[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 147 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 39603-39604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19315]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 147 / Tuesday, July 30, 1996 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 39603]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96-NM-33-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300, A310, and A300-600 
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 all Airbus Model A300, A310, and 
A300-600 series airplanes. This proposal would require a one-time 
inspection of the autopilot actuators on the pitch and yaw controls to 
ensure correct rigging, and re-rigging, if necessary. This proposal is 
prompted by a report of sudden pitch up of an airplane during cruise 
following disengagement of the autopilot; this condition was the result 
of incorrect rigging of the autopilot pitch actuator. The actions 
specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent incorrect rigging 
of the autopilot actuators on the pitch and yaw controls, which could 
result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 10, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 96-NM-33-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: Charles Huber, Aerospace Engineer, 
Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206) 
227-2589; 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 96-NM-33-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. 96-NM-33-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 all Airbus Model A300, A310, and A300-600 
series airplanes. The DGAC advises that it has received a report 
indicating that uncommanded pitch up occurred when the autopilot was 
disengaged during a test flight of an Airbus Model A310 series 
airplane. Subsequently, the autopilot pitch actuator was replaced and 
the test flight was repeated. During this second test flight, a similar 
phenomenon occurred. Investigation revealed that the mechanical zero 
rigging of the autopilot pitch actuator could not be achieved when 
using a rigging pin having part number (P/N) OU131388. Use of this 
particular pin is called out in the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM). 
Further investigation revealed that this pin is not long enough to go 
through the torque limiter lever and to internally rig the autopilot 
pitch actuator.
    Furthermore, since the rigging pin used to rig the autopilot pitch 
actuator is similar to the rigging pin used to rig the yaw autopilot 
actuator, the same incorrect rigging could exist on the yaw autopilot 
actuator. Such incorrect rigging of the yaw autopilot actuator could 
cause yaw upset when the autopilot is disengaged.
    Incorrect rigging of the autopilot actuators on the pitch and yaw 
controls could cause uncommanded pitch up or pitch down, or yaw upset 
of the airplane during disengagement of the autopilot. These 
conditions, if not corrected, could result in reduced controllability 
of the airplane.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued All Operators Telex (AOT) 27-20, dated December 
19, 1994, which describes procedures for a one-time inspection of the 
rigging of the autopilot actuators on the pitch and yaw controls to 
ensure correct rigging, and re-rigging, if necessary, using a new, 
longer rigging pin. This new rigging pin is longer than the existing 
rigging pin and, consequently, will go through the torque limited lever 
and internally rig the autopilot actuators. The DGAC classified this 
service bulletin as mandatory and issued French airworthiness directive 
(CN) 95-164-183(B), dated August 30, 1995, in order to assure the 
continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France.

[[Page 39604]]

FAA's Conclusions

    This airplane model is manufactured in France and is 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.

Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design registered 
in the United States, the proposed AD would require a one-time 
inspection of the rigging of the autopilot actuators on the pitch and 
yaw controls to ensure correct rigging, and, if necessary, re-rigging 
using a new, longer rigging pin. These actions would be required to be 
accomplished in accordance with the AOT described previously.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 86 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. Based on these figures, the 
cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$5,160, 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.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct 
effects 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. 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 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

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

Airbus: Docket 96-NM-33-AD.

    Applicability: All Model A300, A310, and A300-600 series 
airplanes, 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 (c) 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 uncommanded pitch up or down, or yaw upset of the 
airplane due to incorrect rigging of the autopilot actuators on the 
yaw and pitch controls, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 500 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, 
inspect the rigging of the autopilot actuators on both the pitch and 
the yaw controls to ensure that the rigging is correct, in 
accordance with Airbus All Operators Telex (AOT) 27-20, dated 
December 19, 1994. If the rigging is not correct, prior to further 
flight, re-rig in accordance with the AOT.
    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall rig the 
autopilot actuator on the pitch or yaw control on any airplane using 
a rigging pin having part number (P/N) OU131388.
    (c) 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 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.

    (d) 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 July 24, 1996.
S.R. Miller,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-19315 Filed 7-29-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U