AD 2018-18-04
final rule
Applicability
| Type | Manufacturer | Model | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| aircraft | Airbus SAS | A350-1041 | Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes |
| aircraft | Airbus SAS | A350-941 | Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes |
Unsafe Condition
During an inspection on the A350 final assembly line, after engine installation, protective caps were found still in place on fire extinguishing lines at engine zone 1 and zone 3. Further investigations indicated that this failure of removing them, as the standard instructions specify, may have occurred on other aeroplanes. This condition, if not detected and corrected, could, in case of an engine fire, prevent extinguishing that engine fire, possibly resulting in reduced control of the aeroplane.
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Required Actions
Inspect for the presence of protective caps on fire extinguishing lines, and depending on findings, remove the protective caps and clean out any melted protective caps.
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Compliance Time
Before further flight
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Affected Aircraft
Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes, manufacturer serial numbers (MSN) that may be affected.
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Federal Register Abstract
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of protective caps that were not removed from fire extinguishing lines in certain areas of the engines. This AD requires an inspection for the presence of protective caps on fire extinguishing lines, and corrective action. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Applicability Source Text
Show captured applicability text from the source AD
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041
airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Airbus
Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) A26P004-18, Revision 00, dated
June 26, 2018.
Document Text
Show stored source text (verify against official source)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 169 (Thursday, August 30, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44211-44214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18734]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2018-0766; Product Identifier 2018-NM-111-AD; Amendment
39-19383; AD 2018-18-04]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This AD was prompted by
a report of protective caps that were not removed from fire
extinguishing lines in certain areas of the engines. This AD requires
an inspection for the presence of protective caps on fire extinguishing
lines, and corrective action. We are issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD becomes effective September 14, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of September
14, 2018.
We must receive comments on this AD by October 15, 2018.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this final rule, contact
Airbus SAS,
[[Page 44212]]
Airworthiness Office--EAL, Rond-Point Emile Dewoitine No: 2, 31700
Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45
80; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#76151918021f180313125b171f04011904021e1f18130505581745434636171f041403055815191b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bdded2d3c9d4d3c8d8d990dcd4cfcad2cfc9d5d4d3d8cece93dc8e888dfddcd4cfdfc8ce93ded2d0">[email protected]</span></a>; internet <a href="http://www.airbus.com">http://www.airbus.com</a>. You may view this referenced 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 <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-
0766.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the internet at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-
0766; or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket
contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and
other information. The street address for the Docket Operations office
(telephone 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Arrigotti, Aerospace
Engineer, International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 2200
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3218.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD
2018-0154, dated July 19, 2018 (referred to after this as the Mandatory
Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to correct an
unsafe condition for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041
airplanes. The MCAI states:
During an inspection on the A350 final assembly line, after
engine installation, protective caps were found still in place on
fire extinguishing lines at engine zone 1 and zone 3. Further
investigations indicated that this failure of removing them, as the
standard instructions specify, may have occurred on other
aeroplanes. Airbus has identified the [manufacturer serial numbers]
MSN that may be affected.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could, in case of
an engine fire, prevent extinguishing that engine fire, possibly
resulting in reduced control of the aeroplane.
To address this unsafe condition, Airbus published the [Alert
Operators Transmission A26P004-18, Revision 00, dated June 26, 2018]
AOT to provide inspection instructions.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-
time detailed inspection (DET) of the affected areas and, depending
on findings, [corrective action].
Corrective action includes removal of the protective caps and
cleaning out any melted protective caps. You may examine the MCAI on
the internet at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0766.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
Airbus SAS has issued Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) A26P004-
18, Revision 00, dated June 26, 2018. This service information
describes procedures for inspection for the presence of protective caps
on fire extinguishing lines, and corrective actions. 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.
FAA's Determination
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service
information referenced above. We are issuing this AD because we
evaluated all pertinent information and determined the unsafe condition
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same
type design.
Requirements of This AD
This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the service
information described previously.
FAA's Determination of the Effective Date
An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because
protective caps still in place on fire extinguishing lines in certain
areas of the engines could, in case of an engine fire, prevent
extinguishing that engine fire, possibly resulting in reduced control
of the airplane. Therefore, we determined that notice and opportunity
for public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable and that
good cause exists for making this amendment effective in fewer than 30
days.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2018-0766; Product
Identifier 2018-NM-111-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD based on
those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 11 airplanes of U.S. registry. We
estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Labor cost Parts cost product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85............................. $0 $85 $935
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We estimate the following costs to do any necessary on-condition
action that would be required based on the results of any required
actions. We have no way of determining the number of aircraft
[[Page 44213]]
that might need this on-condition action:
Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per
Labor cost Parts cost product
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85...... $0 $85
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
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 to
the Director of the System Oversight Division.
Regulatory Findings
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.
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
0
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]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
2018-18-04 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-19383; Docket No. FAA-2018-0766;
Product Identifier 2018-NM-111-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective September 14, 2018.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041
airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Airbus
Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) A26P004-18, Revision 00, dated
June 26, 2018.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 26, Fire
Protection.
(e) Reason
This AD was prompted by a report of protective caps that were
not removed from fire extinguishing lines in certain areas of the
engines. We are issuing this AD to address protective caps remaining
on fire extinguishing lines in certain areas of the engines, which
could, in case of an engine fire, prevent extinguishing that engine
fire, possibly resulting in reduced control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Inspection for Caps
Within 4 months after the effective date of this AD, accomplish
a detailed inspection of the affected areas in accordance with
paragraph 4.2.2, Inspection Requirements, of Airbus Alert Operators
Transmission (AOT) A26P004-18, Revision 00, dated June 26, 2018.
(h) Corrective Action
If, during the inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD,
any protective cap is found installed, before next flight, do all
applicable corrective actions (removing the cap or cleaning out any
melted caps) in accordance with paragraph 4.2.3, Findings, of Airbus
Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) A26P004-18, Revision 00, dated
June 26, 2018.
(i) Other FAA AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
International Section, Transport Standards 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 local Flight
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information
directly to the International Section, send it to the attention of
the person identified in paragraph (j)(2) of this AD. Information
may be emailed to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#21180c606f6c0c1010170c606c6e620c7364707464727572614740400f464e57"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5b62761a1516766a6a6d761a16141876091e0a0e1e080f081b3d3a3a753c342d">[email protected]</span></a>. Before using any
approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or
lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight
standards district office/certificate holding district office.
(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International
Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA; or the European Aviation
Safety Agency (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): If any service information
contains procedures or tests that are identified as RC, those
procedures and tests must be done to comply with this AD; any
procedures or tests that are not identified as RC are recommended.
Those procedures and tests that are not identified
[[Page 44214]]
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 procedures and tests identified as
RC can be done and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy
condition. Any substitutions or changes to procedures or tests
identified as RC require approval of an AMOC.
(j) Related Information
(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information
(MCAI) EASA AD 2018-0154, dated July 19, 2018, for related
information. This MCAI may be found in the AD docket on the internet
at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> by searching for and locating Docket
No. FAA-2018-0766.
(2) For more information about this AD, contact Kathleen
Arrigotti, Aerospace Engineer, International Section, Transport
Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198;
telephone and fax 206-231-3218.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office--EAL, Rond-Point Emile Dewoitine
No: 2, 31700 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax
+33 5 61 93 45 80; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#30535f5e44595e4555541d515942475f424458595e5543431e51030500705159425245431e535f5d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dab9b5b4aeb3b4afbfbef7bbb3a8adb5a8aeb2b3b4bfa9a9f4bbe9efea9abbb3a8b8afa9f4b9b5b7">[email protected]</span></a>;
internet <a href="http://www.airbus.com">http://www.airbus.com</a>. 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.
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Airbus Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) A26P004-18,
Revision 00, dated June 26, 2018.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office--EAL, Rond-Point Emile Dewoitine
No: 2, 31700 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax
+33 5 61 93 45 80; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#32515d5c465b5c4757561f535b40455d40465a5b5c5741411c5301070272535b405047411c515d5f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b7d4d8d9c3ded9c2d2d39ad6dec5c0d8c5c3dfded9d2c4c499d6848287f7d6dec5d5c2c499d4d8da">[email protected]</span></a>;
internet <a href="http://www.airbus.com">http://www.airbus.com</a>.
(4) 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.
(5) You may view this service information that is incorporated
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html">http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html</a>.
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on August 21, 2018.
James Cashdollar,
Acting Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-18734 Filed 8-29-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
Source: Official FAA Source ↗
Retrieved: Apr 4, 2026
Rights: U.S. Government Public Domain
This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FAA. Always verify with official sources.
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