Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1983-1984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00185]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-1105; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01459-T; 
Amendment 39-22086; AD 2020-25-03R1]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule; removal.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-25-03, 
which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series 
airplanes. AD 2020-25-03 required repetitive checks of the pressure 
gauges to determine the amount of pressure on the inflation reservoir 
of each emergency escape slide/raft, and applicable corrective actions. 
AD 2020-25-03 also provided optional terminating action for the 
repetitive checks. The FAA issued AD 2020-25-03 to address insufficient 
reservoir pressure in an emergency escape slide/raft, which would 
prevent the deployment of the emergency escape slide/raft during an 
emergency, possibly resulting in injury to the occupants. The FAA has 
determined that AD 2020-25-03 is no longer necessary because the unsafe 
condition no longer exists. Accordingly, AD 2020-25-03 is removed.

DATES: This AD becomes effective January 12, 2023.

ADDRESSES: AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov 
under Docket No. FAA-2020-1105; 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; telephone 206-231-3225; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, previously 
issued AD 2020-0236, dated October 27, 2020 (EASA AD 2020-0236) (also 
referred to as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or 
the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for all Airbus SAS Model A318 
series airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -
133, -151N, -153N, and -171N airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -
215, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -
273N airplanes; and Model A321 series airplanes. The FAA issued 
corresponding AD 2020-25-03, Amendment 39-21345 (85 FR 79415, December 
10, 2020) (AD 2020-25-03), for those airplanes except for Model A319-
153N and A320-215 airplanes, which are not included on the U.S. type 
certificate data sheet. AD 2020-25-03 required repetitive checks of the 
pressure gauges to determine the amount of pressure on the inflation 
reservoir of each emergency escape slide/raft, and applicable 
corrective actions. AD 2020-25-03 also provided optional terminating 
action for the repetitive checks. AD 2020-25-03 was prompted by a 
report of a loud bang heard during airplane boarding. A subsequent 
inspection revealed that one emergency escape slide/raft was found with 
zero reservoir pressure due to a burst rupture disk assembly in the 
inflation reservoir, which was probably caused by a manufacturing 
defect. The FAA issued AD 2020-25-03 to address insufficient reservoir 
pressure in an emergency escape slide/raft, which would prevent the 
deployment of the emergency escape slide/raft during an emergency, 
possibly resulting in injury to the occupants.
    Since the FAA issued AD 2020-25-03, EASA issued AD 2020-0236-CN, 
dated May 16, 2022, to cancel EASA AD 2020-0236. EASA advised the FAA 
that SAFRAN Aerosystems, the manufacturer of the affected parts, 
produced service information with instructions for replacement of the 
rupture disk during overhaul of the affected parts. EASA reports that 
no rupture disk failures have occurred in service or during overhaul. 
Consequently, new risk analysis determined that an unsafe condition no 
longer exists that would warrant AD action.
    Subsequently, the FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
to amend 14 CFR part 39 by removing AD 2020-25-03. The NPRM was 
published in the Federal Register on June 16, 2022 (87 FR 36274). The 
FAA is issuing this AD to remove AD 2020-25-03.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received a comment from United Airlines Engineering in 
support of the NPRM without change. The commenter concurred with the 
proposal to rescind AD 2020-25-03, noting that there have been no known 
reports of evacuation slide issues related to rupture disc failure 
while in service or during repair/overhaul. The commenter added that a 
visual check of the slide pressure is performed prior to each revenue 
flight.

Change to Project Identifier Number

    The NPRM identified the project number as AD-2020-01459-T. However, 
the project number for this rescission is MCAI-2020-1459-T. The FAA has 
revised this rescission accordingly.

[[Page 1984]]

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered any comments 
received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as 
proposed. Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as 
proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic 
burden on any operator.

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. This regulation is within the scope of that 
authority.

Regulatory Findings

    The FAA 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) 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.

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) 2020-25-03, Amendment 39-21345 
(85 FR 79415, December 10, 2020), and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:

2020-25-03R1 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-22086; Docket No. FAA-2020-
1105; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01459-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective January 12, 2023.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2020-25-03, Amendment 39-21345 (85 FR 79415, 
December 10, 2020).

(c) Applicability

    This action applies to all Airbus SAS airplanes, certificated in 
any category, identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this 
AD.
    (1) Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes.
    (2) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -
151N, and -171N airplanes.
    (3) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -
252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes.
    (4) Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -
251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX, 
and -272NX airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25, Equipment/
furnishings.

(e) 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; telephone 
206-231-3225; email [email protected].

(f) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on January 4, 2023.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-00185 Filed 1-11-23; 8:45 am]
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