Document ID: FAA-2017-0514-0005
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Airbus Airplanes
Posted Date: 2018-01-16T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 16, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2042-2045]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00110]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0514; Product Identifier 2016-NM-206-AD; Amendment 
39-19148; AD 2018-01-07]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and 
Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-
600 series airplanes) airplanes. This AD was prompted by a revision of 
certain airworthiness limitation item (ALI) documents, which require 
more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness 
limitations. This AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection 
program, as applicable, to incorporate new maintenance requirements and 
airworthiness limitations. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective February 20, 2018.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of February 20, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office--EAW, 1 Rond Point Maurice 
Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax 
+33 5 61 93 44 51; email [email protected]; 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-2017-
0514.

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-
0514; 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: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 1601 Lind 
Avenue SW, Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-2125; fax 425-227-
1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Airbus Model A300 B4-
600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R 
Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series 
airplanes). The NPRM published in the Federal Register on June 2, 2017 
(82 FR 25552) (``the NPRM'').
    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 
2016-0218, dated November 2, 2016 (referred to after this as the 
Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to 
correct an unsafe condition for all Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, 
and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F 
airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes). The 
MCAI states:

    The airworthiness limitations for Airbus A300-600 aeroplanes, 
which are approved by EASA, are currently defined and published in 
the Airbus A300-600 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) 
document(s). These instructions have been identified as mandatory 
actions for continued airworthiness.
    Failure to accomplish these instructions could result in an 
unsafe condition.
    EASA previously issued [EASA] AD 2014-0124 (later revised) 
[which includes actions for Airbus A300-600 airplanes; those actions 
are included in FAA AD 2013-13-13, Amendment 39-17501 (79 FR 48957, 
August 19, 2014) (``AD 2013-13-13'')], requiring the actions 
described in Airbus A300-600 Airworthiness Limitation Item (ALI) 
Document at issue 13 and Temporary Revision (TR) 13.1.
    Since EASA AD 2014-0124R1 was issued, Airbus replaced A300-600 
ALI Document issue 13, with A300-600 ALS Part 2 Revision 01 and then 
published the A300-600 ALS Part 2 Variation 1.1 and Variation 1.2, 
to introduce more restrictive maintenance requirements and/or 
airworthiness limitations.
    A300-600 ALS Part 2 Variation 1.1 also includes ALI 571067 and 
ALI 571068, superseding Service Bulletin A300-53-6154, which is 
referenced in EASA AD 2006-0257 [which corresponds to FAA AD 2007-
22-05, Amendment 39-15241 (72 FR 60236, October 24, 2007) (``AD 
2007-22-05'')].
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD retains part of 
the requirements of EASA AD 2014-0124R1, which will be superseded, 
and requires accomplishment of the actions specified in Airbus A300-
600 ALS Part 2 Revision 01, and ALS Part 2 Variation 1.1 and ALS 
Part 2 Variation 1.2 (hereafter collectively referred to as `the 
ALS' in this [EASA] AD), and supersedes EASA AD 2006-0257. The 
remaining requirements of EASA AD 2014-0124R1 are retained in AD 
2016-0217, applicable to A310 aeroplanes, published at the same time 
as this [EASA] AD.

    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-
0514.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and 
the FAA's response. FedEx generally supported the NPRM.

Request To Provide an Additional Compliance Time Grace Period

    United Parcel Service (UPS) requested that the compliance time 
specified in paragraph (g) of the NPRM be revised to add an additional 
grace period. UPS pointed out that there are several new or revised 
tasks with relatively low compliance time thresholds that would lead to 
short lead times on accomplishing those tasks after the effective date 
of the AD. UPS referenced the compliance time required in AD

[[Page 2043]]

2013-13-13 as an example of the type of grace period it envisions, 
which specifies that a compliance time, in flight cycles (FC), that is 
after the publication date of the applicable service information should 
be considered as after the effective date of that AD. UPS suggested 
that where the compliance time in Airbus A300-600 Airworthiness 
Limitations Section (ALS), Part 2, ``Damage Tolerant Airworthiness 
Limitation Items (DT--ALI),'' Revision 01, dated August 7, 2015, 
specifies ``within 2000 FC from Jun 11/15,'' the proposed AD should 
specify that phrase as ``within 2000 FC from the effective date of this 
AD.'' UPS anticipated submitting a request for an alternative method of 
compliance (AMOC) if the additional grace period is not added.
    We do not agree with the commenter's request to add an additional 
grace period. We have reviewed the compliance times specified in the 
service information and have determined that the compliance times 
specified and grace periods provided in both the service information 
and in paragraph (g) of this AD are sufficient to allow compliance. 
However, under the provisions of paragraph (j)(1) of this AD, we will 
also consider requests for approval of an extension of the compliance 
time if sufficient data are submitted to substantiate that the new 
compliance time would provide an acceptable level of safety. We have 
not changed the AD in this regard.

Request To Allow AMOCs Previously Approved for AD 2013-13-13

    FedEx requested that AMOCs for AD 2013-13-13 be applicable to this 
AD. No further justification was provided.
    We agree to allow AMOCs that were previously approved for AD 2013-
13-13 as AMOCs for this AD. We have revised paragraph (j)(1) of this AD 
and added paragraphs (j)(1)(i) and (j)(1)(ii) to this AD to add that 
provision.

Request To Revise Cost Estimate

    FedEx requested that the cost information be revised to include the 
costs of additional actions such as AD tracking and planning, changing 
work cards and the maintenance program, getting local FAA approvals, 
and aircraft down time. FedEx proposed that the cost for U.S. operators 
would exceed $500,000.
    We agree to revise the cost information. Based on the information 
provided by FedEx, we have revised the estimated work-hours from 1 
work-hour to 90 work-hours. We recognize that revising the maintenance 
or inspection program to incorporate changes in multiple tasks or a new 
revision level of a section of an ALS document would take more time 
than a change in a single task. The cost analysis in AD rulemaking 
actions, however, typically does not include incidental costs such as 
the time necessary for planning or time necessitated by other 
administrative actions. Those incidental costs, which might vary 
significantly among operators, are almost impossible to calculate.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this AD with the changes described previously and minor editorial 
changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
     Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
     Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.
    We also determined that these changes will not increase the 
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed the following service information:
     Airbus A300-600 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS), 
Part 2, ``Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT--ALI),'' 
Revision 01, dated August 7, 2015.
     Airbus A300-600 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS), 
Part 2, ``Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT--ALI),'' 
Variation 1.1, dated January 25, 2016.
     Airbus A300-600 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS), 
Part 2, ``Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT--ALI),'' 
Variation 1.2, dated July 22, 2016.
    The service information describes airworthiness limitations 
applicable to the DT ALIs. These documents are distinct because they 
contain unique tasks. 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 128 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
              Action                      Labor cost              Parts cost          product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maintenance program revision.....  90 work-hours x $85 per   None...............          $7,650        $979,200
                                    hour = $7,650.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[[Page 2044]]

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

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):

2018-01-07 Airbus: Amendment 39-19148; Docket No. FAA-2017-0514; 
Product Identifier 2016-NM-206-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective February 20, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD affects AD 2007-22-05, Amendment 39-15241 (72 FR 60236, 
October 24, 2007) (``AD 2007-22-05'') and AD 2013-13-13, Amendment 
39-17501 (79 FR 48957, August 19, 2014) (``AD 2013-13-13'').

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Airbus Model A300 B4-601, B4-603, B4-620, 
B4-622, B4-605R, B4-622R, F4-605R, F4-622R, and C4-605R Variant F 
airplanes, certificated in any category, all manufacturer serial 
numbers.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 05, Time limits/
maintenance checks.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a revision of certain airworthiness 
limitation item (ALI) documents, which require more restrictive 
maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking, damage, or corrosion in 
principal structural elements, which could result in reduced 
structural integrity of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Revision of Maintenance or Inspection Program

    Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, revise the 
maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the 
information specified in the service information identified in 
paragraphs (g)(1), (g)(2), and (g)(3) of this AD. The initial 
compliance times for doing the tasks are at the time specified in 
the service information identified in paragraphs (g)(1), (g)(2), and 
(g)(3) of this AD, or within 3 months after the effective date of 
this AD, whichever occurs later.
    (1) Airbus A300-600 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS), 
Part 2, ``Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT--
ALI),'' Revision 01, dated August 7, 2015.
    (2) Airbus A300-600 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS), 
Part 2, ``Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT--
ALI),'' Variation 1.1, dated January 25, 2016.
    (3) Airbus A300-600 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS), 
Part 2, ``Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT--
ALI),'' Variation 1.2, dated July 22, 2016.

(h) No Alternative Actions or Intervals

    After the maintenance or inspection program has been revised as 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., 
inspections), or intervals, may be used unless the actions, or 
intervals, are approved as an alternative method of compliance 
(AMOC) in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph 
(j)(1) of this AD.

(i) Terminating Actions

    Accomplishing the actions required by this AD terminates all of 
the requirements of AD 2007-22-05 and AD 2013-13-13 for that 
airplane only.

(j) 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 International Section, send it to the attention of 
the person identified in paragraph (l)(2) of this AD. Information 
may be emailed to: [email protected].
    (i) 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.
    (ii) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2013-13-13 are approved as 
AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of this AD.
    (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 DOA-
authorized signature.

(k) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) EASA Airworthiness Directive 2016-0218, dated November 2, 
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-2017-0514.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Dan Rodina, 
Aerospace Engineer, International Section, Transport Standards 
Branch, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW, Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone 
425-227-2125; fax 425-227-1149.

(l) 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 A300-600 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS), 
Part 2, ``Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT--
ALI),'' Revision 01, dated August 7, 2015.
    (ii) Airbus A300-600 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS), 
Part 2, ``Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT--
ALI),'' Variation 1.1, dated January 25, 2016.
    (iii) Airbus A300-600 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS), 
Part 2, ``Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT--
ALI),'' Variation 1.2, dated July 22, 2016.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office--EAW, 1 Rond Point Maurice 
Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; 
fax +33 5 61 93 44 51; email [email protected]; 
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

[[Page 2045]]

the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go 
to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 27, 2017.
John P. Piccola, Jr.,
Acting Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-00110 Filed 1-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P