[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 53 (Thursday, March 18, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12786-12787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5847]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-NM-18-AD; Amendment 39-13528; AD 2004-06-02]
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 adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD); 
applicable to certain Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 series 
airplanes; that requires replacing the lower guide rod fittings at the 
rear passenger doors with improved fittings. This action is necessary 
to prevent failure of a lower guide rod fitting, which could cause a 
rear passenger door to jam during opening, delaying an emergency 
evacuation and resulting in injury to passengers or crew members. This 
action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Effective April 22, 2004.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of April 22, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from Airbus, 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 at the Office of the 
Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, 
DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2125; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Airbus Model A319, A320, 
and A321 series airplanes, was published in the Federal Register on 
December 17, 2003 (68 FR 70213). That action proposed to require 
replacing the upper guide rod fittings at the rear passenger doors with 
improved fittings.

Comments

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the comments received.

Support for the Proposed AD

    Three commenters support the proposed AD.

Request To Revise Identification of Affected Parts

    One commenter requests that the FAA revise the proposed AD to refer 
to the correct parts to be replaced. The commenter notes that, while 
the proposed AD states that it is the upper guide rod fitting on each 
rear passenger door that must be replaced, Airbus Service Bulletin 
A320-53-1154, Revision 2, dated March 7, 2003 (which is the applicable 
source of service information referenced in the proposed AD), refers to 
the lower guide rod fitting.
    We concur with the commenter's request to revise this AD to refer 
to the lower guide rod fitting instead of the upper. The references to 
``upper guide rod fitting'' in the proposed AD are consistent with the 
terminology in French airworthiness directive 2001-634(B), dated 
December 26, 2001, which refers to the original issue of the service 
bulletin, Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1154, dated July 12, 2001. 
The original issue of the service bulletin erroneously referred to the 
upper guide rod fitting instead of the lower. We have revised the 
preamble and body of this final rule to contain the correct 
terminology. Also, we have revised paragraph (b) of this AD to clarify 
that replacements, of the lower guide rod fitting only, accomplished 
per previous revisions of the service bulletin are acceptable for 
compliance with this AD. We find that these changes do not increase the 
scope of the AD because the service information referenced in the 
proposed AD, Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1154, Revision 2, contains 
the correct instructions for accomplishing the required actions.

Request To Extend Compliance Time

    One commenter requests that we revise the compliance time for the 
requirements of this AD from 22 months to 5 years, and suggests that we 
add repetitive inspections for cracking of the lower guide arm fittings 
as an interim action until the modification is accomplished. The 
commenter would like to incorporate this modification into the 5-year 
heavy maintenance visit for its fleet, and extending the compliance 
time for the proposed AD would accommodate the commenter's schedule. 
The commenter states that repetitive inspections for cracking at 
intervals not to exceed 600 flight hours, and accomplishment of the 
replacement of the lower guide arm fittings within 5 years, would 
significantly reduce the possibility of door failure and would not 
compromise safety.
    We do not concur with the commenter's request. The operator did not 
submit appropriate inspection procedures to justify that its request 
would adequately ensure an acceptable level of safety. An affected 
operator may request approval of an alternative method of compliance or 
adjustment of the compliance time for this AD if the

[[Page 12787]]

operator also presents data that justify that an acceptable level of 
safety will be maintained. Paragraph (c) of this AD specifies the 
office that may approve such requests. We have made no change to the 
final rule in this regard.

Conclusion

    After careful review of the available data, including the comments 
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public 
interest require the adoption of the rule with the change described 
previously. The FAA has determined that this change will neither 
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of 
the AD.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 440 airplanes of U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 10 work hours per 
airplane to accomplish the required actions, and that the average labor 
rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts will cost approximately 
$2,200 per airplane. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the 
proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $1,254,000, or $2,850 
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

0
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:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2004-06-02 Airbus: Amendment 39-13528. Docket 2002-NM-18-AD.

    Applicability: Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes; 
certificated in any category; on which Airbus Modification 30821 has 
not been accomplished.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent failure of a lower guide rod fitting, which could 
cause a rear passenger door to jam during opening, delaying an 
emergency evacuation and resulting in injury to passengers or crew 
members, accomplish the following:

Replacement

    (a) Within 22 months after the effective date of this AD, 
replace the lower guide rod fitting on each rear passenger door with 
an improved fitting by doing all actions in and per the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1154, 
Revision 2, dated March 7, 2003.

Replacements Accomplished Previously

    (b) Replacements of the lower guide rod fitting accomplished 
before the effective date of this AD per the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1154, dated July 12, 
2001; or Revision 1, dated August 28, 2002; are acceptable for 
compliance with the corresponding action required by this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

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

Incorporation by Reference

    (d) Unless otherwise specified in this AD, the actions shall be 
done in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1154, 
Revision 2, dated March 7, 2003. This incorporation by reference was 
approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 
5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from 
Airbus, 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 1: The subject of this AD is addressed in French 
airworthiness directive 2001-634(B), dated December 26, 2001.

Effective Date

    (e) This amendment becomes effective on April 22, 2004.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 9, 2004.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-5847 Filed 3-17-04; 8:45 am]
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