Document ID: FAA-2017-0622-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Airbus Airplanes
Posted Date: 2017-06-23T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 120 (Friday, June 23, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28596-28599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13129]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0622; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-192-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 
certain Airbus Model A318 and A319 series airplanes; Model A320-211, -
212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -
131, -211,

[[Page 28597]]

-212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by 
reports of a vertical strut penetrating through the cabin floor during 
an emergency water landing and on airframe ground contact at certain 
speeds/accelerations. This proposed AD would require modification of 
the fuselage structure at frame (FR) 65. We are proposing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 7, 2017.

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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, 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-2017-
0622; 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-2017-0622; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-192-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 2016-0212, dated October 25, 2016 (referred to 
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Airbus Model 
A318 and A319 series airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -231, -232, 
and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -
231, and -232 airplanes. The MCAI states:

    In service occurrences were reported where, as a consequence 
[during an emergency water landing and] of an airframe ground 
contact above certified vertical speed/vertical acceleration, the 
vertical strut at Frame (FR) 65 penetrated through the cabin floor.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to injury of 
occupants and/or delays during emergency evacuation.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Airbus developed mod 
153724, a structural change which prevents the central vertical 
strut at FR65 to pass through the cabin floor, and issued Service 
Bulletin (SB) A320-53-1262 to provide instructions for installation 
of this modification on aeroplanes in service. After SB A320-53-1262 
was issued, incorrect MSN [manufacturer serial number] allocations 
and configuration definitions were identified in it. Consequently 
Airbus revised that SB, and in addition issued SB A320-53-1333 and 
SB A320-53-1334.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
modification of the fuselage structure at FR65.

    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-2017-
0622.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Airbus has issued the following Airbus service information:
     Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1262, excluding Appendix 
01 and including Appendix 02, Revision 01, dated July 29, 2016;
     Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1333, excluding Appendix 
01 and including Appendix 02, dated July 29, 2016; and
     Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1334, excluding Appendix 
01 and including Appendixes 02 and 03, dated July 29, 2016.
    The service information describes procedures for modifying the 
fuselage structure at FR 65. These documents are distinct since they 
apply to different airplane configurations. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 1,123 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

[[Page 28598]]

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modification..........................  18 work-hours x $85 per          $16,600         $18,130     $20,359,990
                                         hour = $1,530.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2017-0622; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-
192-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by August 7, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the airplanes identified in paragraphs 
(c)(1), (c)(2), (c)(3), and (c)(4) of this AD, certificated in any 
category, all manufacturer serial numbers, except those on which 
Airbus Modification 153724 was embodied in production.
    (1) Airbus Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes.
    (2) Airbus Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, 
and -133 airplanes.
    (3) Airbus Model A320-211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 
airplanes.
    (4) Airbus Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, 
and -232 airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.

(e) Reason

    This proposed AD was prompted by reports of a vertical strut 
penetrating through the cabin floor during an emergency water 
landing and on airframe ground contact at certain speeds/
accelerations. We are issuing this AD to prevent the central 
vertical strut at frame (FR) 65 from penetrating through the cabin 
floor in certain conditions, which could lead to injury of occupants 
and delays during an emergency evacuation.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Modification

    Within 72 months after the effective date of this AD, modify the 
fuselage structure at FR 65, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the applicable service bulletin specified in 
paragraph (g)(1), (g)(2), or (g)(3) of this AD.
    (1) For Model A318 and A319 series airplanes; Model A320-211, -
212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, 
-131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes, as identified in 
Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1262, Revision 01, dated July 29, 
2016: Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1262, excluding Appendix 01 
and including Appendix 02, Revision 01, dated July 29, 2016.
    (2) For Model A320-211, -212, -214, -232, and -233 airplanes, as 
identified in Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1333, dated July 29, 
2016: Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1333, excluding Appendix 01 
and including Appendix 02, dated July 29, 2016.
    (3) For Model A321-211, -213, and -231 airplanes as identified 
in Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1334, dated July 29, 2016: Airbus 
Service Bulletin A320-53-1334, excluding Appendix 01 and including 
Appendixes 02 and 03, dated July 29, 2016.

(h) 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 manager of the International Branch, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in paragraph (i)(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 
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.
    (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

[[Page 28599]]

an airworthy condition. Any substitutions or changes to procedures 
or tests identified as RC require approval of an AMOC.

(i) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) EASA Airworthiness Directive 2016-0212, dated October 25, 
2016, 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-2017-0622.
    (2) For more information about this AD, 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. Information may be 
emailed to: 9-ANM-116-AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov.
    (3) 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 2, 2017.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-13129 Filed 6-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P