[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 211 (Tuesday, October 31, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64901-64904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27948]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-72-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B2, A300 B4, A300 B4-
600, A300 B4-600R, A300 F4-600R, and 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 certain Airbus Model A300 B2, A300 
B4, A300 B4-600, A300 B4-600R, A300 F4-600R, and A310 series airplanes. 
This proposal would require modification of the escape slides. This 
action is necessary to prevent deflation of the escape slide after 
deployment, which could result in a delay during an emergency 
evacuation. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe 
condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by November 30, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-72-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. 2000-NM-72-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, 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 by issue. For example, discuss a request 
to change the compliance time and a request to change a service 
bulletin reference as two separate issues.
     For each issue, state the specific change to the proposed 
AD 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

[[Page 64902]]

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 No. 2000-NM-72-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-72-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 A300 B2, A300 B4, A300 B4-
600, A300 B4-600R, A300 F4-600R, and A310 series airplanes. The DGAC 
advises that it has received several reports that escape slides 
deflated immediately after deployment during operational tests. The 
slides deflated because the inflation bottle actuator punctured the 
lower part of the slide during deployment. The DGAC advises that a 
slide could be punctured if the inflation bottle was improperly 
installed (upside-down in its fabric-type bag) when the slide was 
packed. Such a slide puncture and consequent deflation, if not 
corrected, could result in a delay during an emergency evacuation.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued the following service bulletins:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Service bulletin                 Revision level                 Date                     Model
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A300-25-0466........................  01.....................  December 1, 1999.........  A300 B2
                                                                                          A300 B4
A300-25-6146........................  01.....................  December 1, 1999.........  A300 B4-600
                                                                                          A300 B4-600R
                                                                                          A300 F4-600R
A310-25-2133........................  Original...............  June 21, 1999............  A310
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    These service bulletins describe procedures for modification of 
certain BFGoodrich escape slides. The modification involves:
     Installing a pad on the actuator of the inflation bottle 
to protect the slide in case of contact between the bottle and the 
slide; and
     Replacing the fabric-type bottle bag (used on earlier 
slides) with a strap-type bottle bag to ensure the correct orientation 
of the bottle.
    This modification will reduce the possibility of the slide being 
punctured by contact with the regulator valve during inflation. 
Accomplishment of the actions specified in these service bulletins is 
intended to adequately address the identified unsafe condition. The 
DGAC classified these service bulletins as mandatory and issued French 
airworthiness directive 2000-059-302(B), dated February 9, 2000, in 
order to ensure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in 
France.
    The Airbus service bulletins refer to BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 
7A1296/7A1298-25-298, dated January 15, 1999, as an additional source 
of service information for modifying the escape slides.

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 modification of the 
escape slides, as specified in the Airbus service bulletins described 
previously.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 126 airplanes of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 work 
hour per slide to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the average 
labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts would cost 
approximately $124 to $185 per slide. Each Model A300 and A300-600 
series airplane has 6 escape doors, and each Model A310 series airplane 
has 4 escape doors. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the 
proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be between $736 and 
$1,470 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 proposed 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

[[Page 64903]]

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-72-AD.
    Applicability: The following airplanes, certificated in any 
category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Excluding
                                   Equipped with any        airplanes
             Model                 BFGoodrich slide        modified in
                                 having part number--   accordance with--
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A300 B2, A300 B4..............  7A1296-001              Airbus Service
                                7A1296-002               Bulletin A300-
                                7A1296-003               25-0466,
                                7A1296-004               Revision 01,
                                7A1298-001               dated December
                                7A1298-002               1, 1999; or
                                7A1298-003              BFGoodrich
                                7A1298-004               Service
                                                         Bulletin 7A1296/
                                                         7A1298-25-298,
                                                         dated January
                                                         15, 1999.
A300 B4-600, A300 B4-600R,      7A1296-001              Airbus Service
 A300 F4-600R.                  7A1296-002               Bulletin A300-
                                7A1296-003               25-6146,
                                7A1296-004               Revision 01,
                                7A1298-001               dated December
                                7A1298-002               1, 1999; or
                                7A1298-003              BFGoodrich
                                7A1298-004               Service
                                                         Bulletin 7A1296/
                                                         7A1298-25-298,
                                                         dated January
                                                         15, 1999.
A310..........................  7A1298-001              Airbus Service
                                7A1298-002               Bulletin A310-
                                7A1298-003               25-2133, dated
                                7A1298-004               January 21,
                                                         1999; or
                                                        BFGoodrich
                                                         Service
                                                         Bulletin 7A1296/
                                                         7A1298-25-298,
                                                         dated January
                                                         15, 1999.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    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 prevent deflation of the escape slide after deployment, which 
could result in a delay during an emergency evacuation, accomplish 
the following:

Modification

    (a) Within 34 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the escape slides in accordance with the applicable Airbus service 
bulletin listed in Table 1 of this AD.

                                           Table 1.--Service Bulletins
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Model                   Service  bulletin        Revision level                  Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A300..............................  A300-25-0466             01..................  December 1, 1999.
A300-600..........................  A300-25-6146             01..................  December 1, 1999.
A310..............................  A310-25-2133             Original............  January 21, 1999.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note 2: The Airbus service bulletins refer to BFGoodrich Service 
Bulletin 7A1296/7A1298-25-298, dated January 15, 1999, as an 
additional source of service information for modifying the escape 
slides.

    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall 
install, on any airplane, a BFGoodrich escape slide having a part 
number listed in Table 2 of this AD, unless that slide has been 
modified in accordance with this AD:

                      Table 2.--Slide Part Numbers
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
7A1296-001.............................  7A1296-002
7A1296-003.............................  7A1296-004
7A1298-001.............................  7A1298-002
7A1298-003.............................  7A1298-004
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA. 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 3: 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

[[Page 64904]]

a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

    Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in French 
airworthiness directive 2000-059-302(B), dated February 9, 2000.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 25, 2000.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-27948 Filed 10-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P