DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0099; Directorate Identifier 2017-NE-02-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Siemens S.A.S. Smoke Detectors

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 Siemens S.A.S. smoke detectors installed on various transport
category airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that the
affected smoke detectors failed an acceptance test. This proposed AD
would require inspection and replacement of the affected smoke
detectors. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on
these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this NPRM by June 5, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.

Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.

Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Fax: 202-493-2251.

For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Siemens,
Aviation Customer Support, 697 Rue Fourny, 78530 Buc, France; phone:
(33) 1 3084 6650; fax: (33) 1 3956 1364. You may view this service
information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District
Avenue, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125.

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-2017-0099;
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 proposed AD, the mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), the regulatory evaluation, any comments received,
and other information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-
647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in
the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Hulverson, Aerospace Engineer,
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller
Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-
238-7655; fax: 781-238-7199; email: erin.hulverson@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this NPRM. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2017-0099;
Directorate Identifier 2017-NE-02-AD" at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
NPRM because of 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
with FAA personnel concerning this NPRM.

Discussion

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
AD 2016-0024, dated January 26, 2016 (referred to hereinafter as "the
MCAI"), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The
MCAI states:

During a maintenance operation, some smoke detectors P/N
PMC1102-02 failed an acceptance test, due to a significant degraded
optical sensitivity. Investigation results concluded that light-
emitting diodes (LED) were abnormally degraded, affecting specific
batches where changes occurred in the LED manufacturer production
process. Further investigation has determined that the affected LED
have been installed on smoke detectors manufactured between November
2010 and January 2013, and on certain repaired units.

This condition, if not corrected, will generate an abnormal
ageing of the smoke detector, leading to a decrease of the light
intensity capability, possibly resulting in failure to detect smoke
and consequent risk of an on-board uncontrolled fire.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0099.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Siemens S.A.S. has issued Service Information Letter (SIL) No. PMC-
26-002, Revision No. 1, dated January 2016 and SIL No. PMC-26-003,
Revision No. 2, dated February 2016. PMC 26-002 provides a list of
serial numbers for affected smoke detectors, P/Ns PMC1102-02, PMC3100-
00, and GMC1102-02, known to be installed on Airbus A330 passenger,
A330 freighter, and A380 airplanes. PMC 26-003 provides a list of
serial numbers for affected smoke detectors, P/N PMC1102, known to be
installed on Boeing B737-400 airplanes that have been converted via
supplemental type certificate from a passenger to a freighter airplane.
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.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of France,
and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our
bilateral agreement with the European Community, EASA has notified us
of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service information
referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all
information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition exists
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type
design. This proposed AD would require inspection and replacement of
the affected smoke detectors.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD affects an unknown number of smoke
detectors installed on, but not limited to, various aircraft of U.S.
registry.

We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs

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 to the extent
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, 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

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):