Document ID: FAA-2015-4202-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Airbus Airplanes
Posted Date: 2015-10-23T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 205 (Friday, October 23, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64375-64378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26611]

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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-4202; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-016-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-18-
12, for certain Airbus Model A318, A319, and A320 series airplanes. AD 
2012-18-12 currently requires modifying the off-wing escape slide (OWS) 
enclosures on the left-hand (LH) side and right-hand (RH) side of the 
fuselage. Since we issued AD 2012-18-12, we have received reports that 
additional OWS part numbers have been affected. This proposed AD would 
retain the requirements of AD 2012-18-12 and expand the applicability 
to all Airbus Model A318, A319, and A320 series airplanes. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent off-wing exits on the LH and RH sides of 
the fuselage from becoming inoperative, which, during an emergency, 
could impair the safe evacuation of occupants, possibly resulting in 
personal injuries.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 7, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For Airbus service information identified in this proposed 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. For Air Cruisers service information identified 
in this proposed AD, contact Air Cruisers Company, Cage Code 70167, 
1747 State Route 34, Wall Township, NJ 07727-3935; telephone 732-681-
3527; fax 732-681-9163; Internet http://www.zodiacaerospace.com/en/our-activities/aerosafety/zodiac-evacuation-systems. 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-2015-
4202; 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-2015-4202; 
Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-016-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://

[[Page 64376]]

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

    On August 31, 2012, we issued AD 2012-18-12, Amendment 39-17189 (77 
FR 57003, September 17, 2012). AD 2012-18-12 requires actions intended 
to address an unsafe condition on certain Airbus Model A318, A319, and 
A320 series airplanes.
    Since we issued AD 2012-18-12, Amendment 39-17189 (77 FR 57003, 
September 17, 2012), we received reports that additional OWS part 
numbers have been affected which requires expanding the applicability 
to all Airbus Model A318, A319, and A320 series airplanes.
    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive 2014-0025R1, dated May 26, 2014 (referred to 
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition on all Airbus Model A318, 
A319, and A320 series airplanes. The MCAI states:

    One operator reported a torn out aspirator during scheduled 
deployment (for on ground testing purposes) of the Left Hand (LH) 
off-wing [escape] slide (OWS). Investigation results revealed that 
the aspirator of the OWS system interfered with the extrusion lip of 
the OWS enclosure during the initial stage of the deployment 
sequence.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to an off-wing 
exit, either LH or Right Hand (RH), becoming unserviceable, which, 
during an emergency situation, could impair the safe evacuation of 
occupants, possibly resulting in personal injuries.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Airbus issued 
Service Bulletin (SB) A320-25-1649 containing modification 
instructions for certain part number (P/N) OWS enclosures. 
Consequently, EASA issued [EASA] AD 2010-0210 [(http://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/2010-0210)] which corresponds to FAA AD 2012-
18-12, Amendment 39-17189 (77 FR 57003, September 17, 2012)] to 
require modification of the affected OWS enclosures.
    Since that [EASA] AD was issued, several other OWS P/N[s] have 
been identified as potentially impacted.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD retains the 
requirements of EASA AD 2010-0210, which is superseded, expands the 
Applicability to all A318, A319 and A320 aeroplanes, and expands the 
batch of affected P/N[s] prohibited to be installed on an aeroplane.
    For the reason described above, EASA issued AD 2014-0025, 
retaining the requirements of EASA AD 2010-0210, which was 
superseded, expanding the Applicability to all A318, A319 and A320 
aeroplanes, and expanding the batch of affected P/N[s] prohibited to 
be installed on an aeroplane. That [EASA] AD also retained the 
requirements of * * * [an AD, which was superseded], which required 
modification of the OWS and its aspirator.
    This [EASA] AD is revised to amend paragraphs (1) and (3) to 
restore the original applicability of DGAC France AD 2001-380 and 
EASA AD 2010-0210, respectively, and to correct paragraph (2) to 
give credit for certain production modifications that were 
equivalent for the in-service actions previously required by DGAC 
France AD 2001-380.

    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-2015-
4202.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Airbus has issued the following service information.
     Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1156, Revision 03, dated 
December 5, 2001. This service information describes procedures for 
modifying OWS enclosures having part numbers (P/N) D31865-101, D31865-
102, D31865-103, D31865-104, D31865-105, D31865-106, D31865-107, or 
D31865-108 of certain Airbus Model A319 and A320 series airplanes.
     Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1265, Revision 01, dated 
December 5, 2001. This service information describes procedures for 
modifying and installing the OWS enclosure on the LH and RH sides of 
the fuselage on certain Airbus Model A319 and A320 series airplanes.
     Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1649, dated February 16, 
2010. This service information describes procedures for modifying and 
installing OWS enclosures having part numbers (P/N) D31865-109, D31865-
110, D31865-209, or D31865-210, on the LH and RH sides of the fuselage 
on certain Airbus Model A318, A319, and A320 series airplanes.
    Air Cruisers has issued Service Bulletin A320 004-25-84, Revision 
4, dated November 9, 2012. This service information describes 
procedures for modifying LH and RH OWS.
    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 of this 
NPRM.

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 the same 
type design.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 851 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    The actions required by AD 2012-18-12, Amendment 39-17189 (77 FR 
57003, September 17, 2012), and retained in this proposed AD take about 
14 work-hours per product, at an average labor rate of $85 per work-
hour. Required parts cost $0 per product. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of the actions that are required by AD 2012-18-12 is 
$1,190 per product.
    We also estimate that it would take about 48 work-hours per product 
to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average 
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost $0 per 
product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this proposed 
AD on U.S. operators to be $3,472,080, or $4,080 per product.

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

[[Page 64377]]

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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2012-18-12, Amendment 39-17189 (77 FR 57003, September 17, 2012), and 
adding the following new AD:

Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2015-4202; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-
016-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by December 7, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces (AD) 2012-18-12, Amendment 39-17189 (77 FR 
57003, September 17, 2012).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the Airbus airplanes identified in paragraphs 
(c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(3) of this AD, certificated in any category, 
all manufacturer serial numbers.
    (1) Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes.
    (2) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 
airplanes.
    (3) Model 320-211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report of a torn out aspirator due to 
the aspirator interfering with the extrusion lip of the off-wing 
escape slide (OWS) enclosure during the initial stage of the 
deployment sequence. This AD was also prompted by reports that 
additional OWS part numbers have been affected which requires 
expanding the applicability to all Airbus Model A318, A319, and A320 
series airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent off-wing exits 
on the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) sides of the fuselage from 
becoming inoperative, which, during an emergency, could impair the 
safe evacuation of occupants, possibly resulting in personal 
injuries.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Retained Modification

    This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD 
2012-18-12, Amendment 39-17189 (77 FR 57003, September 17, 2012) 
with no changes. For airplanes equipped with OWS enclosures having 
part number (P/N) D31865-109, D31865-110, D31865-209, or D31865-210, 
except as provided by paragraph (i)(1) of this AD: Within 36 months 
after October 22, 2012, (the effective date of AD 2012-18-12), 
modify the OWS enclosures and install an OWS enclosure having P/N 
D31865-309, D31865-311, D31865-310, or D31865-312 on the LH side and 
RH side of the fuselage, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1649, dated February 
16, 2010.

(h) New Modification of Affected OWS Enclosures and Aspirators

    For airplanes equipped with an OWS enclosure having P/N D31865-
101, D31865-102, D31865-103, D31865-104, D31865-105, D31865-106, 
D31865-107, or D31865-108, except as provided by paragraph (i)(2) of 
this AD: Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, do 
the actions specified in paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(2) of this AD.
    (1) Modify the OWS enclosures and their aspirators in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin 
A320-25-1156, Revision 03, dated December 5, 2001.
    (2) Install off-wing escape slides having P/N D31865-109, 
D31865-110, D31865-209, or D31865-210 on the LH side and RH side of 
the fuselage, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1265, Revision 01, dated December 5, 
2001; and accomplish the modification required by paragraph (g) of 
this AD.

(i) Exceptions to the Requirements of Paragraphs (g) and (h) of This AD

    (1) Airplanes having Airbus modification 30088 embodied in 
production using an OWS enclosure having P/N D31865-111 or D31865-
112 are not affected by the requirements of paragraph (g) of this 
AD, unless a replacement OWS enclosure, having a part number listed 
in paragraphs (k)(9) through (k)(12) of this AD, has been installed 
on that airplane since first flight.
    (2) Airplanes on which Airbus modifications 24850, 25844, and 
27275 have been embodied in production, or on which modifications of 
the LH and RH OWS enclosures and their aspirators have been 
accomplished using Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1156, Revision 
01, dated February 2, 1999, or Revision 2, dated October 26, 1999, 
and Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1265, dated June 6, 2001, are 
compliant with the modification requirement of paragraph (h) of this 
AD.

(j) Optional Method of Compliance for Paragraph (g) of This AD

    Installing both LH and RH OWS that have been modified in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Air Cruisers 
Service Bulletin A320 004-25-84, Revision 4, dated November 9, 2012, 
is an acceptable method of compliance with the modification required 
by paragraph (g) of this AD.

(k) Part Installation Prohibition

    As of the effective date of this AD, do not install on any 
airplane an OWS enclosure having a part number listed in paragraphs 
(k)(1) through (k)(12) of this AD, except as required by paragraph 
(h)(2) of this AD for the OWS enclosures identified in paragraph (h) 
of this AD.

(1) D31865-101
(2) D31865-102
(3) D31865-103
(4) D31865-104
(5) D31865-105
(6) D31865-106
(7) D31865-107
(8) D31865-108
(9) D31865-109
(10) D31865-110
(11) D31865-209
(12) D31865-210

(l) Credit for Previous Actions

    (1) This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in 
paragraph (h)(1) of this AD, if those actions were performed before 
the effective date of this AD using the service information 
identified in paragraph (l)(1)(i) or (l)(1)(ii) of this AD, which is 
not incorporated by reference.
    (i) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1156, Revision 01, dated 
February 2, 1999.
    (ii) Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1156, Revision 02, dated 
October 26, 1999.
    (2) This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in 
paragraph (h)(2) of this AD, if those actions were performed before 
the effective date of this AD using Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-
1265, dated June 6, 2001, which is not incorporated by reference.
    (3) This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in 
paragraph (j) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this AD using the service information identified 
in paragraph (l)(3)(i), (l)(3)(ii), (l)(3)(iii), or (l)(3)(iv) of 
this AD, which is not incorporated by reference.
    (i) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin A320 004-25-84, dated February 
5, 2010.
    (ii) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin A320 004-25-84, Revision 1, 
dated April 9, 2010.
    (iii) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin A320 004-25-84, Revision 2, 
dated February 11, 2011.

[[Page 64378]]

    (iv) Air Cruisers Service Bulletin A320 004-25-84, Revision 3, 
dated October 28, 2011.

(m) 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: 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.
    (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. The AMOC approval letter must specifically 
reference this AD.
    (ii) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2012-18-12, Amendment 39-
17189 (77 FR 57003, September 17, 2012), are approved as AMOCs for 
the corresponding provisions of paragraph (g) of this AD.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: As of the effective date of 
this AD, 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.

(n) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Airworthiness 
Directive 2014-0025R1, dated May 26, 2014, 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-
2015-4202.
    (2) For Airbus 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. For Air Cruisers service information 
identified in this AD, contact Air Cruisers Company, Cage Code 
70167, 1747 State Route 34, Wall Township, NJ 07727-3935; telephone 
732-681-3527; fax 732-681-9163; Internet http://www.zodiacaerospace.com/en/our-activities/aerosafety/zodiac-evacuation-systems. 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 October 11, 2015.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-26611 Filed 10-22-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P