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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 146 (Thursday, July 30, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45457-45460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18534]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-2964; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-206-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This proposed AD is 
intended to complete certain mandated programs intended to support the 
airplane reaching its limit of validity (LOV) of the engineering data 
that support the established structural maintenance program. This 
proposed AD would require reinforcing the forward pressure bulkhead at 
a certain stringer on both the left-hand and right-hand sides, and 
related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking of the forward pressure

[[Page 45458]]

bulkhead, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the 
airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 14, 
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.

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-
2964; 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-2015-2964; 
Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-206-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

    As described in FAA Advisory Circular 120-104 (http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/120-104.pdf), several programs 
have been developed to support initiatives that will ensure the 
continued airworthiness of aging airplane structure. The last element 
of those initiatives is the requirement to establish a LOV of the 
engineering data that support the structural maintenance program under 
14 CFR 26.21. This proposed AD is the result of an assessment of the 
previously established programs by the design approval holder (DAH) 
during the process of establishing the LOV for Model A319, A320, and 
Model A321 series airplanes. The actions specified in this proposed AD 
are necessary to complete certain programs to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of aging airplane structure and to support an airplane 
reaching its LOV.
    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive 2014-0209, dated September 19, 2014 (referred 
to after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition on all Model A319, A320, 
and Model A321 series airplanes. The MCAI states:

    During the A320 fatigue test campaign for Extended Service Goal 
(ESG), it was determined that fatigue damage could develop on the 
forward pressure bulkhead at Frame (FR) 35 on left hand (LH) side 
and right hand (RH) side.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could affect the 
structural integrity of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, a reinforcement 
modification was developed, which has been published through Airbus 
Service Bulletin (SB) A320-53-1268 for in-service application to 
allow aeroplanes to operate up to the new ESG limit.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
reinforcement of the centre fuselage forward pressure bulkhead at 
FR35.

    The forward pressure bulkhead reinforcement includes related 
investigative actions of measuring the diameters of certain fastener 
holes, and if they are not oversized, doing a rotating probe inspection 
for cracking of the fastener holes.
    Required corrective actions include cold expanding crack-free holes 
or repairing oversize or cracked holes by using a method approved by 
the FAA, EASA, or Airbus's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA).
    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-
2964.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-53-1268, Revision 02, dated 
July 15, 2014. The service information describes procedures for 
reinforcing the forward pressure bulkhead at frame 35, stringer 30, on 
both the left-hand and right-hand sides; and repairs. The actions 
described in this service information are intended to correct the 
unsafe condition identified in the MCAI. 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 of this NPRM.

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.

Explanation of ``RC'' Procedures and Tests in Service Information

    The FAA worked in conjunction with industry, under the 
Airworthiness Directives Implementation Aviation

[[Page 45459]]

Rulemaking Committee (AD ARC), to enhance the AD system. One 
enhancement was a new process for annotating which procedures and tests 
in the service information are required for compliance with an AD. 
Differentiating these procedures and tests from other tasks in the 
service information is expected to improve an owner's/operator's 
understanding of crucial AD requirements and help provide consistent 
judgment in AD compliance. The actions specified in the service 
information identified previously include procedures and tests that are 
identified as RC (required for compliance) because these procedures 
have a direct effect on detecting, preventing, resolving, or 
eliminating an identified unsafe condition.
    As specified in a NOTE under the Accomplishment Instructions of the 
specified service information, procedures and tests that are identified 
as RC in any service information must be done to comply with the 
proposed AD. However, procedures and tests that are not identified as 
RC are recommended. Those procedures and tests that are not identified 
as RC may be deviated from using accepted methods in accordance with 
the operator's maintenance or inspection program without obtaining 
approval of an alternative method of compliance (AMOC), provided the 
procedures and tests identified as RC can be done and the airplane can 
be put back in a serviceable condition. Any substitutions or changes to 
procedures or tests identified as RC will require approval of an AMOC.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 48 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We also estimate that it would take about 21 work-hours per product 
to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average 
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate 
the cost of this proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $85,680, or $1,785 
per product.
    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 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.

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

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

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

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2015-2964; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-
206-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by September 14, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(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) Airbus Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, 
and -133 airplanes.
    (2) Airbus Model A320-211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 
airplanes.
    (3) Airbus Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, 
and -232 airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.

(e) Reason

    This AD is intended to complete certain mandated programs 
intended to support the airplane reaching its limit of validity 
(LOV) of the engineering data that support the established 
structural maintenance program. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
fatigue cracking of the forward pressure bulkhead, which could 
result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Reinforcement, Related Investigative Actions, and Corrective 
Actions

    Before the accumulation of 48,000 total flight cycles or 96,000 
total flight hours, whichever occurs first: Reinforce the forward 
pressure bulkhead at frame 35, stringer 30, on both the left-hand 
and right-hand sides; and do all applicable related investigative 
and corrective actions; in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1268, Revision 02, 
dated July 15, 2014, except as provided by paragraph (h) of this AD. 
Do all corrective actions before further flight.

(h) Exception to Service Information Specifications

    Although Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1268, Revision 02, 
dated July 15, 2014, specifies to contact Airbus for repair 
instructions, and specifies that action as ``RC'' (Required for 
Compliance), this AD requires repair before further flight 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).

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for actions required by paragraph 
(g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective 
date of this AD using Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1268, dated 
January 8, 2013; or Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1268, Revision 
01, dated July 23, 2013. This service

[[Page 45460]]

information is not incorporated by reference in this AD.

(j) 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 EASA; or 
Airbus's EASA DOA. If approved by the DOA, the approval must include 
the DOA-authorized signature.
    (3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except as required by 
paragraph (h) of this AD, if any service information contains 
procedures or tests that are identified as RC, those procedures and 
tests must be done to comply with this AD; any procedures or tests 
that are not identified as RC are recommended. Those procedures and 
tests that are not identified as RC may be deviated from using 
accepted methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or 
inspection program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided 
the procedures and tests identified as RC can be done and the 
airplane can be put back in a serviceable condition. Any 
substitutions or changes to procedures or tests identified as RC 
require approval of an AMOC.

(k) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) EASA AD 2014-0209, dated September 19, 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-2015-2964.
    (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 July 17, 2015.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-18534 Filed 7-29-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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