Airworthiness Directives; SICMA Aero Seat 50XXX Passenger Seats

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 183 (Friday, September 21, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53925-53926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18431]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27519; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-09-AD; 
Amendment 39-15203; AD 2007-19-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; SICMA Aero Seat 50XXX Passenger Seats

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This AD results from Mandatory Continuing 
Airworthiness Information (MCAI) provided by the aviation authority of 
France to identify and correct an unsafe condition on SICMA Aero Seat 
50XXX Passenger Seats. The MCAI states the following:

    A release of smoke was experienced in the passenger compartment 
during flight after an overheating of a reading lights power box of 
a PN 5039201-4T SICMA seat. An analysis put into evidence that this 
overheating was caused by a short-circuit produced by the rupture of 
an electrical power supply component (PN 78147-B). It has been 
noticed that this power supply is not in compliance with DO 160 
environmental standard.

    The short-circuiting could result in arcing and consequent smoke or 
fire. We are proposing this AD to prevent a short-circuit in the power 
box, which could result in smoke or fire in the airplane cabin.

DATES: This AD becomes effective October 26, 2007. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in this AD as of October 26, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The Docket Operations office is located at 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: Jeffrey Lee, Aerospace Engineer, 
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller 
Directorate; 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-
mail: [email protected]; telephone 781-238-7161; fax 781-238-7170.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 27, 2007 (72 
FR 20963). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The Direction Generale De L'Aviation Civile (DGAC) 
AD states that:

    A release of smoke was experienced in the passenger compartment 
during flight after an overheating of a reading lights power box of 
a PN 5039201-4T SICMA seat. An analysis put into evidence that this 
overheating was caused by a short-circuit produced by the rupture of 
an electrical power supply component (PN 78147-B). It has been 
noticed that this power supply is not in compliance with DO 160 
environmental standard.

    The short-circuiting could result in arcing and consequent smoke or 
fire.
    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We considered the comments received.

Request To Revise the Costs of Compliance

    SICMA Aero Seat requests us to change the Costs of Compliance 
section of the AD to accurately depict the extent of the issue. SICMA 
has verified the number of affected power boxes installed in seats and 
the number already retrofitted. SICMA states that only 731 seats don't 
comply with the AD and we should change the Costs of Compliance to 
reflect the new numbers. We agree. We changed the Costs to Comply to 
reflect the reduced number of affected seats.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data, including the comment[s] received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
the 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 the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect about 731 seats installed on 
airplanes of

[[Page 53926]]

U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 0.33 work-hour 
to perform the actions required by this AD and that the average labor 
rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $3,475 per 
seat. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of this AD to 
U.S. operators to be $2,559,523. Our cost estimate is exclusive of 
possible warranty coverage.

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.

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); 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 
docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket 
Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is provided in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
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 AD:

2007-19-12 SICMA Aero Seat: Amendment 39-15203. Docket No. FAA-2007-
27519; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-09-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective October 
26, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to SICMA Aero Seat 50XXX passenger seats 
with part numbers listed in the following Table 1:

                         Table 1.--Applicability
------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Single seats  Part No.                Twin seats  Part No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
50692(xx)-(xx)                       50A71(xx)-(xx)
50442(xx)-(xx)                       50A81(xx)-(xx)
50752(xx)-(xx)                       50401(xx)-(xx)
50402(xx)-(xx)                       50451(xx)-(xx)
50462(xx)-(xx)                       50391(xx)-(xx)
50392(xx)-(xx)
50452(xx)-(xx)
50382(xx)-(xx)
50A02(xx)-(xx)
50A72(xx)-(xx)
50A82(xx)-(xx)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

These seats are installed on, but not limited to, Boeing 747, 767, 
and 777 series, and Airbus A330 and A340 series airplanes.

Reason

    (d) Direction Generale De L'Aviation Civile (DGAC) Airworthiness 
Directive F-2005-135, dated August 3, 2005, states:

    A release of smoke was experienced in the passenger compartment 
during flight after an overheating of a reading lights power box of 
a PN 5039201-4T SICMA seat. An analysis put into evidence that this 
overheating was caused by a short-circuit produced by the rupture of 
an electrical power supply component (PN 78147-B). It has been 
noticed that this power supply is not in compliance with DO 160 
environmental standard.

The short-circuiting could result in arcing and consequent smoke or 
fire. We are issuing this AD to prevent a short-circuit in the power 
box, which could result in smoke or fire in the airplane cabin.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Unless already done, within six months from the effective 
date of this AD, identify the seats part numbers listed in the Table 
1 of this AD and replace installed reading lights electrical power 
supplies with new ones using the instructions of the SICMA Aero Seat 
Service Bulletin No. 50-25-210, dated June 27, 2005.

FAA AD Differences

    (f) None.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found 
in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (h) Refer to DGAC Airworthiness Directive F-2005-135, dated 
August 3, 2005, (EASA reference number 2005-6123) for related 
information.
    (i) Contact Jeffrey Lee, Aerospace Engineer, Boston Aircraft 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate; 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone 781-238-7161; fax 781-238-7170, for 
more information about this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use SICMA Aero Seat Service Bulletin No. 50-25-210, 
dated June 27, 2005, to do the actions required by this AD, unless 
the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact SICMA 
Aero Seat, 7 Rue Lucien Coupet 36100 Issoudun, France; telephone 33 
(0) 2 54 03 39 39; telefax 33 (0) 2 54 03 15 16.
    (3) You may review copies at the FAA, New England Region, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or 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 11, 2007.
Francis A. Favara,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-18431 Filed 9-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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