[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 182 (Friday, September 19, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54872-54874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23935]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-NM-137-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B4-622R and A300 F4-
622R Airplanes, and Model A310-324 and -325 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 A300 B4-622R 
and A300 F4-622R airplanes, and Model A310-324 and -325 series 
airplanes, that are equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW4000 series 
engines. This proposal would require replacement of the existing 
flexible hose assembly that connects the oil pressure transmitter to 
the main oil circuit, with a new improved tube assembly. This action is 
necessary to prevent failure of the oil pressure indicator and low-oil-
pressure warning in the event of an engine fire, which could result in 
an unannounced shutdown of the engine. This action is intended to 
address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by October 20, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-NM-137-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. 2002-NM-137-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 or 2000 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:
    [sbull] 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.
    [sbull] For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed 
AD is being requested.
    [sbull] 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

[[Page 54873]]

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 2002-NM-137-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. 2002-NM-137-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    The Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale 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 A300 B4-622R and 
A300 F4-622R airplanes, and Model A310-324 and -325 series airplanes, 
that are equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW4000 series engines. The DGAC 
advises that the flexible hose assembly that connects the oil pressure 
transmitter to the main oil circuit on Pratt & Whitney PW4000 series 
engines is not compliant with requirements for fireproofing. An oil 
line in this location should have zero-flow fireproofing, but the 
flexible hose assembly currently installed provides only low-flow 
fireproofing. This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure 
of the oil pressure indicator and low-oil-pressure warning in the event 
of an engine fire, which could result in an unannounced shutdown of the 
engine.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Service Bulletins A300-79-6003 (for Model A300 
B4-622R and A300 F4-622R airplanes) and A310-79-2004 (for Model A310-
324 and -325 series airplanes), both dated January 31, 2002. Those 
service bulletins describe procedures for replacement of the existing 
flexible hose assembly that connects the oil pressure transmitter to 
the main oil circuit, with a new improved tube assembly. Among other 
benefits, the new improved tube assembly meets zero-flow fireproofing 
requirements. The service bulletins also describe procedures for 
performing a test of the engine oil system after the replacement, which 
includes testing the tube and connectors of the new improved tube 
assembly for a leak or a loose connection. Accomplishment of the 
actions specified in the applicable service bulletin is intended to 
adequately address the identified unsafe condition. The DGAC classified 
these service bulletins as mandatory and issued French airworthiness 
directive 2002-173(B), dated April 3, 2002, to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of these airplanes in France.
    The Airbus service bulletins refer to Pratt & Whitney Alert Service 
Bulletin PW4NAC A79-21, dated October 15, 2001, as an additional source 
of service information for the replacement of the flexible hose 
assembly with a new improved tube assembly.

FAA's Conclusions

    These airplane models are manufactured in France and are type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
Sec.  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 applicable Airbus service bulletin 
described previously.

Changes to 14 CFR Part 39/Effect on the Proposed AD

    On July 10, 2002, the FAA issued a new version of 14 CFR part 39 
(67 FR 47997, July 22, 2002), which governs the FAA's airworthiness 
directives system. The regulation now includes material that relates to 
altered products, special flight permits, and alternative methods of 
compliance (AMOCs). Because we have now included this material in part 
39, only the office authorized to approve AMOCs is identified in each 
individual AD.

Change to Labor Rate Estimate

    We have reviewed the figures we have used over the past several 
years to calculate AD costs to operators. To account for various 
inflationary costs in the airline industry, we find it necessary to 
increase the labor rate used in these calculations from $60 per work 
hour to $65 per work hour. The cost impact information, below, reflects 
this increase in the specified hourly labor rate.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 139 airplanes of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 10 work 
hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the 
average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts would be 
provided by the manufacturer at no charge. Based on these figures, the 
cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$90,350, or $650 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 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.

[[Page 54874]]

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: Docket 2002-NM-137-AD.

    Applicability: Model A300 B4-622R and A300 F4-622R airplanes, 
and Model A310-324 and -325 series airplanes, equipped with Pratt & 
Whitney PW4000 series engines; certificated in any category; except 
those on which Airbus Modification 12468 has been accomplished in 
production.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent failure of the oil pressure indicator and low-oil-
pressure warning in the event of an engine fire, which could result 
in an unannounced shutdown of the engine, accomplish the following:

Replacement

    (a) Within 8 months after the effective date of this AD, replace 
the existing flexible hose assembly, part number (P/N) 113286, that 
connects the oil pressure transmitter to the main oil circuit, with 
a new improved tube assembly, P/N 221-5318-501. Before further 
flight after the replacement, perform a test of the engine oil 
system. Do these actions according to the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the service bulletin specified in paragraph (a)(1) 
or (a)(2) of this AD, as applicable.
    (1) For Model A300 B4-622R and A300 F4-622R airplanes: Airbus 
Service Bulletin A300-79-6003, dated January 31, 2002.
    (2) For Model A310-324 and -325 series airplanes: Airbus Service 
Bulletin A310-79-2004, dated January 31, 2002.

    Note 1: Airbus Service Bulletins A300-79-6003 and A310-79-2004 
refer to Pratt & Whitney Alert Service Bulletin PW4NAC A79-21, dated 
October 15, 2001, as an additional source of service information for 
the replacement required by this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (b) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, International 
Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, is authorized 
to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD.

    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in French 
airworthiness directive 2002-173(B), dated April 3, 2002.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 10, 2003.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-23935 Filed 9-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P