[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 15, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26815-26817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12177]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-383-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 modifications of 
route segregation between the low voltage wire bundles of the fuel 
quantity indicating system and the high voltage wire bundles of the 
ground power control unit. This action is necessary to prevent 
injection of 115 volt alternating current (VAC) into 28 volt direct 
current (VDC) wire bundles, which could result in high voltage 
conditions within the fuel tank and the potential for damage to 
equipment, electrical arcing, and fuel vapor ignition on the ground. 
This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by June 14, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-383-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.

[[Page 26816]]

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-383-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 notice must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 2000-NM-383-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-383-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. The DGAC advises that, in response to industry concerns, a 
review of the routing of wires that terminate/enter the fuel tank was 
performed on production aircraft. The review identified an unsafe 
condition in a 700-millimeter span of wiring at the back of shelf 92VU 
in the forward avionics compartment. Along that 700-millimeter span 
there is no permanent segregation between the electrical wire bundle 
connected to the fuel quantity indicating system (FQIS) and the bundle 
connected to the ground power control unit (GPCU). In the event that 
both bundles had wires damaged down to the core, and an electrical 
path, such as fluid or metallic contamination, occurred between the two 
wire bundles, conditions would exist that could result in the injection 
of 115 volts, alternating current (VAC), from the GPCU wires into the 
28 volts, direct current (VDC), FQIS wires down to the fuel tanks. Such 
a high voltage injection into low voltage wiring could result in the 
potential for damage to equipment, electrical arcing, and fuel vapor 
ignition on the ground. This result could not occur in flight because 
the GPCU is powered only on the ground.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Revision 02 of Service Bulletin A320-92-1007, 
dated August 4, 2000, which describes procedures for installing an 
additional protective conduit for each wiring route and a dual branch 
tubular ramp to ensure physical separation of the wiring routes. 
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 2000-407-150(B), dated September 20, 2000, in 
order to ensure 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.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 291 airplanes of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 24 to 42 
work hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed modifications, 
depending on the wiring configuration of the airplane, and that the 
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts would cost 
approximately $1,300 per airplane. Based on these figures, the cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be between 
$797,340 and $1,111,620 or between $2,740 and $3,820 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 proposed 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,

[[Page 26817]]

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-383-AD.

    Applicability: Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes, 
certificated in any category, except those on which Airbus Industrie 
Modification 28289 has 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 injection of 115 volt alternating current (VAC) into 
28 volt direct current (VDC) wire bundles, which could result in 
high voltage conditions within the fuel tank and the potential for 
damage to equipment, electrical arcing, and fuel vapor ignition on 
the ground, accomplish the following:

Modification

    (a) Within 4 years after the effective date of this AD, install 
additional protective conduits and new supports to ensure physical 
route segregation between the low voltage wire bundles of the fuel 
quantity indicating system (FQIS) and the high voltage wire bundles 
of the ground power control unit (GPCU), in accordance with Airbus 
Service Bulletin A320-92-1007, Revision 02, dated August 4, 2000.

    Note 2: Modifications accomplished prior to the effective date 
of this AD in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-92-1007, 
dated January 12, 2000, or Airbus Service Bulletin A320-92-1007, 
Revision 01, dated June 29, 2000, are considered acceptable for 
compliance with the applicable actions specified in this amendment.

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, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA. Operators shall submit their 
requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, 
who may add comments and then send them 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

    (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 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in French 
airworthiness directive 2000-407-150(B), dated September 20, 2000.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 9, 2001.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-12177 Filed 5-14-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P