DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9187; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-032-AD;
Amendment 39-18777; AD 2017-01-10]
RIN 2120-AA64

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

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 all
Airbus Defense and Space S.A. Model C-212 airplanes. This AD was
prompted by multiple reports of damaged and cracked rudder torque tube
shafts. This AD requires various repetitive inspections, and corrective
actions if necessary. This AD also provides a modification which
terminates the repetitive inspections. We are issuing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective February 22, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of February 22,
2017.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Airbus Defense and Space, Services/Engineering Support, Avenida
de Arag[oacute]n 404, 28022 Madrid, Spain; telephone: +34 91 585 55 84;
fax: +34 91 585 31 27; email: MTA.TechnicalService@Airbus.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-2016-9187.

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-2016-9187;
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 Office (telephone:
800-647-5527) is 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 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shahram Daneshmandi, Aerospace
Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane
Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356;
telephone: 425-227-1112; fax: 425-227-1149.

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 all Airbus Defense and
Space S.A. Model C-212 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal
Register on October 11, 2016 (81 FR 70062). The NPRM was prompted by
multiple reports of damaged and cracked rudder torque tube shafts. The
NPRM proposed to require repetitive general visual and high frequency
eddy current (HFEC) inspections of the inner rudder torque tube shaft
for cracks, deformation, and damage; repetitive detailed inspections,
and HFEC inspections, if necessary, of the inner and outer rudder
torque tube shaft for cracks, deformation, and damage; and corrective
actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct
damaged and cracked rudder torque tube shafts, which could lead to
structural failure of the affected rudder torque tube shaft and
possible reduced control of the airplane.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD
2016-0052, dated March 14, 2016 (referred to after this as the
Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to
correct an unsafe condition for all Airbus Defense and Space S.A. Model
C-212 airplanes. The MCAI states:

Occurrences were reported of finding a damaged and cracked
rudder torque tube shaft, Part Number (P/N) 212-46237-01. Subsequent
investigation determined that this damage occurred after parking of
the aeroplane during a heavy wind gust, without having set the
flight control surfaces in locked position.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
structural failure of the affected rudder torque tube shaft,
possibly resulting in reduced control of the aeroplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition, EADS-CASA issued
Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) AOT-C212-27-0001 to provide
inspection instructions, and Service Bulletin (SB) SB-212-27-0058
providing modification instructions.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires
repetitive inspections of the affected rudder torque tube shaft, and
introduces an optional modification [replacement], which constitutes
terminating action for those repetitive inspections.

Required actions include repetitive general visual and HFEC
inspections of the inner rudder torque tube shaft for cracks,
deformation, and damage; repetitive detailed inspections, and HFEC
inspections, if necessary, of the inner and outer rudder torque tube
shaft for cracks, deformation, and damage; a general visual inspection
to verify rudder alignment if necessary; and corrective actions if
necessary. Repetitive inspections are done depending on conditions
(wind conditions, gust lock engagement, and rudder deviation)
identified in Airbus Defense & Space Alert Operators Transmission AOT-
C212-27-0001, Revision 0, dated July 15, 2015 (``AOT-C212-27-0001, Rev.
0''). Damage may include bulging, dents, peeled paint, or visible
corrosion. Corrective actions include replacement of the rudder torque
tube shaft with a new rudder torque tube shaft, and repair. The
optional terminating action includes replacement of the rudder torque
tube shaft with an improved rudder torque tube shaft. 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-2016-9187.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the cost to the public.

Clarification of the Actions in Paragraph (g)(2) of the Proposed AD

Paragraph (g)(2) of the proposed AD specifies to do inspections
``after the conditions'' identified in paragraph 3.1.1.1 of AOT-C212-
27-0001, Rev. 0. We have revised paragraph (g)(2) of the AD to clarify
the inspections are done after any weather event that includes the
conditions identified in paragraph 3.1.1.1 of AOT-C212-27-0001, Rev. 0.

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data 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 for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed the following Airbus Defense and Space service
information.
EADS CASA Service Bulletin SB-212-27-0058, dated April 25,
2014. This service information describes procedures for replacement of
the rudder torque tube shaft with an improved rudder torque tube shaft.

AOT-C212-27-0001, Rev. 0. This service information
describes procedures for general visual and HFEC inspections of the
inner rudder torque tube shaft for cracks, deformation, and damage;
detailed inspections, and HFEC inspections, if necessary, of the inner
and outer rudder torque tube shaft for cracks, deformation, and damage;
a general visual inspection to verify rudder alignment; and corrective
actions, if necessary.
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.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 49 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

Estimated Costs for Optional Actions

We have received no definitive data that will enable us to provide
cost estimates for the on-condition actions and parts cost specified in
this AD.

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.

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):