DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0869; Product Identifier 2019-NM-162-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2017-19-08 and AD 2018-19-02, which apply to Airbus Defense and Space
S.A. Model C-212-CB, C-212-CC, C-212-CD, C-212-CE, and C-212-DF
airplanes. AD 2018-19-02 requires repetitive inspections of the rudder
pedal control system support box and shaft and applicable corrective
actions; accomplishing those actions terminates the requirements of AD
2017-19-08. Since AD 2018-19-02 was issued, the FAA has determined that
a modification must be done in order to address the unsafe condition.
This proposed AD would continue to require repetitive inspections and
applicable corrective actions; this proposed AD would also require a
modification of the rudder pedal adjustment system; as specified in a
European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which will be
incorporated by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 2,
2020.

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 https://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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

For the material identified in this proposed AD that will be
incorporated by reference (IBR), contact the EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer
3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 89990 1000; email
ADs@easa.europa.eu; internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this IBR
material on the EASA website at https://ad.easa.europa.eu. You may view
this IBR material 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 in the AD
docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0869.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0869;
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 regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shahram Daneshmandi, Aerospace
Engineer, International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 2200
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

The FAA invites 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-2019-0869;
Product Identifier 2019-NM-162-AD" at the beginning of your comments.
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
NPRM based on those comments.

The FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https://www.
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide.
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.

Discussion

The FAA issued AD 2018-19-02, Amendment 39-19402 (83 FR 46857,
September 17, 2018) ("AD 2018-19-02"), which applied 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. AD 2018-19-02 requires repetitive
inspections of the rudder pedal control system support box and shaft
and applicable corrective actions. The FAA issued AD 2018-19-02 to
address failure of the rudder pedal control system support structure,
which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.
Accomplishing the actions required by AD 2018-19-02 terminates all of
the requirements of AD 2017-19-08, Amendment 39-19038 (82 FR 43835,
September 20, 2017) ("AD 2017-19-08"). This proposed AD would
supersede both AD 2017-19-08 and AD 2018-19-02.

Actions Since AD 2018-19-02 Was Issued

Since AD 2018-19-02 was issued, the FAA has determined that a
modification must be done in order to address the unsafe condition.

The EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2019-0221, dated September 5, 2019
("EASA AD 2019-0221") (also referred to 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, C-212-DD, C-212-DF, and C-212-EE airplanes.
Model C-212-DD and C-212-EE airplanes are not certified by the FAA and
are not included on the U.S. type certificate
data sheet; this proposed AD therefore does not include those airplanes
in the applicability. EASA AD 2019-0221 supersedes EASA AD 2018-0051,
dated March 2, 2018 (which corresponds to FAA AD 2018-19-02).

This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that a
modification must be done in order to address the unsafe condition. The
FAA is proposing this AD to address failure of the rudder pedal control
system support structure, which could result in reduced controllability
of the airplane. See the MCAI for additional background information.

Related IBR Material Under 1 CFR Part 51

EASA AD 2019-0221 describes procedures for repetitive inspections
of the rudder pedal control system support box and shaft, and a
modification of the rudder pedal adjustment system. The modification is
the applicable corrective action and is also terminating action for the
repetitive inspections.

This material 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 another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to a bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, the FAA
has been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI
referenced above. The FAA is proposing this AD because the agency
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same
type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in EASA AD 2019-0221 described previously, as incorporated by
reference, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the
regulatory text of this AD. Accomplishing the modification of the
rudder pedal adjustment system specified in EASA AD 2019-0221 would
terminate the repetitive inspections specified in EASA AD 2019-0221.

Explanation of Required Compliance Information

In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD
process, the FAA initially worked with Airbus and EASA to develop a
process to use certain EASA ADs as the primary source of information
for compliance with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has
since coordinated with other manufacturers and civil aviation
authorities (CAAs) to use this process. As a result, EASA AD 2019-0221
will be incorporated by reference in the FAA final rule. This proposed
AD would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2019-0221 in its
entirety, through that incorporation, except for any differences
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.
Using common terms that are the same as the heading of a particular
section in the EASA AD does not mean that operators need comply only
with that section. For example, where the AD requirement refers to
"all required actions and compliance times," compliance with this AD
requirement is not limited to the section titled "Required Action(s)
and Compliance Time(s)" in the EASA AD. Service information specified
in EASA AD 2019-0221 that is required for compliance with EASA AD 2019-
0221 will be available on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0869 after the FAA
final rule is published.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 37 airplanes of
U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with
this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs for Required Actions

The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition actions that would be required based on the results of any
required actions. The FAA has no way of determining the number of
aircraft that might need this on-condition action:

Estimated Costs of On-Condition Action

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.

The FAA is 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 proposed 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

The FAA 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(3) 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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2017-19-08, Amendment 39-19038 (82 FR 43835, September 20, 2017) and AD
2018-19-02, Amendment 39-19402 (83 FR 46857, September 17, 2018), and
adding the following new AD: