Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 199 (Wednesday, October 14, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64955-64958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22622]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0347; Product Identifier 2020-NM-042-AD; Amendment 
39-21277; AD 2020-21-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Airbus SAS Model A300 F4-600R series airplanes. This AD was 
prompted by a report of damaged main deck cargo crossbeams on the 
right-hand side, between certain frame locations. This AD requires 
repetitive detailed inspections of the affected main deck cargo 
crossbeams for any damage, and depending on findings, accomplishment of 
applicable corrective actions, 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 November 18, 2020.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of November 18, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: For material incorporated by reference (IBR) in this AD, 
contact the EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; 
phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: [email protected]; internet: 
www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this IBR material on the EASA website 
at https://ad.easa.europa.eu. You may view this IBR 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. It is also available in 
the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0347.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0347; 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, any comments received, and other information. The 
address for Docket Operations is 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: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, Large 
Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 
216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206-231-3225; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2020-0050, dated March 9, 2020; 
corrected March 11, 2020 (``EASA AD 2020-0050'') (also referred to as 
the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), 
to correct an unsafe condition for certain Airbus SAS Model A300 F4-
600R series airplanes.
    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Airbus SAS 
Model A300 F4-600R series airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal 
Register on May 1, 2020 (85 FR 25356). The NPRM was prompted by a 
report of damaged main deck cargo crossbeams on the right-hand side, 
between certain frame locations. The NPRM proposed to require 
repetitive detailed inspections of the affected main deck cargo 
crossbeams for any damage, and depending on findings, accomplishment of 
applicable corrective actions, as specified in an EASA AD.
    The FAA is issuing this AD to address damaged main deck cargo 
crossbeams, which could adversely affect the structural integrity of 
the airplane. See the MCAI for additional background information.

Comments

    The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in 
developing this final rule. The following presents the comments 
received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to each comment.

Request To Withdraw the NPRM

    United Parcel Service Co. (UPS) requested that the FAA withdraw the 
NPRM. UPS pointed out that the NPRM duplicates multiple tasks and the 
associated task intervals specified in the Airbus A300-600 Maintenance 
Planning Document (MPD) that inspect the same area and structure. UPS 
also stated that those specific tasks are part of its approved 
Maintenance Specification Manual (MSM). UPS mentioned that the unsafe 
condition was discovered as a direct result of the tasks specified in 
the Airbus A300-600 MPD. UPS insisted that the existing tasks in the 
A300-600 MPD and UPS's MSM meet or exceed the requirements of the NPRM.
    The FAA disagrees with the commenter's request. Although the tasks 
and the associated task intervals specified in the A300-600 MPD may be 
duplicated in the requirements of this AD, those tasks and intervals 
specified in the A300-600 MPD are not necessarily mandatory for all 
affected U.S. registered airplanes. However, this FAA AD mitigates the 
identified unsafe condition with mandatory tasks and intervals for all 
affected airplanes. Because this unsafe condition could exist or 
develop on Model A300 F4-600R series airplanes, mandatory repetitive 
inspections of the affected area are necessary to ensure the safety of 
the fleet. Issuance of an AD is the appropriate method to correct an 
unsafe condition. This AD has not been changed in this regard.

Request To Remove the Reporting Requirement

    UPS requested that the FAA remove the reporting requirement in the 
NPRM. UPS mentioned that the reporting requirement does not add value 
or help in resolving the unsafe condition. UPS pointed out that Airbus 
has a ten year history of service evaluation for this item, including 
multiple parts removed from service and returned to Airbus for 
evaluation. UPS stated that repetitive reporting of which crossbeams 
are identified as discrepant would not provide any further technical 
information that would result in a different resolution to the unsafe 
condition.
    The FAA disagrees with the commenter's request. Reporting allows 
the manufacturer to collect airworthiness information from all 
operators in order to fully understand the extent of the unsafe 
condition,

[[Page 64956]]

especially in cases where that data might not be available through 
other means. This information will be used to determine that the unsafe 
condition is adequately addressed. Based on the results of these 
reports, we might determine that further corrective action is 
warranted. This AD has not been changed in this regard.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments 
received, and determined that air safety and the public interest 
require adopting this final rule as proposed, except for minor 
editorial changes. The FAA has determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for addressing the unsafe condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related IBR Material Under 1 CFR Part 51

    EASA AD 2020-0050 describes procedures for repetitive detailed 
inspections of the affected main deck cargo crossbeams from frame (FR) 
48 to FR54 for any damage (including bent, curved, and cracked 
crossbeams), corrective actions, and terminating actions. Corrective 
actions include detailed inspections of the right-hand and left-hand 
crossbeams and lugs for damage (including buckling and cracking) and 
correct diameter of the lug/crossbeam holes, repair, and replacement of 
damaged crossbeams. Optional terminating actions include replacement of 
crossbeams with reinforced machined crossbeams. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 52 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
                          Labor cost                              Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 work-hours x $85 per hour = $510...........................              $0             $510          $26,520
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates that it would take about 1 work-hour per product 
to comply with the reporting requirement in this AD. The average labor 
rate is $85 per hour. Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the 
cost of reporting the inspection results on U.S. operators to be 
$4,420, or $85 per product.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition repairs that would be required based on the results of any 
required actions. The FAA has no way of determining the number of 
aircraft that might need these on-condition actions:

                 Estimated Costs of On-Condition Repairs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Cost per
              Labor cost                   Parts cost        product
------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 work-hours x $85 per hour = $510....         $10,000          $10,510
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has received no definitive data that would enable the FAA 
to provide cost estimates for the on-condition inspections and 
replacements specified in this AD.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to do the optional 
terminating actions specified in this AD.

            Estimated Costs for Optional Terminating Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Cost per
              Labor cost                   Parts cost        product
------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 work-hours x $85 per hour = $1,530.         $10,000          $11,530
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Paperwork Reduction Act

    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to penalty for 
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of 
information displays a current valid OMB control number. The control 
number for the collection of information required by this AD is 2120-
0056. The paperwork cost associated with this AD has been detailed in 
the Costs of Compliance section of this document and includes time for 
reviewing instructions, as well as completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. Therefore, all reporting associated with 
this AD is mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden 
and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177-1524.

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.

[[Page 64957]]

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,
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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):

2020-21-04 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-21277; Docket No. FAA-2020-0347; 
Product Identifier 2020-NM-042-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective November 18, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model A300 F4-605R and F4-622R 
airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in European 
Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020-0050, dated March 9, 
2020; corrected March 11, 2020 (``EASA AD 2020-0050'').

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report of damaged main deck cargo 
crossbeams on the right-hand side, between certain frame locations. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to address damaged main deck cargo 
crossbeams, which could adversely affect the structural integrity of 
the airplane.

(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 2020-0050.

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2020-0050

    (1) Where EASA AD 2020-0050 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) The ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 2020-0050 does not apply 
to this AD.
    (3) Paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2020-0050 specifies to report 
inspection results to Airbus within a certain compliance time. For 
this AD, report inspection results at the applicable time specified 
in paragraph (h)(3)(i) or (ii) of this AD.
    (i) If the inspection was done on or after the effective date of 
this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the inspection.
    (ii) If the inspection was done before the effective date of 
this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the effective date 
of this AD.

(i) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Large Aircraft Section, 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 local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the Large Aircraft Section, International Validation 
Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in 
paragraph (j) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: [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.
    (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, Large Aircraft 
Section, 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): For any service information 
referenced in EASA AD 2020-0050 that contains RC procedures and 
tests: Except as required by paragraphs (h)(3) and (i)(2) of this 
AD, RC 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.
    (4) Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement: A federal agency 
may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond 
to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply 
with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information 
displays a current valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number 
for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public reporting for 
this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 1 
hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, 
searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data 
needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. 
All responses to this collection of information are mandatory as 
required by this AD. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or 
any other aspect of this collection of information, including 
suggestions for reducing this burden to Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood 
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177-1524.

(j) Related 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; phone and 
fax: 206-231-3225; email: [email protected].

(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 2020-0050, 
dated March 9, 2020; corrected March 11, 2020.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA AD 2020-0050, contact the EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-
Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: 
[email protected]; internet: www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 
EASA AD on the EASA website at https://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

[[Page 64958]]

206-231-3195. This material may be found in the AD docket on the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0347.
    (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 
[email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on October 1, 2020.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-22622 Filed 10-13-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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