Rule2023-04941
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
March 10, 2023
Effective
March 27, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A310 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, 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 47 (Friday, March 10, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 47 (Friday, March 10, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14877-14880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04941]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-1309; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01288-T;
Amendment 39-22221; AD 2022-22-06]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Airbus SAS Model A310 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a
determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations
are necessary. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or
inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more
restrictive airworthiness limitations, 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 27, 2023.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of March 27,
2023.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by April 24, 2023.
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.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2022-1309; 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
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
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#b5f4f1c6f5d0d4c6d49bd0c0c7dac5d49bd0c0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e6a7a295a683879587c8839394899687c88393">[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 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. It is also available at
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2022-1309.
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#8febeee1a1fde0ebe6e1eecfe9eeeea1e8e0f9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0b6f6a652579646f62656a4b6d6a6a256c647d">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments
about this final rule. Send your comments to an address listed under
ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2022-1309; Project Identifier MCAI-
2021-01288-T'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments
[[Page 14878]]
received by the closing date and may amend this final rule 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 final rule.
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 AD 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 final rule, 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 final rule. Submissions containing CBI
should be sent to 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#4125202f6f332e25282f20012720206f262e37"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="46222728683429222f28270620272768212930">[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 2021-0257, dated November 17, 2021
(EASA AD 2021-0257) (referred to after this as the MCAI), to correct an
unsafe condition on all Airbus SAS Model A310-203, -204, -221, -222, -
304, -322, -324, and -325 airplanes. The MCAI states that the limit of
validity (LOV) has been revised to be more restrictive, reflecting the
engineering data that supports the structural maintenance program and
that corresponds to the time period during which it is demonstrated
that Widespread Fatigue Damage (WFD) will not occur.
EASA AD 2021-0257 specifies that it requires a task (limitation)
related to the LOV already in Airbus A310 Airworthiness Limitations
Section (ALS), Part 2, Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items
(DT-ALI), Revision 03, dated December 14, 2018, that is required by
EASA AD 2019-0091, dated April 26, 2019 (which corresponds to FAA AD
2019-20-06, Amendment 39-19759 (84 FR 55859, October 18, 2019) (AD
2019-20-06)) (and is incorporated by reference in AD 2019-20-06), and
that incorporation of EASA AD 2021-0257 invalidates (terminates) the
prior LOV as specified in Airbus A310 Airworthiness Limitations Section
(ALS), Part 2, Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT-ALI),
Revision 03, dated December 14, 2018. This AD therefore terminates the
limitations for the LOV, as required by paragraph (g) of AD 2019-20-06.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2022-1309.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2021-0257. This service information
specifies new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations for
airplane LOVs. 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 this State of Design Authority, it
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI
described above. The FAA is issuing this AD after determining that the
unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on
other products of the same type design.
AD Requirements
This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection
program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive
airworthiness limitations, which are specified in EASA AD 2021-0257
described previously, as incorporated by reference. Any differences
with EASA AD 2021-0257 are identified as exceptions in the regulatory
text of this AD.
This AD requires revisions to certain operator maintenance
documents to include new actions (e.g., inspections). Compliance with
these actions is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes that have
been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the areas addressed
by this AD, the operator may not be able to accomplish the actions
described in the revisions. In this situation, to comply with 14 CFR
91.403(c), the operator must request approval for an alternative method
of compliance (AMOC) according to paragraph (j)(1) of this 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,
EASA AD 2021-0257 is incorporated by reference in this AD. This AD
requires compliance with EASA AD 2021-0257 through that incorporation,
except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory
text of this AD. Using common terms that are the same as the heading of
a particular section in EASA AD 2021-0257 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 2021-
0257. Service information required by EASA AD 2021-0257 for compliance
will be available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2022-1309
after this final rule is published.
Airworthiness Limitation ADs Using the New Process
The FAA's process of incorporating by reference MCAI ADs as the
primary source of information for compliance with corresponding FAA ADs
has been limited to certain MCAI ADs (primarily those with service
bulletins as the primary source of information for accomplishing the
actions required by the FAA AD). However, the FAA is now expanding the
process to include MCAI ADs that require a change to airworthiness
limitation documents, such as airworthiness limitation sections.
For these ADs that incorporate by reference an MCAI AD that changes
airworthiness limitations, the FAA requirements are unchanged.
Operators must revise the existing maintenance or inspection program,
as applicable, to incorporate the information specified in the new
airworthiness limitation document. The airworthiness
[[Page 14879]]
limitations must be followed according to 14 CFR 91.403(c) and
91.409(e).
The previous format of the airworthiness limitation ADs included a
paragraph that specified that no alternative actions (e.g., inspections
or intervals) may be used unless the actions and intervals are approved
as an AMOC in accordance with the procedures specified in the AMOCs
paragraph under ``Additional AD Provisions.'' This new format includes
a ``New Provisions for Alternative Actions and Intervals'' paragraph
that does not specifically refer to AMOCs, but operators may still
request an AMOC to use an alternative action or interval.
Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective
Date
Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5
U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and
comment procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds
that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to
the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days,
upon a finding of good cause.
There are currently no domestic operators of these products.
Accordingly, notice and opportunity for prior public comment are
unnecessary, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B). In addition, for the
foregoing reason(s), the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because the FAA has determined
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without notice and comment,
RFA analysis is not required.
Costs of Compliance
Currently, there are no affected U.S.-registered airplanes. For any
affected airplane that may be imported and placed on the U.S. Register
in the future, the FAA provides the following cost estimates to comply
with this AD:
The FAA has determined that revising the existing maintenance or
inspection program takes an average of 90 work-hours per operator,
although the agency recognizes that this number may vary from operator
to operator. Since operators incorporate maintenance or inspection
program changes for their affected fleet(s), the FAA has determined
that a per-operator estimate is more accurate than a per-airplane
estimate.
The FAA estimates the total cost per operator for the new actions
to be $7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per work-hour).
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
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, and
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.
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:
2022-22-06 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-22221; Docket No. FAA-2022-1309;
Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01288-T.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective March 27, 2023.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD affects AD 2019-20-06, Amendment 39-19759 (84 FR 55859,
October 18, 2019) (AD 2019-20-06).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Airbus SAS Model A310-203, -204, -221, -
222, -304, -322, -324, and -325 airplanes, certificated in any
category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 05, Time Limits/
Maintenance Checks.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more
restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address reduced structural integrity of the
airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Revision of the Existing Maintenance or Inspection Program
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
2021-0257, dated November 17, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0257).
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2021-0257
(1) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2021-0254 specifies ``This AD
invalidates the LOV [limit of validity] as specified in Airbus A310
ALS Part 2 Revision 03 [EASA AD 2019-0091],'' replace that text with
``This AD replaces the LOVs specified in paragraph 3.1 of Airbus
A310 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS), Part 2, Damage
Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT-ALI), Revision 03, dated
December 14, 2018, as required by FAA AD 2019-20-06.''
(2) Paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2021-0257 specifies revising ``the
approved AMP'' within 12 months after its effective date, but this
AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program,
as applicable, within 90 days after the effective date of this AD.
[[Page 14880]]
(3) The ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 2021-0257 does not apply
to this AD.
(i) Provisions for Alternative Actions and Intervals
After the existing maintenance or inspection program has been
revised as required by paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative
actions (e.g., inspections) and intervals are allowed unless they
are approved as specified in the provisions of the ``Ref.
Publications'' section of EASA AD 2021-0257.
(j) 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 (k) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c0f9ed819693ed818992edf7f3f0ed818d8f8380a6a1a1eea7afb6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ba8397fbece997fbf3e8978d898a97fbf7f5f9fadcdbdb94ddd5cc">[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.
(k) Additional 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#b0d4d1de9ec2dfd4d9ded1f0d6d1d19ed7dfc6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0f6b6e61217d606b66616e4f696e6e21686079">[email protected]</span></a>.
(l) 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 2021-0257,
dated November 17, 2021.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For EASA AD 2021-0257, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3,
50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c38287b083a6a2b0a2eda6b6b1acb3a2eda6b6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6f2e2b1c2f0a0e1c0e410a1a1d001f0e410a1a">[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#cea8bce0a7a0bdbeabadbaa7a1a08ea0afbcafe0a9a1b8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6503174b0c0b16150006110c0a0b250b0417044b020a13">[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 October 20, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
Editorial Note: This document was received for publication by
the Office of the Federal Register on March 7, 2023.
[FR Doc. 2023-04941 Filed 3-9-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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