[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 81 (Thursday, April 26, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20948-20950]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10345]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-NM-04-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A310 Series Airplanes and 
Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R (Collectively Called 
A300-600) 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 A310 series 
airplanes and Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R 
(collectively called A300-600) series airplanes. This proposal would 
require revising the Airplane Flight Manual to prohibit the airplane 
from being moved during inertial reference unit alignment. This action 
is necessary to prevent a loss of positioning data and a display of 
incorrect attitude data to the flight crew, which could result in 
severe consequences to the airworthiness of the airplane if operated 
under flight conditions with no visual reference. This action is 
intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 29, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport

[[Page 20949]]

Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-NM-04-
AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may 
be inspected at this location between 9 a.m. and 3 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. 2001-NM-04-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: Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-1175; 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 2001-NM-04-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. 2001-NM-04-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the 
airworthiness authority for, notified the FAA that an unsafe condition 
may exist on Airbus Model A310 series airplanes and Airbus Model A300 
B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R (collectively called A300-600) series 
airplanes with certain Honeywell Inertial Reference Units (IRU), also 
called Internial Reference Systems (IRS). The DGAC advises that 
operator reported the loss of positioning data and the display of 
incorrect attitude data shortly after take-off, because the aircraft 
had been moved on the ground before the end of the IRU alignment 
procedure. This condition, if not corrected, could result in severe 
consequences to the airworthiness of the airplane if operated under 
flight conditions with no visual reference.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued A310 Temporary Revision (TR) 4.03.00/22, and 
A300-600 TR 4.03.00/22, both dated September 18, 2000, to the Airplane 
Flight Manual (AFM), which prohibit the flight crew from moving the 
aircraft during IRU alignment. (In the Temporary Revision page, 
Inertial Reference Unit--IRU--is referred to as the Intertial Reference 
System--IRS.) Accomplishment of the actions specified in the TRs is 
intended to adequately address the identified unsafe condition. The 
DGAC classified these TRs as mandatory and issued French airworthiness 
directive 2000-480-325(B), dated November 29, 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 revising the 
applicable FAA-approved AFMs to prohibit moving the airplane during IRU 
alignment.

Differences Between Proposed Rule and Foreign Airworthiness 
Directive

    The proposed AD would differ from the parallel French airworthiness 
directive in that it would require accomplishment of the revision to 
the applicable AFMs within 10 days after the effective date of this AD. 
In developing an appropriate compliance time for this AD, the FAA 
considered not only the DGAC'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 revision (less than one hour). In light of all of these 
factors, the FAA finds a 10-day compliance time for completing the 
required actions to be warranted, in that it represents an appropriate 
interval of time allowable for affected airplanes to continue to 
operate without compromising safety.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 157 airplanes of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 work 
hour per airplane to accomplish the proposed AFM revision, and that the 
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$9,420, or $60 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

[[Page 20950]]

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 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 2001-NM-04-AD.

    Applicability: Model A310 series airplanes and Model A300 B4-
600, B4-600R, and F4-600R (collectively called A300-600) series 
airplanes; certificated in any category; with installed Inertial 
Reference Units (IRU) Honeywell 10 MCU part number (P/N) HG1050BD02 
or HG1050BD05.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent a loss of positioning data and a display of incorrect 
attitude data to the flight crew, accomplish the following:

Revision to Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)

    (a) Within 10 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Normal Procedures section of the FAA-approved AFM to include the 
following information. This may be accomplished by inserting either 
a copy of this AD or Temporary Revision (TR) 4.03.00/22 into the 
A310 AFM or the A300-600 AFM, as applicable, facing 4.03.00 page 1.

``COCKPIT PREPARATION

    Do not move the aircraft during IRS alignment.

PRIOR TO TAKEOFF

    Scan PFD/ND to check correct display of all primary attitude and 
heading information.''
    (b) When the information in TR 4.03.00/22 has been incorporated 
into FAA-approved general revisions of the AFM, the general 
revisions may be incorporated in the AFM, and this TR or this AD may 
be removed from the AFM.

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 Operations Inspector, 
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, International 
Branch, ANM-116.


    Note 1: 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 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in French 
airworthiness directive 2000-480-325(B), dated November 29, 2000.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 19, 2001.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-10345 Filed 4-25-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U