AD 2016-11-19

This AD is effective July 22, 2016.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of July 22, 2016.

For service information identified in this final rule, contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office—EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; email airworthiness.A330-A340@airbus.com; Internet http://www.airbus.com. You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-3988.

Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-1138; fax 425-227-1149.

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Airbus Model A330-200, -200 Freighter, and -300 series airplanes; and all Airbus Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 series airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on March 1, 2016 (81 FR 10549) (“the NPRM”). The NPRM was prompted by reports of chafing of the feeder cable at the pylon-wing junction due to vibration; one report revealed that the cable loom plastic support bracket of the G-route was broken due to vibration; and another report revealed wire chafing due to clamp damage. The NPRM proposed to require modifying the cable loom support bracket of the G-route of the inboard pylons at the pylon-wing junction. We are issuing this AD to prevent chafing of the wiring in the pylon-wing area, which could result in an electrical short circuit near a flammable fluid vapor zone, and consequent fire or fuel tank explosion.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA Airworthiness Directive 2015-0142, dated July 17, 2015 (referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or “the MCAI”), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Airbus Model A330-200, -200 Freighter, and -300 series airplanes; and all Airbus Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 series airplanes. The MCAI states:

Two events have been reported of feeder cable chafing at the pylon-wing junction on A330 aeroplanes. Inspection of the affected area for the first event revealed that the bracket supporting the cables G-route, made in plastic, was broken. The second event was due to clamp damage. Failure of support bracket and/or damage of clamp led to the feeder cables gradually chafing away at the cut-out edge by vibration. Due to design similarity, A340 aeroplanes are also affected by this issue.

This condition, if not corrected, could create a short circuit, in combination with fuel vapour on [the] ground, possibly resulting in a fire or explosion.

To address this unsafe condition, Airbus developed modifications to be embodied in service through Airbus Service Bulletin (SB) A330-92-3132, SB A340-92-4100 or SB A340-92-5066, as applicable to aeroplane type and model.

For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires the embodiment of these modifications [of the cable loom support bracket of the G-route of the inboard pylons] at the pylon/wing junction in [left-hand] LH and [right-hand] RH wings.

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-2016-3988.

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

We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting this AD 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 correcting the unsafe condition; and

• Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed in the NPRM.

We reviewed the following Airbus service information:

• Service Bulletin A330-92-3132, Revision 01, dated May 21, 2015.

• Service Bulletin A340-92-4100, Revision 01, dated May 21, 2015.

• Service Bulletin A340-92-5066, dated June 25, 2014.

This service information describes procedures for modifying the cable loom support bracket of the G-route of the inboard pylons at the pylon-wing junction. 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.

We estimate that this AD affects 90 airplanes of U.S. registry.

We also estimate that it takes about 8 work-hours per product to comply with the modification requirements of this AD. Required parts will cost about $900 per product. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost for the inspection specified in this AD on U.S. operators to be $142,200, or $1,580 per product.

According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost estimate.

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.

We determined that 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.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

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

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):