40670 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 165 / Monday, August 28, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2016–7264; Product 

Identifier 2015–NM–185–AD; Amendment 

39–18998; AD 2017–17–08] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Airbus Model A330–200, –200 

Freighter, and –300 series airplanes; and 

Model A340–500 and –600 series 

airplanes. This AD was prompted by a 

quality control review on the final 

assembly line, which determined that 

the wrong aluminum alloy was used to 

manufacture several structural parts. 

This AD requires a one-time eddy 

current conductivity measurement of 

certain cabin and cargo compartment 

structural parts to determine if an 

incorrect aluminum alloy was used, and 

replacement of any affected part with a 

serviceable part. We are issuing this AD 

to address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: This AD is effective October 2, 

2017. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of October 2, 2017. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this final rule, contact 

Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office— 

EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 

31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone 

+33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 

80; email airworthiness.A330-A340@

airbus.com; Internet http://

www.airbus.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– 

7264. 

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– 

7264; 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 AD, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

the Docket Office (telephone 800–647– 

5527) is Docket Management Facility, 

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: 

Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Section, Transport 

Standards Branch, FAA, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356; 

telephone 425–227–1138; fax 425–227– 

1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a supplemental notice of 

proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to 

amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD 

that would apply to certain Airbus 

Model A330–200, –200 Freighter, and 

–300 series airplanes; and Model A340– 

500 and –600 series airplanes. The 

SNPRM published in the Federal 

Register on May 19, 2017 (82 FR 22907) 

(‘‘the SNPRM’’). We preceded the 

SNPRM with a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) that published in 

the Federal Register on June 21, 2016 

(81 FR 40201) (‘‘the NPRM’’). The 

NPRM proposed to require a one-time 

eddy current conductivity measurement 

of certain cabin and cargo compartment 

structural parts to determine if an 

incorrect aluminum alloy was used, and 

replacement of any affected part with a 

serviceable part. The NPRM was 

prompted by a quality control review on 

the final assembly line, which 

determined that the wrong aluminum 

alloy was used to manufacture several 

structural parts. The SNPRM proposed 

to require new inspection locations for 

certain airplanes, and removing 

incorrect part numbers. We are issuing 

this AD to detect and replace structural 

parts made of an incorrect aluminum 

alloy. This condition could result in 

reduced structural integrity of the 

airplane. 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA Airworthiness 

Directive 2017–0021, dated February 8, 

2017 (referred to after this as the 

Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness 

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

an unsafe condition for certain Airbus 

Model A330–200, –200 Freighter, and 

–300 series airplanes; and Model A340– 

500 and –600 series airplanes. The 

MCAI states: 

Following an Airbus quality control review 

on the final assembly line, it was discovered 

that wrong aluminum alloy was used to 

manufacture several structural parts. 

This condition, if not detected and 

corrected, could reduce the structural 

integrity of the aeroplane. 

To address this potential unsafe condition, 

Airbus published [Service Bulletin] (SB) 

A330–53–3261, SB A330–53–3262, and SB 

A340–53–5072, as applicable to aeroplane 

type/model, to provide instructions to 

identify the affected parts. Consequently, 

EASA issued AD 2015–0206 to require a onetime special detailed inspection (SDI) [eddy 

current conductivity measurements] of 

certain cabin and/or cargo compartment parts 

for material identification and, depending on 

findings, replacement with serviceable parts. 

Since that [EASA] AD was issued, Airbus 

identified that the list of affected structural 

parts in SB A330–53–3261 was incorrect. 

Prompted by these findings, Airbus issued 

SB A330–53–3261 Revision 01 to introduce 

the new locations to be inspected and remove 

other parts not affected. 

For the reasons described above, this 

[EASA] AD retains the requirements of EASA 

AD 2015–0206, which is superseded, and 

expands the locations to be inspected. 

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– 

7264. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. We 

received no comments on the SNPRM or 

on the determination of the cost to the 

public. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this AD 

as proposed, except for minor editorial 

changes. We have determined that these 

minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the SNPRM for 

correcting the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the SNPRM. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

Airbus has issued the following 

service information: 

• Airbus Service Bulletin A330–53– 

3261, Revision 01, including 

Appendixes 01, 02, and 03, dated 

November 10, 2016. 

• Airbus Service Bulletin A330–53– 

3262, including Appendixes 01 and 02, 

dated June 23, 2015. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 165 / Monday, August 28, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 40671 

• Airbus Service Bulletin A340–53– 

5072, including Appendixes 01 and 02, 

dated June 23, 2015. 

This service information describes 

procedures for a one-time eddy current 

conductivity measurement of certain 

cabin and cargo compartment structural 

parts to determine if an incorrect 

aluminum alloy was used, and 

replacement of any affected part with a 

serviceable part. These documents are 

distinct because they apply to different 

parts on different airplanes. 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. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 37 

airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We also estimate that it takes about 17 

work-hours per product to comply with 

the basic requirements of this AD. The 

average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. 

Based on these figures, we estimate the 

cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be 

$53,465, or $1,445 per product. 

In addition, we estimate that any oncondition repairs take about 45 workhours and will require parts costing $0, 

for a cost of $3,825 per product. We 

have no way of determining the number 

of aircraft that might need these repairs. 

According to the manufacturer, some 

of the costs of this 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 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 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. 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. 

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 (AD): 

2017–17–08 Airbus: Amendment 39–18998; 

Docket No. FAA–2016–7264; Product 

Identifier 2015–NM–185–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective October 2, 2017. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to the Airbus airplanes 

identified in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of 

this AD, certificated in any category. 

(1) Airbus Model A330–201, –202, –203, 

–223, –223F, –243, –243F, –301, –302, –303, 

–321, –322, –323, –341, –342, and –343 

airplanes, manufacturer serial numbers 

identified in Airbus Service Bulletin A330– 

53–3261, Revision 01, including Appendixes 

01, 02, and 03, dated November 10, 2016; 

and/or Airbus Service Bulletin A330–53– 

3262, including Appendixes 01 and 02, dated 

June 23, 2015. 

(2) Airbus Model A340–541 and –642 

airplanes, manufacturer serial numbers 1030, 

1040, 1079, 1091, 1102, and 1122. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 53, Fuselage. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by a quality control 

review on the final assembly line, which 

determined that the wrong aluminum alloy 

was used to manufacture several structural 

parts. We are issuing this AD to detect and 

replace structural parts made of an incorrect 

aluminum alloy. This condition could result 

in reduced structural integrity of the 

airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) One-Time Measurement 

Except as provided by paragraph (i) of this 

AD: Within 6 years after the effective date of 

this AD, but not exceeding 12 years since the 

date of issuance of the original certificate of 

airworthiness or the date of issuance of the 

original export certificate of airworthiness; 

do a one-time eddy current conductivity 

measurement of the cabin and cargo 

compartment structural parts identified in 

the ‘‘Affected Part Number’’ column of table 

1 to paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD to 

determine if an incorrect aluminum alloy 

was used, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of the 

applicable service information identified in 

paragraph (g)(1), (g)(2), or (g)(3) of this AD. 

(1) For cargo compartment structural parts 

for Model A330 airplanes: Airbus Service 

Bulletin A330–53–3261, Revision 01, 

including Appendixes 01, 02, and 03, dated 

November 10, 2016. 

(2) For cabin structural parts for Model 

A330 airplanes: Airbus Service Bulletin 

A330–53–3262, including Appendixes 01 

and 02, dated June 23, 2015; except part 

number F5377004320300, which is located in 

the ‘‘cabin’’ area, but must be inspected in 

accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin 

A330–53–3261, Revision 01, including 

Appendixes 01, 02, and 03, dated November 

10, 2016. 

(3) For cargo compartment structural parts 

for Model A340 airplanes: Airbus Service 

Bulletin A340–53–5072, including 

Appendixes 01 and 02, dated June 23, 2015. 


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40672 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 165 / Monday, August 28, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 

TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPHS (g) AND (h) 

OF THIS AD—PARTS TO BE INSPECTED/INSTALLED

Affected part No. 

Acceptable 

replacement 

part No. 

Area 

F5347126620600 ... F5347126620000 ... Cabin. 

F5347126621000 ... F5347126620400 ... Cabin. 

F5377004320300 ... F5377004320351 ... Cabin. 

F5347170420400 ... F5347170420400 ... Cargo. 

F5347170420600 ... F5347170420600 ... Cargo. 

G5367131300000 ... G5367131300000 .. Cargo. 

G5367173700000 ... G5367173700000 .. Cargo. 

G5367173800000 ... G5367173800000 .. Cargo. 

(h) Replacement 

If during the inspection required by 

paragraph (g) of this AD, any affected part 

having a part number specified in table 1 to 

paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD is found to 

have a measured value greater than that 

specified in Figure A–GFAAA, Sheet 02, 

‘‘Inspection Flowchart,’’ of the applicable 

service information identified in paragraphs 

(g)(1), (g)(2), and (g)(3) of this AD, except as 

provided by paragraph (i) of this AD: Within 

6 years after the effective date of this AD, but 

not exceeding 12 years since the date of 

issuance of the original certificate of 

airworthiness or the date of issuance of the 

original export certificate of airworthiness, 

replace the affected part with an acceptable 

replacement part having a part number 

specified in table 1 to paragraphs (g) and (h) 

of this AD, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of the 

applicable service information identified in 

paragraph (g)(1), (g)(2), or (g)(3) of this AD. 

(i) Exception to Certain Service Information 

Where Figure A–GFAAA, Sheet 02, 

‘‘Inspection Flowchart,’’ of the service 

information identified in paragraphs (g)(2) 

and (g)(3) of this AD specifies to ‘‘do the 

conductivity (s) measurement with 60kHz 

(refer to Appendix 01) s480 = lllMS/m,’’ 

the correct conductivity measurement is 

‘‘s60 = lllMS/m.’’ 

(j) Additional Inspection for Certain 

Airplanes 

For Model A330 airplanes on which the 

inspection and replacement, as applicable, 

specified in paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD 

were done before the effective date of this 

AD, in accordance with Airbus Service 

Bulletin A330–53–3261, dated June 23, 2015: 

Within 6 years after the effective date of this 

AD, but not exceeding 12 years since the date 

of issuance of the original certificate of 

airworthiness or the date of issuance of the 

original export certificate of airworthiness, 

do a one-time eddy current conductivity 

measurement of structural parts having part 

number (P/N) G5367131300000, P/N 

G5367173700000, and P/N G5367173800000, 

located in fuselage section 15, in accordance 

with the ‘‘Additional Work’’ section of the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus 

Service Bulletin A330–53–3261, Revision 01, 

including Appendixes 01, 02, and 03, dated 

November 10, 2016. 

(k) Replacement 

If during the inspection required by 

paragraph (j) of this AD, any affected part 

having a part number specified in paragraph 

(j) of this AD is found to have a measured 

value greater than that specified in Figure A– 

GFAAA, Sheet 02, ‘‘Inspection Flowchart,’’ 

of Airbus Service Bulletin A330–53–3261, 

Revision 01, including Appendixes 01, 02, 

and 03, dated November 10, 2016: Within 6 

years after the effective date of this AD, but 

not exceeding 12 years since the date of 

issuance of the original certificate of 

airworthiness or the date of issuance of the 

original export certificate of airworthiness, 

replace the affected part with an acceptable 

replacement part having a part number 

specified in table 1 to paragraphs (g) and (h) 

of this AD, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus 

Service Bulletin A330–53–3261, Revision 01, 

including Appendixes 01, 02, and 03, dated 

November 10, 2016. 

(l) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 

Section, Transport Standards 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 manager of the International 

Section, send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (m)(2) of this AD. 

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 Section, 

Transport Standards Branch, 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 DOAauthorized signature. 

(3) Required for Compliance (RC): 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. 

(m) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) EASA 

Airworthiness Directive 2017–0021, dated 

February 8, 2017, 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–2016–7264. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace 

Engineer, International Section, Transport 

Standards Branch, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue 

SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356; telephone 

425–227–1138; fax 425–227–1149. 

(n) 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) Airbus Service Bulletin A330–53–3261, 

Revision 01, including Appendixes 01, 02, 

and 03, dated November 10, 2016. 

(ii) Airbus Service Bulletin A330–53–3262, 

including Appendixes 01 and 02, dated June 

23, 2015. 

(iii) Airbus Service Bulletin A340–53– 

5072, including Appendixes 01 and 02, dated 

June 23, 2015. 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness 

Office—EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 

31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 

5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; email 

airworthiness.A330-A340@airbus.com; 

Internet http://www.airbus.com. 

(4) 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. 

(5) You may view this service information 

that is incorporated by reference at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on 

the availability of this material at NARA, call 

202–741–6030, or go to: http://

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

Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 

9, 2017. 

Dionne Palermo, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–17536 Filed 8–25–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–0337; Product 

Identifier 2017–NM–006–AD; Amendment 

39–19006; AD 2017–17–16] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 


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