Rule2023-02529
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
February 7, 2023
Effective
March 14, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A300 B2K-3C, B2-203, B4-2C, and B4-203 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that internal system pollution can occur, most likely due to corroded unions in the pressurization lines, with an associated risk of contamination of the check valves. This AD requires repetitive inspections (functional checks) of the pressurization of the hydraulic system reservoirs, and corrective actions if necessary, 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 25 (Tuesday, February 7, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 7, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7864-7866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02529]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-1412; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00805-T;
Amendment 39-22314; AD 2023-02-07]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Airbus SAS Model A300 B2K-3C, B2-203, B4-2C, and B4-203 airplanes. This
AD was prompted by a determination that internal system pollution can
occur, most likely due to corroded unions in the pressurization lines,
with an associated risk of contamination of the check valves. This AD
requires repetitive inspections (functional checks) of the
pressurization of the hydraulic system reservoirs, and corrective
actions if necessary, 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 March 14, 2023.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of March 14,
2023.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2022-1412; 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:
<bullet> For material incorporated by reference 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#6f2e2b1c2f0a0e1c0e410a1a1d001f0e410a1a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ca8b8eb98aafabb9abe4afbfb8a5baabe4afbf">[email protected]</span></a>; website easa.europa.eu. You may
find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
<bullet> You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness
Products Section,
[[Page 7865]]
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>
under Docket No. FAA-2022-1412.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, Large
Aircraft Section, FAA, International Validation Branch, 2200 South
216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206-231-3225; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#593d3837772b363d303738193f3838773e362f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9ffbfef1b1edf0fbf6f1fedff9fefeb1f8f0e9">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 all Airbus SAS Model
A300 B2-203, A300 B2K-3C, A300 B4-203, and A300 B4-2C airplanes. The
NPRM published in the Federal Register on November 18, 2022 (87 FR
69222).
The NPRM was prompted by AD 2022-0116, dated June 21, 2022, issued
by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union (EASA AD 2022-0116) (also referred to as the MCAI). The
MCAI states that internal system pollution can occur, most likely due
to corroded unions at the pressurization lines, with an associated risk
of contamination of the check valves. The three hydraulic system
reservoirs are pressurized by air coming from the engine or the
auxiliary power unit bleed air duct or from the ground connection. Air
tightness of the pressurization system of the reservoirs is achieved by
check valves that are located on the respective pressurization lines
and on top of each hydraulic reservoir.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require repetitive inspections
(functional checks) of the pressurization of the hydraulic system
reservoirs, and corrective actions if necessary, as specified in EASA
AD 2022-0116. The FAA is issuing this AD to address check valve
contamination, which could lead to hydraulic reservoir pressurization
issues and, if combined with an air pressurization line rupture, could
lead to loss of hydraulic systems and possibly result in loss of
control of the airplane. See the MCAI for additional background
information.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2022-1412.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the cost to the public.
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 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.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
EASA AD 2022-0116 specifies procedures for repetitive detailed
inspections by performing functional checks for air leakage of the
hydraulic system reservoirs and corrective actions. Corrective actions
include a fault isolation to identify the source of depressurization
and replacement of the check valves. EASA AD 2022-0116 also specifies
procedures for reporting the inspection findings.
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.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 2 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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4 work-hours x $85 per hour = $340.............................. $0 $340 $680
1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85 (reporting).................... 0 85 170
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The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the cost
estimates for the corrective actions specified in this 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 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 currently 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 take
approximately 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
collection of information. All responses to this collection of
information are mandatory. Send comments regarding this burden estimate
or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Information Collection
Clearance Officer, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177-1524.
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.
[[Page 7866]]
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:
(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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
2023-02-07 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-22314; Docket No. FAA-2022-1412;
Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00805-T.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective March 14, 2023.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Airbus SAS Model A300 B2K-3C, B2-203, B4-
2C, and B4-203 airplanes, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code: 29, Hydraulic
power.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a determination that internal system
pollution can occur, most likely due to corroded unions at
pressurization lines level, with an associated risk of contamination
of the check valves. The FAA is issuing this AD to address check
valve contamination, which could lead to hydraulic reservoir
pressurization issues and, if combined with an air pressurization
line rupture, could lead to loss of hydraulic systems and possibly
result in 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
2022-0116, dated June 21, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0116).
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0116
(1) Where EASA AD 2022-0116 refers to its effective date, this
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0116 specifies to report the
first functional check (test) results to Airbus within a certain
compliance time. For this AD, report the first functional check
(test) results at the applicable time specified in paragraph
(h)(2)(i) or (ii) of this AD.
(i) If the inspection was done on or after the effective date of
this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the inspection.
(ii) If the inspection was done before the effective date of
this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the effective date
of this AD.
(3) The ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 2022-0116 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,
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 (j) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#566f7b1700057b171f047b6165667b171b19151630373778313920"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c8f1e5899e9be589819ae5fffbf8e58985878b88aea9a9e6afa7be">[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, 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
paragraph (i)(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.
(j) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Dan Rodina,
Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, FAA, International
Validation Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198;
telephone 206-231-3225; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#57333639792538333e39361731363679303821"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f296939cdc809d969b9c93b2949393dc959d84">[email protected]</span></a>.
(k) 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) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022-0116,
dated June 21, 2022.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For EASA AD 2022-0116, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3,
50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8bcacff8cbeeeaf8eaa5eefef9e4fbeaa5eefe"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5f1e1b2c1f3a3e2c3e713a2a2d302f3e713a2a">[email protected]</span></a>; website easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA
AD on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
(4) 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.
(5) You may view this material that is incorporated by reference
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For
information on the availability of this material at NARA, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4523376b2c2b36352026312c2a2b052b2437246b222a33"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c8aebae6a1a6bbb8adabbca1a7a688a6a9baa9e6afa7be">[email protected]</span></a>, or go to: <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html</a>.
Issued on January 20, 2023.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-02529 Filed 2-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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