Airworthiness Directives; Siemens S.A.S. Smoke Detectors

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 26, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44717-44720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20425]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0099; Product Identifier 2017-NE-02-AD; Amendment 
39-19035; AD 2017-19-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Siemens S.A.S. Smoke Detectors

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Siemens S.A.S. smoke detectors installed on various transport category 
airplanes. This AD requires inspection and replacement of the affected 
smoke detectors. This AD was prompted by a report that the affected 
smoke detectors failed an acceptance test. We are issuing this AD to 
correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective October 31, 2017.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of October 31, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Siemens, Aviation Customer Support, 697 Rue Fourny, 78530 Buc, 
France; phone: (33) 1 3084 6650; fax: (33) 1 3956

[[Page 44718]]

1364. You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine and 
Propeller Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation Division, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125. It is also available on 
the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0099.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
0099; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI), the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is 
Document 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 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Hulverson, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Boston ACO Branch, Compliance and Airworthiness Division, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7655; fax: 781-
238-7199; 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 the specified products. The 
NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 20, 2017 (82 FR 
18588). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    During a maintenance operation, some smoke detectors P/N 
PMC1102-02 failed an acceptance test, due to a significant degraded 
optical sensitivity. Investigation results concluded that light-
emitting diodes (LED) were abnormally degraded, affecting specific 
batches where changes occurred in the LED manufacturer production 
process. Further investigation has determined that the affected LED 
have been installed on smoke detectors manufactured between November 
2010 and January 2013, and on certain repaired units.
    This condition, if not corrected, will generate an abnormal 
ageing of the smoke detector, leading to a decrease of the light 
intensity capability, possibly resulting in failure to detect smoke 
and consequent risk of an on-board uncontrolled fire.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0099.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We considered the comments received.

Comment on Certifying Authority

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) commented that the 
affected smoke detectors were approved by EASA rather than by France.
    We agree. These smoke detectors were approved by EASA. We did not 
change this AD because this AD does not reference the certifying 
authority for these smoke detectors. The section commented on by EASA 
exists only in the ``Determination and Requirements of This Proposed 
AD'' section of the NPRM. We did not change this AD.

Request To Revise Applicability

    Delta Air Lines (Delta) requested that we revise the Applicability 
section of this AD to remove the reference to the date range when 
certain affected smoke detectors were produced. Delta indicated that 
the NPRM may be interpreted as implying that there are more affected 
smoke detector serial numbers than those identified in paragraph 1/D/of 
Siemens Service Information Letter (SIL) PMC-26-002, Revision No. 1, 
dated January 2016, and of SIL PMC-26-003, Revision No. 2, dated 
February, 2016. Delta commented that removing the date range from the 
Applicability section of this AD would clarify applicability for 
operators.
    We agree. We find that providing the part numbers (P/Ns) and serial 
numbers (S/Ns) for the affected smoke detectors sufficiently identifies 
all affected detectors. We revised this AD by removing the reference to 
the production date range from the Applicability section of this AD.

Request To Revise Compliance Schedule

    Delta requested that we revise paragraph (f)(2) in the compliance 
section of this AD to indicate that repaired units identified in Figure 
(1) to paragraph (c) of this AD should be replaced within 5 months 
after the effective date of this AD. Delta commented that the NPRM does 
not specify when these affected detectors are to be replaced.
    We agree. We revised the compliance section of this AD to specify 
that smoke detectors identified in paragraph (c)(2) of this AD must be 
replaced within 5 months after the effective date of this AD.

Support for This AD

    The Air Line Pilots Association, International, commented that it 
supports the intent of this AD to correct the unsafe condition on the 
affected products.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data, including the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this AD with the changes described previously. We 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

    Siemens has issued SIL No. PMC-26-002, Revision No. 1, dated 
January 2016 and SIL No. PMC-26-003, Revision No. 2, dated February 
2016. SIL No. PMC 26-002 provides a list of S/Ns for affected smoke 
detectors, P/Ns PMC1102-02, PMC3100-00, and GMC1102-02, known to be 
installed on Airbus A330 passenger, A330 freighter, and A380 airplanes. 
SIL No. PMC 26-003 provides a list of S/Ns for affected smoke 
detectors, P/N PMC1102, known to be installed on Boeing B737-400 
airplanes that have been converted via supplemental type certificate 
from a passenger to a freighter airplane. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects an unknown number of smoke 
detectors installed on, but not limited to, various aircraft of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 44719]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                   Action                                 Labor cost                Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection.................................  0.2 work-hours x $85 per hour = $17              $0             $17
Replacement................................  0.8 work-hours x $85 per hours =              1,285           1,353
                                              $68.
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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.
    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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to engines, propellers, and 
appliances to the Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 
Policy and Innovation Division.

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 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 to the extent 
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, 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.

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):

2017-19-05 Siemens S.A.S.: Amendment 39-19035; Docket No. FAA-2017-
0099; Product Identifier 2017-NE-02-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective October 31, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    (1) This AD applies to Siemens S.A.S. smoke detectors, part 
numbers (P/Ns) PMC1102-02, PMC3100-00, and GMC1102-02, with serial 
numbers (S/Ns) listed in paragraph 1/D/of Siemens Service 
Information Letter (SIL) No. PMC-26-002, Revision No. 1, dated 
January 2016; or paragraph 1/D/of Siemens SIL No. PMC-26-003, 
Revision No. 2, dated February 2016.
    (2) This AD also applies to those smoke detectors with P/Ns and 
S/Ns listed in Figure 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD; installed on, 
but not limited to, any airplane, certificated in any category, 
listed in paragraphs (c)(2)(i) or (ii) of this AD.

  Figure 1 to Paragraph (c) of This AD--P/N and S/Ns of Repaired Smoke
                                Detectors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             P/N                                  S/N
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PMC1102-2....................  2129, 2281, 2335, 2343, 2356, 2399, 2411,
                                2428, 2588, 2731, 2851, 2888, 3658,
                                3696, 3710, 3729, 3731, 5032, 5039,
                                5040, 5107, 5216, 5233, 50069, 50075,
                                50087, 50122, 50204, 50250, 50264,
                                50268, 50270, 50272, 50366 and 50386.
PMC3100-00...................  201, 208, 213 227, 260, 268, 312, 528,
                                588, 592, 606, 652, 655, 660, 667,
                                50037, 50046, 50058, 50060, 50062,
                                50067, 50070, 50072 and 50090.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (i) in production on Airbus A330, A330 freighter, and A380 
airplanes;
    (ii) in service by supplemental type certificate modification 
on:
    (A) Airbus A319 and A320, and Bombardier CL-600-2B19 (Challenger 
850), Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas) DC-9 series 80 airplanes; 
and
    (B) Boeing 737-400 (BDSF), 767, and 747-8 airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2611, Smoke 
Detection.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report that the affected smoke 
detectors failed an acceptance test. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of the smoke detector, on-board uncontrolled fire, 
and damage to the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, inspect 
each Siemens smoke detector, or review your maintenance records, to 
determine if an affected detector is installed.
    (2) For smoke detectors identified in paragraph (c)(1) of this 
AD, replace the

[[Page 44720]]

detectors within the compliance times specified in Figures 2, 3, and 
4 to paragraph (f) of this AD.

          Figure 2 to Paragraph (f) of This AD--P/N PMC1102-02
                          [Cargo compartments]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Compliance time (after the
   Manufacturing date (month/year)         effective date of this AD)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
122010 to 112011 inclusive...........  Within 5 months.
122011 to 012013 inclusive...........  Within 11 months.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


      Figure 3 to Paragraph (f) of this AD--P/N PMC310-00 Detectors
                          [Cargo compartments]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Compliance time (after the
   Manufacturing date (month/year)         effective date of this AD)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
032011 to 012012 inclusive...........  Within 5 months.
022012 to 012013 inclusive...........  Within 11 months.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


          Figure 4 to Paragraph (f) of This AD--P/N GMC1102-02
                 [Passenger cabin or any other location]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Compliance time (after the
   Manufacturing date (month/year)         effective date of this AD)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
112010 to 022012 inclusive...........  Within 24 months.
032012 to 122012 inclusive...........  Within 36 months.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (3) For smoke detectors identified in paragraph (c)(2) of this 
AD, replace the detectors within 5 months after the effective date 
of this AD.

(g) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install on any 
airplane a smoke detector:
    (1) With a manufacturing date and P/N listed in Figure 2 or 3 to 
paragraph (f) of this AD;
    (2) listed in Figure 4 to paragraph (f) of this AD unless the 
detector is marked `SIL PMC-26-002'.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, FAA, Boston ACO Branch, Compliance and 
Airworthiness Division, 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 manager of the Boston ACO 
Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in 
paragraph (i)(1) of this AD.
    (2) 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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Erin Hulverson, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Boston ACO Branch, Compliance and 
Airworthiness Division, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7655; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2016-0024, 
dated January 26, 2016, for more information. You may examine the 
MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2017-0099.

(j) 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 the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Siemens Service Information Letter (SIL) No. PMC-26-002, 
Revision No. 1, dated January 2016.
    (ii) Siemens SIL No. PMC-26-003, Revision No. 2, dated February 
2016.
    (3) For Siemens service information identified in this AD, 
contact Siemens, Aviation Customer Support, 697 Rue Fourny, 78530 
Buc, France; phone: (33) 1 3084 6650; fax: (33) 1 3956 1364.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Engine and 
Propeller Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation Division, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability 
of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125.
    (5) You may view this service information 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 Burlington, Massachusetts, on September 20, 2017.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-20425 Filed 9-25-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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