Document ID: FAA-2023-0434-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Airbus SAS Airplanes
Posted Date: 2023-03-24T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 57 (Friday, March 24, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17751-17752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05710]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-0434; Product Identifier 91-NM-255-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to remove Airworthiness Directive (AD) 92-02-
14, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A320 series airplanes. AD 
92-02-14 was prompted by failure of the overwing emergency escape 
slides to deploy due to incorrect cable installations. AD 92-02-14 
requires inspection for correct installation of the flexible control 
cables on the overwing emergency escape slides. AD 92-02-14 is no 
longer necessary because no new occurrences of incorrect cable 
installations have been reported, and existing maintenance activities 
are adequate to prevent new occurrences. Therefore, the FAA has 
determined that AD 92-02-14 is no longer necessary. Accordingly, the 
FAA proposes to remove AD 92-02-14.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 8, 
2023.

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 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.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-0434; 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 NPRM, mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The 
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, Large 
Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 
216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone 206-231-3225; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2023-0434; Product Identifier 
91-NM-255-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
the proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The 
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this proposed AD.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as

[[Page 17752]]

private, and that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is 
important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. 
Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as ``PROPIN.'' 
The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the 
FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. 
Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Dan Rodina, Aerospace 
Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 
2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone 206-231-3225; email 
[email protected]. Any commentary that the FAA receives that is not 
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for 
this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA issued AD 92-02-14, Amendment 39-8150 (57 FR 5375, February 
14, 1992) (AD 92-02-14), for certain Airbus SAS Model A320 series 
airplanes. AD 92-02-14 was prompted by failure of the overwing 
emergency escape slides to deploy due to incorrect cable installations. 
AD 92-02-14 requires inspection for correct installation of the 
flexible control cables on the overwing emergency escape slides. The 
FAA issued AD 92-02-14 to prevent failure of the overwing emergency 
escape slides to deploy, which would compromise use of the exit during 
an emergency.
    AD 92-02-14 corresponded to AD 91-153-018, dated July 10, 1991, 
issued by the Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation Civile 
(DGAC), the former airworthiness authority of France (DGAC France AD 
91-153-018).

Actions Since AD 92-02-14 Was Issued

    Since the FAA issued AD 92-02-14, EASA issued AD Cancellation 
Notice 2022-0160-CN, dated August 4, 2022 (EASA AD Cancellation Notice 
2022-0160-CN), to cancel DGAC France AD 91-153-018. EASA Cancellation 
Notice 2022-0160-CN states that since DGAC France AD 91-153-018 was 
issued, affected slides have been overhauled (dismantled and 
maintained) every 3 calendar years. No new occurrences have been 
reported of incorrect cable installations. It has also been determined 
that existing Aircraft Maintenance Manual and Maintenance Review Board 
Report tasks are adequate to prevent new occurrences.

FAA's Conclusions

    Upon further consideration, the FAA has determined that AD 92-02-14 
is no longer necessary. Accordingly, this proposed AD would remove AD 
92-02-14. Removal of AD 92-02-14 would not prevent the FAA from issuing 
another related action or commit the FAA to any course of action in the 
future. This proposed AD would terminate, and therefore remove, all 
requirements of AD 92-02-14.

Related Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would add no cost. This proposed AD would remove 
AD 92-02-14 from 14 CFR part 39; therefore, operators would no longer 
be required to show compliance with that AD.

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.
    The FAA is 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.

Regulatory Findings

    The FAA has 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 that the proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 92-02-14, Amendment 39-8150 (57 FR 
5375, February 14, 1992), and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:

Airbus SAS: Docket No. FAA-2023-0434; Product Identifier 91-NM-255-
AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by May 8, 2023.

(b) Affected Airworthiness Directive (AD)

    This AD replaces AD 92-02-14, Amendment 39-8150 (57 FR 5375, 
February 14, 1992) (AD 92-02-14).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Model A320-211, A320-212, and A320-231 
airplanes, certificated in any category, manufacturer serial numbers 
002 through 162 inclusive, 167, and 171 through 174 inclusive.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25, Equipment/
Furnishings.

(e) Terminating Action

    This AD terminates all requirements of AD 92-02-14.

(f) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Dan Rodina, 
Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation 
Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone 206-
231-3225; email [email protected].

(g) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on March 14, 2023.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-05710 Filed 3-23-23; 8:45 am]
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