Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 18 / Thursday, January 28, 2016 / Proposed Rules 4901 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2016–0461; Directorate 

Identifier 2014–NM–159–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 

series airplanes. This proposed AD was 

prompted by a report that a main 

landing gear (MLG) door could not be 

closed due to rupture of the actuator 

fitting. Later reports indicated that the 

forward monoblock fitting of the MLG 

door actuator (referred to as the nerve 

area) could be damaged after rupture of 

the actuator fitting. This proposed AD 

would require repetitive inspections of 

the MLG door actuator fitting and its 

components for cracking, and corrective 

actions if necessary. This proposed AD 

would also require eventual 

replacement of all affected MLG door 

actuator fittings with new monoblock 

fittings, which would terminate the 

repetitive inspections. We are proposing 

this AD to prevent rupture of the door 

actuator fittings, which could result in 

detachment of an MLG door and 

subsequent exterior damage and 

consequent reduced structural integrity 

of the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by March 14, 2016. 

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–2016– 

0461; 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–2016–0461; Directorate Identifier 

2014–NM–159–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 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA Airworthiness 

Directive 2014–0166, dated July 16, 

2014 (referred to after this as the 

Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness 

Information, or ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct 

an unsafe condition for all Airbus 

Model A319, A320, and A321 series 

airplanes. The MCAI states: 

On one A320 aeroplane, it was reported 

that one of the main landing gear (MLG) 

doors could not be closed. Investigations 

revealed the rupture of the actuator fitting at 

the actuator attachment area on the door side. 

The MLG door is attached to the aeroplane 

by 2 hinge fittings. 

This condition, if not corrected, could, 

under certain circumstances, lead to 

detachment of a MLG door from the 

aeroplane, possibly resulting in damage to 

the aeroplane, and/or injury to persons on 

the ground. 

Prompted by these findings, [Direction 

Ge ́ne ́rale de l’Aviation Civile] France issued 

* * * [an AD] * * *, to require a MLG door 

actuator fitting inspection for cracks and to 

check the grain direction on a batch of 

aeroplanes. 

Subsequently, DGAC France issued * * * 

[an AD], retaining the requirements of DGAC 

France AD * * *, which was superseded, to 

require an inspection of the lower part of the 

MLG door actuator fitting. 

After that [DGAC] AD was issued, 

additional investigations revealed that 

damage could also appear on the nerve area 

[of the forward monoblock fitting], in the 

upper part of the MLG door actuator fitting 

in the area of the hinge. 

Consequently, DGAC France issued F2003– 

434, dated December 10, 2003 [http://

ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/F–2003–454] (EASA 

approval 2003–1436), retaining the 

requirements of [a] DGAC France AD * * *, 

which was superseded, to require additional 

repetitive inspections. That [DGAC] AD also 

included an optional terminating action, by 

replacing the MLG door actuator fittings in 

accordance with the instructions of Airbus 

Service Bulletin (SB) A320–52–1073. 

Since that [DGAC] AD was issued, in the 

framework of the extended service goal 

campaign, it has been decided to make 

replacement of the MLG door actuator fittings 

a required modification. 

For the reasons described above, this AD 

retains the requirements of DGAC France AD 

F–2003–434, which is superseded, and 

requires replacement of the MLG door 

actuator fittings with new monoblock fittings, 

which constitutes terminating action for the 

repetitive inspections. 

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–2016– 

0461. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

Airbus has issued Service Bulletins 

A320–52–1073, Revision 05, dated 

September 28, 2006; A320–52A1086, 

Revision 01, dated September 10, 1999; 

and A320–52–1096, Revision 02, dated 

July 12, 2006. This service information 

describes procedures for inspections of 


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4902 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 18 / Thursday, January 28, 2016 / Proposed Rules 

the MLG door actuator fitting and its 

components for cracking, and corrective 

actions if necessary. This service 

information also describes procedures 

for replacement of all affected MLG door 

actuator fittings with new monoblock 

fittings. 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 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. 

Difference Between Proposed AD and 

Service Information 

Unlike the procedures described in 

Airbus Service Bulletin A320–52–1096, 

Revision 02, dated July 12, 2006, this 

proposed AD would not permit further 

flight if cracks are detected in the MLG 

door actuator fittings. We have 

determined that, because of the safety 

implications and consequences 

associated with that cracking, any 

cracked MLG door actuator fittings must 

be repaired or modified before further 

flight. This difference has been 

coordinated with the EASA. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 71 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We also estimate that it would take 

about 38 work-hours per product to 

comply with the inspection 

requirements of this proposed AD. The 

average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. 

Based on these figures, we estimate the 

cost for the inspection specified in this 

proposed AD on U.S. operators to be 

$229,330, or $3,230 per product. 

We estimate that it would take about 

98 work-hours per product to comply 

with the MLG actuator replacement 

requirements of this proposed AD. 

Required parts would cost about $6,258 

per product. The average labor rate is 

$85 per work-hour. Based on these 

figures, we estimate the cost for the 

actuator replacement specified in this 

proposed AD on U.S. operators to be 

$1,035,748, or $14,588 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. 

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): 

Airbus: Docket No. FAA–2016–0461; 

Directorate Identifier 2014–NM–159–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by March 14, 

2016. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to the Airbus airplanes, 

certificated in any category, identified in 

paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(3) of this AD, 

all manufacturer serial numbers. 

(1) Model A319–111, –112, –113, –114, 

–115, –131, –132, and –133 airplanes. 

(2) Model A320–211, –212, –214, –231, 

–232, and –233 airplanes. 

(3) Model A321–111, –112, –131, –211, 

–212, –213, –231, and –232 airplanes. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 52, Doors. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by a report that a 

main landing gear (MLG) door could not be 

closed due to rupture of the actuator fitting. 

Later reports indicated that the forward 

monoblock fitting of the MLG door actuator 

(referred to as the nerve area) could be 

damaged after rupture of the actuator fitting. 

We are issuing this AD to prevent rupture of 

the door actuator fittings, which could result 

in detachment of an MLG door and 

subsequent exterior damage and consequent 

reduced structural integrity of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Repetitive Inspections of MLG Door 

Actuator Fittings 

For airplanes equipped with MLG door 

actuator fittings having part number (P/N) 

D52880224 000/001 that were installed 

before the first flight of the airplane on MLG 

doors identified in paragraphs (g)(1) and 

(g)(2) of this AD, as applicable: Within 500 

flight hours since the most recent high 

frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection 

done as specified in Airbus Service Bulletin 

A320–52A1086, Revision 01, dated 

September 10, 1999, or within 30 days after 

the effective date of this AD, whichever 

occurs later, perform an HFEC inspection for 

cracking of the MLG door fittings, in 

accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320– 

52A1086, Revision 01, dated September 10, 

1999. Repeat the inspection thereafter at 

intervals not to exceed 500 flight hours, 

except as provided by paragraph (i)(1) of this 

AD. 

(1) Left-hand MLG doors with S/Ns 1206 

through 1237 inclusive, 1239 through 1247 

inclusive, and 1249 through 1251 inclusive. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 18 / Thursday, January 28, 2016 / Proposed Rules 4903 

(2) Right-hand MLG doors with S/Ns 1208 

through 1239 inclusive, 1241 through 1249 

inclusive, and 1251. 

(h) Repetitive Inspections of MLG Hinge and 

Nerve Areas 

For airplanes equipped with MLG door 

actuator fittings having P/N D52880224 000/ 

001 or D52880235 000/001: Within 400 flight 

cycles after the effective date of this AD, or 

before the accumulation of 9,000 total flight 

cycles since first flight of the airplane, 

whichever occurs later, perform an HFEC 

inspection of both hinge and nerve areas of 

the MLG doors for cracking, in accordance 

with the Accomplishment Instructions of 

Airbus Service Bulletin A320–52–1096, 

Revision 02, dated July 12, 2006. Repeat the 

inspection thereafter at intervals not to 

exceed 800 flight cycles. 

(i) Inspections/Corrective Actions 

(1) If any cracking is found during any 

inspection required by paragraph (g) or (h) of 

this AD: Before further flight, replace the 

affected MLG door actuator fittings with new 

monoblock fittings, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus 

Service Bulletin A320–52–1073, Revision 05, 

dated September 28, 2006. Accomplishing 

this replacement terminates the repetitive 

inspections required by paragraphs (g) and 

(h) of this AD. 

(2) If, during any HFEC inspection required 

by paragraph (g) of this AD, no cracking is 

found: At the time specified in paragraph (g) 

of this AD, perform a low frequency eddy 

current (LFEC) inspection to determine the 

grain direction of the raw material of each 

MLG actuator fitting, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus 

Service Bulletin A320–52A1086, Revision 01, 

dated September 10, 1999. 

(i) If the grain direction of the raw material 

is correct, the repetitive inspections required 

by paragraph (g) of this AD may be 

terminated. 

(ii) If the grain direction of the raw material 

is incorrect, repeat the HFEC inspection 

required by paragraph (g) of this AD at the 

time specified in paragraph (g) of this AD. 

Replacement of the MLG door actuator 

fittings with new monoblock fittings as 

specified in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD, 

terminates the repetitive inspections required 

by paragraphs (g) and (i) of this AD. 

(j) MLG Door Actuator Fitting Replacement 

For airplanes equipped with any MLG door 

actuator fitting having P/N D52880102000 

and P/N D52880102001, or P/N 

D52880220000 and P/N D52880220001, or P/ 

N D52880224000 and P/N D52880224001, or 

P/N D52880235000 and P/N D52880235001: 

At the later of the times specified in 

paragraphs (j)(1) and (j)(2) of this AD, replace 

the MLG door actuator fittings with new 

monoblock fittings, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus 

Service Bulletin A320–52–1073, Revision 05, 

dated September 28, 2006. Accomplishing 

this replacement terminates the repetitive 

inspections required by paragraphs (g) and 

(h) of this AD. 

(1) Before the accumulation of 48,000 total 

flight cycles or 96,000 total flight hours, 

whichever occurs later since the first flight of 

the airplane; or 

(2) Within 30 days after the effective date 

of this AD. 

(k) Optional Terminating Action 

Replacement of the MLG door actuator 

fittings with new monoblock fittings, in 

accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320– 

52–1073, Revision 05, dated September 28, 

2006, terminates the repetitive inspections 

required by paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD. 

(l) Airplanes Excluded From AD 

Requirements 

For airplanes on which Airbus 

Modification 24903, 25372, or 36979 has 

been embodied in production, no action is 

required by this AD, provided that no MLG 

door actuator fitting having any part number 

identified in paragraph (j) of this AD has 

been reinstalled on the airplane since first 

flight. 

(m) Parts Installation Limitation 

As of the effective date of this AD, no 

person may install a MLG door actuator 

fitting having any part number identified in 

paragraph (j) of this AD on any airplane. 

(n) 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. 

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any 

requirement in this AD to obtain corrective 

actions from a manufacturer, the action must 

be accomplished using a method approved 

by the Manager, International Branch, ANM– 

116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or 

the European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA); or Airbus’s EASA Design 

Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by 

the DOA, the approval must include the 

DOA-authorized signature. 

(o) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) European 

Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 

Directive 2014–0166, dated July 16, 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–2016–0461. 

(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 January 

20, 2016. 

Michael Kaszycki, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2016–01580 Filed 1–27–16; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–3994; Airspace 

Docket No. 15–ANM–23] 

Proposed Establishment of Class E 

Airspace, Shelton, WA 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This action proposes to 

establish Class E airspace at Sanderson 

Field Airport, Shelton, WA, to 

accommodate new Standard Instrument 

Approach Procedures developed at the 

airport. Controlled airspace is necessary 

for the safety and management of 

Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations 

at the airport. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before March 14, 2016. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this 

proposal to the U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590; telephone (202) 

366–9826. You must identify FAA 

Docket No. FAA–2015–3994; Airspace 

Docket No. 15–ANM–23, at the 

beginning of your comments. You may 

also submit comments through the 

Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. 

You may review the public docket 

containing the proposal, any comments 

received, and any final disposition in 

person in the Dockets Office between 

9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

The Docket Office (telephone 1–800– 


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