Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 145 (Monday, July 31, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49275-49277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-16095]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-0427; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01370-T; 
Amendment 39-22488; AD 2023-13-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This AD 
was prompted by reports where the passenger door external handle 
mechanism was not retrieving its normal, flush position when the door 
was being closed. This AD requires a one-time cleaning and lubrication 
of the external door handle mechanism of each affected door, and limits 
the installation of affected parts, 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 September 5, 2023.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of September 5, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-0427; 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, the mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), 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.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
    <bullet> For EASA material incorporated by reference in this AD, 
contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone 
+49 221 8999 000; email [email protected]; website easa.europa.eu. You 
may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
    <bullet> 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 206-231-3195. It is also available in the AD docket at 
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-0427.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy Dowling, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
phone 206-231-3667; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Airbus SAS Model 
A318-111, A318-112, A318-121, A318-122, A319-111, A319-112, A319-113, 
A319-114, A319-115, A319-131, A319-132, A319-133, A319-151N, A319-153N, 
A319-171N, A320-211, A320-212, A320-214, A320-216, A320-231, A320-232, 
A320-233, A320-251N, A320-252N, A320-253N, A320-271N, A320-272N, A320-
273N, A321-111, A321-112, A321-131, A321-211, A321-212, A321-213, A321-
231, A321-232, A321-251N, A321-251NX, A321-252N, A321-252NX, A321-253N, 
A321-253NX, A321-271N, A321-271NX, A321-272N, and A321-272NX airplanes. 
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on March 8, 2023 (88 FR 
14298). The NPRM was prompted by AD 2022-0213R1, dated November 8, 
2022, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member 
States of the European Union (EASA AD 2022-0213R1) (also referred to as 
the MCAI). The MCAI states one operator has reported two cases of a 
passenger/flight crew door external handle flap remained stuck in an 
intermediate or fully pushed position (not flush with the door skin) on 
two recently delivered Model A320 series airplanes after the door was 
opened from outside. With the external handle flap in this intermediate 
position, in one of the reported cases, the operator was not able to 
open the door normally from inside. Subsequent investigation determined 
that on the production line of one door supplier, corrosion protection 
compound (CPC) was inadvertently applied to the movable parts of the 
mechanism during production. The CPC, when applied to these parts leads 
to a sticky effect and prevents the passenger door external handle flap 
from moving to the closed position, which is flush with the fuselage 
skin.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require a one-time cleaning and

[[Page 49276]]

lubrication of the external door handle mechanism of each affected 
door, and to limit the installation of affected parts, as specified in 
EASA AD 2022-0213R1. The FAA is issuing this AD to address external 
door handle mechanisms coated with CPC preventing the passenger door 
external handle flap from moving to the closed position, which if not 
addressed, could inhibit opening the door from the inside, or allow the 
door to open, automatically disarming the slide/raft, which would 
result in its non-automatic deployment. Both scenarios could delay a 
safe evacuation of airplane occupants during an emergency.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-0427.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from Air Line Pilots Association, 
International (ALPA) who supported the NPRM without change.
    The FAA received additional comments from Delta Air Lines (DAL) and 
United Airlines (UAL). The following presents the comments received on 
the NPRM and the FAA's response to each comment.

Request To Add an Exception To Allow Maintenance Records Review

    DAL requested that the NPRM be revised to add an exception to allow 
a records review by DAL Engineering to determine the airplanes with 
affected passenger doors and to identify if any external control handle 
lubrication had already been accomplished prior to the inspection by 
DAL maintenance. DAL stated that its maintenance department is not 
typically responsible for performing records review as part of their 
responsibilities, as this is a function of the engineering department.
    The FAA disagrees with adding an exception, since accomplishment of 
Paragraph 5.6, Steps (1) and (2) do not require review of maintenance 
records nor do they require maintenance personnel to conduct the review 
if DAL decides to use maintenance records to accomplish the AD actions 
as the DAL comment suggests. The FAA agrees that a review of the 
airplane maintenance records by engineering is acceptable to determine 
if an aircraft has an affected door or to verify control handle 
lubrication has already been accomplished. The FAA has not changed this 
AD in this regard.

Request To Revise Applicability To Include Affected Doors

    UAL requested that paragraph (c) of the proposed AD be revised to 
include affected passenger doors to address part interchangeability. 
UAL stated that inclusion of the affected passenger door part numbers 
will help operators to identify the potential installation of the 
impacted doors within their fleet using the Illustrated Parts Catalog 
(IPC) for configuration control.
    The FAA disagrees with the need to add door part numbers to this 
AD. The service information specified in EASA AD 2022-0213R1 identifies 
the suspect passenger doors by serial numbers. Further, the FAA agrees 
that the movement of doors within an operator's fleet is possible so 
this AD, as written, addresses the issue of rotability in two ways. 
First, the applicability in paragraph (c) of this AD includes all 
Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. Second, 
the requirements of this AD include a parts installation limitation, as 
specified in EASA AD 2022-0213R1. Therefore, the FAA has not changed 
this AD in this regard.

Conclusion

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to 
the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it 
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI 
referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the 
comments received, and determined that air safety requires adopting 
this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address 
the unsafe condition on this product. 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.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    EASA AD 2022-0213R1 specifies procedures for cleaning and 
lubricating the movable parts of the external passenger door handle 
mechanism of affected doors. EASA AD 2022-0213R1 also limits the 
installation of affected parts. 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 1,864 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
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            Labor cost                 Parts cost       Cost per product           Cost on U.S. operators
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Up to 4 work-hours x $85 per hour              $50   Up to $390...........  Up to $726,960.
 = $340.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 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

[[Page 49277]]

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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2023-13-03 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-22488; Docket No. FAA-2023-0427; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01370-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective September 5, 
2023.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Airbus SAS airplanes identified in 
paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this AD, certificated in any 
category.
    (1) Model A318-111, A318-112, A318-121, and A318-122 airplanes.
    (2) Model A319-111, A319-112, A319-113, A319-114, A319-115, 
A319-131, A319-132, A319-133, A319-151N, A319-153N, and A319-171N 
airplanes.
    (3) Model A320-211, A320-212, A320-214, A320-216, A320-231, 
A320-232, A320-233, A320-251N, A320-252N, A320-253N, A320-271N, 
A320-272N, and A320-273N airplanes.
    (4) Model A321-111, A321-112, A321-131, A321-211, A321-212, 
A321-213, A321-231, A321-232, A321-251N, A321-251NX, A321-252N, 
A321-252NX, A321-253N, A321-253NX, A321-271N, A321-271NX, A321-272N, 
and A321-272NX airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 52, Doors.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports where the passenger door 
external handle mechanism was not allowing the flap handle to return 
to its normal, flush position when the door was being closed. 
Subsequent investigation concluded corrosion protection compound 
(CPC) was inadvertently applied to the movable parts of the 
mechanism during production. The CPC prevents the handle flap from 
moving to the closed position, flush with the fuselage skin. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could inhibit opening the door 
from the inside, or allow the door to open, automatically disarming 
the slide/raft, which would result in its non-automatic deployment. 
Both scenarios could delay a safe evacuation of airplane occupants 
during an emergency.

(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, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2022-0213R1, dated November 8, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0213R1).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0213R1

    (1) Where EASA AD 2022-0213R1 refers to November 3, 2022 (the 
effective of EASA AD 2022-0213, dated October 20, 2022), this AD 
requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2022-0213R1.

(i) Additional AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 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 responsible 
Flight Standards Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the 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 
responsible Flight Standards 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, 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): Except as required by 
paragraph (i)(2) of this AD, if any service information referenced 
in EASA AD 2022-0213R1 contains paragraphs that are labeled as RC, 
the instructions in RC paragraphs, including subparagraphs under an 
RC paragraph, must be done to comply with this AD; any paragraphs, 
including subparagraphs under those paragraphs, that are not 
identified as RC are recommended. The instructions in paragraphs, 
including subparagraphs under those paragraphs, 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 instructions identified as RC can 
be done and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy condition. 
Any substitutions or changes to instructions identified as RC 
require approval of an AMOC.

(j) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Timothy Dowling, 
Aerospace Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 
410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone 206-231-3667; email 
[email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference 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 2022-0213R1, 
dated November 8, 2022.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA AD 2022-0213R1, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 
3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email 
[email protected]; website easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA 
AD on the EASA website at 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 206-231-3195.
    (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: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on June 30, 2023.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-16095 Filed 7-28-23; 8:45 am]
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