2023-20-12: Equipment/Furnishings

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by: a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-18-09, Amendment 39-22160 (87 FR 56576, September 15, 2022); and b. Adding the following new AD: 2023-20-12 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-22571; Docket No. FAA-2023-1492; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00195-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective November 21, 2023. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces AD 2022-18-09, Amendment 39-22160 (87 FR 56576, September 15, 2022) (AD 2022-18-09). (c) Applicability This AD applies to the Airbus SAS airplanes specified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this AD, certificated in any category, as identified in European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2023-0029, dated February 1, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0029), except where the Applicability of EASA AD 2023-0029 refers to certain galleys, replace the text "if equipped with a galley," with "if delivered with a galley." (1) Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes. (2) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -151N, -153N and -171N airplanes. (3) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes. (4) Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, and -272N airplanes. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25, Equipment/Furnishings. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by a report that during re-engineering of galley G5, a 9G forward full scale qualification test was performed, and the door of the waste compartment opened before the required load was reached, and by reports of finding container/galley end stop bumpers damaged in service. This AD was also prompted by the determination that additional airplanes and galleys are subject to the unsafe condition, and a compliance time for certain airplanes should be extended. The FAA is issuing this AD to address potential failure of the galley door and release of waste bins during a rejected take-off or an emergency landing, and potential container detachment from the galley under certain forward loading conditions, possibly resulting in damage to the airplane and injury to occupants. (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, EASA AD 2023-0029. (h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2023-0029 (1) Where EASA AD 2023-0029 specifies a compliance time of "within 12 months after 11 December 2018 [the effective date of EASA AD 2018-0255], "this AD requires replacing those words with "within 12 months after January 10, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2021-23-15), or within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later." (2) Where EASA AD 2023-0029 refers to May 29, 2019 (the effective date of EASA AD 2019-0106), this AD requires using March 12, 2020 (the effective date of AD 2019-26-11, Amendment 39-21022 (85 FR 6755, February 6, 2020)). (3) Where EASA AD 2023-0029 specifies a compliance time of "within 12 months after 02 March 2022 [the effective date of EASA AD 2022-0026]," this AD requires using "within 12 months after October 20, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-18-09), or within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later." (4) Where EASA AD 2023-0029 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (5) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2023-0029. (i) Additional AD Provisions The following provisions also apply to this AD: (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, International Validation 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 International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (j) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: [email protected]. (i) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office. (ii) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2022-18-09 are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of EASA AD 2023-0029 that are required by paragraph (g) of this AD. (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, International Validation 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)(2) of this AD, 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 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) Additional Information For more information about this AD, contact Timothy Dowling, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 206-231-3667; email [email protected]. (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) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2023-0029, dated February 1, 2023. (ii) [Reserved] (3) For EASA AD 2023-0029, 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 EASA AD on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. (4) You may view this service information 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 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, email [email protected], or go to: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. Issued on October 5, 2023. Victor Wicklund, Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2023-22874 Filed 10-16-23; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P