[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 6, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8896-8897]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5222]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-NM-198-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A320-111, -211, -212, and 
-231 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Airbus Model A320-111, -
211, -212, and -231 series airplanes. This proposal would require 
removing the existing forward pintle nut and cross bolt on the main 
landing gear (MLG), and installing a new nylon spacer and cross bolt 
and nut. This proposal is prompted by results of fatigue testing which 
revealed that the cross bolt and nut in the forward pintle pin of the 
MLG were damaged due to fatigue cracking. The actions specified by the 
proposed AD are intended to prevent such fatigue cracking, which could 
result in collapse of the MLG.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 12, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-NM-198-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Airbus Industrie, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 
Blagnac Cedex, France. This information may be examined at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Backman, Aerospace Engineer, 
Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206) 
227-2797; fax (206) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments, 
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the 
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with 
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 95-NM-198-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 95-NM-198-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion -

    The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the 
airworthiness authority for France, recently notified the FAA that an 
unsafe condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A320 series 
airplanes. The DGAC advises that during fatigue tests on an Airbus 
Model A320 test article, the cross bolt and nut in the forward pintle 
pin of the main landing gear (MLG) were found to be damaged due to 
fatigue cracking. Such fatigue cracking, if not detected and corrected 
in a timely manner, could result in collapse of the MLG.
    Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-32-1119, Revision 1, dated 
June 13, 1994, which describes procedures for removing the existing 
forward pintle nut and cross bolt on the MLG, and installing a new 
nylon spacer and cross bolt and nut. The new nylon spacer will absorb 
deflections and reduce the loads on the cross bolt and the nut. 
Additionally, the cross bolt is longer than the existing cross bolt to 
accommodate the addition of the nylon spacer. (The Airbus service 
bulletin references Dowty Aerospace Service Bulletin 200-32-194, 
Revision 1, dated October 4, 1993, as an additional source of service 
information for accomplishment of these procedures.) The DGAC 
classified the service bulletin as mandatory and issued French 
airworthiness directive 94-057-052 (B), dated March 16, 1994, in order 
to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France. -
    These airplane models are manufactured in France and are type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and 
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed 
of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of 
the DGAC, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD 
action is necessary for products of this type design that are 
certificated for operation in the United States. -
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design, the 
proposed AD would require removing the existing forward pintle nut and 
cross bolt on the MLG; and installing a new nylon spacer and cross bolt 
and nut. The actions would be required to be accomplished in accordance 
with the Airbus service bulletin described previously. -
    The FAA estimates that 90 airplanes of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 work 
hour per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the 
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts will be 
supplied by the parts manufacturer at no cost to the operators. Based 
on these figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators 
is estimated to be $5,400, or $60 per airplane. -
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of 
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in 
the future if this AD were not adopted. -
    The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and 

[[Page 8897]]
the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among 
the various levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with 
Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this proposal would not 
have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a 
Federalism Assessment. -
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
regulation (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); 
and (3) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft 
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the 
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules 
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment -

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as 
follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES -

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

    Authority: 49 USC 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended] -

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

Airbus: Docket 95-NM-198-AD.

     -Applicability: Model A320-111, -211, -212, and -231 series 
airplanes, on which Airbus Modification 23573 (Airbus Service 
Bulletin A320-32-1119, Revision 1, dated June 13, 1994), has not 
been installed; certificated in any category.

    -Note 1. This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (b) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

     -Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously. -
    To prevent collapse of the main landing gear (MLG) during 
landing, due to failure of the forward pintle pin cross bolt, 
accomplish the following: -
    (a) Remove the existing forward pintle nut and cross bolt; and 
install a new nylon spacer and post-mod cross bolt and nut of the 
MLG, in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1119, 
Revision 1, dated June 13, 1994, at the later of the times specified 
in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this AD. -
    (1) Prior to the accumulation of 20,000 total landings, or at 
the next main landing gear overhaul, whichever occurs first. -
    (2) Within 500 landings after the effective date of this AD.

    Note 2: The Airbus service bulletin references Dowty Aerospace 
Service Bulletin 200-32-194, Revision 1, dated October 4, 1993, as 
an additional source of service information for accomplishment of 
these procedures.

    (b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, Standardization Branch, ANM-113, 
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their 
requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, 
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, 
Standardization Branch, ANM-113.

    Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.

    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 27, 1996.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-5222 Filed 3-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P