This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

3283 

Vol. 83, No. 16 

Wednesday, January 24, 2018 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2016–9392; Product 

Identifier 2016–NM–003–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Zodiac Aero 

Evacuation Systems 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Supplemental notice of 

proposed rulemaking (SNPRM); 

reopening of comment period. 

SUMMARY: We are revising an earlier 

proposal for Zodiac Aero Evacuation 

Systems (formerly known as Air 

Cruisers) fusible plugs installed on 

emergency evacuation equipment for 

various transport category airplanes. 

This action revises the notice of 

proposed rulemaking (NPRM) by 

extending the proposed compliance 

time, clarifying the applicability, and 

clarifying certain proposed 

requirements. We are proposing this 

airworthiness directive (AD) to address 

the unsafe condition on these products. 

Since these actions would impose an 

additional burden over those in the 

NPRM, we are reopening the comment 

period to allow the public the chance to 

comment on these changes. 

DATES: The comment period for the 

NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on November 18, 2016 (81 FR 

81709), is reopened. 

We must receive comments on this 

SNPRM by March 12, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

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

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: 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 SNPRM, contact Air Cruisers, 1747 

State Route 34, Wall Township, NJ 

07727–3935; phone 732–681–3527; 

email technicalpublications@

zodiacaerospace.com. You may view 

this referenced service information at 

the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 

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–2016– 

9392. 

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–2016– 

9392; 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 SNPRM, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

the Docket 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: 

Cesar Gomez, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe and Mechanical Systems 

Section, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 

1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 

Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516– 

228–7318; fax 516–794–5531. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposal. Send your comments to 

an address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– 

2016–9392; Product Identifier 2016– 

NM–003–AD’’ at the beginning of your 

comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this SNPRM. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

SNPRM 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 SNPRM. 

Discussion 

We issued an NPRM to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply Zodiac Aero Evacuation Systems 

fusible plugs installed on emergency 

evacuation equipment for various 

transport category airplanes. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

November 18, 2016 (81 FR 81709) (‘‘the 

NPRM’’). The NPRM was prompted by 

reports indicating that affected fusible 

plugs activated (vented gas) below the 

rated temperature. The NPRM proposed 

to require an inspection of the fusible 

plugs to determine the part number and 

lot number, and replacement of all 

affected fusible plugs. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing the NPRM. We 

considered the comments received. 

Support for the NPRM 

One commenter, FedEx, stated no 

objection to the NPRM. 

Requests To Withdraw the NPRM 

Airlines for America (A4A), formerly 

known as the Air Transport Association 

of America (ATA), on behalf of its 

members, requested the NPRM be 

withdrawn and reissued after the 

following errors and omissions have 

been corrected: 

• Errors in the applicability; 

• A ‘‘needlessly aggressive’’ 

compliance time when taken into 

account with operators’ normal 

procedures; and 

• An inadequate cost estimate based 

on the need to inspect several slides per 

airplane, and the lack of taking into 

account the feasibility and safety of 

inspecting ‘‘on wing,’’ as opposed to 

inspecting during a shop visit. 

American Airlines (AA), Air Cruisers, 

A4A (on behalf of its members), and 

Delta Air Lines (DAL) commented on 

the merits of issuing the NPRM. Some 

noted that operators already have 

routine maintenance inspections and 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
3284 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 16 / Wednesday, January 24, 2018 / Proposed Rules 

pre-flight checks in place to evaluate the 

bottle pressure of emergency evacuation 

systems on airplanes; therefore, there is 

little to no risk of the occurrence of the 

unsafe condition identified in the 

NPRM. 

A4A (on behalf of its members) added 

that, in light of pre-flight cabin 

inspections and the low potential of 

carrying a suspect plug, the risk to 

passenger safety is negligible. Air 

Cruisers stated it never delivered a 

shipset of evacuation slides with the 

suspect fusible plugs since widespread 

use of the fusible plugs was 

discontinued years before the suspect 

batch was produced. 

We infer that these commenters 

request that we withdraw the NPRM. 

We do not agree to withdraw the 

proposal since the risk assessment 

determined the failure of the fusible 

plug to result in an unsafe condition; 

however, after careful consideration of 

the commenters’ requests and rationale, 

data submitted by the manufacturer 

regarding parts availability, the 

commenters’ recommended compliance 

time, and the degree of urgency to 

address the unsafe condition as 

determined by the risk assessment, we 

do agree to clarify the applicability and 

to extend the compliance time. We 

address applicability and the 

compliance time extension in 

subsequent comment responses. 

Regarding costs, the estimated costs are 

per slide and represent performing the 

actions during scheduled maintenance 

of the emergency evacuation equipment. 

Therefore, the cost estimates only 

account for the work required to replace 

the fusible plug and do not account for 

costs associated with getting access to 

the fusible plug and returning the 

emergency evacuation equipment to 

service. 

Requests To Clarify the Affected 

Airplanes and Parts Specified in the 

Proposed AD 

Several commenters requested that 

the NPRM be revised to clarify which 

airplanes and parts are affected. DAL 

specifically requested that paragraph (c) 

of the proposed AD (in the NPRM) be 

revised to specify all airplane models on 

which the affected fusible plugs are 

installed. However, DAL did not 

provide justification for its request. 

AA requested that the applicability of 

the proposed AD (in the NPRM) be 

revised to include all possible inflation 

systems that have fusible plug part 

number (P/N) B13984–3 installed. AA 

noted that the Air Cruisers service 

information states that in addition to the 

inflation systems identified in the 

service information, other inflation 

systems not mentioned in the service 

information might have fusible plug P/ 

N B13984–3 installed; therefore, any 

slide or bottle that has fusible plug P/ 

N B13984–3 installed should be 

inspected. In addition, AA indicated 

that the proposed AD (in the NPRM) 

should include detailed compliance 

instructions for evacuation systems not 

identified in the Air Cruisers service 

information. 

AA added that based on its initial 

research, additional affected 

components include the aft service door 

on Boeing Model MD–80 airplanes, and 

the over-wing escape slides on Airbus 

Model A319 and A320 airplanes, and 

Boeing Model 757 airplanes. 

Cathay Pacific Airways (Cathay) noted 

that Boeing and Air Cruisers confirmed 

that the suspect fusible plugs were only 

installed in the reservoir and valve 

assemblies having a part number 

identified in Air Cruisers Service 

Information Letter (SIL) 25–246, Rev. 

No. 1, dated February 21, 2014 (‘‘Air 

Cruisers SIL 25–246, Rev. No. 1’’), and 

the applicable service bulletins 

identified in that service information. 

Air Cruisers noted that the implied 

scope of the NPRM is too broad, and 

that an unsafe condition does not exist 

in emergency equipment other than that 

identified in the service information 

issued by Air Cruisers in August and 

December 2010. 

Air Cruisers also stated that the 

inspection of the emergency evacuation 

equipment (including all inflation 

valves, reservoir and valve assemblies, 

and evacuation slides, slides/rafts, and 

life rafts) specified in paragraph (g) of 

the proposed AD (in the NPRM) is based 

on an assumption that fusible plugs are 

standard components used on all Air 

Cruisers inflation systems—and that the 

assumption is incorrect. Air Cruisers 

explained that many products do not 

have fusible plugs, and that fusible 

plugs were only required when certain 

early generation composite gas 

reservoirs were used in system design— 

and those were phased out in the 2003 

to 2004 timeframe. 

We agree to clarify which airplanes 

and parts are affected. Based upon 

confirmation of the affected parts and 

airplanes by Air Cruisers, we have 

revised paragraph (c) of the proposed 

AD (in the SNPRM) to specify that the 

proposed AD would apply to Air 

Cruisers fusible plugs installed on 

emergency evacuation equipment 

identified in the service information 

specified in paragraphs (c)(1) through 

(c)(16) of this proposed AD. Therefore, 

there is no need to include additional 

compliance instructions for evacuation 

emergency equipment not identified in 

the Air Cruisers service information. 

The service information is described 

under ‘‘Related Service Information 

under 1 CFR part 51’’ of this SNPRM. 

Requests To Extend the Compliance 

Time 

Air Cruisers, All Nippon Airways 

(ANA), Cathay, United Parcel Service 

(UPS), AA, Airbus, DAL, and A4A (on 

behalf of its members) requested that the 

compliance time proposed in paragraph 

(g) of the proposed AD (in the NPRM) 

be extended. The commenters stated 

that the proposed compliance time of 30 

days is not adequate because there are 

several slides on each airplane and 

additional spare slide assemblies that 

also need to be inspected. The 

commenters also noted that the slide 

assembly has to be unpacked to gain 

access to the fusible plug for the 

inspection, and the slide unit would 

need to be discharged, inspected, 

repacked, and recertified—whether or 

not an affected fusible plug was 

identified. 

Several of the commenters also 

mentioned that the repacking and 

recertification of the slide assemblies 

must be accomplished by a certified 

third party vendor. UPS noted that there 

are few repair facilities that have the 

capability of testing, repacking, and 

recertifying emergency evacuation 

slides, and that an estimated 16,920 

inflatable assemblies owned by U.S. 

operators may need to be inspected. The 

commenters stated it would not be 

possible for the repair facilities to 

accomplish this task within the 

proposed 30-day compliance time. 

A4A (on behalf of its members) added 

that the NPRM did not address the 

availability of the kits, and that it is 

unknown as to whether Zodiac can 

provide the required parts given a 30- 

day compliance time, and requested 48 

months. UPS, Cathay, ANA, Airbus, AA, 

and DAL requested the compliance time 

be extended so they can accomplish the 

required actions during a standard 

overhaul period or next scheduled 

overhaul of the evacuation system. The 

extended compliance time requested by 

the commenters was between 36 to 48 

months. The commenters noted there 

are routine inspections of the pressure 

of the inflated reservoir assemblies. 

We agree that the compliance time 

should be revised. We had intended that 

the plug replacement occur during 

regularly scheduled maintenance on the 

evacuation systems for the majority of 

affected operators, when the airplanes 

would be located at a base where 

necessary special equipment and 

trained personnel would be readily 

available. After careful consideration of 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 16 / Wednesday, January 24, 2018 / Proposed Rules 3285 

the commenters’ requests and rationale, 

data submitted by the manufacturer 

regarding parts availability, the 

commenters’ recommended compliance 

time, and the degree of urgency to 

address the unsafe condition, we have 

determined that extending the 

compliance time to 42 months will 

provide an acceptable level of safety. 

We have revised paragraph (g) of this 

AD accordingly. 

Request To Allow Other Methods of 

Compliance for the Inspection 

Air Cruisers and ANA requested that 

operators be allowed to show 

compliance with the requirements of the 

proposed AD (in the NPRM) if the 

actions in the Accomplishment 

Instructions of the applicable service 

bulletins identified in Air Cruisers SIL 

25–246, Rev. No. 1 have been 

completed. Air Cruisers stated that it 

issued the 16 service bulletins identified 

in the SIL to identify the known systems 

and inflation valves that might be fitted 

with the subject fusible plugs from the 

affected lot numbers. Air Cruisers 

elaborated that verification of the 

accomplishment of the actions included 

in the 16 service bulletins should be 

sufficient to show compliance with the 

requirements of the proposed AD. ANA 

did not provide justification for its 

request. 

AA requested that operators be 

allowed to show compliance with the 

requirements of the proposed AD (in the 

NPRM) by a review of maintenance 

records, without having to provide the 

lot number of the fusible plug installed. 

AA noted that although paragraph (g) of 

the proposed AD (in the NPRM) 

included a review of maintenance 

records, that paragraph would require 

that the part number and lot number be 

conclusively determined from that 

review. However, AA stated that a 

records review is not possible because 

the lot number is not identified on the 

maintenance records. 

We partially agree with the 

commenters’ requests for the reasons 

provided by the commenters. We have 

revised paragraph (g) of the proposed 

AD (in this SNPRM) to allow a review 

of maintenance records if that review 

can conclusively determine that the 

affected fusible plug was replaced with 

a part not having P/N B13984–3, and 

not stamped with Lot PA–21 or PA–22. 

Request To Allow Other Methods of 

Compliance for the Replacement 

Cathay and Air Cruisers requested we 

allow using the component maintenance 

manual (CMM) as a method of 

compliance for the replacement 

specified in paragraph (g) of the 

proposed AD (in the NPRM). Cathay 

stated that the vendor service 

information identified in Air Cruisers 

SIL 25–246, Rev. No. 1, provides 

procedures for replacing the affected 

fusible plugs. The commenter added 

that the vendor service information has 

been incorporated into the applicable 

‘‘Reservoir and Valve Inflation 

Assembly’’ CMMs. 

Air Cruisers noted that the CMMs 

should be used instead of using the 

vendor service information. The 

commenter stated it plans to add 

information to the CMMs similar to that 

specified in the service information. 

We agree with the commenter’s 

request that the CMM or Air Cruisers 

SIL 25–246, Rev. No. 1 may also be used 

to replace the fusible plug. The 

proposed AD (in the NPRM) already 

provides allowance for the use of the 

CMM or Air Cruisers SIL 25–246, Rev. 

No. 1 to provide guidance for replacing 

the affected fusible plug as stated in 

‘‘Note 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD’’ in 

the proposed AD (in the NPRM). We 

have not changed this proposed AD in 

this regard. 

Request To Remove the Reporting 

Requirement 

ANA, UPS, Air Cruisers, AA, DAL, 

and A4A (on behalf of its members) 

requested that the reporting requirement 

in paragraph (h) of the proposed AD (in 

the NPRM) be removed. The 

commenters stated that the Air Cruisers 

service bulletins identified in Air 

Cruisers SIL 25–246, Rev. No. 1, do not 

mention reporting findings, and the 

operators that have already started 

replacing the fusible plugs using the 

information in those Air Cruisers 

service bulletins did not report their 

findings to Air Cruisers. DAL noted that 

the information in the Air Cruisers 

service bulletins identified in Air 

Cruisers SIL 25–246, Rev. No. 1, was 

included in the applicable component 

maintenance manuals in 2011, which 

has allowed sufficient time for the 

escape slide/rafts to have gone through 

a regular overhaul at least once. Any 

fusible plugs from the defective lots 

would have been removed and 

scrapped, but would not have been 

reported because the Air Cruisers 

service bulletins did not mention 

reporting. 

We agree with the commenters’ 

request. We have removed the reporting 

requirement from this proposed AD. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

We reviewed the following Air 

Cruisers service information. The 

service information identifies the 

affected fusible plugs. In addition, it 

describes procedures for inspecting and 

replacing affected fusible plugs. These 

documents are distinct since they apply 

to different airplane models or 

configurations. 

• Air Cruisers Service Bulletin 737 

103–25–50, dated August 27, 2010. 

• Air Cruisers Service Bulletin 757 

105–25–80, dated August 27, 2010. 

• Air Cruisers Service Bulletin 757 

105–25–81, dated August 27, 2010. 

• Air Cruisers Service Bulletin 767 

106–25–10, Rev. No. 1, dated October 

15, 2010. 

• Air Cruisers Service Bulletin 777 

107–25–29, Rev. No. 1, dated July 8, 

2011. 

• Air Cruisers Service Bulletin A300/ 

A310 001–25–19, dated August 27, 

2010. 

• Air Cruisers Service Bulletin A300/ 

A310 003–25–33, dated August 27, 

2010. 

• Air Cruisers Service Bulletin A310 

002–25–08, dated August 27, 2010. 

• Air Cruisers Service Bulletin A320 

004–25–87, Rev. No. 2, dated January 7, 

2011. 

• Air Cruisers Service Bulletin A321 

005–25–21, dated August 27, 2010. 

• Air Cruisers Service Bulletin 

BAe146 201–25–23, dated December 10, 

2010. 

• Air Cruisers Service Bulletin F28 

352–25–02, dated December 10, 2010. 

• Air Cruisers Service Bulletin F100 

351–25–07, dated December 10, 2010. 

• Air Cruisers Service Bulletin 

Liferaft 35–25–79, dated August 27, 

2010. 

• Air Cruisers Service Bulletin MD11 

305–25–35, dated August 27, 2010. 

• Air Cruisers Service Bulletin MD80/ 

90/717 304–25–45, dated August 27, 

2010. 

• Air Cruisers Service Information 

Letter 25–246, Rev. No. 1, dated 

February 21, 2014. 

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. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are proposing this SNPRM 

because we evaluated all the relevant 

information and determined the unsafe 

condition described previously is likely 

to exist or develop in other products of 

the same type design. Certain changes 

described above expand the scope of the 

NPRM. As a result, we have determined 

that it is necessary to reopen the 

comment period to provide additional 

opportunity for the public to comment 

on this SNPRM. 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
3286 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 16 / Wednesday, January 24, 2018 / Proposed Rules 

Proposed Requirements of This SNPRM 

This SNPRM would require an 

inspection of the fusible plugs to 

determine the part number and lot 

number, and replacement of all affected 

fusible plugs. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 3,384 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Determining part and lot number .................... 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 ................. $0 $85 $287,640 

We estimate the following costs per 

slide to do any necessary replacement of 

the fusible plug that would be required 

based on the results of the proposed 

inspection. We have no way of 

determining the number of aircraft that 

might need these replacements: 

ON-CONDITION COST

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Replacing ................................................. 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 .......... Not available ............................................ $85 

According to the manufacturer, some 

of the costs of this proposed AD may be 

covered under warranty, thereby 

reducing the cost impact on affected 

individuals. We do not control warranty 

coverage for affected individuals. As a 

result, we have included all available 

costs in our cost estimate. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, 

section 106, describes the authority of 

the FAA Administrator. ‘‘Subtitle VII: 

Aviation Programs,’’ describes in more 

detail the scope of the Agency’s 

authority. 

We are issuing this rulemaking under 

the authority described in ‘‘Subtitle VII, 

Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: 

General requirements.’’ Under that 

section, Congress charges the FAA with 

promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in 

air commerce by prescribing regulations 

for practices, methods, and procedures 

the Administrator finds necessary for 

safety in air commerce. This regulation 

is within the scope of that authority 

because it addresses an unsafe condition 

that is likely to exist or develop on 

products identified in this rulemaking 

action. 

This proposed AD is issued in 

accordance with authority delegated by 

the Executive Director, Aircraft 

Certification Service, as authorized by 

FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance 

with that order, issuance of ADs is 

normally a function of the Compliance 

and Airworthiness Division, but during 

this transition period, the Executive 

Director has delegated the authority to 

issue ADs applicable to transport 

category airplanes to the Director of the 

System Oversight Division. 

Regulatory Findings 

We determined that this proposed AD 

would not have federalism implications 

under Executive Order 13132. This 

proposed AD would not have a 

substantial direct effect on the States, on 

the relationship between the national 

Government and the States, or on the 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify this proposed regulation: 

1. Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866; 

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

DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures 

(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 

3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in 

Alaska; and 

4. Will not have a significant 

economic impact, positive or negative, 

on a substantial number of small entities 

under the criteria of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 

39 as follows: 

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS 

DIRECTIVES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

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

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

Zodiac Aero Evacuation Systems: Docket No. 

FAA–2016–9392; Product Identifier 

2016–NM–003–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by March 12, 

2018. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Zodiac Aero Evacuation 

Systems fusible plugs installed on emergency 

evacuation equipment identified in the 

service information specified in paragraphs 

(c)(1) through (c)(16) of this AD. These 

affected fusible plugs might be installed on 

the emergency evacuation equipment of the 

following manufacturers’ airplanes: Airbus, 

The Boeing Company, BAE Systems 

(Operations) Limited, and Fokker Services 

B.V. 

(1) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin 737 103– 

25–50, dated August 27, 2010. 

(2) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin 757 105– 

25–80, dated August 27, 2010. 

(3) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin 757 105– 

25–81, dated August 27, 2010. 

(4) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin 767 106– 

25–10, Rev. No. 1, dated October 15, 2010. 

(5) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin 777 107– 

25–29, Rev. No. 1, dated July 8, 2011. 

(6) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin A300/ 

A310 001–25–19, dated August 27, 2010. 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 16 / Wednesday, January 24, 2018 / Proposed Rules 3287 

(7) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin A300/ 

A310 003–25–33, dated August 27, 2010. 

(8) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin A310 002– 

25–08, dated August 27, 2010. 

(9) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin A320 004– 

25–87, Rev. No. 2, dated January 7, 2011. 

(10) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin A321 

005–25–21, dated August 27, 2010. 

(11) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin BAe146 

201–25–23, dated December 10, 2010. 

(12) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin F28 352– 

25–02, dated December 10, 2010. 

(13) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin F100 

351–25–07, dated December 10, 2010. 

(14) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin Liferaft 

35–25–79, dated August 27, 2010. 

(15) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin MD11 

305–25–35, dated August 27, 2010. 

(16) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin MD80/ 

90/717 304–25–45, dated August 27, 2010. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 25, Equipment/furnishings. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports 

indicating that affected fusible plugs 

activated (vented gas) below the rated 

temperature. We are issuing this AD to detect 

and replace fusible plugs that might activate 

below the rated temperature, which renders 

the evacuation system unusable. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Fusible Plug Identification 

Within 42 months after the effective date 

of this AD, do an inspection to determine if 

any fusible plug has part number (P/N) 

B13984–3, stamped with Lot PA–21 or PA– 

22. A review of the airplane maintenance 

records is acceptable to make this 

determination if it can be conclusively 

determined from that review that a part not 

having P/N B13984–3, stamped with Lot PA– 

21 or PA–22, has been installed. 

(h) Replacement of Affected Fusible Plug 

If, during the inspection or records review 

required by paragraph (g) of this AD, it is 

determined that any fusible plug has part 

number (P/N) B13984–3, stamped with Lot 

PA–21 or PA–22: Before further flight, 

replace that fusible plug with a new part that 

does not have P/N B13984–3, stamped with 

Lot PA–21 or PA–22. 

Note 1 to paragraph (h) of this AD: 

Guidance can be found in the applicable 

component maintenance manual (CMM) for 

the replacement. In addition, Air Cruisers 

Service Information Letter 25–246, Rev. No. 

1, dated February 21, 2014, provides 

information regarding affected fusible plugs 

and guidance on the replacement. 

(i) Parts Installation Prohibition 

As of the effective date of this AD, no 

person may install on any airplane any 

fusible plug having P/N B13984–3, stamped 

with Lot PA–21 or PA–22. 

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, New York ACO Branch, 

FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 

for this AD, if requested using the procedures 

found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 

14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 

principal inspector or local Flight Standards 

District Office, as appropriate. If sending 

information directly to the certification 

office, send it to ATTN: Program Manager, 

Continuing Operational Safety, FAA, New 

York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, 

Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone: 

516–228–7300; fax: 516–794–5531. 

(2) 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. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Cesar Gomez, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe and Mechanical Systems Section, 

FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart 

Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 

telephone 516–228–7318; fax 516–794–5531. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Air Cruisers, 1747 State 

Route 34, Wall Township, NJ 07727–3935; 

phone 732–681–3527; email 

technicalpublications@zodiacaerospace.com. 

You may view this service information at the 

FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 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 

5, 2018. 

Michael Kaszycki, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–00951 Filed 1–23–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–0967; Product 

Identifier 2017–NE–35–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; GE Aviation 

Czech s.r.o. Turboprop Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for GE 

Aviation Czech s.r.o. M601D–11, 

M601E–11, M601E–11A, M601E–11AS, 

M601E–11S, M601F, H80, H80–100, 

H80–200, H75–100, H75–200, H85–100, 

and H85–200 turboprop engines. This 

proposed AD was prompted by a review 

by the manufacturer that identified the 

possibility of a power turbine (PT) rotor 

overspeed and the uncontained release 

of PT blades. This proposed AD would 

require installing a modified engine 

outlet system. We are proposing this AD 

to address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this NPRM by March 12, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

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

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact GE Aviation 

Czech s.r.o., Beranovy ́ch 65, 199 02 

Praha 9—Letnˇ any, Czech Republic; 

phone: +420 222 538 111; fax: +420 222 

538 222. You may view this service 

information at the FAA, Engine and 

Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 

District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 781–238–7759. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2017– 

0967; or in person at Docket Operations 

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

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

The AD docket contains this proposed 

AD, the mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI), the 

regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for the Docket Operations 

(phone: 800–647–5527) is listed above. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Robert Green, Aerospace Engineer, ECO 

Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 

Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781– 

238–7754; fax: 781–238–7199; email: 

robert.green@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposal. Send your comments to 

an address listed under the ADDRESSES


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS