The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This AD was prompted by an in-service inspection that found ove...
[Docket No. FAA-2022-1582; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01232-T; Amendment 39-22342; AD 2023-03-17]
RIN 2120-AA64
AGENCY:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION:
Final rule.
SUMMARY:
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This AD was prompted by an in-service inspection that found overhead storage compartment (OHSC) crash rods that were disconnected. This AD requires a one-time detailed inspection of the OHSC crash rods and, depending on findings, corrective actions, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES:
This AD is effective April 7, 2023.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of April 7, 2023.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket:
You may examine the AD docket at
regulations.gov
under Docket No. FAA-2022-1582; 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 final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For EASA material incorporated by reference in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; emailADs@easa.europa.eu; website
easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the EASA website at
ad.easa.europa.eu.
For Airbus service information identified in this final rule, contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office—EAL, Rond-Point Emile Dewoitine No: 2, 31700 Blagnac Cedex, France;
( printed page 13314)
telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; email
continued-airworthiness.a350@airbus.com;
website
airbus.com.
You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available in the AD docket atregulations.gov
under Docket No. FAA-2022-1582.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dat Le, Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, FAA, International Validation Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 516-228-7317; email
Dat.V.Le@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. The NPRM published in the
Federal Register
on December 15, 2022 (87 FR 76589). The NPRM was prompted by AD 2022-0186, dated September 13, 2022, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union (EASA AD 2022-0186) (also referred to as the MCAI). The MCAI states that an in-service inspection found OHSC crash rods that were disconnected. The investigation conducted by the manufacturer determined that this incorrect installation was due to human error in the final assembly line. This condition, if not corrected, could affect the structural integrity of the OHSC under emergency landing loads, which could lead to OHSC detachment, resulting in injury to occupants and blocking an escape path during an emergency evacuation.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require a one-time detailed inspection of the OHSC crash rods and, depending on findings, corrective actions, as specified in EASA AD 2022-0186. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at
regulations.gov
under Docket No. FAA-2022-1582.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received comments from one commenter who supported the NPRM without change.
Conclusion
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on this product. Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any operator.
EASA AD 2022-0186 specifies procedures for a one-time detailed inspection for any defect (
i.e.,
OHSC crash rod is disconnected or the quick connections are unlocked) of the OHSC crash rods, and, depending on findings, corrective actions (
i.e.,
installation or locking of the quick connections on the OHSC crash rods).
The FAA also reviewed Airbus Service Bulletin A350-53-P074, dated July 29, 2022, which identifies the affected manufacturer serial numbers.
This material is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in
ADDRESSES
.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 30 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
Labor cost
Parts cost
Cost per
product
Cost on U.S. operators
6 work-hours × $85 per hour = $510
$0
$510
$15,300
The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-condition action that would be required based on the results of any required actions. The FAA has no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need this on-condition action:
Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
Labor cost
Parts cost
Cost per
product
2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170
$4
$174
The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. According to the manufacturer, however, some or all of the costs of this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected operators.
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 because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or
( printed page 13315)
develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
This AD will not have federalism implications under 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:
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) 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.
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective April 7, 2023.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes, certificated in any category, having manufacturer serial numbers identified in Airbus Service Bulletin A350-53-P074, dated July 29, 2022.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by an in-service inspection that found overhead storage compartment (OHSC) crash rods that were disconnected. The FAA is issuing this AD to address this incorrect installation, which could affect the structural integrity of the OHSC under emergency landing loads. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could lead to OHSC detachment, resulting in injury to occupants and blocking an escape path during an emergency evacuation.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.
(g) Requirements
Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022-0186, dated September 13, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0186).
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0186
(1) Where EASA AD 2022-0186 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2022-0186.
(i) No Reporting Requirement
Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-0186 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.
(j) Special Flight Permit
Special flight permits, as described in 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199, are not allowed.
(k) Additional AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1)
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs):
The Manager, International Validation 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 responsible Flight Standards Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (l) of this AD. Information may be emailed to:
9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov.
Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
(2)
Contacting the Manufacturer:
For any requirement in this AD to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus SAS's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.
(3)
Required for Compliance (RC):
Except as required by paragraphs (i) and (k)(2) of this AD, 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.
(l) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Dat Le, Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, FAA, International Validation Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 516-228-7317; email
Dat.V.Le@faa.gov.
(m) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference 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 Service Bulletin A350-53-P074, dated July 29, 2022.
(ii) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022-0186, dated September 13, 2022.
(3) For Airbus service information identified in this AD, contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office—EAL, Rond-Point Emile Dewoitine No: 2, 31700 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; email
continued-airworthiness.a350@airbus.com;
website
airbus.com.
(4) For EASA AD 2022-0186, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email
ADs@easa.europa.eu;
website
easa.europa.eu.
You may find this EASA AD on the EASA website at
ad.easa.europa.eu.
(5) You may view this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.
88 FR 13313
Web Citation
Suggested Web Citation
Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.
“Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes,” thefederalregister.org (March 3, 2023), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2023-04252/airworthiness-directives-airbus-sas-airplanes.