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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 236 (Monday, December 9, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 97499-97502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28791]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-1890; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00087-T; 
Amendment 39-22899; AD 2024-24-09]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-24-
05, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 
series airplanes. AD 2022-24-05 required repetitive inspections of 
certain galleys for corrosion of trolley retainer aluminum blocks and 
delamination of the upper panel of the trolley compartment, and 
applicable corrective action. This AD was prompted by the list of 
affected galleys being revised, and a new modification that was 
developed to restore the design integrity of the affected galleys. This 
AD continues to require the actions in AD 2022-24-05, provides optional 
terminating action for the repetitive inspections, revises the list of 
affected parts, and prohibits the installation of affected parts under 
certain conditions; as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 13, 2025.

[[Page 97500]]

    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of January 13, 
2025.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-1890; 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 final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The 
address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, 
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 
000; email [email protected]; website easa.europa.eu. You may find 
this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu
     You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 
Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-1890.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy Dowling, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
phone: 817-222-5102; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2022-24-05, Amendment 39-22245 (87 FR 
74291, December 5, 2022) (AD 2022-24-05). AD 2022-24-05 applied to all 
Airbus SAS Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes; Model A319-
111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -151N, -153N, and -171N 
airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -
252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes; and Model A321-111, -
112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -251NX, -252N, -252NX, 
-253N, -253NX, -271N, -271NX, -272N, and -272NX airplanes. AD 2022-24-
05 required repetitive inspections of certain galleys for corrosion of 
trolley retainer aluminum blocks and delamination of the upper panel of 
the trolley compartment, and applicable corrective actions. The FAA 
issued AD 2022-24-05 to address damage that could affect the galley's 
capability to hold the trolley under emergency landing loads, which 
could lead to trolley detachment, possibly resulting in blocking of an 
escape path during an emergency exit.
    The NPRM published in the Federal Register on July 17, 2024 (89 FR 
58086). The NPRM was prompted by AD 2024-0038, dated February 5, 2024, 
issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of 
the European Union (EASA AD 2024-0038) (also referred to as the MCAI). 
The MCAI states that the list of affected galleys has been revised, and 
Airbus and the galley manufacturer have developed a modification to 
restore the design integrity of the affected galleys.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to continue to require the actions in 
AD 2022-24-05, provide optional terminating action for the repetitive 
inspections, revise the list of affected parts, and prohibit the 
installation of affected parts under certain conditions, as specified 
in EASA AD 2024-0038. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-1890.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received a comment from Airbus. The following presents the 
comment received on the NPRM and the FAA's response.

Request To Include a Missing Part Number

    Airbus requested \1\ that the FAA revise the NPRM to include a 
missing forward-facing galley part number. Airbus stated that the 
missing part number is 601891-006801, which is derived from the 
delivered part number 601891-001501 by the optional vendor service 
bulletin 601891-25-001501-002, as specified in Airbus Service Bulletin 
25-1BK4.
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    \1\ Airbus' comment on this AD was submitted directly to the FAA 
but has been placed into the rulemaking docket.
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    The FAA agrees to include forward-facing galley, part number 
601891-006801, in this AD. Part number 601891-006801 is derived from 
the unsafe part number 601891-001501; therefore, part number 601891-
006801 has the same unsafe condition. The FAA confirmed with EASA that 
part number 601891-006801 is an affected part. The FAA has added 
paragraph (h)(5) of this AD to include part number 601891-006801 as an 
affected part.

Conclusion

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to 
the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it 
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI 
referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the 
comment received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this 
AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on this product. Except for minor editorial changes, 
and any other changes described previously, this AD is adopted as 
proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic 
burden on any operator.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    EASA AD 2024-0038 includes the following provisions:
     Procedures for repetitive general visual inspections of 
certain galleys for discrepancies including corrosion of trolley 
retainer aluminum blocks and delamination of upper panel of trolley 
compartment;
     Corrective actions including repeating the inspection at 
an earlier interval, repairing the trolley compartment upper panel, and 
limiting the trolley weight;
     Procedures for modifying the affected galleys as optional 
terminating action for the repetitive inspections;
     A revised the list of affected galleys; and
     Prohibition of the installation of affected parts unless 
the parts are inspected and corrected.
    This material 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

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 1,425 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 97501]]

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost          Parts cost       product         operators
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Retained actions from AD 2022-24-05...  2 work-hours x $85 per             $0             $170         $242,250
                                         hour = $170.
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                  Estimated Costs for Optional Actions
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          Labor cost               Parts cost        Cost per product
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Up to 40 work-hours x $85 per              (*)   Up to $3,400.*
 hour = $3,400.
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* The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the cost
  estimates for the parts associated with the modification specified in
  this AD.

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition action that would be required based on the results of any 
required actions. The FAA has no way of determining the number of 
aircraft that might need this on-condition action:

                  Estimated Costs of On-Condition Costs
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                                                             Cost per
              Labor cost                   Parts cost        product
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1 work-hours x $85 per hour = $85.....              $0              $85
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some or all of the costs of 
this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact 
on affected operators.

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.
    The FAA is 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

    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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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 Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-24-05, Amendment 39-22245 
(87 FR 74291, December 5, 2022); and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:

2024-24-09 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-22899; Docket No. FAA-2024-1890; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00087-T.

 (a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective January 13, 2025.

 (b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2022-24-05, Amendment 39-22245 (87 FR 74291, 
December 5, 2022) (AD 2022-24-05).

 (c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Airbus SAS Model airplanes identified in 
paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this AD, certificated in any 
category.
    (1) Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes.
    (2) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -
151N, -153N, and -171N airplanes.
    (3) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -
252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes.
    (4) Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -
251N, -251NX, -252N, -252NX, -253N, -253NX, -271N, -271NX, -272N, 
and -272NX airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25, Equipment/
Furnishings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that damage (including 
delamination of work deck and corroded and cracked retainer blocks) 
was found during inspection of certain galleys. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to address damage that could affect the galley's capability 
to hold the trolley under emergency landing loads, which could lead 
to trolley detachment, possibly resulting in blocking of an escape 
path during an emergency exit.

[[Page 97502]]

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Requirements

    Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all 
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2024-0038, dated February 5, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0038).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0038

    (1) Where EASA AD 2024-0038 refers to ``18 August 2021 [the 
effective date of the EASA AD 2021-0183 at original issue],'' this 
AD requires using January 9, 2023 (the effective date of AD 2022-24-
05).
    (2) Where EASA AD 2024-0038 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (3) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2024-0038.
    (4) Where EASA AD 2024-0038 does not specify corrective action 
after a post-repair inspection that has findings of damage, this AD 
requires obtaining repair instructions before further flight from 
the FAA, EASA, or Airbus SAS's EASA Design Organization Approval 
(DOA), and accomplishing those actions accordingly. Any approval by 
the DOA must include the DOA-authorized signature.
    (5) Where EASA AD 2024-0038 defines an affected part as 
``Forward-facing galleys, having a Part Number (P/N) as listed in 
Appendix 1 of this AD,'' for this AD, replace that text with 
``Forward-facing galleys, having a Part Number (P/N) as listed in 
Appendix 1 of this AD, or having P/N 601891-006801.''

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although material referenced in EASA AD 2024-0038 specifies to 
submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not 
include that requirement.

(j) Additional AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Validation 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 responsible Flight Standards Office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the 
International Validation Branch, mail it to the address identified 
in paragraph (k) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: 
[email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your 
appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International 
Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus SAS's EASA Design 
Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval 
must include the DOA-authorized signature.
    (3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except as required by 
paragraph (j)(2) of this AD, if any material 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 an airworthy condition. Any substitutions or changes to 
procedures or tests identified as RC require approval of an AMOC.

(k) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Timothy Dowling, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 817-222-5102; email: 
[email protected].

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the material listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0038, 
dated February 5, 2024.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, 
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 
8999 000; email [email protected]; website easa.europa.eu. You may 
find this EASA AD on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
    (4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., 
Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
    (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations, or email [email protected].

    Issued on November 25, 2024.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-28791 Filed 12-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
```