Airworthiness Directives; Zodiac Aerotechnics (Formerly Intertechnique Aircraft Systems)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 224 (Friday, November 20, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72576-72579]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28883]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-0927; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-172-AD; 
Amendment 39-18325; AD 2015-23-09]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Zodiac Aerotechnics (Formerly 
Intertechnique Aircraft Systems)

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Zodiac Aerotechnics (formerly Intertechnique Aircraft Systems) 
flightcrew oxygen mask regulators as installed on, but not limited to, 
various transport and small airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report 
that improper maintenance on oxygen mask regulators was found. This AD 
requires the identification and replacement of all potentially affected 
units. This AD also requires installation of a placard and revision of 
the airplane flight manual to include an operational procedure for use 
in case of depressurization. We are issuing this AD to detect and 
correct affected oxygen mask regulators, which could lead to inadequate 
protection to the affected flightcrew against hypoxia.

[[Page 72577]]

Hypoxia can start from a headache and drowsiness and lead eventually to 
unconsciousness with severe consequence in terms of airplane 
controllability.

DATES: This AD becomes effective December 28, 2015.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 28, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2015-0927; 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 Zodiac 
Services, Technical Publication Department, Zodiac Aerotechnics, Oxygen 
Systems Europe, 61 Rue Pierre Curie--CS20001, 78373 Plaisir Cedex, 
France; phone: (33) 01 61 24 23 23; fax: (33) 01 30 55 71 61; email: 
[email protected]; Internet: http://www.zodiacaerospace.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. It is also available on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
Docket No. FAA-2015-0927.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ian Lucas, Aerospace Engineer, Boston 
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO) ANE-150, FAA, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7757; fax: 781-
238-7170; email: [email protected].

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 Zodiac Aerotechnics 
(formerly Intertechnique Aircraft Systems) flightcrew oxygen mask 
regulators as installed on, but not limited to, various transport and 
small airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on April 
22, 2015 (80 FR 22438).
    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive 2012-0254R1, dated December 21, 2012 (referred 
to after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Zodiac 
Aerotechnics (formerly Intertechnique Aircraft Systems) flightcrew 
oxygen mask regulators as installed on, but not limited to, various 
transport and small airplanes. The MCAI states:

    In a repair station, improper maintenance on [flightcrew] oxygen 
mask regulators was reported to Intertechnique: during an inspection 
of the oxygen test bench by its manufacturer, incorrect settings 
were noticed. This test bench setting discrepancy on the oxygen mask 
regulator could cause an improper mask dilution schedule.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead, in 
case of a diversion above 10,000 feet after a depressurization 
event, to the inhalation of air with improper content of oxygen, due 
to the bad dilution settings, thereby providing inadequate 
protection to the affected flightcrew member against hypoxia, which 
can start from a headache and drowsiness and lead eventually to 
unconsciousness with severe consequence in term of aeroplane 
controllability.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires the 
identification and replacement of all potentially affected units. 
This [EASA] AD also requires installation of a placard and [a 
revision to the airplane flight manual to include] * * * an 
operational procedure [in case of depressurization] pending 
replacement of the affected units.
* * * * *

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-0927-0004.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM (80 
FR 22438, April 22, 2015) and the FAA's response to each comment. 
Boeing concurred with the contents of the NPRM.

Request To Revise the Air Transport Association (ATA) Code

    Horizon Air requested that we change the ATA code specified in 
paragraph (d) of the proposed AD (80 FR 22438, April 22, 2015) to 
``35.'' The commenter stated that the correct ATA code for oxygen is 
ATA 35.
    We agree with the commenter because this AD addresses an unsafe 
condition for certain oxygen mask regulators. We have removed the ATA 
code of ``28'' and instead we have referred to ATA code ``35'' in 
paragraph (d) of this AD.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this AD with the change described previously and minor editorial 
changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (80 FR 22438, April 22, 2015) for correcting the unsafe condition; 
and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 22438, April 22, 2015).
    We also determined that these changes will not increase the 
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Zodiac Services has issued Zodiac Aerospace Service Bulletin MCF-
SBU-35-001, Revision 1, dated December 3, 2012. The service information 
describes procedures for the identification and replacement of all 
potentially affected units. This service information 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 of this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 13 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We also estimate that it will take about 3 work-hours per product 
to comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor 
rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $225 per 
product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on 
U.S. operators to be $6,240, or $480 per product.

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.

[[Page 72578]]

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-2015-0927; 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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2015-23-09 Zodiac Aerotechnics (formerly Intertechnique Aircraft 
Systems): Amendment 39-18325. FAA-2015-0927; Directorate Identifier 
2013-NM-172-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective December 28, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Zodiac Aerotechnics (formerly Intertechnique 
Aircraft Systems) flightcrew oxygen mask regulators having part 
number MC10, MF10, and MF20 series, with serial numbers listed in 
Appendix 1 of Zodiac Services Service Bulletin MCF-SBU-35-001, 
Revision 1, dated December 3, 2012. These oxygen mask regulators are 
installed on various transport and small airplanes, certificated in 
any category, including, but not limited to, the airplanes of the 
manufacturers specified in paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), (c)(3), 
(c)(4), (c)(5), (c)(6), and (c)(7) of this AD. An oxygen mask 
regulator having part number MC10-04-127 with serial number 48573 is 
affected only if it is part of part number MSE101-27 with serial 
number 7521.
    (1) Airbus.
    (2) ATR--GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional.
    (3) The Boeing Company.
    (4) Bombardier, Inc.
    (5) Cessna Aircraft Company.
    (6) Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation.
    (7) Gulfstream Aerospace LP.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 35, Oxygen.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report that improper maintenance on 
oxygen mask regulators was found. During an inspection of the oxygen 
test bench, incorrect settings were noticed. This test bench setting 
discrepancy on the oxygen mask regulator could cause an improper 
mask dilution schedule. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct 
affected oxygen mask regulators, which could lead, in case of mask 
usage at or above 10,000 feet after a depressurization event, to the 
inhalation of air with improper content of oxygen, due to the bad 
dilution settings, thereby providing inadequate protection to the 
affected flightcrew against hypoxia. Hypoxia can start from a 
headache and drowsiness and lead eventually to unconsciousness with 
severe consequence in terms of airplane controllability.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Inspection

    Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, inspect each 
flightcrew oxygen mask regulator to identify the part number and 
serial number, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Zodiac Aerospace Service Bulletin MCF-SBU-35-001, Revision 1, dated 
December 3, 2012. A review of airplane maintenance records is 
acceptable to make the determination as specified in this paragraph, 
provided those records can be relied upon for that purpose, and each 
flightcrew oxygen mask regulator can be conclusively identified from 
that review.

(h) Action for Affected Regulators

    If the part number and serial number, identified as required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD, are listed in Appendix 1 of Zodiac 
Aerospace Service Bulletin MCF-SBU-35-001, Revision 1, dated 
December 3, 2012, within 30 days after the effective date of this 
AD, accomplish the actions specified in paragraph (h)(1) or (h)(2) 
of this AD.
    (1) Replace each affected flightcrew oxygen mask regulator with 
a part identified in paragraph (h)(1)(i) or (h)(1)(ii) of this AD.
    (i) A serviceable part, not having a part number and serial 
number listed in Appendix 1 of Zodiac Aerospace Service Bulletin 
MCF-SBU-35-001, Revision 1, dated December 3, 2012.
    (ii) A part that has been tested and passed the test in 
accordance with paragraph 3.A.(4) of the Accomplishment Instructions 
of Zodiac Aerospace Service Bulletin MCF-SBU-35-001, Revision 1, 
dated December 3, 2012.
    (2) Do the actions specified in paragraphs (h)(2)(i) and 
(h)(2)(ii) of this AD.
    (i) Revise the Emergency Procedures section of the airplane 
flight manual (AFM) by inserting the statement provided in figure 1 
to paragraph (h)(2)(i) of this AD. This may be done by inserting a 
copy of figure 1 to paragraph (h)(2)(i) of this AD into the AFM.

               Figure 1 to Paragraph (h)(2)(i) of This AD
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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In case of depressurization, both pilots must use the mask regulator on
 100% demand or Emergency mode only.
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    Note 1 to paragraph (h)(2)(i) of this AD: For oxygen over-
consumption, refer to applicable airplane type certificate holder 
limitations, if existing, depending on the airplane configuration 
and/or flight plan.


    Note 2 to paragraph (h)(2)(i) of this AD: It is the operators' 
responsibility to assess the operational consequences of the oxygen 
over-consumption and ensure that the operational requirements with 
regard to supplemental oxygen and crew protective breathing 
equipment are still done. Operators are expected to amend, as 
applicable, their operations manual(s) accordingly.

    (ii) Fabricate and install a placard on the flightcrew oxygen 
mask container that states: ``USE SELECTOR on ``100%'' OR 
``EMERGENCY'' ONLY.''

[[Page 72579]]

(i) Regulator Replacement

    Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, unless 
already accomplished as specified in paragraph (h)(1) of this AD, 
replace each affected flightcrew oxygen mask regulator identified in 
paragraph (h) of this AD with a part identified in paragraph (i)(1) 
or (i)(2) of this AD. After replacement of all affected flightcrew 
oxygen mask regulators on an airplane, the actions specified in 
paragraph (h)(2) of this AD are no longer required, the AFM revision 
specified in paragraph (h)(2)(i) of this AD may be removed from the 
AFM, and the placard identified in paragraph (h)(2)(ii) of this AD 
may be removed from the airplane.
    (1) A serviceable part, not having a part number and serial 
number listed in Appendix 1 of Zodiac Aerospace Service Bulletin 
MCF-SBU-35-001, Revision 1, dated December 3, 2012.
    (2) A part that has been tested and passed the test in 
accordance with paragraph 3.A.(4) of the Accomplishment Instructions 
of Zodiac Aerospace Service Bulletin MCF-SBU-35-001, Revision 1, 
dated December 3, 2012.

(j) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for actions required by 
paragraphs (g), (h)(1)(ii), and (i)(2) of this AD, if those actions 
were performed before the effective date of this AD using Zodiac 
Aerospace Service Bulletin MCF-SBU-35-001, dated October 25, 2012, 
which is not incorporated by reference in this AD.

(k) Parts Installation Limitation

    As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install any 
flightcrew oxygen mask regulator with a part number and serial 
number listed in Appendix 1 of Zodiac Aerospace Service Bulletin 
MCF-SBU-35-001, Revision 1, dated December 3, 2012, on any airplane, 
unless the regulator has been tested and passed the test, in 
accordance with paragraph 3.A.(4) of the Accomplishment Instructions 
of Zodiac Aerospace Service Bulletin MCF-SBU-35-001, Revision 1, 
dated December 3, 2012.

(l) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), ANE-
150, 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 
local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending 
information directly to the ACO, send it to ATTN: Ian Lucas, 
Aerospace Engineer, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, ANE-150, 
FAA, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 
781-238-7757; fax: 781-238-7170; email: [email protected]. Before 
using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal 
inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the 
local flight standards district office/certificate holding district 
office. The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this 
AD.

(m) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) EASA Airworthiness Directive 2012-0254R1, dated December 21, 
2012, for related information. This MCAI may be found in the AD 
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-0927-0004.
    (2) Service information identified in this AD that is not 
incorporated by reference is available at the addresses specified in 
paragraphs (n)(3) and (n)(4) of this AD.

(n) 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) Zodiac Aerospace Service Bulletin MCF-SBU-35-001, Revision 
1, dated December 3, 2012.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Zodiac Services, Technical Publication Department, Zodiac 
Aerotechnics, Oxygen Systems Europe, 61 Rue Pierre Curie--CS20001, 
78373 Plaisir Cedex, France; phone: (33) 01 61 24 23 23; fax: (33) 
01 30 55 71 61; email: [email protected]; Internet: 
http://www.zodiacaerospace.com.
    (4) You may view this 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.
    (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, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

     Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 3, 2015.
Dionne Palermo,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-28883 Filed 11-19-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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