81 FR 22 - Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 1 (January 4, 2016)

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-223F and -243F airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of missing fasteners in certain locations of the fuselage during production. This proposed AD would require inspecting for missing, damaged, or incorrectly installed fasteners; and corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing this AD to prevent cracking of the fuselage due to missing, damaged, or incorrectly installed fasteners, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the fuselage.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 1 (Monday, January 4, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 22-24]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32906]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 1 / Monday, January 4, 2016 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 22]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-8136; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-189-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 
certain Airbus Model A330-223F and -243F airplanes. This proposed AD 
was prompted by a report of missing fasteners in certain locations of 
the fuselage during production. This proposed AD would require 
inspecting for missing, damaged, or incorrectly installed fasteners; 
and corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing this AD to 
prevent cracking of the fuselage due to missing, damaged, or 
incorrectly installed fasteners, which could result in reduced 
structural integrity of the fuselage.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 18, 
2016.

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: 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 service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office--EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 
31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 
93 45 80; email [email protected]; 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-2015-
8136; 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: Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-1138; 
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-2015-8136; 
Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-189-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

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive 2014-0197, dated September 4, 2014 (referred to 
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Airbus Model 
A330-223F and -243F airplanes. The MCAI states:

    During inspection of various fuselage areas on some A330-200F 
aeroplanes on the production line, prior to delivery, some fasteners 
were found missing.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
crack initiation and propagation, possibly resulting in reduced 
structural integrity of the fuselage.
    To address this condition, Airbus issued several Service 
Bulletins (SB), providing inspection and modification instructions, 
as applicable.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
detailed inspections of the affected areas and, depending on 
findings, accomplishment of the applicable corrective actions.

    Corrective actions include replacing any missing, damaged, or 
incorrectly installed fasteners, and repair of any discrepancy 
(deformation or cracking of the fastener rows) of the affected fuselage 
frame areas. 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-2015-8136.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Airbus has issued the following service information:
     Airbus Service Bulletin A330-53-3202, dated May 6, 2014 
(Inspections).
     Airbus Service Bulletin A330-53-3212, dated May 6, 2014 
(Inspections).
     Airbus Service Bulletin A330-53-3213, dated May 6, 2014 
(Inspections).
     Airbus Service Bulletin A330-53-3214, dated May 6, 2014 
(Inspections).
     Airbus Service Bulletin A330-53-3216, dated May 6, 2014 
(Modification).
     Airbus Service Bulletin A330-53-3217, dated May 6, 2014 
(Modification).
     Airbus Service Bulletin A330-53-3218, dated May 6, 2014 
(Modification).
     Airbus Service Bulletin A330-53-3219, dated May 6, 2014 
(Modification).

[[Page 23]]

    The service information describes procedures for inspecting for 
missing, damaged, or incorrectly installed fasteners; and corrective 
actions if necessary. The service information also describes procedures 
for modification of certain sections of the fuselage. 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 these 
same type designs.

Explanation of ``RC'' Procedures and Tests in Service Information

    The FAA worked in conjunction with industry, under the 
Airworthiness Directive Implementation Aviation Rulemaking Committee 
(ARC), to enhance the AD system. One enhancement was a new process for 
annotating which procedures and tests in the service information are 
required for compliance with an AD. Differentiating these procedures 
and tests from other tasks in the service information is expected to 
improve an owner's/operator's understanding of crucial AD requirements 
and help provide consistent judgment in AD compliance. The procedures 
and tests identified as RC (required for compliance) in any service 
information have a direct effect on detecting, preventing, resolving, 
or eliminating an identified unsafe condition.
    As specified in a NOTE under the Accomplishment Instructions of the 
specified service information, procedures and tests that are identified 
as RC in any service information must be done to comply with the 
proposed AD. However, procedures and 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 alternative method of compliance (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 will require approval of an AMOC.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 3 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We also estimate that it would take about 10 work-hours per product 
to comply with the basic inspection requirements of this proposed AD, 
and 1 work-hour per product to report inspection findings. The average 
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate 
the cost of this proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $2,805, or $935 
per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary modification would take 
about 40 work-hours and require parts costing $210, for a cost of 
$3,610 per product. We have no way of determining the number of 
aircraft that might need this action.
    We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide 
a cost estimate for the on-condition repairs 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 AD is 2120-
0056. The paperwork cost associated with this 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 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:

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-2015-8136; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-
189-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by February 18, 2016.

[[Page 24]]

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Model A330-223F and -243F airplanes, 
certificated in any category; manufacturer serial numbers 1004, 
1032, 1051, 1062, 1070, 1092, 1115, 1136, 1148, 1164, 1175, 1180, 
1320, 1332, 1344, 1350, 1368, 1380, 1386, 1406, 1414, 1418, and 
1428.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report of missing fasteners in certain 
locations of the fuselage during production. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent cracking of the fuselage due to missing, damaged, or 
incorrectly installed fasteners, which could result in reduced 
structural integrity of the fuselage.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Detailed Inspection

    Within 72 months since first flight of the airplane: Do a 
detailed inspection of all applicable fuselage zones for missing, 
damaged, or incorrectly installed fasteners, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable service information 
specified in paragraphs (g)(1) through (g)(4) of this AD.
    (1) Airbus Service Bulletin A330-53-3202, dated May 6, 2014.
    (2) Airbus Service Bulletin A330-53-3212, dated May 6, 2014.
    (3) Airbus Service Bulletin A330-53-3213, dated May 6, 2014.
    (4) Airbus Service Bulletin A330-53-3214, dated May 6, 2014.

(h) Corrective Actions

    If any missing, damaged, or incorrectly installed fasteners are 
found during the detailed inspection required by paragraph (g) of 
this AD, before further flight, do a detailed inspection for 
discrepancies (deformation or cracking) of the adjacent fastener 
rows of the applicable fuselage zones, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable service information 
specified in paragraphs (g)(1) through (g)(4) of this AD.
    (1) If no discrepancy is found, before further flight, modify 
the affected fuselage zone, in accordance with the applicable 
service information specified in paragraphs (h)(1)(i) through 
(h)(1)(iv) of this AD.
    (i) Airbus Service Bulletin A330-53-3216, dated May 6, 2014.
    (ii) Airbus Service Bulletin A330-53-3217, dated May 6, 2014.
    (iii) Airbus Service Bulletin A330-53-3218, dated May 6, 2014.
    (iv) Airbus Service Bulletin A330-53-3219, dated May 6, 2014.
    (2) If any discrepancy is found, before further flight, repair 
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).

(i) Reporting Requirement

    Submit a report (including both positive and negative findings), 
using the applicable report sheet attached to the applicable service 
information specified in paragraphs (g)(1) through (g)(4) of this 
AD; of the inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD. Submit 
the report to Airbus, Customer Services Directorate, 1 Rond Point 
Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex France, Attn: SDC32 Technical 
Data and Documentation Services; fax: (+33) 5 61 93 28 06; email: 
[email protected]; at the applicable time specified in 
paragraph (i)(1) or (i)(2) of this AD.
    (1) For airplanes on which the inspection specified in paragraph 
(g) of this AD is accomplished on or after the effective date of 
this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after performing the 
inspection.
    (2) For airplanes on which the inspection specified in paragraph 
(g) of this AD is accomplished before the effective date of this AD: 
Submit the report within 30 days after the effective date of this 
AD.

(j) 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: Vladimir 
Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
WA 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-1138; fax 425-227-1149. Information 
may be emailed to: [email protected]. 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 EASA; 
or Airbus's EASA 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.

(k) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) EASA Airworthiness Directive 2014-0197, dated September 4, 
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-2015-8136.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office--EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice 
Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; 
fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; email [email protected]; 
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 December 21, 2015.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-32906 Filed 12-31-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P