Rule2023-00185
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 12, 2023
Effective
January 12, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-25-03, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. AD 2020-25-03 required repetitive checks of the pressure gauges to determine the amount of pressure on the inflation reservoir of each emergency escape slide/raft, and applicable corrective actions. AD 2020-25-03 also provided optional terminating action for the repetitive checks. The FAA issued AD 2020-25-03 to address insufficient reservoir pressure in an emergency escape slide/raft, which would prevent the deployment of the emergency escape slide/raft during an emergency, possibly resulting in injury to the occupants. The FAA has determined that AD 2020-25-03 is no longer necessary because the unsafe condition no longer exists. Accordingly, AD 2020-25-03 is removed.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 8 (Thursday, January 12, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1983-1984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00185]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2020-1105; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01459-T;
Amendment 39-22086; AD 2020-25-03R1]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule; removal.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-25-03,
which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series
airplanes. AD 2020-25-03 required repetitive checks of the pressure
gauges to determine the amount of pressure on the inflation reservoir
of each emergency escape slide/raft, and applicable corrective actions.
AD 2020-25-03 also provided optional terminating action for the
repetitive checks. The FAA issued AD 2020-25-03 to address insufficient
reservoir pressure in an emergency escape slide/raft, which would
prevent the deployment of the emergency escape slide/raft during an
emergency, possibly resulting in injury to the occupants. The FAA has
determined that AD 2020-25-03 is no longer necessary because the unsafe
condition no longer exists. Accordingly, AD 2020-25-03 is removed.
DATES: This AD becomes effective January 12, 2023.
ADDRESSES: AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>
under Docket No. FAA-2020-1105; 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, 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, Large
Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South
216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206-231-3225; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#eda98c83c3bf828984838cad8b8c8cc38a829b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="682c0906463a070c010609280e0909460f071e">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, previously
issued AD 2020-0236, dated October 27, 2020 (EASA AD 2020-0236) (also
referred to as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or
the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for all Airbus SAS Model A318
series airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -
133, -151N, -153N, and -171N airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -
215, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -
273N airplanes; and Model A321 series airplanes. The FAA issued
corresponding AD 2020-25-03, Amendment 39-21345 (85 FR 79415, December
10, 2020) (AD 2020-25-03), for those airplanes except for Model A319-
153N and A320-215 airplanes, which are not included on the U.S. type
certificate data sheet. AD 2020-25-03 required repetitive checks of the
pressure gauges to determine the amount of pressure on the inflation
reservoir of each emergency escape slide/raft, and applicable
corrective actions. AD 2020-25-03 also provided optional terminating
action for the repetitive checks. AD 2020-25-03 was prompted by a
report of a loud bang heard during airplane boarding. A subsequent
inspection revealed that one emergency escape slide/raft was found with
zero reservoir pressure due to a burst rupture disk assembly in the
inflation reservoir, which was probably caused by a manufacturing
defect. The FAA issued AD 2020-25-03 to address insufficient reservoir
pressure in an emergency escape slide/raft, which would prevent the
deployment of the emergency escape slide/raft during an emergency,
possibly resulting in injury to the occupants.
Since the FAA issued AD 2020-25-03, EASA issued AD 2020-0236-CN,
dated May 16, 2022, to cancel EASA AD 2020-0236. EASA advised the FAA
that SAFRAN Aerosystems, the manufacturer of the affected parts,
produced service information with instructions for replacement of the
rupture disk during overhaul of the affected parts. EASA reports that
no rupture disk failures have occurred in service or during overhaul.
Consequently, new risk analysis determined that an unsafe condition no
longer exists that would warrant AD action.
Subsequently, the FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)
to amend 14 CFR part 39 by removing AD 2020-25-03. The NPRM was
published in the Federal Register on June 16, 2022 (87 FR 36274). The
FAA is issuing this AD to remove AD 2020-25-03.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received a comment from United Airlines Engineering in
support of the NPRM without change. The commenter concurred with the
proposal to rescind AD 2020-25-03, noting that there have been no known
reports of evacuation slide issues related to rupture disc failure
while in service or during repair/overhaul. The commenter added that a
visual check of the slide pressure is performed prior to each revenue
flight.
Change to Project Identifier Number
The NPRM identified the project number as AD-2020-01459-T. However,
the project number for this rescission is MCAI-2020-1459-T. The FAA has
revised this rescission accordingly.
[[Page 1984]]
Conclusion
The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered any comments
received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as
proposed. 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.
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.
Regulatory Findings
The FAA determined that 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:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
The Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-25-03, Amendment 39-21345
(85 FR 79415, December 10, 2020), and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:
2020-25-03R1 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-22086; Docket No. FAA-2020-
1105; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01459-T.
(a) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective January 12, 2023.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD replaces AD 2020-25-03, Amendment 39-21345 (85 FR 79415,
December 10, 2020).
(c) Applicability
This action applies to all Airbus SAS airplanes, certificated in
any category, identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this
AD.
(1) Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes.
(2) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -
151N, and -171N airplanes.
(3) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -
252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes.
(4) Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -
251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX,
and -272NX airplanes.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25, Equipment/
furnishings.
(e) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Dan Rodina,
Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation
Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone
206-231-3225; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6b2f0a054539040f02050a2b0d0a0a450c041d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ade9ccc383ffc2c9c4c3ccedcbcccc83cac2db">[email protected]</span></a>.
(f) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
Issued on January 4, 2023.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-00185 Filed 1-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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