[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