreliable. 

This condition, if not corrected, could lead 

to failure of the generator to activate and 

consequently not deliver oxygen during an 

emergency, possibly resulting in injury to 

aeroplane occupants. 

To address this potential unsafe condition, 

Airbus issued Alert Operators Transmission 

(AOT) A35L007–14, making reference to B/ 

E Aerospace Service Information Letter (SIL) 

D1019–01 (currently at Revision 1) and B/E 

Aerospace Service Bulletin (SB) 117042–35– 

001. Consequently, EASA issued AD 2014– 

0277 to require identification and 

replacement of the affected oxygen 

generators. 

Since EASA AD 2014–0277 was issued, 

and following new investigation results, 

EASA has decided to introduce a life 

limitation concerning all P/N 117042–XX 

chemical oxygen generators, manufactured 

by B/E Aerospace. 

For the reason described above, this EASA 

AD retains the requirements of EASA AD 

2014–0277, which is superseded, expands 

the scope of the AD to include chemical 

oxygen generators manufactured after 2001, 

and requires their removal from service 

before exceeding 10 years since date of 

manufacture. 

This [EASA] AD was republished to correct 

a typographical error in the applicability. 

You may examine the MCAI in the 

AD docket on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov/#!document

Detail;D=FAA-2015-3149-0002. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comment 

received on the NPRM (80 FR 52419, 

August 31, 2015) and the FAA’s 

response. 

Request To Remove Operator 

Identification 

Airbus asked that we remove the 

operator identification from the 

chemical oxygen generator pictured in 

Figure 2 to paragraph (g) of the 

proposed AD (80 FR 52419, August 31, 

2015). Airbus stated that Figure 2 to 

paragraph (g) should replicate Figure 2 


Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES
12406 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 9, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 

in EASA AD 2015–0119, dated June 24, 

2015, which was published with no 

signs or references to an operator. 

We agree with the commenter for the 

reason provided. We have changed the 

oxygen generator picture in Figure 2 to 

paragraph (g) of this AD accordingly. 

Clarification of Oxygen Generators for 

Replacement 

We have revised paragraph (i) in this 

AD to clarify the identity of the oxygen 

generators to be replaced. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comment received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this AD 

with the change described previously 

and minor editorial changes. We have 

determined that these minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 

52419, August 31, 2015) for correcting 

the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 52419, 

August 31, 2015). 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

Airbus has issued Alert Operators 

Transmission (AOT) A35L007–14, 

Revision 01, June 17, 2015; including 

Appendix A, Revision 01, dated June 

17, 2015. B/E Aerospace has issued 

Service Bulletin 117042–35–001, dated 

December 10, 2014. The service 

information describes procedures for 

inspecting to determine if certain 

passenger chemical oxygen generators 

are installed, and replacing affected 

generators. 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 91 

airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Cost on 

U.S. operators 

Inspection .......... 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = 

$85.

$0 .......................................... $85 ........................................ $7,735. 

Replacement ..... 1 work hour × $85 per hour = 

$85.

$1,000 per oxygen generator $1,085 per oxygen generator $98,735 for one oxygen generator. 

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 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. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=

FAA-2015-3149; 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 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. 

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): 

2016–03–07 Airbus: Amendment 39–18394. 

Docket No. FAA–2015–3149; Directorate 

Identifier 2015–NM–014–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective April 13, 2016. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to the airplanes, 

certificated in any category, identified in 

paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD, all 

manufacturer serial numbers; except those on 

which a gaseous system for all oxygen 

generators is installed. 

(1) Airbus Model A330–201, –202, –203, 

–223, –223F, –243, –243F, –301, –302, –303, 

–321, –322, –323, –341, –342, and –343 

airplanes. 

(2) Airbus Model A340–211, –212, –213, 

–311, –312, –313, –541, and –642 airplanes. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 35, Oxygen. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

premature aging of certain chemical oxygen 


Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 9, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 12407 

generators in the passenger compartment that 

resulted in failure of the generators to 

activate. We are issuing this AD to prevent 

failure of the chemical oxygen generator to 

activate during an emergency situation, 

which could result in unavailability of 

oxygen and possible incapacitation of the 

occupants. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Inspection 

Within 30 days after the effective date of 

this AD: Inspect each passenger chemical 

oxygen generator to identify the date of 

manufacture (refer to figures 1 and 2 to 

paragraph (g) of this AD for the location of 

the date) of each passenger chemical oxygen 

generator having any part number (P/N) 

listed in paragraphs (g)(1) through (g)(6) of 

this AD, in accordance with the Instructions 

of Airbus Alert Operators Transmission 

(AOT) A35L007–14, Revision 01, June 17, 

2015, including Appendix A, Revision 01, 

dated June 17, 2015. A review of airplane 

maintenance records is acceptable in lieu of 

this inspection if the date of manufacture of 

the generator can be conclusively determined 

from that review. 

(1) 117042–02 (15 minutes (min)—2 

masks). 

(2) 117042–03 (15 min—3 masks). 

(3) 117042–04 (15 min—4 masks). 

(4) 117042–22 (22 min—2 masks). 

(5) 117042–23 (22 min—3 masks). 

(6) 117042–24 (22 min—4 masks). 


Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULESER09MR16.000</GPH>
12408 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 9, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 

(h) Replacement of Pre-2002 Passenger 

Oxygen Generators 

If, during any inspection required by 

paragraph (g) of this AD, any passenger 

chemical oxygen generator having a date of 

manufacture of 1999, 2000, or 2001 is found: 

At the time specified in paragraph (h)(1), 

(h)(2), or (h)(3) of this AD, as applicable, 

replace the affected passenger chemical 

oxygen generator, in accordance with the 

Instructions of Airbus AOT A35L007–14, 

Revision 01, June 17, 2015; including 

Appendix A, Revision 01, dated June 17, 

2015 (for 15- and 22-minute passenger 

chemical oxygen generators); or in 

accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions of B/E Aerospace Service 

Bulletin 117042–35–001, dated December 10, 

2014 (for 15-minute passenger chemical 

oxygen generators). 

(1) For units manufactured in 1999: Within 

30 days after the effective date of this AD. 

(2) For units manufactured in 2000: Within 

6 months after the effective date of this AD. 

(3) For units manufactured in 2001: Within 

12 months after the effective date of this AD. 

(i) Replacement of 2002 or Later Passenger 

Oxygen Generators 

If, during any inspection required by 

paragraph (g) of this AD, any passenger 

chemical oxygen generator having a date of 

manufacture of 2002 or later is found: At the 

time specified in paragraph (i)(1), (i)(2), (i)(3), 

(i)(4), (i)(5), (i)(6), (i)(7), or (i)(8) of this AD, 

as applicable, replace the affected passenger 

chemical oxygen generator with a serviceable 

unit, in accordance with the Instructions of 

Airbus AOT A35L007–14, Revision 01, June 

17, 2015; including Appendix A, Revision 

01, dated June 17, 2015 (for 15- and 22- 

minute passenger chemical oxygen 

generators); or in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of B/E 

Aerospace Service Bulletin 117042–35–001, 

dated December 10, 2014 (for 15-minute 

passenger chemical oxygen generators). 

(1) For units manufactured in 2002: Within 

12 months after the effective date of this AD. 

(2) For units manufactured in 2003: Within 

16 months after the effective date of this AD. 

(3) For units manufactured in 2004: Within 

20 months after the effective date of this AD. 

(4) For units manufactured in 2005: Within 

24 months after the effective date of this AD. 

(5) For units manufactured in 2006: Within 

28 months after the effective date of this AD. 

(6) For units manufactured in 2007: Within 

32 months after the effective date of this AD. 

(7) For units manufactured in 2008: Within 

36 months after the effective date of this AD. 

(8) For units manufactured in 2009 or later: 

Before the accumulation of 10 years since 

date of manufacture. 

(j) Definition of a Serviceable Unit 

A serviceable unit is an oxygen generator 

having P/N 117042–XX, with a 

manufacturing date not older than 10 years, 

or any other FAA-approved part number, 

provided that the generator has not exceeded 


Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULESER09MR16.001</GPH>
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 9, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 12409 

the life limit established by the manufacturer 

for that generator. 

(k) Credit for Previous Actions 

This paragraph provides credit for the 

applicable actions required by paragraphs (g), 

(h), and (i) of this AD, if those actions were 

performed before the effective date of this AD 

using Airbus AOT A35L007–14, dated 

December 18, 2014. 

(l) Parts Installation Limitation 

As of the effective date of this AD, no 

person may install a passenger chemical 

oxygen generator on any airplane, unless the 

passenger chemical oxygen generator is 

determined to be a serviceable unit, as 

defined in paragraph (j) of this AD. 

(m) 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) 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. 

(n) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) EASA 

Airworthiness Directive 2015–0119, dated 

June 24, 2015, correction January 12, 2016, 

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–2015–3149. 

(2) Service information identified in this 

AD that is not incorporated by reference is 

available at the addresses specified in 

paragraphs (o)(3) and (o)(5) of this AD. 

(o) 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 Alert Operators Transmission 

(AOT) A35L007–14, Revision 01, June 17, 

2015; including Appendix A, Revision 01, 

dated June 17, 2015. The revision date is not 

shown on Appendix A. 

(ii) B/E Aerospace Service Bulletin 

117042–35–001, dated December 10, 2014. 

(3) For Airbus 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. 

(4) For B/E Aerospace service information 

identified in this AD, contact B/E Aerospace 

Inc., 10800 Pflumm Road, Lenexa, KS 66215; 

telephone 913–338–9800; fax 913–469–8419; 

Internet http://beaerospace.com/home/global

support. 

(5) 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. 

(6) 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 Renton, Washington, on February 

19, 2016. 

Dorr M. Anderson, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2016–04538 Filed 3–8–16; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–0243; Directorate 

Identifier 2014–NM–114–AD; Amendment 

39–18423; AD 2016–05–05] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

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 Model A300 series airplanes; 

Model A300 B4–600, B4–600R, and F4– 

600R series airplanes, and A300 C4– 

605R Variant F airplanes (collectively 

called Model A300–600 series 

airplanes); and Model A310 series 

airplanes. This AD was prompted by 

reports of cracked aluminum support 

struts of the trimmable horizontal 

stabilizer (THS) caused by stress 

corrosion. This AD requires inspections 

to identify the part number of each 

support strut, repetitive inspections for 

cracking of the THS support strut ends, 

installation of reinforcing clamps on 

strut ends, and replacement of support 

struts, if necessary. We are issuing this 

AD to detect and correct cracked THS 

support struts, which could lead to the 

rupture of all four support struts making 

the remaining structure unable to carry 

limit loads, which could result in loss 

of the THS and reduced control of the 

airplane. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 

13, 2016. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of April 13, 2016. 

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD 

docket on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov/#!docket

Detail;D=FAA-2015-0243 or in person at 

the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC. 

For service information identified in 

this final rule, contact Airbus SAS, 

Airworthiness Office—EAW, 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. It is also 

available on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

0243. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan 

Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 

98057–3356; telephone 425–227–2125; 

fax 425–227–1149. 

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 Model A300 series 


Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES