[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 61 (Thursday, March 29, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17125-17127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7736]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-358-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 A320 
series airplanes, that currently requires modification of the autopilot 
mode engagement/disengagement lever of the rudder artificial feel unit. 
This action would require a different modification of the lever. It 
would also revise the applicability to include Airbus Model A319 and 
A321 series airplanes, as well as all Model A320 series airplanes. 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 reduced 
controllability of the airplane due to the failure of the rudder 
artificial feel unit to disengage properly from autopilot mode during 
approach and landing.

[[Page 17126]]


DATES: Comments must be received by April 30, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-358-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-358-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: Tim Dulin, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone: (425) 
227-2141; 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 action 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 action must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 2000-NM-358-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-358-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    On October 7, 1999, the FAA issued AD 99-21-29, amendment 39-11375 
(64 FR 56158, October 18, 1999), applicable to certain Airbus Model 
A320 series airplanes, to require modification of the autopilot mode 
engagement/disengagement lever of the rudder artificial feel unit. 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 reduced controllability 
of the airplane due to the failure of the rudder artificial feel unit 
to disengage from autopilot mode during approach and landing.

Actions Since Issuance of Previous Rule

    Since the issuance of that AD, several new cases of failure of the 
rudder artificial feel unit to disengage from autopilot mode have been 
reported on airplanes that had incorporated the required modification. 
To address these new cases, Airbus developed a new modification.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-27-1130, dated March 14, 
2000, which describes procedures for a new modification of the 
autopilot mode engagement/disengagement lever of the rudder artificial 
feel unit. This new modification includes replacing the standard bolt/
bushes with shouldered bolts, honing the central bore of the lever, 
marking the new lever, and conducting a test to check if the piston rod 
is free to fall after tightening of the nut. Accomplishment of the 
actions specified in the service bulletin is intended to adequately 
address the identified unsafe condition. The Direction Generale de 
l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the airworthiness authority for 
France, classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued French 
airworthiness directive 2000-372-151(B), dated September 6, 2000, in 
order to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in 
France.

FAA's Conclusion

    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 supersede AD 99-21-29 to 
require a new modification of the autopilot mode engagement/
disengagement lever of the rudder artificial feel unit. The actions 
would be required to be accomplished in accordance with the service 
bulletin described previously.

Change to Applicability of Existing AD

    The proposed AD expands the applicability of the existing AD to add 
Airbus Model A319 and A321 series airplanes. These airplanes had Airbus 
Modification 22624 or 21999 accomplished in production and, therefore, 
were not included in the applicability of AD 99-21-29.
    In addition, the proposed AD expands the applicability of the 
existing AD in terms of Model A320 series airplanes. AD 99-21-29 did 
not apply to those Model A320 series airplanes on which Airbus 
Modification 22624 or 21999 was accomplished in production. Because 
several additional cases of

[[Page 17127]]

failure of the autopilot engagement/disengagement lever of the rudder 
artificial feel unit occurred on airplanes with those modifications, 
those airplanes are subject to the proposed AD.

Difference Between Proposed Rule and Foreign AD

    The French airworthiness directive includes an interim requirement 
for airplanes without modification 22624 or 21999 embodied in 
production to modify the autopilot engagement/disengagement lever of 
the rudder artificial feel unit, in accordance with Airbus Service 
Bulletin A320-27-1042 or A320-27-1130. The proposed AD does not require 
modification in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-27-1042, 
because that modification has not been effective in preventing failure 
of the lever.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 291 airplanes of U.S. registry that would 
be affected by this proposed AD.
    The new modification that is proposed in this AD action would take 
approximately 9 work hours per airplane to accomplish, at an average 
labor rate of $60 per work hour. Required parts would be provided by 
the manufacturer at no cost. Based on these figures, the cost impact of 
the proposed requirements of this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to 
be $157,140, or $540 per airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is 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 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 removing amendment 39-11375 (64 FR 
56158, October 18, 1999), and by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD), to read as follows:

Airbus Industrie:  Docket 2000-NM-358-AD Supersedes AD 99-21-29, 
Amendment 39-11375.

    Applicability: Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes, 
certificated in any category, on which Airbus modification 28909 was 
not accomplished during production;

    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 reduced controllability of the airplane, due to the 
failure of the rudder artificial feel unit to disengage properly 
from autopilot mode during approach and landing, accomplish the 
following:

Modification

    (a) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the autopilot mode engagement/disengagement lever of the rudder 
artificial feel unit, in accordance with paragraphs 3.B. and 3.C. of 
the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-27-
1130, dated March 14, 2000.

Spares

    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
rudder artificial feel unit having any of the following part numbers 
on any airplane: D2727040000600, D2727040000651, D2727040000695, 
D2727040000696, D2727040000800, D2727040000851, D2727040001000, 
D2727040001051.

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

Special Flight Permits

    (d) 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 2000-372-151(B), dated September 6, 2000.



    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 23, 2001.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-7736 Filed 3-28-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U