Proposed Rule2022-19442
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
Primary source
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Published
September 12, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A321-251N, A321-251NX, A321-252N, A321-252NX, A321-253N, and A321-253NX airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a stress analysis on the engine structure that indicated that the fail- safe lug may not be able to sustain, during one inspection interval as currently specified in an airworthiness limitations item, the loads deriving from the engagement of the secondary load path within that inspection interval for the aft engine mount system. This proposed AD would require repetitive detailed inspections of the aft engine mount and secondary load path clearance fail-safe pin and replacement of the engine if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 175 (Monday, September 12, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 175 (Monday, September 12, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55737-55739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19442]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-1155; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00655-T]
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 adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for all Airbus SAS Model A321-251N, A321-251NX, A321-252N, A321-252NX,
A321-253N, and A321-253NX airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a
stress analysis on the engine structure that indicated that the fail-
safe lug may not be able to sustain, during one inspection interval as
currently specified in an airworthiness limitations item, the loads
deriving from the engagement of the secondary load path within that
inspection interval for the aft engine mount system. This proposed AD
would require repetitive detailed inspections of the aft engine mount
and secondary load path clearance fail-safe pin and replacement of the
engine if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The
FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 27,
2022.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For material that will be incorporated by reference (IBR) in this
AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany;
telephone +49 221 8999 000; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#28696c5b684d495b49064d5d5a475849064d5d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="38797c4b785d594b59165d4d4a574859165d4d">[email protected]</span></a>; internet
easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the EASA website at
ad.easa.europa.eu. 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 at
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-1155.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-1155; 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, the 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 Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3225;
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1074717e3e627f74797e71507671713e777f66"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c0a4a1aeeeb2afa4a9aea180a6a1a1eea7afb6">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 55738]]
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-2022-1155; Project Identifier
MCAI-2022-00655-T'' 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
this 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
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.
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 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 Street, Des Moines, WA 98198;
telephone and fax 206-231-3225; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e185808fcf938e85888f80a1878080cf868e97"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="26424748085449424f48476640474708414950">[email protected]</span></a>. Any
commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated
as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.
Background
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2022-0089, dated May 17, 2022 (EASA
AD 2022-0089) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe
condition for all Airbus SAS Model A321-251N, A321-251NX, A321-252N,
A321-252NX, A321-253N, and A321-253NX airplanes.
This proposed AD was prompted by a weakness identified by the
manufacturer in the design of the CFM LEAP-1A aft engine mount waiting
fail-safe male lug on the engine side. During a stress analysis on the
engine structure, CFM discovered that the fail-safe lug may not be able
to sustain, during one inspection interval, as currently specified in
airworthiness limitation item (ALI) task 712232-01-1, the loads
deriving from the engagement of the secondary load path within that
inspection interval for the aft engine mount system. Consequently, the
inspection interval must be reduced accordingly in order to meet the
predicted life of the fail-safe lug. The FAA is proposing this AD to
address potential failure of the LEAP-1A aft engine mount waiting fail-
safe male lug, which could lead to engine mount rupture, possibly
resulting in engine loss during flight and loss of control of the
airplane. See the MCAI for additional background information.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
EASA AD 2022-0089 specifies procedures for repetitive detailed
inspections (DET) for discrepancies of the aft engine mount and
secondary load path clearance fail-safe pin for each engine, and
replacement of any engine with discrepant findings on the secondary
load path clearance check.
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 the ADDRESSES section.
FAA's Determination
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 the State of Design Authority, it
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI
referenced above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that
the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop
in other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in EASA AD 2022-0089 described previously, except for any differences
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.
Explanation of Required Compliance Information
In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD
process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation
authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance
with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been
coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, the
FAA proposes to incorporate EASA AD 2022-0089 by reference in the FAA
final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with
EASA AD 2022-0089 in its entirety through that incorporation, except
for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of
this proposed AD. Using common terms that are the same as the heading
of a particular section in EASA AD 2022-0089 does not mean that
operators need comply only with that section. For example, where the AD
requirement refers to ``all required actions and compliance times,''
compliance with this AD requirement is not limited to the section
titled ``Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)'' in EASA AD 2022-
0089. Service information required by EASA AD 2022-0089 for compliance
will be available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> by searching for and locating
Docket No. FAA-2022-1155 after the FAA final rule is published.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 156 airplanes
of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with
this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
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Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. operators
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Up to 4 work-hours x $85 per hour = $0 Up to $340............... Up to $53,040
$340.
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[[Page 55739]]
The FAA estimates that it would take 64 work-hours (at $85 per
work-hour) to replace an engine, if required based on the results of
any required actions. The FAA has received no definitive data on which
to base the estimate for the cost of a replacement engine or any
necessary additional on-condition actions that would be required by
this proposed AD. The FAA has no way of determining the number of
aircraft that might need these on-condition actions.
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 develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
The FAA 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) 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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
Airbus SAS: Docket No. FAA-2022-1155; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-
00655-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by October 27, 2022.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Airbus SAS Model A321-251N, A321-251NX,
A321-252N, A321-252NX, A321-253N, and A321-253NX airplanes,
certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 71, Powerplant.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a stress analysis on the engine
structure that indicated that the fail-safe lug may not be able to
sustain, during one inspection interval, as currently specified in
airworthiness limitation item (ALI) task 712232-01-1, the loads
deriving from the engagement of the secondary load path within that
inspection interval for the aft engine mount system. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address potential failure of the LEAP-1A aft
engine mount waiting fail-safe male lug, which could lead to engine
mount rupture, possibly resulting in engine loss during flight and
loss of control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Requirements
Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD
2022-0089, dated May 17, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0089).
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0089
(1) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0089 specifies
corrective action if ``discrepancies are detected, as defined in the
SB,'' for purposes of this AD, discrepancies include a fail safe pin
that does not rotate freely, or has damage (dents, scratches, nicks,
corrosion, or cracks).
(2) The ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 2022-0089 does not apply
to this AD.
(i) Additional AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 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 Large Aircraft Section, International Validation
Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in
paragraph (j)(2) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d3eafe928580fe929a81fee4e0e3fe929e9c9093b5b2b2fdb4bca5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="221b0f6374710f636b700f1511120f636f6d61624443430c454d54">[email protected]</span></a>. 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, Large Aircraft
Section, 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.
(j) Related Information
(1) For EASA AD 2022-0089, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3,
50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a5e4e1d6e5c0c4d6c48bc0d0d7cad5c48bc0d0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1455506754717567753a7161667b64753a7161">[email protected]</span></a>; internet easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA
AD on the EASA website atad.easa.europa.eu. 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.
This material may be found in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-1155.
(2) For more information about this AD, contact Dan Rodina,
Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation
Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198;
telephone and fax 206-231-3225; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#36525758184459525f58577650575718515940"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="583c3936762a373c313639183e3939763f372e">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on September 2, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-19442 Filed 9-9-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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