AD 2018-19-02

This AD is effective October 22, 2018.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 22, 2018.

For service information identified in this final rule, contact Airbus Defense and Space, Services/Engineering support, Avenida de Aragón 404, 28022 Madrid, Spain; phone: +34 91 585 55 84; fax: +34 91 585 31 27; email: MTA.TechnicalService@military.airbus.com. You may view this service information 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 on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0552.

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

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply 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. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on June 25, 2018 (83 FR 29476). The NPRM was prompted by reports of failures of the rudder pedal control system support. The NPRM proposed to require repetitive detailed visual inspections of the rudder pedal control system support box and shaft and applicable corrective actions.

We are issuing this AD to address failure of the rudder pedal control system, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2018-0051, dated March 2, 2018 (referred to after this 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, and C-212-DF airplanes. The MCAI states:

Failures were reported of the rudder pedal control system support on CASA C-212 aeroplanes. Subsequent investigation revealed that the welding area of the affected support structure had broken.

This condition, if not corrected, could lead to failure of the rudder [pedal] control system, possibly resulting in reduced control of the aeroplane.

To address this potential unsafe condition, EADS-CASA issued the SB [EADS-CASA Service Bulletin SB-212-27-0057, dated May 21, 2014] to provide modification instructions and EASA issued AD 2017-0036 [which corresponds to FAA AD 2017-19-08, Amendment 39-19038 (82 FR 43835, September 20 2017) (“AD 2017-19-08”)] to require that modification [of the rudder pedal adjustment system]. During accomplishment of that modification, several operators reported difficulties or impossibility to follow the accomplishment instruction. Consequently, EASA and Airbus D&S [Defense and Space S.A.] reviewed the difficulty reports and decided that the modification instructions have to be improved.

Pending the improvement of the instructions of the SB [EADS-CASA Service Bulletin SB-212-27-0057, dated May 21, 2014] and in order to reduce the risk of failure of the [rudder] pedal adjustment system to an acceptable level, Airbus D&S issued the inspection AOT [Airbus Alert Operators Transmission AOT-C212-27-0002, dated February 28, 2018] to provide instructions to repetitively inspect the affected parts [rudder pedal support box Part Number (P/N) 212-46195.1 and shaft P/N 212-46120-20].

For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD cancels the requirements of EASA AD 2017-0036, which is superseded, and requires repetitive [detailed visual] inspections of the rudder pedal adjustment system [rudder pedal support box P/N 212-46195.1 and shaft P/N 212-46120-20] and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective action(s).

This [EASA] AD is considered to be an interim action and further [EASA] AD action may follow.

Corrective actions include obtaining corrective actions approved by the Manager, International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus Defense and Space S.A.'s EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA); and accomplishing the corrective actions within the compliance time specified therein. 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-2018-0552.

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this final rule. 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 final rule 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 addressing the unsafe condition; and

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

Airbus Defense and Space S.A. has issued Airbus Alert Operators Transmission AOT-C212-27-0002, dated February 28, 2018. This service information describes procedures for repetitive detailed visual inspections of the rudder pedal control system support box and shaft. 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 36 airplanes of U.S. registry. We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide cost estimates for the on-condition repair specified in this AD.

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.

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 transport category airplanes and associated appliances to the Director of the System Oversight Division.

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):