Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Defense and Space S.A. (Formerly Known as Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.) Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 8, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1359-1361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00146]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-2024; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00140-T; 
Amendment 39-22907; AD 2024-25-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Defense and Space S.A. (Formerly 
Known as Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.) Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Airbus Defense and Space S.A. Model CN-235, CN-235-200, and CN-235-300 
airplanes. This AD was prompted by a torn bulkhead seal found jamming 
the nose landing gear (NLG) emergency cable pulley. Due to the 
similarity of design, the main landing gear (MLG) emergency cable 
pulley could be exposed to the same failure mode. This AD requires 
repetitive inspections and corrective actions for damage of affected 
bulkhead seals and retainer rings, and repetitive replacement 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 February 12, 2025.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of February 12, 
2025.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-2024; 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 identified for 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 at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shahram Daneshmandi, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
phone: 206-231-3220; 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 Defense and 
Space S.A. (formerly known as Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.) Model 
CN-235, CN-235-200, and CN-235-300 airplanes. The NPRM published in the 
Federal Register on August 20, 2024 (89 FR 67332). The NPRM was 
prompted by AD 2024-0054, dated February 26, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0054) 
(also referred to as the MCAI) issued by the European Union Aviation 
Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member 
States of the European Union.

[[Page 1360]]

The MCAI states a torn bulkhead seal was found jamming the NLG 
emergency cable pulley. Due to the similarity of design, the MLG 
emergency cable pulley could be exposed to the same failure mode.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require repetitive inspections and 
corrective actions for damage of affected bulkhead seals and retainer 
rings, and repetitive replacement of affected parts, as specified in 
EASA AD 2024-0054. The FAA is issuing this AD to address a jammed 
emergency cable pulley, which could prevent the emergency extension of 
the landing gears when required, causing damage to the airplane and 
possible injury to occupants.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-2024.

Comments

    The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

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 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.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    EASA AD 2024-0054 specifies procedures for repetitive general 
visual inspections for any type of damage of the bulkhead seals and the 
retainer rings, and, depending on findings, replacement. EASA AD 2024-
0054 also requires repetitive replacement 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 10 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Labor cost                      Parts cost            Cost per product      Cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to 7 work-hours x $85 per hour =    $365 per replacement     Up to $960 per           Up to $9,600 per
 $595 per inspection/replacement        cycle.                   inspection/replacement   inspection/replacement
 cycle.                                                          cycle.                   cycle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition action 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 this on-condition action:

                 Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Labor cost                 Parts cost      Cost per product
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 work-hours x $85 per hour = $170            $365                 $535
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 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:

2024-25-05 Airbus Defense and Space S.A. (Formerly Known as 
Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.): Amendment 39-

[[Page 1361]]

22907; Docket No. FAA-2024-2024; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00140-
T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective February 12, 
2025.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Airbus Defense and Space S.A. (formerly 
known as Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.) Model CN-235, CN-235-
200, and CN-235-300 airplanes, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 32, Landing 
Gear.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a torn bulkhead seal found jamming the 
nose landing gear emergency cable pulley. Due to the similarity of 
design, the main landing gear emergency cable pulley could be 
exposed to the same failure mode. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address this potential unsafe condition, which could prevent the 
emergency extension of the landing gears when required, causing 
damage to the airplane and possible injury to occupants.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Requirements

    Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply 
with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2024-0054, dated February 26, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0054).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0054

    (1) Where EASA AD 2024-0054 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where paragraph 3.1.1 of the Alert Operators Transmission 
(AOT) specified in EASA AD 2024-0054, states ``each year (1 Year 
between 8 and 10 Years since component installation) since the 
inspection,'' this AD requires replacing that text with ``within one 
year after the last inspection''.
    (3) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2024-0054.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although the material referenced in EASA AD 2024-0054 specifies 
to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not 
include that requirement.

(j) Additional AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
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 responsible Flight Standards Office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the 
International Validation Branch, mail it to the address identified 
in paragraph (k) 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 Defense and Space S.A.'s 
EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the 
approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.

(k) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Shahram Daneshmandi, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 206-231-3220; email: 
[email protected].

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph 
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0054, 
dated February 26, 2024.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA material identified 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 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 at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on December 4, 2024.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-00146 Filed 1-7-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

The complete text was extracted from the official GovInfo HTML edition for this publication. Acquired 2026-10-09T01:26:31.287192+00:00. Text extraction preserves the recorded source wording; it does not determine current requirements.

Open the captured official edition

Source SHA-256

60c0d07233dcfcd3b0791eb905f715388727110636d7925d08f5920acf786380

Text SHA-256

a92bb54656cf5352ad0b635d9cb9b4c19ab289241e480b184c63f2b467e03f13