Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 201 (Monday, October 19, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63079-63080]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26219]



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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 201 / Monday, October 19, 2015 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 63079]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0656; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-224-AD; 
Amendment 39-18295; AD 2015-21-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule; removal.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2010-08-08, which 
applied to certain Airbus Model A330-243, -341, -342, and -343 
airplanes. AD 2010-08-08 required deactivating the water scavenge 
automatic operation and revising the Limitations section of the 
airplane flight manual (AFM). We are also removing AD 2011-06-04, which 
applied to certain Airbus Model A330-243F airplanes. AD 2011-06-04 
required revising the Limitations section of the AFM. We issued ADs 
2010-08-08 and 2011-06-04 to prevent fuel flow restriction, caused by 
ice, resulting in a possible engine surge or stall condition, and the 
engine being unable to provide the commanded thrust. Since we issued AD 
2010-08-08 and AD 2011-06-04, we received new data indicating that the 
water scavenge system (WSS) operation does not induce any risk of fuel 
feed system (including the engine) blockage by ice on the pipework or 
pump inlets. We have also determined that the risk of fuel flow 
restriction by ice at the fuel oil heat exchanger (FOHE) interface on 
airplanes equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines is now addressed 
by a redesigned FOHE, which incorporates enhanced anti-icing and de-
icing performance.

DATES: This AD becomes effective November 23, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2014-0656; or in person at the 
Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Airbus SAS, 
Airworthiness Office--EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac 
Cedex, France; telephone: +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax: +33 5 61 93 45 80; 
email: [email protected]; Internet http://www.airbus.com. You may view this referenced service information at the 
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. 
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
425-227-1221.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone: 425-227-1138; 
fax: 425-227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Airbus Model A330-
243, -243F, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes. The NPRM published in the 
Federal Register on October 2, 2014 (79 FR 59468). The NPRM proposed to 
remove AD 2010-08-08, Amendment 39-16263 (75 FR 19196, April 14, 2010), 
and AD 2011-06-04, Amendment 39-16628 (76 FR 13075, March 10, 2011).
    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 
2010-0132-CN, dated October 14, 2013 (referred to after this as the 
Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to 
cancel EASA AD 2010-0132R1, dated June 10, 2013, which superseded EASA 
AD 2010-0132, dated June 28, 2010. The requirements of FAA AD 2010-08-
08, Amendment 39-16263 (75 FR 19196, April 14, 2010), and AD 2011-06-
04, Amendment 39-16628 (76 FR 13075, March 10, 2011), correspond to 
EASA AD 2010-0132. The MCAI states:

    During an in-service event, the flight crew of a Trent 700 
powered A330 aeroplane reported a temporary Engine Pressure Ratio 
(EPR) shortfall on engine 2 during the takeoff phase of the flight. 
The ENG STALL warning was set. The flight crew followed the standard 
procedures which included reducing throttle to idle. The engine 
recovered and provided the demanded thrust level for the remainder 
of the flight.
    Data analysis confirmed a temporary fuel flow restriction and 
subsequent recovery, and indicated that also engine 1 experienced a 
temporary fuel flow restriction shortly after the initial event on 
engine 2, again followed by a full recovery. The engine 1 EPR 
shortfall was insufficient to trigger any associated warning and was 
only noted through analysis of the flight data. No flight crew 
action was necessary to recover normal performance on this engine. 
The remainder of the flight was uneventful.
    Based on industry-wide experience, the investigation of the 
event focused on the possibility for ice to temporarily restrict the 
fuel flow. While no direct fuel system fault was identified, the 
operation of the water scavenge system (WSS) at Rib 3 was considered 
to have been a contributory factor.
    Prompted by these findings, EASA issued [EASA] Emergency AD 
2010-0042-E [http://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/2010-0042-E] [which 
corresponds to FAA AD 2010-08-08, Amendment 39-16263 (75 FR 19196, 
April 14, 2010] to require deactivation of the automatic Standby 
Fuel Pump Scavenge System and to prohibit dispatch of an aeroplane 
with one main fuel pump inoperative.
    Subsequently, EASA issued [EASA] AD 2010-0132 which superseded 
EASA AD 2010-0042-E, retaining its requirements, to expand the 
applicability to the newly certified model A330-243F [which 
corresponds to FAA AD 2011-06-04, Amendment 39-16628 (76 FR 13075, 
March 10, 2011, for the A330-243F requirements]. EASA AD 2010-0132 
was later revised to remove the dispatch restriction with one main 
fuel pump inoperative.
    Since EASA AD 2010-0132R1 was issued, extensive fuel system 
icing risk investigations testing was conducted by Airbus and Rolls-
Royce, the results of which confirmed that the Rib 3 WSS operation 
does not induce any risk of fuel feed system (including the engine) 
blockage by ice accreted on the pipework and/or pump inlets. In 
addition, it was demonstrated that the risk of fuel flow restriction 
by ice at the Fuel Oil Heat Exchanger (FOHE) interface on aeroplanes 
equipped with Trent 700 engines is now adequately addressed by 
introduction of a re-designed FOHE, more tolerant to the release of 
ice (modification 200218). The

[[Page 63080]]

modified FOHE (incorporating enhanced anti-icing and de-icing 
performance) is required to be installed on all Trent 700 engines 
through EASA AD 2009-0257 [http://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/2009-0257] 
[which corresponds to FAA AD 2010-07-01, Amendment 39-16244 (75 FR 
15326, March 29, 2010)].
    Previously, the operation of the WSS at Rib 3 was no longer 
considered as a main contributory factor on ice build-up and 
subsequent release of ice into the fuel system. Based on the latest 
information, the deactivation of the automatic Standby Fuel Pump 
Scavenge System is no longer required.
    For the reasons described above, this Notice cancels EASA AD 
2010-0132R1.

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2014-0656-0004.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (79 FR 59468, October 2, 
2014), or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting this AD as proposed except for 
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (79 FR 59468, October 2, 2014) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (79 FR 59468, October 2, 2014).

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.
    We are 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

    We 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. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
    3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and
    4. 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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2014-0656; or in person at the 
Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the 
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. 
The street address for the Docket Operations office (telephone: 800-
647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of 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) 2010-08-08, Amendment 39-
16263 (75 FR 19196, April 14, 2010); and AD 2011-06-04, Amendment 39-
16628 (76 FR 13075, March 10, 2011), and
0
(b) Adding the following new AD:

2015-21-03 Airbus: Amendment 39-18295. Docket No. FAA-2014-0656; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-224-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective November 23, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD removes AD 2010-08-08, Amendment 39-16263 (75 FR 19196, 
April 14, 2010); and AD 2011-06-04, Amendment 39-16628 (76 FR 13075, 
March 10, 2011).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the airplanes specified in paragraphs (c)(1) 
and (c)(2) of this AD.
    (1) Airbus Model A330-243, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes, 
certificated in any category, all manufacturer serial numbers 
equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, on which Airbus 
Modification 56966MP16199 has been embodied in production or Airbus 
Service Bulletin A330-28-3105 has been embodied in service.
    (2) Airbus Model A330-243F airplanes, certificated in any 
category, all manufacturer serial numbers on which Airbus 
Modification 56966H16199 has been embodied in production or Airbus 
Service Bulletin A330-28-3105 has been embodied in service.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 6, 2015.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-26219 Filed 10-16-15; 8:45 am]
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