Document ID: FAA-2020-0908-0003
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Airbus SAS Airplanes
Posted Date: 2020-10-27T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 208 (Tuesday, October 27, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67965-67966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23658]

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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 208 / Tuesday, October 27, 2020 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 67965]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0908; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01256-T; 
Amendment 39-21282; AD 2020-21-09]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments; correction.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is correcting an airworthiness directive (AD) that 
published in the Federal Register. That AD applies to all Airbus SAS 
Model A318 series airplanes; Model A319 series airplanes; Model A320 
series airplanes; and Model A321 series airplanes. As published, a 
paragraph reference located in the reporting exception is incorrect. 
This document corrects that error. In all other respects, the original 
document remains the same.

DATES: This correction is effective October 30, 2020. The effective 
date of AD 2020-21-09 remains October 30, 2020.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 30, 
2020 (85 FR 65200, October 15, 2020).
    The date by which the FAA must receive comments on AD 2020-21-09 
remains November 30, 2020.

ADDRESSES: For material incorporated by reference (IBR) in this AD, 
contact the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Konrad-
Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +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-2020-0908.

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-2020-
0908; 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; phone and fax: 206-231-3223; 
email: sanjay.ralhan@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AD 2020-21-09, Amendment 39-21282 (85 FR 
65200, October 15, 2020) (AD 2020-21-09), currently requires a general 
visual inspection of the main landing gear (MLG) sliding tubes for 
cracks, and replacement, if necessary. That AD applies to all Airbus 
SAS Model A318 series airplanes; Model A319 series airplanes; Model 
A320 series airplanes; and Model A321 series airplanes.

Need for the Correction

    As published, paragraph (h)(3) of the regulatory text of AD 2020-
21-09 contains a reference to paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2020-0193, dated 
September 7, 2020 (EASA AD 2020-0193). However, paragraph (h)(3) of AD 
2020-21-09 is an exception to the reporting required by EASA AD 2020-
0193. The correct reference to the reporting requirement is paragraph 
(3) of EASA AD 2020-0193.

Related IBR Material Under 1 CFR Part 51

    EASA AD 2020-0193 describes procedures for a general visual 
inspection of the MLG sliding tubes for cracks, and replacement, if 
necessary. 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.

Correction of Publication

    This document corrects an error and correctly adds the AD as an 
amendment to 14 CFR 39.13. Although no other part of the preamble or 
regulatory information has been corrected, the FAA is publishing the 
entire rule in the Federal Register.
    The effective date of this AD remains October 30, 2020.
    Since this action only corrects a paragraph reference located in 
the reporting exception, it has no adverse economic impact and imposes 
no additional burden on any person. Therefore, the FAA has determined 
that notice and public procedures are unnecessary.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Correction

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (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  [Corrected]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2020-21-09 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-21282; Docket No. FAA-2020-0908; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01256-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective October 30, 2020.

[[Page 67966]]

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all the Airbus SAS airplanes identified in 
paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this AD, certificated in any 
category.
    (1) Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes.
    (2) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -
151N, -153N, and -171N airplanes.
    (3) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -
252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes.
    (4) Airbus SAS Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -
231, -232, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -251NX, -252NX, -
253NX, -271NX, and -272NX airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 32, Landing 
gear.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of cracks on the main landing 
gear (MLG) sliding tubes. The FAA is issuing this AD to address 
cracks on the MLG sliding tubes, which could cause MLG sliding tube 
fracture, and could possibly result in the MLG collapsing, damaging 
the airplane, and injuring occupants.

(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 2020-0193, dated September 7, 2020 (EASA AD 
2020-0193).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2020-0193

    (1) Where EASA AD 2020-0193 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) The ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 2020-0193 does not apply 
to this AD.
    (3) Paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2020-0193 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)(3)(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 15 days after the inspection.
    (ii) If the inspection was done before the effective date of 
this AD: Submit the report within 15 days after the effective date 
of 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-AIR-730-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 
paragraphs (h)(3) and (i)(2) of this AD, if any service information 
referenced in EASA AD 2020-0193 contains paragraphs that are labeled 
as RC, the instructions in RC paragraphs, including subparagraphs 
under an RC paragraph, must be done to comply with this AD; any 
paragraphs, including subparagraphs under those paragraphs, that are 
not identified as RC are recommended. The instructions in 
paragraphs, including subparagraphs under those paragraphs, 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 instructions 
identified as RC can be done and the airplane can be put back in an 
airworthy condition. Any substitutions or changes to instructions 
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; phone 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.
    (3) The following service information was approved for IBR on 
October 30, 2020 (85 FR 65200, October 15, 2020).
    (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020-0193, 
dated September 7, 2020.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (4) For EASA AD 2020-0193, contact the 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.
    (5) 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-2020-0908.
    (6) 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 
fedreg.legal@nara.gov, or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on October 21, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-23658 Filed 10-26-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P