DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0557; Product Identifier 2019-NE-17-AD; Amendment
39-19775; AD 2019-21-09]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Aviointeriors S.p.A. Centaurus
Passenger Seats

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Aviointeriors S.p.A. (Aviointeriors) Centaurus passenger seats
with a specific life vest pouch assembly installed. This AD was
prompted by reports of life vest pouches that were installed
incorrectly on certain seats. This AD requires inspection of the life
vest pouch assembly and, depending on the results of the inspection,
replacement of the life vest pouch assembly. The FAA is issuing this AD
to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective December 18, 2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of December 18,
2019.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Aviointeriors S.p.A., Customer Support, Via Appia Km. 66,4;
04013 Latina, Italy; phone: +39 0773 6891; fax: +39 0773 631546; email:
customer-support@aviointeriors.it; internet: http://www.aviointeriors.it.
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. It is also available on the
internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating
Docket No. FAA-2019-0557.

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-
0557; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness information
(MCAI), the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other
information. The address for Docket Operations 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: 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:

Discussion

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Aviointeriors
S.p.A. (Aviointeriors) Centaurus passenger seats with a specific life
vest pouch assembly installed. The NPRM published in the Federal
Register on August 15, 2019 (84 FR 41664). The NPRM was prompted by
reports of life vest pouches that were installed incorrectly on certain
seats. The NPRM proposed to require inspection of the life vest pouch
assembly and, depending on the results of the inspection, replacement
of the life vest pouch assembly. The FAA is issuing this AD to address
the unsafe condition on these products.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has
issued EASA AD No. 2018-0264R1, dated April 4, 2019 (referred to after
this as ``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on these
products. The MCAI states:

Incorrect installation of the affected pouch was found on
certain affected seats. Subsequent investigation determined that
those pouches have been (re)installed in service. This condition, if
not detected and corrected, could prevent extraction of the life
vest from the pouch, leading to evacuation of the aeroplane without
a life vest, possibly resulting in injury to passengers.
To address this potential unsafe condition, Aviointeriors issued
the SB to provide inspection instructions and the modification SB to
provide instructions to modify the affected seats. Aviointeriors
also revised the Component Maintenance Manuals (CMM) to include
updated instructions for installing an affected pouch.
For the reason described above, EASA issued AD 2018-0264,
requiring inspection of the affected seats and, depending on
findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective action(s).
Since that [EASA] AD was issued, it was determined that affected
seats may have received an additional P/N related to the aircraft
modification addressing the installation of the seats. This [EASA]
AD is revised to clarify the Applicability by inserting Note 1 into
Appendix 1 of this [EASA] AD.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0557.

Comments

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

Conclusion

The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety
and the public interest require adopting this final rule as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Aviointeriors Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No.
16/18, Rev. 1, dated October 11, 2018, and Aviointeriors Optional
Service Bulletin (OSB) No. 18/18, Rev. 2, dated March 11, 2019. The MSB
describes procedures for inspection and horizontal installation of the
life vest pouch assembly. The OSB describes procedures for an
alternative (vertical) inspection and installation of the life vest
pouch assembly. 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

The FAA estimates that this AD affects an unknown number of
passenger seats installed on, but not limited to, Boeing 777-200 and
777-300 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this 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.
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 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

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 this AD:
(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.

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):