Rule2023-04424
Special Conditions: Airbus SAS A320-200 Series Model A320-251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -273N Airplanes and A321-200 Series Model A321-251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX, -272NX Airplanes; Flight Attendant Seat Mounted on Movable Interior Structure
Primary source
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Published
March 3, 2023
Effective
April 3, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
These special conditions are issued for the Airbus SAS (Airbus) A320-200 Series Model -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -273N (known as A320neo) airplanes and A321-200 Series Model -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX, -272NX (known as A321neo) airplanes. The airplanes have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. This design feature is flight attendant seats mounted on movable lavatory doors. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 42 (Friday, March 3, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 42 (Friday, March 3, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13299-13301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04424]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents.
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Federal Register / Vol. 88 , No. 42 / Friday, March 3, 2023 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 13299]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0532; Special Conditions No. 25-835-SC]
Special Conditions: Airbus SAS A320-200 Series Model A320-251N, -
252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -273N Airplanes and A321-200 Series Model
A321-251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX, -272NX Airplanes; Flight Attendant
Seat Mounted on Movable Interior Structure
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions.
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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Airbus SAS
(Airbus) A320-200 Series Model -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -273N
(known as A320neo) airplanes and A321-200 Series Model -251NX, -252NX,
-253NX, -271NX, -272NX (known as A321neo) airplanes. The airplanes have
a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of
technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport
category airplanes. This design feature is flight attendant seats
mounted on movable lavatory doors. The applicable airworthiness
regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for
this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional
safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to
establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the
existing airworthiness standards.
DATES: This action is effective on Airbus on April 3, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Lennon, Human Machine
Interface, AIR-626, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and
Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198;
telephone and fax 206-231-3209; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c0b3a8a1aeaeafaeeeaca5aeaeafae80a6a1a1eea7afb6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="37445f5659595859195b52595958597751565619505841">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On October 27, 2020, Airbus SAS applied for a change to Type
Certificate No. A28NM for flight attendant seats mounted on movable
lavatory doors in A320-200 Series Model A320-251N, -252N, -253N, -271N,
-272N, and -273N (known as A320neo) airplanes and A321-200 Series Model
A321-251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX, and -272NX (known as A321neo)
airplanes. These airplanes are twin-engine, transport category
airplanes. The A320neo has a maximum passenger seating capacity of 179
and the A321neo has a maximum passenger seating capacity of 244.
The applicable airworthiness requirements do not contain adequate
or appropriate safety standards for this new lavatory door-mounted
flight attendant seat. Section 25.785 of title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR) specifies certain requirements for flight
attendant seats but did not consider flight attendant seats mounted on
movable structure such as lavatory doors and, therefore, does not
specifically address additional concerns associated with ensuring the
flight attendant seats are safe to occupy when necessary. Therefore,
special conditions are necessary to establish a level of safety
equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.101, Airbus must show that the A320neo and A321neo airplanes,
as changed, continue to meet the applicable provisions of the
regulations listed in Type Certificate No. A28NM or the applicable
regulations in effect on the date of application for the change, except
for earlier amendments as agreed upon by the FAA.
If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness
regulations (e.g., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards for the Airbus A320neo and A321neo
airplanes because of a novel or unusual design feature, special
conditions are prescribed under the provisions of Sec. 21.16.
Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which
they are issued. Should the type certificate for that model be amended
later to include any other model that incorporates the same novel or
unusual design feature, or should any other model already included on
the same type certificate be modified to incorporate the same novel or
unusual design feature, these special conditions would also apply to
the other model under Sec. 21.101.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the Airbus A320neo and A321neo airplanes must comply with
the fuel vent and exhaust emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34 and
the noise certification requirements of 14 CFR part 36.
The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in
accordance with Sec. 11.38, and they become part of the type
certification basis under Sec. 21.101.
Novel or Unusual Design Features
The Airbus A320neo and A321neo airplanes will incorporate the
following novel or unusual design features:
Flight attendant seats mounted on movable lavatory doors.
Discussion
Airbus will install, in A320neo and A321neo airplanes, flight
attendant seats on lavatory doors. The lavatory door-mounted flight
attendant seat is intended to be occupied during all phases of flight,
including takeoff and landing.
Flight attendant seats are typically floor-mounted or wall-mounted
on a non-movable structure (e.g., mounted on monument walls) which is
attached to the airplane structure. The installation of a flight
attendant seat on movable structure, such as a lavatory door,
introduces certain issues that must be addressed to ensure safety of
the attendant seat occupant. Such considerations include ensuring that
the lavatory door is closed (fixed) when the flight attendant seat is
to be occupied and ensuring that the lavatory door lock mechanism is
reliable after frequent use of the lavatory door. Additionally, the
lavatory door, door locking mechanism, and door housing will need to
withstand certain loading conditions as that structure is part of the
load path
[[Page 13300]]
between seat structure and airplane structure.
Other issues include ensuring that the flight attendant seat is
available to use when necessary, which requires a way to ensure the
lavatory is not occupied when the flight attendant seat must be
occupied. Also, additional maintenance requirements will need to be
considered to establish the reliability of the lavatory door locking
mechanism, as it is a feature that will be frequently used.
The special conditions contain the additional safety standards that
the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety
equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.
Discussion of Comments
The FAA issued Notice of Proposed Special Conditions No. 25-22-03-
SC for the Airbus A320-200 Series Model A320-251N, -252N, -253N, -271N,
-272N, and -273N, and A321-200 Series Model A321-251NX, -252NX, -253NX,
-271NX, and -272NX airplanes, which was published in the Federal
Register on October 17, 2022 (87 FR 62739). The FAA received responses
from two commenters--Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA);
and The Boeing Company (Boeing). ALPA provided a general comment that
they support the special conditions. Boeing provided four comments
summarized as follows:
Comment Summary 1: Boeing suggested a revision of the text of
proposed special condition (a) for purposes of identifying additional
components of the flight attendant seat-system primary load path that
must be shown to withstand the emergency landing dynamic loads
including the lavatory door hinge and lavatory door-interfacing wall
panels. Boeing states that the proposed special condition does not
address the structural interface area surrounding the lavatory door
attachment to the lavatory housing and that its suggested revision is
consistent with guidance provided in section 9.c.(3)(b) of Advisory
Circular 25.562-1B, ``Dynamic Evaluation of Seat Restraint Systems and
Occupant Protection on Transport Airplanes,'' for similar
installations. Boeing also suggested a revision of the text of proposed
special condition (a) for purposes of clarifying that both the flight
attendant seat installation and lavatory attachment to the airplanes'
structure must meet the requirements of 14 CFR 25.561.
FAA Response: No change to this special condition is necessary. The
proposed special condition (a) was intended to describe the lavatory
structure that must withstand the emergency landing dynamic loads
prescribed in Sec. 25.562 vs. the lavatory structure that must meet
the requirements of Sec. 25.561. It is not necessary for these special
conditions to identify that the seat installation meet the requirements
of Sec. 25.561 because that requirement already exists via Sec.
25.785(b) and is therefore, outside the scope of these special
conditions. It is also sufficient to identify that the lavatory door-
mounted flight attendant seat-system primary load path must meet the
emergency landing dynamic loads without identifying all components of
that load path because structural components such as the lavatory door,
door hinge, and interfacing lavatory panels are readily recognized as
part of the load path. The exception is the lavatory door locking
mechanism. This is specifically emphasized in this special condition as
it is a movable assembly that is expected to be frequently manipulated
by the airplane occupants and, as such, a novel feature in the flight
attendant seat load path.
Comment Summary 2 and 3: Boeing recommended a revision to special
condition (b)(1) that would require a design feature that clearly
indicates positive engagement of all latches or mechanisms required to
secure the lavatory door, including a placard describing the required
steps to secure and verify engagement of the door. Boeing also
recommends a revision to special condition (c) that would require a
placard near the flight attendant seat that instructs the flight
attendant to perform a visual inspection of the lavatory interior to
ensure the lavatory is not occupied before engaging the door and
occupying the attendant seat. Boeing states that a placard should be
included to ensure that the lavatory is not occupied when use of the
flight attendant seat is necessary.
FAA Response: No changes to special conditions (b) or (c) are
necessary. While the recommended design features may constitute an
acceptable means of compliance, other means may be utilized that could
also be acceptable. Therefore, it is not necessary or appropriate to
require specific design features for these special conditions.
Comment Summary 4: Boeing recommended a revision to special
condition (e) to require that the lavatory door hinge mechanism, along
with the locking mechanism, must meet the requirements of Sec. 25.561
and other foreseeable operating conditions in order to show that these
mechanisms are reliable within their expected life cycle. This
recommendation includes requiring static testing beyond the life-cycle
testing of the locking and hinge mechanisms to ensure adequate
structural capability over the expected lifetime of the installation.
FAA Response: Special condition (e) is intended to ensure that the
movable parts of the lavatory door assembly remain reliable within the
expected life cycle of the installation. The lavatory door locking
mechanism is specifically identified as it will be routinely
manipulated by aircraft occupants as they utilize the lavatory.
However, the door hinge is also a movable part that is applicable to
this special condition even though it does not get repositioned in
service like the lavatory door lock. For this reason the FAA agrees
with the recommendation to include the lavatory door hinge within the
text of special condition (e). While the FAA agrees that the approach
of conducting static testing of the lavatory door hinge and locking
mechanisms beyond the life-cycle testing constitutes an acceptable
means of compliance, other means may be utilized that could also be
acceptable. Therefore, it is not necessary to require this specific
compliance approach in the special condition. Proposed special
condition (e) is revised as follows:
The lavatory door locking and hinge mechanisms must be shown to
withstand frequent use. Potential deterioration of moving parts must be
addressed to show that the locking and hinge mechanisms are reliable
within the established life cycle. Accordingly, instructions for
continued airworthiness must also be defined for the locking and hinge
mechanisms.
All other special conditions are adopted as proposed.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Airbus A320 Series Model -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -273N
(known as A320neo) and A321 Series Model -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -
271NX, -272NX (known as A321neo) airplanes. Should Airbus apply at a
later date for a change to the type certificate to include another
model incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, these
special conditions would apply to that model as well.
Conclusion
This action affects only a certain novel or unusual design feature
on A320 Series Model -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -273N (known as
A320neo) and A321 Series Model -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX, -272NX
(known as A321neo) airplanes. It is not a rule of general
applicability.
[[Page 13301]]
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25
Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Authority Citation
The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702,
44704.
The Special Conditions
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the following special conditions are issued as part of
the type certification basis for the Airbus A320 Series Model -251N, -
252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -273N (known as A320neo) and A321 Series
Model -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX, -272NX (known as A321neo).
(a) The lavatory door-mounted flight attendant seat-system primary
load path, including the flight attendant seat, seat attachment means,
the lavatory door, and lavatory door attachment to the lavatory
housing--including the locking mechanism--must be shown to be capable
of withstanding the emergency landing dynamic loads in accordance with
Sec. 25.562. The lavatory housing and the lavatory attachment to the
airplane structure must comply with the requirements of Sec. 25.561.
(b) Means must be provided to ensure that the flight attendant seat
can only be used if the lavatory door is securely locked in the closed
position.
(1) The procedures for establishing that the lavatory door is
closed and locked prior to use of the flight attendant seat must become
part of the cabin crew training.
(2) The effects of structural deformation of the lavatory door and
lavatory door housing must be addressed to prevent unlocking or failure
of the locking mechanism.
(c) Means must be provided to ensure that the lavatory is not
occupied so that the flight attendant seat is available when necessary.
(d) Means must be provided to ensure that no one is inadvertently
trapped inside the lavatory when the lavatory door is locked to
facilitate use of the flight attendant seat.
(e) The lavatory door locking and hinge mechanisms must be shown to
withstand frequent use. Potential deterioration of moving parts must be
addressed to show that the locking and hinge mechanisms are reliable
within their established life cycles. Accordingly, instructions for
continued airworthiness must also be defined for the locking and hinge
mechanisms.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 28, 2023.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and Innovation
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-04424 Filed 3-2-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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