[Federal Register: December 15, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 241)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 75411-75413]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15de06-3]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-22959; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-40-AD;
Amendment 39-14856; AD 2006-25-15]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Sicma Aero Seat; Third Occupant Seat
Assemblies, 133 Series
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Sicma Aero Seat third occupant seat assemblies, 133 series. This AD
requires visually inspecting the installation of the two headrest
bushings and installing Mecanindus pins to secure the bushings. This AD
results from Sicma's determination that missing or incorrectly secured
bushings could loosen and cause disengagement of the headrest from the
seat during a high-energy stop of the airplane, possibly injuring the
seat occupant. We are issuing this AD to prevent disengagement of the
headrest from the seat during a high-energy stop of the airplane that
could injure the seat occupant.
DATES: This AD becomes effective January 19, 2007. The Director of the
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain
publications listed in the regulations as of January 19, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD
from Sicma Aero Seat, 7 Rue Lucien Coupet, 36100 Issoudun, France,
telephone: (33) 54 03 39 39; fax: (33) 54 03 15 16.
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
or in Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Lee, Aerospace Engineer,
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller
Directorate, FAA, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803;
telephone (781) 238-7161; fax (781) 238-7170.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to Sicma Aero Seat third
occupant seat assemblies, 133 series. We published the proposed AD in
the Federal Register on March 1, 2006 (71 FR 10453). That action
proposed to require visually inspecting the installation of the two
headrest bushings and installing Mecanindus pins to secure the
bushings.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the docket that contains the AD, any comments
received, and any final disposition in person at the Docket Management
Facility Docket Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800)
647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Department of
Transportation Nassif Building at the street address stated in
ADDRESSES. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after
the DMS receives them.
[[Page 75412]]
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.
Request To Change Compliance Requirement
Air Transport Association and Northwest Airlines request that the
compliance requirement of ``within 30 days'' be changed to ``within 90
days''. This will allow AD compliance in conjunction with operators'
current A-Check interval. We agree and changed the AD to ``within 90
days''.
Labor Time Information Does Not Match the Sicma Aero Seat Service
Bulletin
Air Transport Association and Northwest Airlines state that the
estimated labor time information in the proposed AD does not match the
manpower estimate in Sicma Aero Seat Service Bulletin (SB) No. 133-25-
006, dated May 12, 1999. We agree that the AD estimate for doing the
work needs to match the SB. We changed the labor time in the AD to 0.17
work-hour (10 minutes) per seat.
Seat Part Numbers Do Not Match
Air Transport Association and Northwest Airlines state that the
seat part numbers (P/Ns) in the proposed AD do not match those in Sicma
Aero Seat SB No. 133-25-006, dated May 12, 1999. We partially agree. We
corrected the P/Ns to 1330622-070, 1330622-070-1, 1330622-070-2,
1330622-100, and 1330622V100-1 in the AD. These are the same listed P/
Ns affected as those identified by the Direction Generale de L'Aviation
Civile, which is the airworthiness authority of France.
Question on Serial Numbers
Air Transport Association and Northwest Airlines question why the
serial numbers (SNs) in the proposed AD are specific, whereas there are
no specific SNs listed in the SB. We listed the same SNs as those
identified by the Direction Generale de L'Aviation Civile, which is the
airworthiness authority for France. They correctly identified the SNs
affected, in their AD No. 2000-042(AB). We did not change the AD.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously.
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 459 Sicma Aero Seat third occupant seat assemblies,
133 series, of the affected design installed on airplanes of U.S.
registry. There are about 698 airplanes of U.S. registry that these
seats can be installed on. We estimate that it will take about 0.17
work-hour per seat assembly to perform the actions, and that the
average labor rate is $65 per work-hour. The Mecanindus pins cost
$99.88 each, however, Sicma Aero Seat has advised us that they will
supply the parts at no cost. Based on the labor rate to install the
parts, the total cost of the AD to U.S. operators will be about $5,072.
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.
Regulatory Findings
We have 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 DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
(3) 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.
We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD and
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary at the
address listed under ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the Federal Aviation Administration 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:
2006-25-15 Sicma Aero Seat: Amendment 39-14856. Docket No. FAA-2005-
22959; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-40-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective January
19, 2007.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Sicma Aero Seat third occupant seat
assemblies, 133 series, with the part numbers (P/Ns) and serial
numbers (SNs) in the following Table 1:
Table 1.--Applicable Seat Assemblies
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seat P/N Seat SN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1330622-070............................. 1 through 212.
1330622-070-1........................... 1 through 212.
1330622-070-2........................... 1 through 6.
1330622-100............................. 1 through 13.
1330622V100-1........................... 1 through 16.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
These third occupant seats are installed on, but not limited to,
Airbus A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from Sicma's determination that missing or
incorrectly secured bushings could loosen and cause disengagement of
the headrest from the seat during a high-energy stop of the
airplane, possibly injuring the seat occupant. We are issuing this
AD to prevent disengagement of the headrest from the seat during a
high-energy stop of the airplane that could injure the seat
occupant.
[[Page 75413]]
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the
actions have already been done.
Installing Protective Fairings
(f) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, visually
check the installation of the two headrest bushings and install
Mecanindus pins, P/N GPMECAE2-5x5, to secure the bushings. Use the
instructions in paragraph 2 of Sicma Aero Seat Service Bulletin No.
133-25-006, dated May 12, 1999, to perform the visual inspection and
install the pins.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(g) The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, has the
authority to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD
if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(h) Direction Generale de L'Aviation Civile airworthiness
directive 2000-042(AB), dated January 26, 2000, also addresses the
subject of this AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) You must use Sicma Aero Seat Service Bulletin No. 133-25-
006, dated May 12, 1999, to perform the actions required by this AD.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of this service bulletin in accordance with 5 U.S.C.
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Sicma Aero Seat, 7 Rue Lucien
Coupet, 36100 Issoudun, France, telephone: (33) 54 03 39 39; fax:
(33) 54 03 15 16, for a copy of this service information. You may
review copies 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: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html
.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on December 7, 2006.
Robert J. Ganley,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E6-21186 Filed 12-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P