[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 141 (Monday, July 23, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38145-38146]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18257]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-415-AD; Amendment 39-12340; AD 2001-15-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 
Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD), applicable to certain Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 series 
airplanes, that currently requires modification of the forward and aft 
evacuation slide systems by replacing the Velcro restraints for the 
support logs with frangible link restraints. This amendment reduces the 
time to accomplish the modification from 3 years to 9 months. This 
amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions 
specified by this AD are intended to prevent the ingestion of sill 
support-log material into the aspirator of the evacuation slide, which 
could result in failure of the slide to inflate.

DATES: Effective August 27, 2001.
    The incorporation by reference of Airbus Service bulletin A320-25-
1215, dated April 29, 1999, as listed in the regulations was approved 
previously by the Director of the Federal Register as of March 30, 2000 
(65 FR 9212, February 24, 2000).

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from Airbus Industrie, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 
Blagnac Cedex, France. This information may be examined at the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules 
Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or the Office of the 
Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, 
DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Dulin, Aerospace Engineer, ANM-
116, FAA, International Branch, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2141; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) by superseding AD 2000-04-06, 
amendment 39-11588 (65 FR 9212, February 24, 2000), which is applicable 
to certain Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes, was 
published in the Federal Register on April 30, 2001 (66 FR 21291). The 
action proposed to continue to require modification of the forward and 
aft evacuation slide systems by replacing the Velcro restraints for the 
support logs with frangible link restraints. The action also proposed 
to reduce the time to accomplish the modification from 3 years to 9 
months.

Comments

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were submitted in response 
to the proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    The FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest 
require the adoption of the rule as proposed.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 202 Model A319, A320, and A321 series 
airplanes of U.S. registry that will be affected by this AD.
    The modification that is currently required by AD 2000-04-06 and 
retained in this AD was previously reported to take approximately 1 
work hour per airplane to accomplish. That modification, however, is 
now estimated to take approximately 5 work hours per airplane to 
accomplish. The average labor rate is $60 per work hour. There is no 
charge for required parts. Based on these figures, the cost impact of 
the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $60,600, or $300 per 
airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the 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 adopted herein will 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 final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is 
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; 
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) 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 final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

[[Page 38146]]

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 39-11588 (65 FR 
9212, February 4, 2000), and by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD), amendment 39-12340, to read as follows:

2001-15-06  Airbus Industrie: Amendment 39-12340. Docket 2000-NM-
415-AD. Supersedes AD 2000-04-06, Amendment 39-11588.

    Applicability: Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes; 
certificated in any category; equipped with any emergency evacuation 
slide having a part number (P/N) listed as:

D31516-103
D31516-105
D31516-107
D31516-109
D31517-103
D31517-105
D31517-107
D31517-109

    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 (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 the ingestion of sill support-log material into the 
aspirator of the escape slide which could result in failure of the 
escape slide to inflate, accomplish the following:

Modification

    (a) Within 9 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the forward and aft emergency evacuation slides by replacing the 
Velcro restraints for the support logs with frangible link 
restraints, in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1215, 
dated April 29, 1999.

    Note 2: Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1215 refers to Air 
Cruisers Service Bulletin 004-25-51, dated February 26, 1999, as an 
additional source of service information for accomplishment of the 
modification.

Spares

    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install 
on any airplane an emergency evacuation slide having P/N D31516-103, 
D31516-105, D31516-107, D31516-109, D31517-103, D31517-105, D31517-
107, or D31517-109.

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, 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.

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

Incorporation by Reference

    (e) The modification shall be done in accordance with Airbus 
Service Bulletin A320-25-1215, dated April 29, 1999. The 
incorporation by reference of that document was previously approved 
by the Director of the Federal Register as of March 30, 2000 (65 FR 
9212, February 24, 2000). Copies may be obtained from Airbus 
Industrie, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, 
France. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the 
Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 
700, Washington, DC.

    Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in French 
airworthiness directive 2000-359-152(B) R1, dated December 29, 2000.

Effective Date

    (f) This amendment becomes effective on August 27, 2001.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 16, 2001.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-18257 Filed 7-20-01; 8:45 am]
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