[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 147 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 39604-39606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19316]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96-NM-46-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300-600 and Model A310 
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 Airbus Model A300-600 and Model 
A310 series airplanes. This proposal would require testing to verify if 
the smoke detection system can detect smoke within 60 seconds, and 
cleaning the installation and duct, if necessary. This proposal is 
prompted by a report that, during testing of the smoke detection system 
on in-service airplanes, the system failed to detect smoke within 60 
seconds due to dust accumulation in the extraction ducts. The actions 
specified by the proposed AD are intended to ensure that dust 
accumulation does not reduce the

[[Page 39605]]

effectiveness of the smoke detection system and, consequently, lead to 
undetected smoke or fire in the lavatory 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-46-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-46-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-46-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 A300-600 and Model 
A310 series airplanes. The DGAC advises that it has received a report 
indicating that, during functional testing of the smoke detection 
system on in-service airplanes, the system failed to detect smoke 
within 60 seconds. As a design goal, the detector is to provide a 
warning within 60 seconds after a fire has started, as indicated in the 
Airplane Maintenance Manual. In one of the tests, the airplane had only 
accumulated 46 days, 167 hours, and 50 landings since the ducts of the 
lavatory air extraction system had been cleaned. Investigation revealed 
that dust accumulation in these ducts can reduce the effectiveness of 
the smoke detection system to detect smoke. This condition, if not 
corrected, could result in undetected smoke or fire in the lavatory of 
the airplane.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued All Operators Telex AOT 26-16, dated September 
12, 1995. This AOT describes procedures for performing an operational 
and functional test to verify if the smoke detection system can detect 
smoke with 60 seconds, and cleaning the installation and duct, if 
necessary. This AOT also describes procedures for submitting a report 
of the inspection results to Airbus. The DGAC classified this service 
bulletin as mandatory and issued French airworthiness directive 95-243-
190(B), dated December 6, 1995, in order to assure the continued 
airworthiness of these airplanes in France.

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 performing an 
operational and functional test to verify if the smoke detection system 
can detect smoke within 60 seconds, and cleaning the installation and 
duct, if necessary. The proposed rule also would require submitting a 
report of the inspection results to Airbus. The actions would be 
required to be accomplished in accordance with the AOT described 
previously.

Interim Action

    This is considered interim action. The intent of the proposed 
inspection reports is to enable Airbus to develop an appropriate 
repetitive inspection interval based on findings in the in-service 
fleet. The FAA may consider further rulemaking once that inspection 
interval is determined.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 67 Airbus Model A300-600 and Model A310 
series 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 $4,020, 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

[[Page 39606]]

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 Industrie: Docket 96-NM-46-AD.

    Applicability: Model A300-600 and Model A310 series airplanes, 
on which Airbus Modification 10156 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 
otherwise 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 ensure that dust accumulation in the ducts does not reduce 
the effectiveness of the smoke detection system to detect smoke and, 
consequently, lead to undetected smoke or fire in the lavatory of 
the airplane; accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 500 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, 
perform an operational and functional test to verify if the smoke 
detection system can detect smoke within 60 seconds, in accordance 
with Airbus All Operators Telex AOT 26-16, dated September 12, 1995.
    (1) If smoke is detected within 60 seconds, no further action is 
required by this AD.
    (2) If smoke is not detected within 60 seconds, prior to further 
flight, clean the installation/duct in accordance with the AOT. 
Prior to further flight after accomplishment of the cleaning, repeat 
the operational and functional test required by paragraph (a) of 
this AD.
    (b) Within 10 days after accomplishing the inspection required 
by paragraph (a) of this AD, submit a report of the inspection 
results (both positive and negative findings) to Airbus Industrie 
Customer Services, Attention Engineering Support, AI/SE-E23, 1 Rond 
Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. Information 
collection requirements contained in this regulation have been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq.) and have been assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056.
    (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. 96-19316 Filed 7-29-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U