[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 201 (Monday, October 19, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63134-63136]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26223]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-3990; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-255-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Airbus Model A320-214, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Airbus
Model A321-211 and -231 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by
reports of incorrect installation of jiffy joint connectors on cables
connected to certain passenger service units (PSU), which could cause
the passenger oxygen container to malfunction if the connector becomes
disengaged during flight due to vibration. This proposed AD would
require identification of the affected PSUs, and depending on findings,
doing applicable related investigative and corrective actions. We are
proposing this AD to prevent failure of the door of the passenger
oxygen container to open in the event of airplane decompression,
resulting in lack of oxygen supply and consequent injury to occupants.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 3,
2015.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For Airbus service information identified in this proposed AD,
contact Airbus, Airworthiness Office--EIAS, 1 Rond Point Maurice
Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax
+33 5 61 93 44 51; email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Internet
http://www.airbus.com.
    For Airbus Operations GMBH service information identified in this
proposed AD, contact Airbus Operations GMBH, Cabin Electronics,
Lueneburger Schanze 30, 21614 Buxtehude, Germany; telephone +49 40 7437
46 32; telefax +49 40 7437 16 80; email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>    You may view this referenced service information at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-
227-1221.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
3990; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket
contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket
Operations office (telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>) is in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>;
fax<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2015-3990;
Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-255-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD based on those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent

for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2014-0256, dated November 26, 2014, (referred
to after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Airbus Model
A320-214, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Airbus Model A321-211 and -231
airplanes. The MCAI states:

    A quality issue was reported regarding incorrect installation of
jiffy joint connectors on cables connected to certain Passenger
Service Units (PSU), which may lead to a malfunction of the
passenger oxygen container in case of connector disengagement during
flight due to vibrations. All the aeroplanes that had a potentially
affected PSU installed were identified. Most of those aeroplanes
were corrected during a specific quality inspection on the final
assembly line prior to customer delivery. Unfortunately, a limited
number of aeroplanes were delivered before the quality inspection
was implemented.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
failure of the door of the passenger oxygen container and open in
case of aeroplane decompression, possibly resulting in lack of
oxygen supply and consequent injury to occupants.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires
identification of the affected PSU and, depending on the findings, *
* * related investigative and corrective actions.

    Related investigative actions include a detailed inspection to
determine if the jiffy joint connector works properly. Corrective
actions include rework or replacement of the jiffy joint connectors.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
3990.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Airbus has issued the following service information.
     Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1B20, dated October 9,
2014. This service information describes procedures for inspecting for
affected PSU part numbers and serial numbers, and depending on
findings, doing applicable related investigative and corrective
actions. Related investigative actions include a detailed inspection to
determine if the jiffy joint connector works properly. Corrective
actions include rework or replacement of the jiffy joint connectors.
     Airbus Operations GmbH Vendor Service Bulletin Z315H-25-
004, dated September 26, 2014. This service information describes
procedures for inspecting for the connection of the jiffy joint
connectors, and depending on findings, doing rework or replacement of
the jiffy joint connectors.
    This service information 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 of this
NPRM.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of these
same type designs.

Explanation of ``RC'' Procedures and Tests in Service Information

    The FAA worked in conjunction with industry, under the
Airworthiness Directive Implementation Aviation Rulemaking Committee
(ARC), to enhance the AD system. One enhancement was a new process for
annotating which procedures and tests in the service information are
required for compliance with an AD. Differentiating these procedures
and tests from other tasks in the service information is expected to
improve an owner's/operator's understanding of crucial AD requirements
and help provide consistent judgment in AD compliance. The procedures
and tests identified as RC (required for compliance) in any service
information have a direct effect on detecting, preventing, resolving,
or eliminating an identified unsafe condition.
    As specified in a Note under the Accomplishment Instructions of
Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1B20, dated October 9, 2014, procedures
and tests that are identified as RC in any service information must be
done to comply with the proposed AD. However, procedures and 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 alternative method of
compliance (AMOC), provided the procedures and tests identified as RC
can be done and the airplane can be put back in a serviceable
condition. Any substitutions or changes to procedures or tests
identified as RC will require approval of an AMOC.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 7 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
    We also estimate that it would take about 5 work-hours per product
to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost $0 per
product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this proposed
AD on U.S. operators to be $2,975, or $425 per product.

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 proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 proposed
regulation:
    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);
    3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and
    4. 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 Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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):

Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2015-3990; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-
255-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by December 3, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Model A320-214, -232, and -233
airplanes; and Airbus Model A321-211 and -231 airplanes,
certificated in any category, having manufacturer serial numbers
(MSNs) 5583, 5598, 5602, 5604, 5608, 5610, 5613 through 5622
inclusive, 5624 through 5627 inclusive, 5629 through 5632 inclusive,
5634 through 5636 inclusive, 5638, 5640 through 5644 inclusive, 5646
through 5649 inclusive, 5651 through 5653 inclusive, 5655, 5657
through 5661 inclusive, 5663, 5665, 5667, 5670, 5672, 5673, and
5675.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of incorrect installation of
jiffy joint connectors on cables connected to certain passenger
service units (PSU), which could cause the passenger oxygen
container to malfunction if the connector becomes disengaged during
flight due to vibration. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure
of the door of the passenger oxygen container to open in the event
of airplane decompression, resulting in lack of oxygen supply and
consequent injury to occupants.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspection and Related Investigative and Corrective Actions

    Within 7,500 flight hours or 26 months after the effective date
of this AD, whichever occurs first, do an inspection to identify the
part number and serial number of each PSU and if an affected part
number or serial number is found, do all applicable related
investigative and corrective actions, in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1B20,
dated October 9, 2014. Do all applicable related investigative and
corrective actions within 7,500 flight hours or 26 months after the
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first. An affected PSU
part number or serial number is one listed in Appendix 1 of Airbus
Operations GmbH Vendor Service Bulletin Z315H-25-004, dated
September 26, 2014. A review of airplane maintenance records is
acceptable in lieu of this inspection if the part number and serial
number of the PSU can be conclusively determined from that review.

(h) Clarification of Vendor Service Information

    Appendix 1 of Airbus Operations GmbH Vendor Service Bulletin
Z315H-25-004, dated September 26, 2014, identifies Attachment 1 as
the list of affected PSU part numbers and serial numbers. Also, the
``List of Attachments'' in Appendix 1, specifies Attachment 1 as
Table 4, however ``Attachment 1'' and ``Table 4'' do not appear on
any of the pages of the list of affected PSU part numbers and serial
numbers, nor does a date. Furthermore, the pagination of the list of
affected PSU part numbers and serial numbers is independent of the
pagination of Airbus Operations GmbH Vendor Service Bulletin Z315H-
25-004, dated September 26, 2014.

(i) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, 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 International Branch, send it to ATTN: Sanjay
Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport
Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-
3356; telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax<PHONE_NUMBER>. Information may be
emailed to<EMAIL_ADDRESS>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. The
AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International
Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); or Airbus's EASA Design
Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval
must include the DOA-authorized signature.
    (3) Required for Compliance (RC): If any service information
contains procedures or tests that are identified as RC, those
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 a serviceable
condition. Any substitutions or changes to procedures or tests
identified as RC require approval of an AMOC.

(j) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information
(MCAI) EASA Airworthiness Directive 2014-0256, dated November 26,
2014, for related information. This MCAI may be found in the AD
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-3990.
    (2) For Airbus service information identified in this AD,
contact Airbus, Airworthiness Office--EIAS, 1 Rond Point Maurice
Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96;
fax +33 5 61 93 44 51; email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
Internet http://www.airbus.com. For Airbus Operations GMBH service
information identified in this AD, contact Airbus Operations GMBH,
Cabin Electronics, Lueneburger Schanze 30, 21614 Buxtehude, Germany;
telephone +49 40 7437 46 32; telefax +49 40 7437 16 80; email
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>You may view this service information at
the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW.,
Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this material at
the FAA, call<PHONE_NUMBER>.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 6, 2015.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-26223 Filed 10-16-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P