[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 52 (Thursday, March 16, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14218-14219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6493]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-55-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 adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Airbus Model A319, A320, 
and A321 series airplanes. This proposal would require modifying the 
fuel pipe couplings and installing bonding leads in specified locations 
within the fuel tank. 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 ignition sources and consequent fire/explosion in 
the fuel tank.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 17, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-55-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 2000-NM-55-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. 2000-NM-55-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, notified the FAA that an unsafe 
condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 series 
airplanes. During a scheduled inspection of an Airbus Model A300 series 
airplane's fuel tanks, an electrical discharge mark was found on the 
left-hand inner fuel tank. The design of the fuel tanks on all four 
models is similar. The DGAC advises that improvement of the tanks' 
grounding efficiency between specific pipe couplings can prevent 
electrical arcing within the fuel tanks on these airplanes. Such 
electrical arcing within the fuel tank, if not corrected, could result 
in fuel ignition and consequent fire/explosion in the fuel tank.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-28-1077, dated July 9, 
1999. This service bulletin describes procedures for modification 
(including removal, cleaning, and reinstallation of affected nuts, 
bolts, and washers) of the fuel pipe couplings; installation of certain 
bonding leads in specified locations; and cleaning surface areas at 
specified locations, including oversealing the coupling locknuts.
    Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletin is 
intended to adequately address the identified unsafe condition. The 
DGAC classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued French 
airworthiness directive 2000-006-144(B), dated January 12, 2000, 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 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 accomplishment of 
the actions specified in the service bulletin described previously, 
except as discussed below.

Difference Between Proposed Rule and Relevant Service Information

    Operators should note that, although the service bulletin and 
French airworthiness directive recommend that the modification be 
accomplished within 5 years (after the release of the service 
bulletin), the FAA has determined that an interval of 5 years would not 
address the identified unsafe condition in a timely manner.

[[Page 14219]]

    An electrical discharge in a fuel tank can create a spark that 
could ignite the fuel vapors inside the tank. The spark energy required 
to ignite fuel depends on the type of fuel, the fuel temperature, and 
the air pressure (altitude) inside a fuel tank. Under certain 
conditions, fuel can be ignited with spark energy levels much lower 
than the energy required to create a visible mark. Therefore, a spark 
that has enough energy to cause a mark can ignite fuel vapor under a 
wider range of fuel tank conditions.
    In developing an appropriate compliance time for this AD, the FAA 
considered not only the manufacturer's recommendation, but the degree 
of urgency associated with addressing the subject unsafe condition, the 
average utilization of the affected fleet, and the time necessary to 
perform the modification. In light of all of these factors, the FAA 
finds a 36-month compliance time for accomplishing the modification to 
be warranted, in that 36 months represents an appropriate interval of 
time allowable for affected airplanes to continue to operate without 
compromising safety.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 227 airplanes of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD.
    It would take between 20 and 100 work hours per airplane to 
accomplish the proposed actions, at an average labor rate of $60 per 
work hour. The cost of required parts would be negligible. Based on 
these figures, the cost impact of the proposed modification on U.S. 
operators is estimated to be between $272,400 and $1,362,000; or 
between $1,200 and $6,000 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 a substantial direct 
effect 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, it 
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132.
    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 2000-NM-55-AD.

    Applicability: Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes; 
certificated in any category; excluding those on which Modifications 
27150 and 27955 have been installed.

    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 (b) 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 ignition sources and consequent fire/explosion in the 
fuel tank, accomplish the following:

Modification and Installation

    (a) Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the fuel pipe couplings and install bonding leads in the specified 
locations of the fuel tank, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1077, dated July 9, 
1999.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (b) 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.

Special Flight Permits

    (c) 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 2000-006-144(B), dated January 12, 2000.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 10, 2000.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-6493 Filed 3-15-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U