Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 193 / Thursday, October 4, 2012 / Proposed Rules 60653 

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 or other source, use these 

actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective 

actions are considered FAA-approved if they 

are approved by the State of Design Authority 

(or their delegated agent). You are required 

to assure the product is airworthy before it 

is returned to service. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) Refer to MCAI EASA Airworthiness 

Directive 2012–0003, dated January 6, 2012; 

and BAE Systems (Operations) Limited 

Inspection Service Bulletin ISB. 30–025, 

dated April 19, 2011; for related information. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact BAE Systems (Operations) 

Limited, Customer Information Department, 

Prestwick International Airport, Ayrshire, 

KA9 2RW, Scotland, United Kingdom; 

telephone +44 1292 675207; fax +44 1292 

675704; email 

RApublications@baesystems.com; Internet 

http://www.baesystems.com/Businesses/ 

RegionalAircraft/index.htm. You may review 

copies of the 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. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

September 27, 2012. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–24473 Filed 10–3–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–1036; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–122–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede an 

existing airworthiness directive (AD) 

that applies to certain Airbus Model 

A319, A320, and A321 airplanes. The 

existing AD currently requires installing 

spacer assemblies at the attachment 

points of the YZ-latches of the cargo 

loading system (CLS) in the forward and 

aft cargo compartments, as applicable. 

Since we issued that AD, we have 

received reports that the installation has 

been applied only on one of the lower 

deck cargo holds, instead of on both 

forward and aft cargo holds, and that 

some airplanes could have installed the 

affected YZ-latches through the 

instructions of the cargo conversion 

manual. This proposed AD would 

require modifying the attachment points 

of fixed YZ-latches of the CLS lower 

deck cargo holds on those airplanes on 

which one or both lower deck cargo 

holds have not been modified. We are 

proposing this AD to prevent failure of 

the attachment points of the YZ-latches, 

which could result in unrestrained 

cargo causing damage to the fire 

protection system, hydraulic system, 

electrical wiring, or other equipment 

located in the forward and aft cargo 

compartments. This damage could 

adversely affect the continued safe flight 

of the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 19, 

2012. 

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– 

EAW (Airworthiness Office), 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 review copies of the 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 Operations office 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–2012–1036; Directorate Identifier 

2011–NM–122–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 

On February 22, 2007, we issued AD 

2007–05–13, Amendment 39–14974 (72 

FR 10348, March 8, 2007). That AD 

required actions intended to address an 

unsafe condition on certain Airbus 

Model A319, A320, and A321 series 

airplanes. 

Since we issued AD 2007–05–13, 

Amendment 39–14974 (72 FR 10348, 

March 8, 2007), we have determined 

that additional airplanes are affected by 

the unsafe condition. The European 

Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which 

is the Technical Agent for the Member 

States of the European Community, has 

issued EASA Airworthiness Directive 

2011–0077, dated May 5, 2011 (referred 

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

an unsafe condition for the specified 

products. The MCAI states: 

Investigation has revealed that the installed 

Tie Down Points of YZ latches on the Cargo 

Loading System (CLS) of Airbus A319, A320 

and A321 aeroplanes do not withstand the 

maximum loads in accordance with the 

certification requirements (CS 25.787 

‘‘Stowage compartments’’). 

In case of failure of Tie Down Points, 

unrestrained cargo parts could cause damage 

in the Forward (FWD) and AFT lower deck 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
60654 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 193 / Thursday, October 4, 2012 / Proposed Rules 

cargo holds (e.g. air conditioning, fire 

protection system, hydraulic system, 

electrical wiring, etc.), and therefore could 

have an impact on the safety of the flight. 

EASA AD 2006–0184 [which corresponds 

to FAA AD 2007–05–13, Amendment 39– 

14974 (72 FR 10348, March 8, 2007)] was 

issued to require the modification of the 

attachment points of fixed YZ latches of the 

CLS in both FWD and AFT lower deck cargo 

holds, as applicable to aeroplane 

configuration, in accordance with Airbus SB 

A320–25–1294 Revision 01. 

It has recently been identified that for some 

aeroplanes, Airbus SB A320–25–1294 

Revision 01 has been applied only on one of 

the lower deck cargo holds (FWD or AFT) 

while both cargo compartments were 

concerned by the modification, and that 

some aeroplanes could have installed the 

affected YZ [latches] through the instructions 

of the Cargo Conversion Manual. 

For the reasons described above, this 

[EASA] AD, which supersedes EASA AD 

2006–0184, requires modification of the 

attachment points of fixed YZ latches of the 

CLS lower deck cargo holds on those 

aeroplanes on which one or both lower deck 

cargo holds have not been modified. 

This [EASA] AD also prohibits installation 

of the affected YZ latches, identified by Part 

Number (P/N) in Table 1 of Appendix 1 of 

this [EASA] AD, on any aeroplane as 

replacement parts, unless all the attachment 

points of the YZ latch have been modified. 

You may obtain further information by 

examining the MCAI in the AD docket. 

Relevant Service Information 

Airbus has issued Mandatory Service 

Bulletin A320–25–1294, Revision 06, 

dated July 23, 2010. The actions 

described in this service information are 

intended to correct the unsafe condition 

identified in the MCAI. 

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 

Based on the service information, we 

estimate that this proposed AD would 

affect about 740 products of U.S. 

registry. 

The actions that are required by AD 

2007–05–13, Amendment 39–14974 (72 

FR 10348, March 8, 2007), and retained 

in this proposed AD take about 4 workhours per product, at an average labor 

rate of $85 per work hour. Required 

parts cost about $2,049 per product. 

Based on these figures, the estimated 

cost of the currently required actions is 

$2,389 per product. 

We estimate that it would take about 

15 work-hours per product to comply 

with the new basic requirements of this 

proposed AD. The average labor rate is 

$85 per work-hour. Required parts 

would cost up to $2,656 per product. 

Where the service information lists 

required parts costs that are covered 

under warranty, we have assumed that 

there will be no charge for these parts. 

As we do not control warranty coverage 

for affected parties, some parties may 

incur costs higher than estimated here. 

Based on these figures, we estimate the 

cost of the proposed AD on U.S. 

operators to be up to $2,908,940, or 

$3,931 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. We prepared a 

regulatory evaluation of the estimated 

costs to comply with this proposed AD 

and placed it in the AD docket. 

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 

removing airworthiness directive (AD) 

2007–05–13, Amendment 39–14974 (72 

FR 10348, March 8, 2007), and adding 

the following new AD: 

Airbus: Docket No. FAA–2012–1036; 

Directorate Identifier 2011–NM–122–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by November 

19, 2012. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD supersedes AD 2007–05–13, 

Amendment 39–14974 (72 FR 10348, March 

8, 2007). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Model A319– 

111, –112, –113, –114, –115, –131, –132, and 

–133 airplanes; Model A320–111, –211, –212, 

–214, –231, –232, and –233 airplanes; and 

Model A321–111, –112, –131, –211, –212, 

–213, –231, and –232 airplanes; certificated 

in any category; all manufacturer serial 

numbers. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 25, Equipment/Furnishings. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by results from 

tests that have shown that the attachment 

points of the YZ-latches of the cargo loading 

system (CLS) fail under maximum loads and 

reports that installation has been applied 

only on one of the lower deck cargo holds, 

instead of on both forward and aft cargo 

holds, and that some airplanes could have 

installed the affected YZ-latches through the 

instructions of the cargo conversion manual. 

We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of 

the attachment points of the YZ-latches, 

which could result in unrestrained cargo 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 193 / Thursday, October 4, 2012 / Proposed Rules 60655 

causing damage to the fire protection system, 

hydraulic system, electrical wiring, or other 

equipment located in the forward and aft 

cargo compartments. This damage could 

adversely affect the continued safe flight of 

the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

You are responsible for having the actions 

required by this AD performed within the 

compliance times specified, unless the 

actions have already been done. 

(g) Retained Spacer Assembly Installation 

This paragraph restates the requirements of 

paragraph (f) of AD 2007–05–13, Amendment 

39–14974 (72 FR 10348, March 8, 2007). For 

Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 

airplanes identified in paragraphs (g)(1) and 

(g)(2) of this AD: Within 36 months after 

April 12, 2007 (the effective date of AD 

2007–05–13), install spacer assemblies at the 

attachment points of the YZ-latches of the 

CLS in the forward and aft cargo 

compartments, as applicable, in accordance 

with the Accomplishment Instructions of 

Airbus Service Bulletin A320–25–1294, 

Revision 2, dated September 5, 2006. 

Accomplishing the actions in paragraph (i) of 

this AD terminates the requirements of 

paragraph (g) of this AD. 

(1) Airplanes on which one of the 

following has been incorporated in 

production: Airbus Modification 20065, 

20040, 24495, 24848, 24496, 21895, 21896, 

25905, 25907, 22601, 22602, 27187, 28319, 

28322, 28330, 28335, or 31797. 

(2) Airplanes on which one of the 

following has been incorporated in service: 

Airbus Service Bulletin A320–25–1132, 

A320–25–1133, A320–25–1145, A320–25– 

1175, A320–25–1177, A320–25–1276, A320– 

25–1278, A320–28–1134, or A320–28–1141. 

(h) New Modification 

Except for Model A319, A320, and A321 

airplanes on which both Airbus 

Modifications 32244 and 32245, or both 

Airbus Modifications 32316 and 32317, have 

been incorporated in production, and on 

which no YZ-latch replacements have been 

made since first flight: Within 20 months 

after the effective date of this AD, modify the 

attachment points of fixed YZ-latches of the 

CLS, having a part number (P/N) listed in 

table 1 to paragraph (h) of this AD, in both 

forward and aft lower deck cargo holds by 

adding spacer assemblies having P/N 

D2557232700000, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus 

Mandatory Service Bulletin A320–25–1294, 

Revision 6, dated July 23, 2010. 

Accomplishing the actions in paragraph (h) 

of this AD terminates the requirements of 

paragraph (g) of this AD. 

TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (h) OF THIS

AD—AFFECTED CLD YZ-LATCHES

Part No. 

D 255 7 2380 000 

D 255 7 2380 002 

D 255 7 2380 006 

D 255 7 2380 008 

D 255 7 2350 002 

TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (h) OF THIS

AD—AFFECTED CLD YZLATCHES—Continued 

D 255 7 2350 004 

D 255 7 2350 006 

(i) Parts Installation Limitation 

As of the effective date of this AD, no 

person may install, on the CLS of any 

airplane, a YZ-latch having a part number 

listed in table 1 to paragraph (h) of this AD, 

unless it has been modified in accordance 

with the requirements of paragraph (h) of this 

AD. 

(j) Credit for Previous Actions 

(1) This paragraph provides credit for the 

installation required by paragraph (g) of this 

AD, if the installation was performed before 

April 12, 2007 (the effective date of AD 

2007–05–13, Amendment 39–14974 (72 FR 

10348, March 8, 2007), using Airbus Service 

Bulletin A320–25–1294, dated March 14, 

2003; or Revision 1, dated March 27, 2006; 

which are not incorporated by reference in 

this AD. 

(2) This paragraph provides credit for the 

modification required by paragraph (h) of 

this AD, if the modification was performed 

before the effective date of this AD, using one 

of the following service information and the 

additional work is done, in accordance with 

the applicable instructions referenced as 

‘‘ADDITIONAL WORK’’ in the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus 

Mandatory Service Bulletin A320–25–1294, 

Revision 6, dated July 23, 2010. 

(i) Airbus Service Bulletin A320–25–1294, 

dated March 14, 2003. 

(ii) Airbus Service Bulletin A320–25–1294, 

Revision 1, dated March 27, 2006. 

(iii) Airbus Service Bulletin A320–25– 

1294, Revision 2, dated September 5, 2006. 

(iv) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A320–25–1294, Revision 3, dated January 22, 

2007. 

(v) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A320–25–1294, Revision 4, dated March 13, 

2008. 

(vi) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A320–25–1294, Revision 5, dated January 22, 

2009. 

(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) Airworthy Product: For any requirement 

in this AD to obtain corrective actions from 

a manufacturer or other source, use these 

actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective 

actions are considered FAA-approved if they 

are approved by the State of Design Authority 

(or their delegated agent). You are required 

to assure the product is airworthy before it 

is returned to service. 

(l) Related Information 

(1) Refer to MCAI European Aviation 

Safety Agency Airworthiness Directive 2011– 

0077, dated May 5, 2011; and the following 

service information; for related information. 

(i)Airbus Service Bulletin A320–25–1294, 

Revision 06, dated July 23, 2010. 

(ii) Airbus Service Bulletin A320–25–1294, 

Revision 02, dated September 5, 2006. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus SAS–EAW 

(Airworthiness Office), 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.airwortheas@airbus.com; Internet http:// 

www.airbus.com. You may review copies of 

the 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. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

September 26, 2012. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–24405 Filed 10–3–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–1038; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–166–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede an 

existing airworthiness directive (AD) 

that applies to certain Airbus Model 

A319 and A320 airplanes. The existing 

AD currently requires repetitive detailed 

inspections to detect cracks in the keel 

beam side panels, and repair if 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS