Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes, 12501-12504 [2025-03940]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 18, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12501-12504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-03940]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2025-0343; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00562-T]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS 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) 
2020-03-14, which applies to all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 
airplanes. AD 2020-03-14 requires an inspection of affected crew oxygen 
cylinder assemblies for any discrepancy and replacement of discrepant 
crew oxygen cylinder assemblies with serviceable parts, and allows 
installation of affected parts under certain conditions. Since the FAA 
issued AD 2020-03-14, the supplier introduced an improved oxygen 
cylinder assembly, that will ensure the correct function of the system. 
This

[[Page 12502]]

proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2020-03-14 and 
would require replacement of all affected parts with redesigned parts 
and would also prohibit the installation of affected parts, as 
specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which 
is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). 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 May 2, 
2025.

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 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.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-0343; 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), any comments received, and other information. The 
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     For EASA material identified in this proposed AD, contact 
EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 
8999 000; email [email protected]; website easa.europa.eu. You may 
find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. It is also 
available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0343.
     You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 
Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 206-231-3195.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206-231-
3225; email [email protected].

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-2025-0343; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00562-T'' at the beginning of your 
comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the 
proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include 
supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the 
closing date and may amend this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The 
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Dan 
Rodina, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des 
Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206-231-3225; email [email protected]. Any 
commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated 
as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA issued AD 2020-03-14, Amendment 39-19839 (85 FR 11282, 
February 27, 2020) (AD 2020-03-14), for all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 
and -1041 airplanes. AD 2020-03-14 was prompted by an MCAI originated 
by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union. EASA issued AD 2019-0168, dated July 16, 2019 (EASA AD 
2019-0168), to correct an unsafe condition.
    AD 2020-03-14 requires an inspection of affected crew oxygen 
cylinder assemblies for any discrepancy and replacement of discrepant 
crew oxygen cylinder assemblies with serviceable parts, and AD 2020-03-
14 allows installation of affected parts under certain conditions. The 
FAA issued AD 2020-03-14 to address loss of retention of the regulator 
inlet filter retainer on certain crew oxygen cylinder assemblies. This 
condition could lead to particle ingestion into the regulator during 
ground handling, possibly resulting in ignition/fire during system 
ground operational testing.

Actions Since AD 2020-03-14 Was Issued

    Since the FAA issued AD 2020-03-14, EASA superseded EASA AD 2019-
0168 and issued EASA AD 2024-0186, dated September 24, 2024 (EASA AD 
2024-0186) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe 
condition for all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. The 
MCAI states that the supplier introduced an improved oxygen cylinder 
assembly having part number (P/N) 4441227-058-002, to ensure the 
correct function of the system.
    The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on 
these products. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at 
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0343.

Explanation of Retained Requirements

    Although this proposed AD does not explicitly restate the 
requirements of AD 2020-03-14, this proposed AD would retain all of the 
requirements of AD 2020-03-14. Those requirements are referenced in 
EASA AD 2024-0186, which, in turn, is referenced in paragraph (g) of 
this proposed AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    EASA AD 2024-0186 specifies procedures for an inspection of each 
crew oxygen cylinder assembly for any discrepancy (a loose part making 
a sound during agitation of the cylinder), replacement of any affected 
crew oxygen cylinder with a serviceable part, and eventual replacement 
of each affected part with a redesigned part. EASA AD 2024-0186 also 
prohibits the installation of affected parts. 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

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country and is approved for operation in

[[Page 12503]]

the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this 
State of Design Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe 
condition described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA is issuing 
this NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described 
previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same 
type design.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in EASA AD 2024-0186 described previously, except for any differences 
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.

Explanation of Required Compliance Information

    In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD 
process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation 
authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance 
with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been 
coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, the 
FAA proposes to incorporate EASA AD 2024-0186 by reference in the FAA 
final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with 
EASA AD 2024-0186 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 EASA AD 2024-0186 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 EASA AD 2024-
0186. Material required by EASA AD 2024-0186 for compliance will be 
available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0343 after the 
FAA final rule is published.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 33 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following 
costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
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                                                         Parts
             Action                    Labor cost        cost      Cost per product     Cost on U.S. operators
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Retained actions from AD          1 work-hour x $85          $0  $85................  $2,805.
 2020[dash]03[dash]14.             per hour = $85.
New proposed actions............  Up to 15 work-hours    12,800  Up to $14,075......  Up to $464,475.
                                   x $85 per hour =
                                   $1,275.
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    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition replacements 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 these on-condition actions:

                 Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
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            Labor cost                 Parts cost      Cost per product
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10 work-hours x $85 per hour =              $6,940               $7,790
 $850.............................
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    According to the manufacturer, some or all of the costs of this 
proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost 
impact on affected individuals. The FAA does not control warranty 
coverage for affected individuals. As a result, the FAA has included 
all known costs in the 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.
    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

    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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, 44701.

[[Page 12504]]

Sec.  39.13   [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-03-14, Amendment 39-19839 
(85 FR 11282, February 27, 2020) and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:

Airbus SAS: Docket No. FAA-2025-0343; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-
00562-T.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by May 2, 2025.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2020-03-14, Amendment 39-19839 (85 FR 11282, 
February 27, 2020) (AD 2020-03-14).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 
airplanes, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 35, Oxygen.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by loss of retention of the regulator inlet 
filter retainer on certain crew oxygen cylinder assemblies. The FAA 
is issuing this AD to address loss of retention of the regulator 
inlet filter retainer on certain crew oxygen cylinder assemblies. 
The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in particle 
ingestion into the regulator during ground handling, possibly 
resulting in ignition/fire during system ground operational testing.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Requirements

    Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all 
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2024-0186, dated September 24, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0186).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0186

    (1) Where EASA AD 2024-0186 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where EASA AD 2024-0186 refers to July 30, 2019 (the 
effective date of EASA AD 2019-0168), this AD requires using April 
2, 2020 (the effective date of AD 2020-03-14).
    (3) Where paragraphs (1) and (2) of EASA AD 2024-0186 state 
``the instructions of the AOT,'' this AD requires replacing that 
text with ``paragraph 4.2.2., Inspection Requirements, of the AOT.''
    (4) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2024-0186 specifies to 
``inspect each affected part,'' this AD requires replacing that text 
with ``do a one-time inspection of any affected part that is 
installed on-wing.''
    (5) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2024-0186 specifies if ``any 
discrepancy is detected, as defined in the AOT,'' this AD requires 
replacing those words with ``any loose part making a sound during 
agitation of the cylinder is detected.''
    (6) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2024-0186.

(i) No Reporting and No Return of Parts Requirements

    Although the material referenced in EASA AD 2024-0186 specifies 
to submit certain information and send removed parts to the 
manufacturer, this AD does not include those requirements.

(j) Additional AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, AIR-
520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found 
in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request 
to your principal inspector or responsible Flight Standards Office, 
as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of 
the Continued Operational Safety Branch, send it to the attention of 
the person identified in paragraph (k) of this AD and email to: 
[email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your 
appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, AIR-520, 
Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus SAS's 
EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the 
approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.
    (3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except as required by 
paragraph (i) and (j)(2) of this AD, if any material referenced in 
EASA AD 2024-0186 contains paragraphs that are labeled as RC, the 
instructions in RC paragraphs, including subparagraphs under those 
paragraphs, must be done to comply with this AD; any paragraphs, 
including subparagraphs under those paragraphs, that are not 
identified as RC are recommended. The instructions in paragraphs, 
including subparagraphs under those paragraphs, not identified as RC 
may be deviated from using accepted methods in accordance with the 
operator's maintenance or inspection program without obtaining 
approval of an AMOC, provided the instructions identified as RC can 
be done and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy condition. 
Any substitutions or changes to instructions identified as RC 
require approval of an AMOC.

(k) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Dan Rodina, Aviation 
Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 
telephone 206-231-3225; email [email protected].

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph 
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0186, 
dated September 24, 2024.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, 
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 
8999 000; email [email protected]; website easa.europa.eu. You may 
find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
    (4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., 
Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
    (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on March 7, 2025.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-03940 Filed 3-17-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P