This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

44539 

Vol. 82, No. 184 

Monday, September 25, 2017 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–0505; Product 

Identifier 2017–NE–15–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Zodiac 

Aerotechnics, Oxygen Mask 

Regulators 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Zodiac Aerotechnics oxygen mask 

regulators. This proposed AD was 

prompted by reports that certain silicon 

harness inflation hoses, installed on 

certain flight crew quick donning mask 

harnesses, have shown an unusually 

high premature rupture rate. This 

proposed AD would require inspection 

and replacement of oxygen mask 

regulator harness inflation hoses. We are 

proposing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this NPRM by November 9, 2017. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility, 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 

Washington, DC 20590–0001. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Zodiac 

Aerotechnics, 61 rue Pierre Curie BP 1, 

78373 Plaisir, CEDEX, France; phone: 

+33 1 6486 6964; email: 

Christophe.besset@

zodiacaerospace.com or Yann.laine@

zodiacaerospace.com. You may view 

this service information at the FAA, 

Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 

Policy and Innovation Division, 1200 

District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 781–238–7125. 

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–2017– 

0505; or in person at the Docket 

Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this proposed AD, the 

mandatory continuing airworthiness 

information (MCAI), the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The address for the 

Docket Office (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

in the ADDRESSES section. Comments 

will be available in the AD docket 

shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin 

Hulverson, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 

Boston ACO Branch, Compliance and 

Airworthiness Division, 1200 District 

Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 

781–238–7655; fax: 781–238–7199; 

email: erin.hulverson@faa.gov. 

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–2017–0505; Product Identifier 

2017–NE–15–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 because of 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 with FAA 

personnel concerning this proposed AD. 

Discussion 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, has issued EASA AD 2014– 

0142, Revision 1, dated June 11, 2014 

(referred to hereinafter as ‘‘the MCAI’’), 

to correct an unsafe condition for the 

specified products. The MCAI states: 

Recent reported occurrences have shown 

that for harness hoses P/N 445952, installed 

on certain flight crew quick donning mask 

harnesses (also known as ‘comfort’ harness) 

having P/N MXH21–1, suspected silicon 

batches may have been used during 

manufacture, which have shown an 

unusually high premature rupture rate. The 

affected P/N MXH21–1 inflatable harness 

assembly consists of two main parts that can 

be disassembled; the harness itself and the 

harness inflation hose, P/N 445952. 

This condition, if not detected and 

corrected, could lead, in case of a sudden 

depressurization event, to a harness rupture, 

thereby providing inadequate protection 

against hypoxia of the affected flight crew 

member, possibly resulting in 

unconsciousness and consequent reduced 

control of the aeroplane. 

You may obtain further information 

by examining the MCAI in the AD 

docket on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2017– 

0505. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

Zodiac Aerotechnics has issued 

Service Bulletin (SB) No. MC10–35–274, 

Revision 2, dated June 25, 2014. The SB 

describes procedures for inspecting and 

replacing, if necessary, oxygen mask 

regulator inflatable harnesses. 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 

EASA, and is approved for operation in 

the United States. Pursuant to our 

bilateral agreement with the European 

Community, EASA has notified us of 

the unsafe condition described in the 

MCAI and service information 

referenced above. We are proposing this 

AD because we evaluated all 

information provided by EASA and 

determined the unsafe condition exists 


asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with PROPOSALS
44540 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 184 / Monday, September 25, 2017 / Proposed Rules 

and is likely to exist or develop on other 

products of the same type design. This 

proposed AD would require inspection 

and preventive replacement, if 

necessary, of potentially defective 

oxygen mask regulator inflatable 

harnesses. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects an unknown number of oxygen 

mask regulators installed on, but not 

limited to, various aircraft of U.S. 

registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Date of manufacturing code review ............................. 0.1 work-hours × $85 per hour = $8.50 ....................... $0 $8.50 

Hose replacement ........................................................ 0.3 work-hours × $85 per hour = $25.50 ..................... 1,465.00 1,490.50 

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 engines, propellers, and 

associated appliances to the Manager, 

Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 

Policy and Innovation Division. 

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 to the extent that it justifies 

making a regulatory distinction, 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): 

Zodiac Aerotechnics (formerly 

Intertechnique): Docket No. FAA–2017– 

0505; Product Identifier 2017–NE–15– 

AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by November 

9, 2017. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Zodiac Aerotechnics 

MC10 series crew oxygen mask regulators 

fitted with an inflatable harness assembly, 

part number (P/N) MXH20–1 or MXH21–1, 

fitted with harness inflation hose, P/N 

445186 or P/N 445952. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 3510, Crew Oxygen System. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by reports that 

certain silicon harness inflation hoses, 

installed on certain flight crew quick 

donning mask harnesses (also known as 

‘comfort’ harness), have shown an unusually 

high premature rupture rate. We are issuing 

this AD to prevent a harness rupture during 

a sudden depressurization event that could 

result in hypoxia and subsequent 

unconsciousness of the affected flight crew 

member, and consequent reduced control of 

the aircraft. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

(1) Within 24 months after the effective 

date of this AD, determine the date of 

manufacturing (DMF) code of each inflatable 

harness assembly, P/N MXH20–1 and 

MXH21–1, fitted to a flight crew oxygen 

mask regulator, having a P/N listed in 

Section 1.A.(1) of Zodiac Aerotechnics 

Service Bulletin (SB) MC10–35–274, 

Revision 2, dated June 25, 2014. A review of 

airplane delivery or maintenance records is 

acceptable to make the determination as 

specified in this paragraph, provided those 

records can be relied upon for that purpose, 

and the DMF of the inflatable harness 

assembly, P/N MXH20–1 or P/N MXH21–1, 

as applicable, can be conclusively identified 

from that review. 

(2) If during the review required by 

paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, the DMF code of 

the inflatable harness assembly, P/N 

MXH20–1 or P/N MXH21–1, is found to be 

between 0850–S and 1051–S (inclusive): 

Within 24 months after the effective date of 

this AD, replace the harness inflation hose, 

P/N 445186 or P/N 445952, as applicable, 

with a part eligible for installation, or remove 

the inflatable harness assembly from the 

mask regulator and replace it with an 

inflatable harness assembly eligible for 

installation. 

(3) An oxygen mask regulator equipped 

with an inflatable harness assembly, P/N 

MXH20–1 or P/N MXH21–1, having a DMF 

code of November 2008 (0845–S or 08/45–S) 

or earlier, and those with a DMF code of 


asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 184 / Monday, September 25, 2017 / Proposed Rules 44541 

January 2011 (1101–S or 11/01–S) or later, is 

excluded from the review and replacement 

requirements of this AD, provided it can be 

demonstrated that neither the inflatable 

harness assembly, nor the harness inflation 

hose, P/N 445186 or P/N 445952, as 

applicable, was replaced on that mask. A 

review of airplane delivery or maintenance 

records is acceptable to make the 

determination, provided those records can be 

relied upon for that purpose. 

(h) Installation Prohibition 

(1) After the effective date of this AD, do 

not install on any airplane a flight crew 

oxygen mask regulator with a P/N listed in 

Planning Information, Section 1.A.(1) of 

Zodiac Aerotechnics SB MC10–35–274, 

Revision 2, dated June 25, 2014. 

(2) After the effective date of this AD, an 

inflatable harness assembly, with a P/N 

identified in Section 1.A.(1) of Zodiac 

Aerotechnics SB MC10–35–274, is eligible 

for installation, provided it has been 

determined that a P/N MXH20–1 or P/N 

MXH21–1 inflatable harness installed on that 

flight crew oxygen mask regulator has been 

inspected, and re-marked with an ‘‘I’’ as 

required by Material Information, Section 

2.E. of Zodiac Aerotechnics SB MC10–35– 

274, Revision 2, dated June 25, 2014. 

(3) After the effective date of this AD, an 

inflatable harness assembly, with a P/N 

identified in Section 1.A.(1) of Zodiac 

Aerotechnics SB MC10–35–274, is eligible 

for installation, provided it has been 

determined that an inflatable harness, P/N 

MXH21–31, is installed, or that the inflatable 

harness, P/N MXH20–1 or P/N MXH21–1, 

installed on that flight crew oxygen mask 

regulator has been corrected, and re-marked 

with a ‘‘W’’ as required by Accomplishment 

Instructions, Section 3.C. of Zodiac 

Aerotechnics SB MC10–35–274, Revision 2, 

dated June 25, 2014. 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, FAA, Boston ACO 

Branch, Compliance and Airworthiness 

Division, 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 ACO Branch, send it 

to the attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (j)(1) of this AD. You may email 

your request to: ANE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov. 

(2) 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. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Erin Hulverson, Aerospace Engineer, 

FAA, Boston ACO Branch, Compliance and 

Airworthiness Division, 1200 District 

Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781– 

238–7655; fax: 781–238–7199; email: 

erin.hulverson@faa.gov. 

(2) Refer to MCAI EASA AD 2014–0142, 

Revision 1, dated June 11, 2014, for more 

information. You may examine the MCAI in 

the AD docket on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for and 

locating it in Docket No. FAA–2017–0505. 

(3) Zodiac Aerotechnics SB MC10–35–274, 

Revision 2, dated June 25, 2014, can be 

obtained from Zodiac Aerotechnics, using the 

contact information in paragraph (j)(4) of this 

proposed AD. 

(4) For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Zodiac 

Aerotechnics, 61 rue Pierre Curie BP 1, 78373 

Plaisir, CEDEX, France; phone: +33 1 6486 

6964; email: Christophe.besset@

zodiacaerospace.com or Yann.laine@

zodiacaerospace.com. 

(5) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards 

Branch, Policy and Innovation Division, 1200 

District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 781–238–7125. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on 

September 11, 2017. 

Robert J. Ganley, 

Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards 

Branch, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–20267 Filed 9–22–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–0721; Airspace 

Docket No. 17–AGL–15] 

Proposed Amendment of Class E 

Airspace; Charlotte, MI 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This action proposes to 

modify Class E airspace extending 

upward from 700 feet above the surface 

at Fitch H. Beach Airport, Charlotte, MI. 

The FAA is proposing this action due to 

the decommissioning of the Lansing 

VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) and 

collocated tactical air navigation 

(TACAN), which provided navigation 

guidance for the instrument procedures 

to this airport. The VOR/TACAN is 

being decommissioned as part of the 

VOR Minimum Operational Network 

(MON) Program. This action would 

enhance safety and management of 

instrument flight rules (IFR) operations 

at this airport. Additionally, the 

geographic coordinates of the airport 

would be adjusted to coincide with the 

FAA’s aeronautical database. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before November 9, 2017. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this 

proposal to the U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590; telephone (202) 

366–9826, or (800) 647–5527. You must 

identify FAA Docket No. FAA–2017– 

0721; Airspace Docket No. 17–AGL–15, 

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. 

FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace 

Designations and Reporting Points, and 

subsequent amendments can be viewed 

online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/ 

publications/. For further information, 

you can contact the Airspace Policy 

Group, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 800 Independence 

Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; 

telephone: (202) 267–8783. The Order is 

also available for inspection at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of FAA 

Order 7400.11B at NARA, call (202) 

741–6030, or go to http://

www.archives.gov/federal_register/ 

code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_

locations.html. 

FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace 

Designations and Reporting Points, is 

published yearly and effective on 

September 15. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation 

Administration, Operations Support 

Group, Central Service Center, 10101 

Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 

76177; telephone (817) 222–5711. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

The FAA’s authority to issue rules 

regarding aviation safety is found in 

Title 49 of the United States Code. 

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. This rulemaking is 

promulgated under the authority 

described in Subtitle VII, Part A, 

Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that 

section, the FAA is charged with 

prescribing regulations to assign the use 

of airspace necessary to ensure the 

safety of aircraft and the efficient use of 

airspace. This regulation is within the 

scope of that authority as it would 

amend Class E airspace extending 

upward from 700 feet above the surface 

at Fitch H. Beach Airport, Charlotte, MI, 


asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with PROPOSALS