[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 198 (Wednesday, October 14, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55061-55063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27458]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 93-NM-125-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A310 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of
comment period.
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SUMMARY: This document revises an earlier proposed airworthiness
directive (AD), applicable to certain Airbus Model A310 series
airplanes, that would have required repetitive inspections and tests to
detect missing or damaged vespel bushes on the slat system universal
joint assemblies of the left-and right-hand wings; and replacement of
the universal joints with new joints, if necessary. That proposal was
prompted by a report of loose and migrated vespel bushes and partial
cracking within unsupported bush areas found on the slat system
universal joint assemblies. This new action revises the proposed rule
by adding an optional terminating modification for the repetitive
inspection and test requirements, and by expanding the applicability to
include additional airplanes. The actions specified by this new
proposed AD are intended to prevent rupture of the universal joints,
which could result in inadvertent movement of the slats, and consequent
reduced controllability of the airplane.
DATES: Comments must be received by November 9, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 93-NM-125-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: Norman B. Martenson, Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
227-2110; fax (425) 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 93-NM-125-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-114, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 93-NM-125-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR part 39) to add an airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to
certain Airbus Model A310 series airplanes, was published as a notice
of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register on November 12,
1993 (58 FR 59965). That NPRM would have required repetitive
inspections and tests to detect missing or damaged vespel bushes on the
slat system universal joint assemblies of the left-and right-hand
wings; and replacement of the universal joints with new joints, if
necessary. That NPRM was prompted by a report of loose and migrated
vespel bushes and partial cracking within unsupported bush areas found
on the slat system universal joint assemblies. That condition, if not
corrected, could result in rupture of the universal joints, inadvertent
movement of the slats, and consequent reduced controllability of the
airplane.
New Service Information
Since the issuance of the NPRM, the manufacturer has issued Airbus
Service Bulletin A320-27-2061, Revision 01, dated October 3, 1997. This
service bulletin is essentially identical to the original issue of the
service bulletin, and contains only minor administrative changes.
The manufacturer also has issued Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-
2060, Revision 01, dated October 3, 1997, which describes procedures
for modification of the slat system universal joint assemblies by
replacement of the vespel SP 21 bushes and pins on the slat system
universal joint and shaft assemblies of the left-and right-hand wings
with new bushes and pins. Accomplishment of this modification
eliminates the need for the repetitive
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inspections and tests described in Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-
2061, dated November 4, 1992, and Revision 01, dated October 3, 1997.
Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletins is
intended to adequately address the identified unsafe condition.
The Direction Gonorale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the
airworthiness authority for France, classified Airbus Service Bulletin
A320-27-2061, Revision 01, dated October 3, 1997, as mandatory and
issued French airworthiness directive 92-275-139(B)R1, dated December
17, 1997, in order to assure the continued airworthiness of these
airplanes in France.
Explanation of Correction Made to NPRM
In the applicability of the original NPRM, the FAA inadvertently
listed all Airbus Model A310-222 and -324 series airplanes, as listed
in French airworthiness directive 92-275-139(B), dated December 23,
1992 (which was referenced in the original NPRM). The FAA has revised
the applicability of this supplemental NPRM to match the revised French
airworthiness directive 92-275-139(B)R1, dated December 17, 1997, to
read ``Airbus Model A310 series airplanes, except those on which Airbus
Modification 10092 (Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-2060, Revision 01,
dated October 3, 1997) has been accomplished.''
FAA's Conclusions
Since these changes expand the scope of the originally proposed
rule, the FAA has determined that it is necessary to reopen the comment
period to provide additional opportunity for public comment.
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 supplemental NPRM has been revised to add an
optional modification, which would constitute terminating action for
the repetitive inspection and test requirements.
Cost Impact
The FAA has recently reviewed the figures it has used over the past
several years in calculating the economic impact of AD activity. In
order to account for various inflationary costs in the airline
industry, the FAA has determined that it is necessary to increase the
labor rate used in these calculations from $55 per work hour to $60 per
work hour. The cost impact information, below, has been revised to
reflect this increase in the specified hourly labor rate.
The FAA estimates that 41 airplanes of U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 20 work
hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspection and test, and
that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these
figures, the cost impact of the inspection and test proposed by this AD
on U.S. operators is estimated to be $49,200 or $1,200 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 number of required work hours, as indicated above, is presented
as if the accomplishment of the actions proposed in this AD were to be
conducted as ``stand alone'' actions. However, in actual practice,
these actions for the most part would be accomplished coincidentally or
in combination with normally scheduled airplane inspections and other
maintenance program tasks. Therefore, the actual number of necessary
``additional'' work hours would be minimal in many instances.
Additionally, any costs associated with special airplane scheduling
would be expected to be minimal.
Should an operator elect to accomplish the optional terminating
modification that would be provided by this AD action, it would take
approximately 11 work hours to accomplish, at an average labor rate of
$60 per work hour. Required parts would be provided by the manufacturer
at no cost to the operators. Based on these figures, the cost impact of
the optional terminating modification would be $660 per airplane.
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 Industrie: Docket 93-NM-125-AD.
Applicability: Model A310 series airplanes, except those on
which Airbus Modification 10092 (Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-
2060, Revision 01, dated October 3, 1997) has been accomplished;
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
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owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of
compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) 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 rupture of the universal joints, which could result
in inadvertent movement of the slats, and consequent reduced
controllability of the airplane, accomplish the following:
(a) Prior to the accumulation of 15,000 total landings, or
within 400 flight hours after the effective date of this AD,
whichever occurs later, perform a visual inspection and an
electrical continuity test to detect missing or damaged vespel
bushes on the slat system universal joint assemblies of the left-
and right-hand wings, in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin
A310-27-2061, dated November 4, 1992, or Revision 01, dated October
3, 1997. Repeat this inspection and test thereafter at intervals not
to exceed 15,000 landings.
(b) If any vespel bushes are missing or damaged, prior to
further flight, replace the universal joint with a new joint in
accordance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A310-27-2061,
dated November 4, 1992, or Revision 01, dated October 3, 1997. After
replacement, continue to repeat the inspection and test required by
paragraph (a) of this AD at intervals not to exceed 15,000 landings.
(c) Modification of the slat system universal joint and shaft
assemblies in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-2060,
Revision 01, dated October 3, 1997, constitutes terminating action
for the repetitive inspection and test requirements of this AD.
(d) 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, International Branch, ANM-116, 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, International
Branch, ANM-116.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116.
(e) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
Secs. 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.
Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in French
airworthiness directive 92-275-139(B)R1, dated December 17, 1997.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 6, 1998.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-27458 Filed 10-13-98; 8:45 am]
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