[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 203 (Thursday, October 21, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56715-56717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27566]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 99-NM-254-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321
Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the supersedure of an existing
airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Airbus Model A319,
A320, and A321 series airplanes, that currently requires relocation of
the engine/master 1 relay from relay box 103VU to shelf 95VU in the
avionics bay. This action would continue to require the relocation
using new electrical contacts, and, for certain airplanes, would add a
requirement to replace certain contacts installed in shelf 95VU during
relocation of the relay with new contacts. This proposal is prompted by
issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign
civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by the proposed AD
are intended to prevent a simultaneous cutoff of the fuel supply to
both engines, which could result in a loss of engine power and
consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.
DATES: Comments must be received by November 22, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-NM-254-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 99-NM-254-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. 99-NM-254-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
On September 14, 1998, the FAA issued AD 98-20-10, amendment 39-
10777 (63 FR 50492, September 22, 1998), applicable to certain Airbus
Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes, to require relocation of
the engine/master 1 relay from relay box 103VU to shelf 95VU in the
avionics bay. That action was prompted by issuance of mandatory
continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness
authority. The requirements of that AD are intended to prevent a
simultaneous cutoff of the fuel supply to both engines, which could
result in a loss of engine power and consequent reduced controllability
of the airplane.
Actions Since Issuance of Previous Rule
Since the issuance of that AD, the Direction Generale de l'Aviation
Civile (DGAC), which is the airworthiness authority for France, has
advised that the airplane manufacturer discovered that a number of the
modification kits referenced in the service bulletin contained
incorrect contact parts.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-24-1092, Revision 03, dated
September 16, 1998. The modification procedures described in this
service bulletin are essentially identical to those described in Airbus
Service Bulletin A320-24-1092, dated March 26, 1997; Revision 01, dated
December 24, 1997; and Revision 02, dated March 9, 1998; which were
referenced in AD 98-20-10 as appropriate sources of service
information. However, Revision 03 of the service bulletin includes new
modification kit numbers and, for airplanes modified in accordance with
the original issue, Revision 01, or Revision 02 of the service
bulletin, describes procedures for replacement of the contacts on lines
20 through 23 in shelf 95VU with new contacts. Accomplishment of the
actions specified in the service bulletin is intended to adequately
address the identified unsafe condition. The DGAC classified Revision
03 of this service bulletin as mandatory and issued French
airworthiness directive 1999-263-134(B), dated June 30, 1999, in order
to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France.
FAA's Conclusions
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
[[Page 56716]]
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 supersede AD 98-20-10 to
continue to require relocation of the engine/master 1 relay from relay
box 103VU to shelf 95VU in the avionics bay. This proposed AD would add
a requirement to replace certain contacts installed in shelf 95VU
during relocation of the relay, with new contacts. The actions would be
required to be accomplished in accordance with Revision 03 of the
service bulletin described previously.
Explanation of Applicability
The applicability of AD 98-20-10 specifies airplanes on which
Airbus Modification 26065 (reference Airbus Service Bulletin A320-24-
1092, Revision 01, dated December 24, 1997) has not been accomplished.
As described above, this proposed AD would require additional action
for airplanes modified in accordance with the original issue, Revision
01, or Revision 02 of the service bulletin. Therefore, the FAA has
revised the applicability statement of this proposed AD to specify that
this AD would apply to airplanes listed in Revision 03 of the service
bulletin.
Cost Impact
There are approximately 120 airplanes of U.S. registry that would
be affected by this proposed AD.
The modification that is currently required by AD 98-20-10, and
retained by this proposed AD, takes approximately 61 work hours per
airplane to accomplish, at an average labor rate of $60 per work hour.
Required parts cost approximately $209 or $961 per airplane, depending
on the modification kit purchased. Based on these figures, the cost
impact of the currently required actions on U.S. operators is estimated
to be as low as $3,869 per airplane, or as high as $4,621 per airplane.
Should an operator be required to accomplish the replacement of
certain contacts that is proposed in this AD action, it would take
approximately 2 work hours per airplane to accomplish, at an average
labor rate of $60 per work hour. Required parts would be supplied by
the manufacturer at no cost to the operators. Based on these figures,
the cost impact of the proposed replacement on U.S. operators is
estimated to be $120 per airplane.
The cost impact figures discussed above are based on assumptions
that no operator has yet accomplished any of the current or 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 removing amendment 39-10777 (63 FR
50492, September 22, 1998), and by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD), to read as follows:
Airbus Industrie: Docket 99-NM-254-AD. Supersedes AD 98-20-10,
Amendment 39-10777.
Applicability: Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes; as
listed in Airbus Service Bulletin A320-24-1092, Revision 03, dated
September 16, 1998; 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 a simultaneous cutoff of the fuel supply to both
engines, which could result in a loss of engine power and consequent
reduced controllability of the airplane, accomplish the following:
Modification
(a) Within 18 months after October 27, 1998 (the effective date
of AD 98-20-10, amendment 39-10777), relocate the engine/master 1
relay (11QG) from relay box 103VU to shelf 95VU in the avionics bay,
in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-24-1092, dated March
26, 1997; Revision 01, dated December 24, 1997; Revision 02, dated
March 9, 1998; or Revision 03, dated September 16, 1998. After the
effective date of this AD, only Revision 03 shall be used.
(b) For airplanes on which Airbus Service Bulletin A320-24-1092,
dated March 26, 1997; Revision 01, dated December 24, 1997; or
Revision 02, dated March 9, 1998; has been accomplished prior to the
effective date of this AD: Within 500 flight hours after the
effective date of this AD, replace the contacts on lines 20 through
23 in shelf 95VU with new contacts, in accordance with paragraph
B.(2)(m) of the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service
Bulletin A320-24-1092, Revision 03, dated September 16, 1998.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(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, 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.
[[Page 56717]]
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.
Special Flight Permits
(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.
Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in French
airworthiness directive 1999-263-134(B), dated June 30, 1999.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 15, 1999.
D.L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-27566 Filed 10-20-99; 8:45 am]
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