Document ID: FAA-2016-9574-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Airbus Airplanes
Posted Date: 2017-02-17T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 32 (Friday, February 17, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10968-10971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03019]

[[Page 10968]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9574; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-063-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Airbus Model A300 series airplanes; 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); and Model A310 
series airplanes. This proposed AD is intended to complete certain 
mandated programs intended to support the airplane reaching its limit 
of validity (LOV) of the engineering data that support the established 
structural maintenance program. This proposed AD would require 
inspecting the forward passenger doors to identify the part number, and 
for affected doors, inspecting to identify existing repairs and 
corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing this AD to address 
the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 3, 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 
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: 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-2016-
9574; 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: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone: 425-227-2125; 
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-2016-9574; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-063-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

    As described in FAA Advisory Circular 120-104 (http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/120-104.pdf), several programs 
have been developed to support initiatives that will ensure the 
continued airworthiness of aging airplane structure. The last element 
of those initiatives is the requirement to establish an LOV of the 
engineering data that support the structural maintenance program under 
14 CFR 26.21. This proposed AD is the result of an assessment of the 
previously established programs by the DAH during the process of 
establishing the LOV for the affected airplanes. The actions specified 
in this proposed AD are necessary to complete certain programs to 
ensure the continued airworthiness of aging airplane structure and to 
support an airplane reaching its LOV.
    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 
2016-0079, dated April 21, 2016 (referred to after this as the 
Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to 
correct an unsafe condition for all Airbus Model A300 series airplanes; 
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); and Model A310 series airplanes. The MCAI states:

    In the frame of the ``Ageing Aeroplane Safety Rule Project'', a 
review of the A300, A300-600 and A310 Structural Repair Manuals 
(SRMs) was performed against Fatigue and Damage Tolerance criteria 
to satisfy the ageing aeroplane regulation.
    As a result of this review, some repairs concerning the forward 
passenger door flanges were identified as no longer applicable and 
had to be de-activated. Those repairs may however have been 
accomplished on some aeroplanes passenger door flanges prior to de-
activation of the repair.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could reduce the 
structural integrity of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Airbus issued 
Service Bulletin (SB) A300-52-0180, SB A300-52-6084 and SB A310-52-
2076 to provide inspection instructions.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
identification of the forward passenger door part number (P/N) and a 
one-time Detailed Inspection (DET) of the forward passenger door 
frame segments inner flanges for SRM repair embodied and, depending 
on the results from the identification and inspection, 
accomplishment of corrective action(s) [e.g., repair].

    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-2016-
9574.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed the following Airbus service information:
     Airbus Service Bulletin A300-52-0180, Revision 01, dated 
October 14, 2014.
     Airbus Service Bulletin A310-52-2076, Revision 01, dated 
October 14, 2014.

[[Page 10969]]

     Airbus Service Bulletin A300-52-6084, Revision 01, dated 
October 14, 2014.
    The service information describes procedures for inspecting the 
forward passenger doors on the left- and right-hand sides to identify 
the part number, and for affected doors, inspecting to identify 
existing repairs and corrective actions if necessary. These documents 
are distinct since they apply to different airplane models. 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 128 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            Cost per
               Action                        Labor cost        Parts cost    product    Cost on U.S.  operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part number inspection..............  1 work-hour x $85 per            $0         $85  $10,880.
                                       hour = $85.
Reporting for forward passenger door  1 work-hour x $85 per             0          85  Up to 10,880.
 having P/N A521-71851-000 or P/N      hour = $85.
 A521-71851-001.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary corrective 
actions that would be required based on the results of the part number 
inspection. We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that 
might need these corrective actions:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Detailed inspection..........................  7 work-hours x $85 per hour =                $0             $595
                                                $595.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide 
cost estimates for other on-condition actions specified in this 
proposed AD.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to 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 control 
number for the collection of information required by this proposed AD 
is 2120-0056. The paperwork cost associated with this proposed AD has 
been detailed in the Costs of Compliance section of this document and 
includes time for reviewing instructions, as well as completing and 
reviewing the collection of information. Therefore, all reporting 
associated with this proposed AD is mandatory. Comments concerning the 
accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should 
be directed to the FAA at 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 
20591, ATTN: Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

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:

[[Page 10970]]

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-2016-9574; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-
063-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by April 3, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus airplanes identified in paragraphs 
(c)(1) through (c)(6) of this AD, certificated in any category, all 
manufacturer serial numbers.
    (1) Model A300 B2-1A, B2-1C, B2K-3C, B2-203, B4-2C, B4-103, and 
B4-203 airplanes.
    (2) Model A300 B4-601, B4-603, B4-620, and B4-622 airplanes.
    (3) Model A300 B4-605R and B4-622R airplanes.
    (4) Model A300 F4-605R and F4-622R airplanes.
    (5) Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes.
    (6) Model A310-203, -204, -221, -222, -304, -322, -324, and -325 
airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 52, Doors.

(e) Reason

    This AD is intended to complete certain mandated programs 
intended to support the airplane reaching its limit of validity 
(LOV) of the engineering data that support the established 
structural maintenance program. We are issuing this AD to detect and 
correct widespread fatigue damage of the forward passenger doors, 
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) Parts Identification

    Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, or before 
exceeding the applicable airplane design service goal specified in 
table 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD, whichever occurs later: 
Identify the part number on the forward passenger doors on the left-
hand and right-hand sides, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the applicable service information identified in 
paragraph (g)(1), (g)(2), or (g)(3) of this AD.
    (1) Airbus Service Bulletin A300-52-0180, Revision 01, dated 
October 14, 2014.
    (2) Airbus Service Bulletin A300-52-6084, Revision 01, dated 
October 14, 2014.
    (3) Airbus Service Bulletin A310-52-2076, Revision 01, dated 
October 14, 2014.

        Table 1 to Paragraph (g) of This AD--Design Service Goal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Design service goal flight cycles
        Airplane model/series                   or flight hours
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A300 B2-100, B2-200, B2-320.........  Before the accumulation of 48,000
                                       total flight cycles.
A300 B4-100.........................  Before the accumulation of 40,000
                                       total flight cycles.
A300 B4-200.........................  Before the accumulation of 34,000
                                       total flight cycles.
A300 B4-600, B4-600R, F4-600R, C4-    Before the accumulation of 30,000
 600R.                                 total flight cycles or 67,500
                                       total flight hours, whichever
                                       occurs first.
A310-200............................  Before the accumulation of 40,000
                                       total flight cycles or 60,000
                                       total flight hours, whichever
                                       occurs first.
A310-300............................  Before the accumulation of 35,000
                                       total flight cycles or 60,000
                                       total flight hours, whichever
                                       occurs first.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(h) Corrective Actions

    (1) For airplanes on which no forward passenger door having part 
number (P/N) A521-71851-000 or P/N A521-71851-001 is found to be 
installed, after identifying the part number as specified in 
paragraph (g) of this AD: No further action is required for these 
airplanes.
    (2) For airplanes on which any forward passenger door having P/N 
A521-71851-000 or P/N A521-71851-001 is found to be installed, after 
identifying the part number as specified in paragraph (g) of this 
AD: Before further flight, do a detailed inspection of all frame 
segment inner flanges of the forward passenger doors with the 
affected part numbers for installed repairs, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable service information 
identified in paragraph (g)(1), (g)(2), or (g)(3) of this AD.
    (i) For Airbus Model A300 airplanes: Before further flight, do 
applicable corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A300-52-0180, Revision 01, 
dated October 14, 2014. Where Airbus Service Bulletin A300-52-0180, 
Revision 01, dated October 14, 2014, specifies to contact Airbus for 
appropriate action, and specifies that action as ``RC'' (Required 
for Compliance): Before further flight, accomplish corrective 
actions in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph 
(l)(2) of this AD.
    (ii) For Airbus Model A310 and A300-600 series airplanes on 
which the repair principle A310 Structural Repair Manual (SRM) 52-
10-00, page block (PB) 201, Figure 209, or A300-600 SRM 52-10-00, PB 
201, Figure 206, as applicable, is not embodied on any inner flange, 
no further action is required for these airplanes.
    (iii) For Airbus Model A310 and A300-600 series airplanes on 
which the repair principle A310 SRM 52-10-00, PB 201, Figure 209, or 
A300-600 SRM 52-10-00, PB 201, Figure 206, as applicable, is 
embodied on at least one inner flange: Before further flight, do 
applicable corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A300-52-6084, Revision 01, 
dated October 14, 2014; or Airbus Service Bulletin A310-52-2076, 
Revision 01, dated October 14, 2014, as applicable. Where Airbus 
Service Bulletins A300-52-6084, Revision 01, dated October 14, 2014; 
and A310-52-2076, Revision 01, dated October 14, 2014, specify to 
contact Airbus for appropriate action, and specify that action as 
``RC'': Before further flight, accomplish corrective actions in 
accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (l)(2) of this 
AD.

(i) Reporting Requirement

    At the applicable time specified in paragraph (i)(1) or (i)(2) 
of this AD, report the results of the inspection required by 
paragraph (h)(2) of this AD to Airbus Service Bulletin Reporting 
Online Application on Airbus World (https://w3.airbus.com/).
    (1) If the inspection was done on or after the effective date of 
this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the inspection.
    (2) If the inspection was done before the effective date of this 
AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the effective date of 
this AD.

(j) Parts Installation Limitations

    As of the effective date of this AD, no person may replace a 
forward passenger door on any airplane, unless the replacement door 
has been inspected in accordance with the requirements of this AD.

(k) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for the actions required by 
paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD, if those actions were performed 
before the effective date of this AD using the applicable service 
information identified in paragraph (k)(1), (k)(2), or (k)(3) of 
this AD.
    (1) Airbus Service Bulletin A300-52-0180, dated September 23, 
2014.
    (2) Airbus Service Bulletin A300-52-6084, dated September 23, 
2014.

[[Page 10971]]

    (3) Airbus Service Bulletin A310-52-2076, dated September 23, 
2014.

(l) 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 International Branch, send it to ATTN: Dan Rodina, 
Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-
3356; telephone: 425-227-2125; fax: 425-227-1149. 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. The 
AMOC approval letter must specifically reference 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 
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) Reporting Requirements: 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 5 
minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, 
completing and reviewing the collection of information. All 
responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Comments 
concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing 
the burden should be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. 
SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: Information Collection Clearance 
Officer, AES-200.
    (4) 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 an airworthy 
condition. Any substitutions or changes to procedures or tests 
identified as RC require approval of an AMOC.

(m) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) EASA Airworthiness Directive 2016-0079, dated April 21, 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-2016-9574.
    (2) 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: account.airworth-eas@airbus.com; 
Internet: http://www.airbus.com. You may view this 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 20, 2017.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03019 Filed 2-16-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P