48488 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 31, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0128; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–01406–T; Amendment 

39–21687; AD 2021–17–04] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Airbus SAS Model A321–211, –231, and 

–232 airplanes. This AD was prompted 

by a report of false drill starts found 

around the latch hook mounting holes 

of certain door frames of the fuselage 

due to erroneous manufacturing 

processes. This AD requires a one-time 

inspection of the area around the latch 

hook mounting holes of the forward and 

aft door frames to detect damage from 

false drill starts, and repair if necessary, 

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 October 5, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of October 5, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For material incorporated 

by reference (IBR) in this AD, contact 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 

8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; 

internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may 

find this IBR material on the EASA 

website at https://ad.easa.europa.eu. 

You may view this IBR 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 in the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2021– 

0128. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2021– 

0128; 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, 

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. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer, 

Large Aircraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 

telephone and fax 206–231–3223; email 

Sanjay.Ralhan@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD 2020–0222, 

dated October 14, 2020 (EASA AD 

2020–0222) (also referred to as the 

Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness 

Information, or the MCAI), to correct an 

unsafe condition for certain Airbus SAS 

Model A321–211, –231, and –232 

airplanes. 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to certain Airbus SAS Model 

A321–211, –231, and –232 airplanes. 

The NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on March 8, 2021 (86 FR 

13229). The NPRM was prompted by a 

report of false drill starts found around 

the latch hook mounting holes of certain 

door frames of the fuselage due to 

erroneous manufacturing processes. The 

NPRM proposed to require a one-time 

inspection of the area around the latch 

hook mounting holes of the forward and 

aft door frames to detect damage from 

false drill starts, and repair if necessary, 

as specified in EASA AD 2020–0222. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

damage from false drill starts, which 

could result in reduced structural 

integrity of the airplane. See the MCAI 

for additional background information. 

Comments 

The FAA gave the public the 

opportunity to participate in developing 

this final rule. The following presents 

the comment received on the NPRM and 

the FAA’s response. 

Request To Add Exceptions 

Delta Air Lines (DAL) asked that the 

FAA add an exception to paragraph (h) 

of the proposed AD as follows: (1) 

Require inspections and corrective 

action, if applicable, on all airplanes 

having manufacturer serial numbers 

(MSN’s) identified in the applicability, 

regardless of ‘‘affected’’ part numbers 

referenced in EASA AD 2020–0222; or 

(2) Add a clarification that if ‘‘affected 

parts’’ are not found, no inspection is 

required where a frame replacement has 

occurred on an affected frame location, 

and the potential manufacturing defect 

has been removed because there would 

be a new part number designation for 

the spliced area and the airplane could 

be considered as no longer be affected. 

The FAA does not agree with the 

commenter’s request. EASA AD 2020– 

0222 is applicable to specific airplane 

MSNs, with an assertion that the current 

configuration continues to be installed 

with the part numbers that are described 

in EASA AD 2020–0222 as ‘‘affected 

part numbers.’’ The FAA does not have 

any information provided by EASA that 

there are potential configurations that 

have EASA-approved modifications that 

are exempt from the unsafe condition. If 

the MSN configuration DAL referred to 

does not include those ‘‘affected part 

numbers,’’ then there is no 

corresponding action for those 

airplanes, in accordance with the 

requirements in this AD. The FAA has 

not changed this AD in this regard. 

Conclusion 

The FAA reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comment received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this 

final rule as proposed, except for minor 

editorial changes. The FAA has 

determined that these minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the NPRM for 

addressing the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2020–0222 describes 

procedures for a one-time detailed 

inspection of the area around the latch 

hook mounting holes of the forward and 

aft door frames to detect damage from 

false drill starts, and repair of any 

damage found. 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 21 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 

FAA estimates the following costs to 

comply with this AD: 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 31, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 48489 

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REQUIRED ACTIONS * 

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

14 work-hours × $85 per hour = $1,190 ..................................................................................... $0 $1,190 $24,990 

* Table does not include estimated costs for reporting. 

The FAA estimates that it takes about 

1 work-hour per product to comply with 

the reporting requirement in this AD. 

The average labor rate is $85 per hour. 

Based on these figures, the FAA 

estimates the cost of reporting the 

inspection results on U.S. operators to 

be $1,785, or $85 per product. 

The FAA estimates the following 

costs to do any necessary on-condition 

repairs that are required based on the 

results of any required actions. The FAA 

has no way of determining the number 

of aircraft that might need these oncondition repairs: 

ESTIMATED COSTS OF ON-CONDITION ACTIONS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product 

Up to 42 work-hours × $85 per hour = Up to $3,570 (per door) ..................................................... $0 * Up to $3,570 (per door). 

* The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the parts cost estimates for the on-condition repairs specified in this AD. 

According to the manufacturer, some 

or all of the costs of this AD may be 

covered under warranty, thereby 

reducing the cost impact on affected 

operators. The FAA does not control 

warranty coverage for affected operators. 

As a result, the FAA has included all 

known costs in the cost estimate. 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

A federal agency may not conduct or 

sponsor, and a person is not required to 

respond to, nor shall a person be subject 

to penalty for failure to comply with a 

collection of information subject to the 

requirements of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act unless that collection of 

information displays a current valid 

OMB control number. The control 

number for the collection of information 

required by this AD is 2120–0056. The 

paperwork cost associated with this AD 

has been detailed in the Costs of 

Compliance section of this document 

and includes time for reviewing 

instructions, as well as completing and 

reviewing the collection of information. 

Therefore, all reporting associated with 

this AD is mandatory. Comments 

concerning the accuracy of this burden 

and suggestions for reducing the burden 

should be directed to Information 

Collection Clearance Officer, Federal 

Aviation Administration, 10101 

Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 

76177–1524. 

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. 

Adoption of 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 

■ 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: 

2021–17–04 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39– 

21687; Docket No. FAA–2021–0128; 

Project Identifier MCAI–2020–01406–T. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective October 5, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model 

A321–211, –231, and –232 airplanes, 

certificated in any category, as identified in 

European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2020–0222, dated October 14, 

2020 (EASA AD 2020–0222). 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 53, Fuselage. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by a report of false 

drill starts found around the latch hook 

mounting holes of certain door frames of the 

fuselage due to erroneous manufacturing 

processes. The FAA is issuing this AD to 

address damage from false drill starts, which 

could result in reduced structural integrity of 

the airplane. 


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48490 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 31, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

(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, EASA AD 2020–0222. 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2020–0222 

(1) Paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2020–0222 

specifies to report inspection results to 

Airbus within a certain compliance time. For 

this AD, report inspection results at the 

applicable time specified in paragraph 

(h)(1)(i) or (ii) of this AD. 

(i) If the inspection was done on or after 

the effective date of this AD: Submit the 

report within 90 days after the inspection. 

(ii) If the inspection was done before the 

effective date of this AD: Submit the report 

within 90 days after the effective date of this 

AD. 

(2) The ‘‘Remarks’’ section of EASA AD 

2020–0222 does not apply to this AD. 

(i) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, Large Aircraft 

Section, 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 Large Aircraft 

Section, International Validation Branch, 

send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (j) of this AD. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR730-AMOC@faa.gov. 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, Large Aircraft Section, 

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 (i)(2) 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 

an airworthy condition. Any substitutions or 

changes to procedures or tests identified as 

RC require approval of an AMOC. 

(4) Paperwork Reduction Act Burden 

Statement: A federal agency may not conduct 

or sponsor, and a person is not required to 

respond to, nor shall a person be subject to 

a penalty for failure to comply with a 

collection of information subject to the 

requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 

Act unless that collection of information 

displays a current valid OMB Control 

Number. The OMB Control Number for this 

information collection is 2120–0056. Public 

reporting for this collection of information is 

estimated to be approximately 1 hour per 

response, including the time for reviewing 

instructions, searching existing data sources, 

gathering and maintaining the data needed, 

and completing and reviewing the collection 

of information. All responses to this 

collection of information are mandatory as 

required by this AD. Send comments 

regarding this burden estimate or any other 

aspect of this collection of information, 

including suggestions for reducing this 

burden to Information Collection Clearance 

Officer, Federal Aviation Administration, 

10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 

76177–1524. 

(j) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer, 

Large Aircraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th 

St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and 

fax 206–231–3223; email Sanjay.Ralhan@

faa.gov. 

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the service information listed in this 

paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. 

(2) You must use this service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2020–0222, dated October 14, 

2020. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For EASA AD 2020–0222, contact 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 

000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; internet 

www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

EASA AD on the EASA website at https://

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. This material may be found 

in the AD docket on the internet at https:// 

www.regulations.gov by searching for and 

locating Docket No. FAA–2021–0128. 

(5) You may view this material that is 

incorporated by reference at the National 

Archives and Records Administration 

(NARA). For information on the availability 

of this material at NARA, email 

fr.inspection@nara.gov, or go to: https://

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued on August 7, 2021. 

Gaetano A. Sciortino, 

Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–18703 Filed 8–30–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0366; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2021–00080–T; Amendment 

39–21685; AD 2021–17–02] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; ATR—GIE 

Avions de Transport Re ́gional 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding 

Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020–23– 

13, which applied to all ATR—GIE 

Avions de Transport Re ́gional Model 

ATR42–200, –300, and –320 airplanes. 

AD 2020–23–13 required a one-time 

inspection for discrepancies of the wire 

bundles between the left- and righthand angle of attack (AOA) probes and 

the crew alerting computer, and, 

depending on findings, applicable 

corrective actions. This AD continues to 

require the actions in AD 2020–23–13, 

and also requires for certain airplanes, 

modifying the captain stick shaker 

wiring, and for all airplanes, revising 

the existing aircraft flight manual (AFM) 

and applicable corresponding 

operational procedures to incorporate 

procedures for the stick pusher/shaker, 

as specified in a European Union 

Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, 

which is incorporated by reference. This 

AD was prompted by false activation of 

the stall warning system due to wiring 

damage on the wire bundle between an 

AOA probe and the crew alerting 

computer, and the development of a 

wiring modification and AFM update to 

address the unsafe condition. The FAA 

is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective October 5, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of October 5, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For material incorporated 

by reference (IBR) in this AD, contact 


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