DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0552; Product Identifier 2018-NM-049-AD; Amendment
39-19402; AD 2018-19-02]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Defense and Space S.A. (Formerly
Known as Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A. (CASA)) 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 certain
Airbus Defense and Space S.A. Model C-212-CB, C-212-CC, C-212-CD, C-
212-CE, and C-212-DF airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of
failures of the rudder pedal control system support. This AD requires
repetitive detailed visual inspections of the rudder pedal control
system support box and shaft and applicable corrective actions. We are
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 22, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 22,
2018.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Airbus Defense and Space, Services/Engineering support, Avenida
de Aragon 404, 28022 Madrid, Spain; phone: +34 91 585 55 84;
fax: +34 91 585 31 27; email: MTA.TechnicalService@military.airbus.com.
You may view this service information at the FAA, Transport Standards
Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also
available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0552.

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-2018-
0552; 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 final rule, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and
other information. The address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is 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 Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 2200
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206-231-3220.

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 Airbus Defense and
Space S.A. Model C-212-CB, C-212-CC, C-212-CD, C-212-CE, and C-212-DF
airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on June 25, 2018
(83 FR 29476). The NPRM was prompted by reports of failures of the
rudder pedal control system support. The NPRM proposed to require
repetitive detailed visual inspections of the rudder pedal control
system support box and shaft and applicable corrective actions.
We are issuing this AD to address failure of the rudder pedal
control system, which could result in reduced controllability 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
2018-0051, dated March 2, 2018 (referred to after this as the Mandatory
Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to correct an
unsafe condition for certain Airbus Defense and Space S.A. Model C-212-
CB, C-212-CC, C-212-CD, C-212-CE, and C-212-DF airplanes. The MCAI
states:

Failures were reported of the rudder pedal control system
support on CASA C-212 aeroplanes. Subsequent investigation revealed
that the welding area of the affected support structure had broken.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to failure of the
rudder [pedal] control system, possibly resulting in reduced control
of the aeroplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition, EADS-CASA issued the
SB [EADS-CASA Service Bulletin SB-212-27-0057, dated May 21, 2014]
to provide modification instructions and EASA issued AD 2017-0036
[which corresponds to FAA AD 2017-19-08, Amendment 39-19038 (82 FR
43835, September 20 2017) (``AD 2017-19-08'')] to require that
modification [of the rudder pedal adjustment system]. During
accomplishment of that modification, several operators reported
difficulties or impossibility to follow the accomplishment
instruction. Consequently, EASA and Airbus D&S [Defense and Space
S.A.] reviewed the difficulty reports and decided that the
modification instructions have to be improved.
Pending the improvement of the instructions of the SB [EADS-CASA
Service Bulletin SB-212-27-0057, dated May 21, 2014] and in order to
reduce the risk of failure of the [rudder] pedal adjustment system
to an acceptable level, Airbus D&S issued the inspection AOT [Airbus
Alert Operators Transmission AOT-C212-27-0002, dated February 28,
2018] to provide instructions to repetitively inspect the affected
parts [rudder pedal support box Part Number (P/N) 212-46195.1 and
shaft P/N 212-46120-20].
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD cancels the
requirements of EASA AD 2017-0036, which is superseded, and requires
repetitive [detailed visual] inspections of the rudder pedal
adjustment system [rudder pedal support box P/N 212-46195.1 and
shaft P/N 212-46120-20] and, depending on findings, accomplishment
of applicable corrective action(s).
This [EASA] AD is considered to be an interim action and further
[EASA] AD action may follow.

Corrective actions include obtaining corrective actions approved by
the Manager, International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA; or
EASA; or Airbus Defense and Space S.A.'s EASA Design Organization
Approval (DOA); and accomplishing the corrective actions within the
compliance time specified therein. 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-2018-0552.

Comments

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

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting this final rule as proposed,
except for minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor
changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for addressing 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

Airbus Defense and Space S.A. has issued Airbus Alert Operators
Transmission AOT-C212-27-0002, dated February 28, 2018. This service
information describes procedures for repetitive detailed visual
inspections of the rudder pedal control system support box and shaft.
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 36 airplanes of U.S. registry. We
estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs for Required Actions

We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide
cost estimates for the on-condition repair 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.
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 transport category airplanes and
associated appliances to the Director of the System Oversight Division.

Regulatory Findings

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):