DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2019-0869; Product Identifier 2019-NM-162-AD; Amendment
39-19842; AD 2020-03-18]
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: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-19-08
and AD 2018-19-02, which applied 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 required repetitive inspections of the rudder pedal control
system support box and shaft and applicable corrective actions;
accomplishing those actions terminated the requirements of AD 2017-19-
08. This AD continues to require repetitive inspections and applicable
corrective actions; and also requires a modification of the rudder
pedal adjustment system; as specified in a European Union Aviation
Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD
was prompted by a determination that a modification must be done in
order to address the unsafe condition. The FAA is issuing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective April 2, 2020.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 2,
2020.
ADDRESSES: For the material incorporated by reference (IBR) in
this AD,
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 final rule, 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: Shahram Daneshmandi, Aerospace
Engineer, International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 2200
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3220;
email shahram.daneshmandi@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
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 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, Amendment 39-19402 (83 FR 46857,
September 17, 2018) (``AD 2018-19-02'')).
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2017-19-08, Amendment 39-19038 (82 FR
43835, September 20, 2017) (``AD 2017-19-08'') and AD 2018-19-02. AD
2018-19-02 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.
Accomplishing the actions required by AD 2018-19-02 terminated all of
the requirements of AD 2017-19-08. The NPRM published in the Federal
Register on November 18, 2019 (84 FR 63580). The NPRM was prompted by
a
determination that a modification must be done in order to address the
unsafe condition. The NPRM proposed to continue to require repetitive
inspections and applicable corrective actions. The NPRM also proposed
to require a modification of the rudder pedal adjustment system.
The FAA is issuing 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.
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,
except for minor editorial changes. The FAA has 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 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
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.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 37 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
Retained actions from AD 2018-19-02 |
8 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$680 |
$0
|
$680
|
$25,160
|
New actions |
9 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$765 |
20,000
|
20,765
|
768,305
|
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
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
9 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$765 |
$20,000
|
$20,765
|
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.
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) 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 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:
|