DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0839; Product Identifier 2017-NE-31-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES; Zodiac Seats France, Cabin Attendant
Seats

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 all
Zodiac Seats France 536-Series Cabin Attendant Seats. This proposed AD
was prompted by potential risk of premature corrosion on the seat
structure and clamps. This proposed AD would require inspection and
modification of all Zodiac Seats France 536-Series Cabin Attendant
Seats. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 29, 2018.

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: 202-493-2251.

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

For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Zodiac
Service Europe, 61, rue Pierre Curie, 78 373 Plaisir, France; phone:
+33 (0)1 61 34 19 58; email: zs.aog@zodiacaerospace.com; website:
https://www.zodiacaerospace.com/en/zodiac-aerospace-services/contacts.You
may view this service information at the FAA, Engine and
Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803.
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.

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-2017-0839; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains
this NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI),
the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is listed above. Comments will be available in the AD docket
shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dorie Resnik, Aerospace Engineer,
Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803;
phone: 781-238-7693; fax: 781-238-7199; email: dorie.resnik@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

COMMENTS INVITED

We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2017-0839;
Product Identifier 2017-NE-31-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 we
receive about 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 2016-0167, dated August 17, 2016 (referred to after this as "the
MCAI"), to address the unsafe condition on these products. The MCAI
states:

Cases of corrosion and cracks were found on Zodiac Seats France
CAS 536 rear cabin attendant seats installed on some ATR 42 and ATR
72 aeroplanes. The detected damage was located on the lower parts of
the attendant seat, at the level of the seat-to-floor interface.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to failure
of the seat occupied by the cabin attendant, possibly resulting in injury to the
seat occupant. To address this potential unsafe condition, Zodiac
Seats France issued Service Bulletin (SB) No. 536-25-002 to provide
inspection instructions.

For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires
repetitive inspections of the affected attendant seats, and,
depending on findings, accomplishment of the temporary corrective
action(s). This [EASA] AD is considered as interim action and
further [EASA] AD action may follow. Zodiac Seats France is
developing a solution preventing this kind of damage.

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-2017-0839.

RELATED SERVICE INFORMATION UNDER 1 CFR PART 51

We reviewed Zodiac Seats France Service Bulletin (SB) No. 536-25-
002, Revision 3, dated September 30, 2016. The SB describes procedures
for inspection, repair, or replacement of the seat structure and clamps
known to be installed on the main structure. 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

This product has been approved by EASA, 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 the relevant
information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition
described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of
the same type design.

PROPOSED AD REQUIREMENTS

This proposed AD would require inspection and modification of all
Zodiac Seats France 536-Series Cabin Attendant Seats.

COSTS OF COMPLIANCE

We estimate that this proposed AD affects 55 seat structures
installed on, but not limited to, ATR 42 and ATR 72 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

ESTIMATED COSTS

According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost
estimate.

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.

This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the
authority to issue ADs applicable to engines, propellers, and
associated appliances to the Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division.

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

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):