Proposed Rule2023-20508
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
September 26, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-24-12, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 airplanes. AD 2020-24-12 requires replacing certain center wing box (CWB) fasteners with fasteners having improved friction efficiency. Since the FAA issued AD 2020-24-12, additional work was introduced to ensure the correct application of the fuel vapor barrier structure paint on the outside of the CWB. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2020-24-12 and would require the additional work, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 185 (Tuesday, September 26, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 26, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65831-65833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20508]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-1887; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00543-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 supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2020-24-12, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941
airplanes. AD 2020-24-12 requires replacing certain center wing box
(CWB) fasteners with fasteners having improved friction efficiency.
Since the FAA issued AD 2020-24-12, additional work was introduced to
ensure the correct application of the fuel vapor barrier structure
paint on the outside of the CWB. This proposed AD would continue to
require the actions in AD 2020-24-12 and would require the additional
work, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). 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 November
13, 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-2023-1887; 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
<bullet> For the EASA AD identified in this NPRM, you may contact
EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221
8999 000; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7d3c390e3d181c0e1c5318080f120d1c531808"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cb8a8fb88baeaab8aae5aebeb9a4bbaae5aebe">[email protected]</span></a>; website easa.europa.eu. You may
find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. It is also
available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2023-1887.
<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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dat Le, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA,
1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone (516)
228-7317; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9df9fce9b3ebb3f1f8ddfbfcfcb3faf2eb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e0848194ce96ce8c85a0868181ce878f96">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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-2023-1887; Project Identifier
MCAI-2023-00543-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 65832]]
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 Dat Le, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA,
1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone (516)
228-7317; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f99d988dd78fd7959cb99f9898d79e968f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="721613065c045c1e17321413135c151d04">[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
The FAA issued AD 2020-24-12, Amendment 39-21342 (85 FR 76949,
December 1, 2020) (AD 2020-24-12), for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-
941 airplanes. AD 2020-24-12 was prompted by an MCAI originated by
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union. EASA issued AD 2020-0123, dated May 29, 2020 (EASA AD
2020-0123), to correct an unsafe condition.
AD 2020-24-12 requires replacing certain CWB fasteners with
fasteners having improved friction efficiency. The FAA issued AD 2020-
24-12 to address CWB fastener rotation. This condition, if not
corrected, could lead to cracking of the fastener head sealant cover,
followed by fuel vapor leakage inside the cabin, possibly resulting in
injury to airplane occupants.
Actions Since AD 2020-24-12 Was Issued
Since the FAA issued AD 2020-24-12, EASA superseded AD 2020-0123
and issued EASA AD 2023-0068, dated March 30, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0068)
(also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for
certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 airplanes. The MCAI states that
during flight and fatigue testing it was discovered that some fasteners
can rotate inside their CWB fastener holes. Further investigation
identified insufficient friction for the application. After EASA issued
AD 2020-0123, it was determined that additional work is necessary to
ensure the correct application of the fuel vapor barrier structure
paint on the outside of the CWB. CWB fastener rotation, if not
corrected, can lead to a crack of the fastener head sealant cover,
followed by fuel vapor leakage inside the cabin, possibly resulting in
injury to airplane occupants.
The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2023-1887.
Explanation of Retained Requirements
Although this proposed AD does not explicitly restate the
requirements of AD 2020-24-12, this proposed AD would retain all of the
requirements of AD 2020-24-12. Those requirements are referenced in
EASA AD 2023-0068, which, in turn, is referenced in paragraph (g) of
this proposed AD.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
EASA AD 2023-0068 specifies procedures for replacing the affected
CWB fasteners with fasteners having improved friction efficiency, and
for doing additional work on previously modified airplanes to ensure
the correct application of the fuel vapor barrier structure paint from
outside the CWB. 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
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 retain all requirements of AD 2020-24-12.
This proposed AD would also require accomplishing the applicable
actions specified in EASA AD 2023-0068 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 2023-0068 by reference in the FAA
final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with
EASA AD 2023-0068 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 2023-0068 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 2023-
0068. Service information required by EASA AD 2023-0068 for compliance
will be available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2023-1887
after the FAA final rule is published.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 13 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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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Retained actions from AD 2020-24-12... 307 work-hours x $85 per $5,900 $31,995 $415,935
hour = $26,095.
New proposed actions.................. 174 work-hours x $85 per 900 15,690 203,970
hour = $14,790.
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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.
[[Page 65833]]
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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-24-12, Amendment 39-21342
(85 FR 76949, December 1, 2020); and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:
Airbus SAS: Docket No. FAA-2023-1887; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-
00543-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by November 13, 2023.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD replaces AD 2020-24-12, Amendment 39-21342 (85 FR 76949,
December 1, 2020) (AD 2020-24-12).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model A350-941 airplanes,
certificated in any category, as identified in European Union
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2023-0068, dated March 30, 2023
(EASA AD 2023-0068).
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57, Wings.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports that certain central wing box
(CWB) fasteners had rotated inside the fastener holes due to
insufficient friction for the application, and by the determination
that additional work is necessary to ensure the correct application
of the fuel vapor barrier structure paint on the outside of the CWB.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address CWB fastener rotation. The
unsafe condition, if not corrected, could lead to cracking of the
fastener head sealant cover, followed by fuel vapor leakage inside
the cabin, possibly resulting in injury to airplane occupants.
(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, EASA AD 2023-0068.
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2023-0068
This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 2023-
0068.
(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#87beaac6d1d4aac6ced5aab0b4b7aac6cac8c4c7e1e6e6a9e0e8f1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e4ddc9a5b2b7c9a5adb6c9d3d7d4c9a5a9aba7a4828585ca838b92">[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 Dat Le, Aviation
Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY
11590; telephone (516) 228-7317; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c3a7a2b7edb5edafa683a5a2a2eda4acb5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3c585d48124a1250597c5a5d5d125b534a">[email protected]</span></a>.
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) 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 2023-0068,
dated March 30, 2023.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For EASA AD 2023-0068, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3,
50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4203063102272331236c2737302d32236c2737"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3574714675505446541b5040475a45541b5040">[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 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.
(5) You may view this service information 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#dabca8f4b3b4a9aabfb9aeb3b5b49ab4bba8bbf4bdb5ac"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="95f3e7bbfcfbe6e5f0f6e1fcfafbd5fbf4e7f4bbf2fae3">[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 September 18, 2023.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-20508 Filed 9-25-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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