[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 193 (Thursday, October 4, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50580-50582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24781]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-NM-142-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330 and A340 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 A330 and A340 
series airplanes. This proposal would require modification of the down 
drive brackets of the left- and right-hand sides of the inboard flap 
track 1 assembly and installation of bigger bolts and washers. This 
action is necessary to prevent failure of the bolts due to flexural 
loads caused by transmission jam loading, which could lead to a ``flap-
locked'' condition, causing reduced controllability of the airplane. 
This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by November 5, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-NM-142-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-142-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: Tamra Elkins, Aerospace Engineer,

[[Page 50581]]

International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2669; 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-142-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-142-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 A330 and A340 series 
airplanes. The DGAC advises that for certain airplanes on which Airbus 
Modification 45326 has been accomplished, the strength of the 
connection bolts at the down drive bracket of the track 1 assembly on 
the inboard flap is not sufficient. The bolts could fail due to 
flexural loads caused by transmission jam loading. Failure of the 
bolts, if not corrected, could result in a ``flap-locked'' condition, 
causing reduced controllability of the airplane.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A330-57-3067, dated October 12, 
2000, and Revision 01, dated April 10, 2001 (for Model A330 series 
airplanes); and Service Bulletin A340-57-4075, dated October 12, 2000, 
and Revision 01, dated April 10, 2001 (for Model A340 series 
airplanes). These service bulletins describe procedures for, among 
other things, modifiying the down drive brackets on the left- and 
right-hand inboard flap track 1 assembly, re-identifying the tracks, 
and installing bigger bolts and washers to improve the strength of the 
connection at the down drive brackets. Accomplishment of the actions 
specified in the service bulletins is intended to adequately address 
the identified unsafe condition. The DGAC classified these service 
bulletins as mandatory and issued French airworthiness directive 2001-
125(B), dated April 4, 2001 (for Model A330 series airplanes), and 
French airworthiness directive 2001-123(B), dated April 4, 2001 (for 
Model A340 series airplanes), 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 accomplishment of 
the actions specified in the service bulletins described previously.

Differences Between Proposed Rule and Service Bulletin

    Operators should note that, although the service bulletins include 
in their effectivity only those airplanes which received Airbus 
Modification 45326 in production, the proposed AD specifies the broader 
effectivity noted in the French AD, which includes those airplanes 
certified to receive Airbus Modification 45326.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 9 airplanes of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 13 work 
hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed modifications and 
installations, 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 $7,020, or $780 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

[[Page 50582]]

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-142-AD.

    Applicability: Model A330 and A340 series airplanes, 
certificated in any category, on which Airbus Modification 45326 has 
been accomplished in production, except those airplanes on which 
Airbus Modification 47619 has been accomplished in production or on 
which Airbus Service Bulletin A330-57-3067, dated October 12, 2000, 
or Revision 01, dated April 10, 2001 (for Model 330 series 
airplanes); or Airbus Service Bulletin A340-57-4075, dated October 
12, 2000, or Revision 01, dated April 10, 2001 (for A340 series 
airplanes) has been accomplished in service.

    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 failure of the bolts due to flexural loads caused by 
transmission jam loading, which could lead to a ``flap-locked'' 
condition, causing reduced controllability of the airplane, 
accomplish the following:

Modification and Installation of Bigger Bolts and Washers

    (a) Within 36 months since date of manufacture of the airplane, 
or within 6 months from the effective date of this AD, whichever 
occurs later, modify the down drive brackets of the left- and right-
hand inboard flap track 1 assembly by accomplishing all actions 
specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin 
specified in paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this AD, as applicable.
    (1) For Model A330 series airplanes: Airbus Service Bulletin 
A330-57-3067, dated October 12, 2000; or Airbus Service Bulletin 
A330-57-3067, Revision 01, dated April 10, 2001.
    (2) For Model A340 series airplanes: Airbus Service Bulletin 
A340-57-4075, dated October 12, 2000; or Airbus Service Bulletin 
A340-57-4075, Revision 01, dated April 10, 2001.

Spares

    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall 
install, on any airplane, an inboard flap track 1 assembly unless it 
has been modified in accordance with this AD.

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 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 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in French 
airworthiness directive 2001-125(B), dated April 4, 2001 (for Model 
A330 series airplanes), and French airworthiness directive 2001-
123(B), dated April 4, 2001 (for Model A340 series airplanes).


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 27, 2001.
Charles Huber,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-24781 Filed 10-3-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P