[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 23, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51254-51256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21464]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 164 / Wednesday, August 23, 2000 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 51254]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-NM-202-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300, A310, and A300-600 
Series Airplanes Equipped with Dowty Ram Air Turbines

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 Industrie Model A300, 
A310, and A300-600 series airplanes, that would have superseded an 
existing AD that currently requires repetitive deployment tests of the 
ram air turbine (RAT) and checks of the adjustment of the locking rod. 
The proposed AD would also have required modification of the RAT, which 
would terminate the repetitive tests and checks. That proposal was 
prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. This new action would 
revise the proposed rule by expanding the applicability and by 
referencing revised procedures for accomplishment of the required 
actions. The actions specified by this new proposed AD are intended to 
ensure the availability of the RAT in case of need.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 18, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-NM-202-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. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232. 
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address: 
[email protected]. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must 
contain ``Docket No. 99-NM-202-AD'' in the subject line and need not be 
submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached 
electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or 
ASCII text.
    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.
    Submit comments using the following format:
     Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a 
request to change the compliance time and a request to change the 
service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
     For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed 
AD is being requested.
     Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each 
request.
    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-202-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-202-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 Industrie Model A300, A310, and A300-600 series 
airplanes, was published as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in 
the Federal Register on October 27, 1999 (64 FR 57796). That NPRM 
proposed to supersede AD 94-04-05, amendment 39-8823 (59 FR 7208, 
February 15, 1994), which is applicable to certain Airbus Industrie 
Model A300, A310, and A300-600 series airplanes. That NPRM would have 
continued to require repetitive deployment tests of the ram air turbine 
(RAT) and checks of the adjustment of the locking rod. That NPRM would 
have added a requirement for modification of the RAT, which would 
terminate the repetitive tests and checks. That NPRM was prompted by 
issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign 
civil airworthiness authority. That NPRM was intended to ensure the 
availability of the RAT in case of need.
    Due consideration has been given to the comments received in 
response to the NPRM.

Revisions to the Applicability

    One commenter, the manufacturer, has advised that additional RAT 
part numbers (P/N) 768336 and 768338 should be included in the 
effectivity of

[[Page 51255]]

the AD. Two of the RAT P/N's specified in the applicability of the 
proposed AD, RAT 16C 109 VG and RAT 16C 110 VG, may have been 
previously modified at the option of operators to install redesigned 
plungers, springs, and an O-ring seal. After such modification, the RAT 
P/N's are re-identified as 768336 and 768338, respectively. However, 
airplanes having these re-identified P/N's installed also should be 
subject to the requirements of the AD. The commenter notes that the 
related service information is being revised, and that the Direction 
Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the airworthiness 
authority for France, will be revising or issuing new French 
airworthiness directives to address the two additional P/N's.
    The same commenter advises that reference to P/N RAT 16C 104 VG 
should be removed from the applicability. The commenter states that the 
RAT manufacturer has confirmed that this P/N was never installed on 
Airbus Model A300, A310, and A300-600 series airplanes.
    The FAA concurs that the applicability of the AD must be revised to 
include references to RAT P/N's 768336 and 768338 and to delete the 
reference to P/N RAT 16C 104 VG. The AD has been revised accordingly.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    The manufacturer has issued Airbus Service Bulletins A300-29-0106 
(for Model A300 series airplanes), A310-29-2078 (for Model A310 series 
airplanes), and A300-29-6039 (for Model A300-600 series airplanes); all 
Revision 03, all dated June 28, 2000. These service bulletins describe 
procedures for modification of the RAT by installing a grease nipple 
and a scraper seal assembly, replacing the locking rod spring with a 
stronger spring, and re-identifying the RAT with a new part number. 
These revisions contain procedures equivalent to those in the previous 
revisions of the service bulletins (which were cited as the appropriate 
sources of service information in the proposed AD), but reference 
additional P/N's and correct certain other references.
    The manufacturer also has issued Airbus Service Bulletins A300-29-
0101 (for Model A300 series airplanes), A310-29-2039 (for Model A310 
series airplanes), and A300-29-6030 (for Model A300-600 series 
airplanes); all Revision 02, all dated June 28, 2000. These service 
bulletins describe procedures for repetitive deployment tests of the 
ram air turbine (RAT) and checks of the adjustment of the locking rod; 
corrective actions, if necessary; and greasing of the RAT leg at the 
entry and exit positions of the locking rod spring housing. The service 
bulletins contain equivalent procedures to those contained in Airbus 
All Operator Telex (AOT) 29-09, dated November 16, 1993 (which was 
cited as an appropriate source of service information in the proposed 
AD), but provide additional references to other service information 
necessary for accomplishment of the procedures.
    The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC) classified these 
service bulletins as mandatory and issued French airworthiness 
directive 2000-259-315(B), dated June 28, 2000, in order to assure the 
continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France.

Other Change to NPRM

    The FAA has revised the compliance time for accomplishment of the 
modification of the RAT to ``within 24 months after the effective date 
of this AD.'' In developing an appropriate compliance time for this 
action, the FAA considered not only the degree of urgency associated 
with addressing the subject unsafe condition, but the availability of 
required parts and the practical aspect of installing the required 
modification within an interval of time that parallels normal scheduled 
maintenance for the majority of affected operators. This compliance 
time is also consistent with the DGAC's requirement for accomplishment 
of the modification prior to December 21, 2002.

Conclusion

    Since the previously described 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.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 126 airplanes of U.S. registry that would 
be affected by this proposed AD.
    The repetitive tests and checks that are required by AD 94-04-05, 
and retained in this proposed AD, take approximately 2 work hours per 
airplane to accomplish, at an average labor rate of $60 per work hour. 
Based on these figures, the cost impact of this requirement of this 
proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $15,120, or $120 per 
airplane, per test/check cycle.
    The new modification that is proposed in this AD action would take 
approximately 6 work hours per airplane to accomplish, at an average 
labor rate of $60 per work hour. Required parts would cost 
approximately $3,995 per airplane. Based on these figures, the cost 
impact of the proposed requirements of this AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $548,730, or $4,355 per airplane.
    The cost impact figures discussed above are 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 cost impact figures 
discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to 
perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures 
typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to 
gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other 
administrative actions.

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:

[[Page 51256]]

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 39-8823 (59 FR 
7208, February 15, 1994), and by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD), to read as follows:

Airbus Industrie: Docket 99-NM-202-AD. Supersedes AD 94-04-05, 
Amendment 39-8823.

    Applicability: Model A300, A310, and A300-600 series airplanes; 
certificated in any category; equipped with Dowty ram air turbines 
(RAT) having the following part numbers:

RAT 16C 100 VG
RAT 16C 101 VG
RAT 16C 102 VG
RAT 16C 103 VG
RAT 16C 105 VG
RAT 16C 109 VG
RAT 16C 110 VG 768336
768338

    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 (e)(1) 
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 the availability of the RAT in case of need, 
accomplish the following:

Restatement of Requirements of AD 94-04-05:

Repetitive Tests and Checks

    (a) Within 60 days after March 2, 1994 (the effective date of AD 
94-04-05, amendment 39-8823), or 500 hours time-in-service after 
March 2, 1994, whichever occurs first, perform a deployment test of 
the RAT and check the adjustment of the locking rod, in accordance 
with Airbus All Operator Telex (AOT) 29-09, dated November 16, 1993. 
Repeat the deployment test and adjustment check thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 10 months.
    (1) If no discrepancy is found, prior to further flight, apply 
grease to the RAT leg at the entry and exit positions of the locking 
rod spring housing, in accordance with the AOT.
    (2) If any discrepancy is found, prior to further flight, 
correct it and apply grease to the RAT leg at the entry and exit 
positions of the locking rod spring housing, in accordance with the 
AOT.

New Requirements of This AD:

New Service Bulletin Revisions

    (b) As of the effective date of this new AD, Airbus Service 
Bulletin A300-29-0101 (for Model A300 series airplanes), A310-29-
2039 (for Model A310 series airplanes), or A300-29-6030 (for Model 
A300-600 series airplanes); all Revision 02, all dated June 28, 
2000; as applicable; must be used for accomplishment of the actions 
required by paragraph (a) of this AD.

Modification

    (c) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the RAT by installing a grease nipple and a scraper seal assembly, 
replacing the locking rod spring with a stronger spring, and re-
identifying the RAT with a new part number; in accordance with 
Airbus Service Bulletin A300-29-0106 (for Model A300 series 
airplanes), A310-29-2078 (for Model A310 series airplanes), or A300-
29-6039 (for Model A300-600 series airplanes); all Revision 03, all 
dated June 28, 2000; as applicable. Accomplishment of the 
modification constitutes terminating action for the repetitive tests 
and checks required by paragraph (a) of this AD.

    Note 2: The service bulletins refer to Sundstrand Service 
Bulletin ERPS26T-29-1 for modification instructions and new part 
numbers.


    Note 3: Accomplishment of the actions specified in Airbus 
Service Bulletin A300-29-0106, A310-29-2078, or A300-29-6039; 
Revision 01; all dated September 8, 1997; or Revision 02, all dated 
January 26, 1999; as applicable; prior to the effective date of this 
AD, is acceptable for compliance with paragraph (c) of this AD.

Spares

    (d) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install 
a RAT having the following part numbers on any airplane:

RAT 16C 100 VG
RAT 16C 101 VG
RAT 16C 102 VG
RAT 16C 103 VG
RAT 16C 105 VG
RAT 16C 109 VG
RAT 16C 110 VG
768336
768338

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (e)(1) 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.
    (2) Alternative methods of compliance, approved previously in 
accordance with AD 94-04-05, amendment 39-8823, are approved as 
alternative methods of compliance with paragraph (a) of this AD.

    Note 4: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116.

    (f) 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 5: The subject of this AD is addressed in French 
airworthiness directive 2000-259-315(B), dated June 28, 2000.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 17, 2000.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-21464 Filed 8-22-00; 8:45 am]
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