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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2015-0927; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-172-AD;
Amendment 39-18325; AD 2015-23-09]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Zodiac Aerotechnics (Formerly
Intertechnique Aircraft Systems)
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
certain
Zodiac Aerotechnics (formerly Intertechnique Aircraft Systems)
flightcrew oxygen mask regulators as installed on, but not limited to,
various transport and small airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report
that improper maintenance on oxygen mask regulators was found. This AD
requires the identification and replacement of all potentially affected
units. This AD also requires installation of a placard and revision of
the airplane flight manual to include an operational procedure for use
in case of depressurization. We are issuing this AD to detect and
correct affected oxygen mask regulators, which could lead to inadequate
protection to the affected flightcrew against hypoxia.
Hypoxia can start from a headache and drowsiness and lead eventually to
unconsciousness with severe consequence in terms of airplane
controllability.
DATES: This AD becomes effective December 28, 2015.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 28,
2015.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2015-0927;
or in person at the
Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC.
For service information identified in this AD, contact Zodiac
Services, Technical Publication Department, Zodiac Aerotechnics, Oxygen
Systems Europe, 61 Rue Pierre Curie--CS20001, 78373 Plaisir Cedex,
France; phone: (33) 01 61 24 23 23; fax: (33) 01 30 55 71 61; email:
yann.laine@zodiacaerospace.com; Internet: http://www.zodiacaerospace.com.
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. It is also available on the
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating
Docket No. FAA-2015-0927.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ian Lucas, Aerospace Engineer,
Boston
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO) ANE-150, FAA, 12 New England
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7757; fax: 781-
238-7170; email: ian.lucas@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Zodiac Aerotechnics
(formerly Intertechnique Aircraft Systems) flightcrew oxygen mask
regulators as installed on, but not limited to, various transport and
small airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on April
22, 2015 (80 FR 22438).
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2012-0254R1, dated December 21, 2012 (referred
to after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Zodiac
Aerotechnics (formerly Intertechnique Aircraft Systems) flightcrew
oxygen mask regulators as installed on, but not limited to, various
transport and small airplanes. The MCAI states:
In a repair station, improper maintenance on [flightcrew] oxygen
mask regulators was reported to Intertechnique: during an inspection
of the oxygen test bench by its manufacturer, incorrect settings
were noticed. This test bench setting discrepancy on the oxygen mask
regulator could cause an improper mask dilution schedule.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead, in
case of a diversion above 10,000 feet after a depressurization
event, to the inhalation of air with improper content of oxygen, due
to the bad dilution settings, thereby providing inadequate
protection to the affected flightcrew member against hypoxia, which
can start from a headache and drowsiness and lead eventually to
unconsciousness with severe consequence in term of aeroplane
controllability.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires the
identification and replacement of all potentially affected units.
This [EASA] AD also requires installation of a placard and [a
revision to the airplane flight manual to include] * * * an
operational procedure [in case of depressurization] pending
replacement of the affected units.
* * * * *
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-0927-0004.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM (80
FR 22438, April 22, 2015) and the FAA's response to each comment.
Boeing concurred with the contents of the NPRM.
Request To Revise the Air Transport Association (ATA) Code
Horizon Air requested that we change the ATA code specified in
paragraph (d) of the proposed AD (80 FR 22438, April 22, 2015) to
``35.'' The commenter stated that the correct ATA code for oxygen is
ATA 35.
We agree with the commenter because this AD addresses an unsafe
condition for certain oxygen mask regulators. We have removed the ATA
code of ``28'' and instead we have referred to ATA code ``35'' in
paragraph (d) of this AD.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received,
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this AD with the change described previously and minor editorial
changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM (80 FR 22438, April 22, 2015) for correcting the unsafe condition;
and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 22438, April 22, 2015).
We also determined that these changes will not increase the
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
Zodiac Services has issued Zodiac Aerospace Service Bulletin MCF-
SBU-35-001, Revision 1, dated December 3, 2012. The service information
describes procedures for the identification and replacement of all
potentially affected units. 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 AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 13 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it will take about 3 work-hours per product
to comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor
rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $225 per
product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on
U.S. operators to be $6,240, or $480 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 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. 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.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2015-0927;
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 AD, the
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information.
The street address for the Docket Operations office (telephone 800-647-
5527) is in the ADDRESSES section.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of 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
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]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
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