[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 63 (Thursday, April 1, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17111-17113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7292]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-NM-201-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A310 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 all Airbus Model A310 series 
airplanes. This proposal would require inspecting the pressure-off 
brakes (POBs) installed on the power control units of the slats and 
flaps to determine their serial numbers; and replacing any POBs having 
affected serial numbers with new, serviceable, or modified POBs. This 
action is necessary to prevent failure of the retaining ring on the 
POBs, which could result in slat or flap blowback or runaway, with 
consequent reduced controllability of the airplane. This action is 
intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 3, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-NM-201-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-201-AD'' in the

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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, 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: 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:

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-201-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-201-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 all Airbus Model A310 series 
airplanes. The DGAC advises that the manufacturer has found that some 
pressure-off brakes (POBs) installed on the power control units of the 
slats and flaps have been operated beyond the allowable life limit of 
12,000 flight cycles. This condition, if not corrected, could result in 
failure of the retaining ring on the POBs, which could result in slat 
or flap blowback or runaway, with consequent reduced controllability of 
the airplane.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A310-27-2096, Revision 01, dated 
September 19, 2001, which describes procedures for inspecting the POBs 
installed on the power control units of the slats and flaps to 
determine the serial numbers of those POBs, and replacing affected POBs 
with new, serviceable, or modified POBs. The DGAC classified a previous 
issue of that service bulletin as mandatory and issued French 
airworthiness directive 2001-185(B), dated May 16, 2001, to ensure the 
continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France.
    The Airbus service bulletin refers to Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg 
Service Bulletin 511A0100-27-03, dated November 16, 2000, as the 
appropriate source of information for identifying the serial numbers of 
POBs that must be replaced, and as a source for additional service 
information for replacing the POBs.

FAA's Conclusions

    This airplane model is manufactured in France and is 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 us informed of the 
situation described above. We have 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 Airbus service bulletin described 
previously, except as discussed below.

Differences Between Proposed AD and Referenced Service Bulletins

    Operators should note the following differences among the proposed 
AD and referenced service bulletins:
     Although the Accomplishment Instructions of the 
referenced service bulletins describe procedures for reporting 
inspection results to the manufacturer, this proposed AD would not 
require such reporting.
     Although the Accomplishment Instructions of the 
Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg service bulletin specify that POBs with 
affected serial numbers must be returned to the POB manufacturer, this 
proposed AD would not require this action.
     Although the Airbus service bulletin states 
that, ``if the affected POB is not available,'' the POB may be replaced 
at the next scheduled ``A''-check, this proposed AD would require 
replacement of any affected POB with a new, serviceable, or modified 
POB before further flight. We have determined that the compliance time 
of 18 months for performing the required inspection to determine 
whether an affected POB is installed on the airplane provides an 
appropriate interval of time in which any required parts can be 
obtained.

Cost Impact

    We estimate that 46 airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected by 
this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 work hour per 
airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the average labor 
rate is $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of 
the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $2,990, or $65 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

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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. 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 2001-NM-201-AD.

    Applicability: All Model A310 series airplanes; certificated in 
any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent failure of the retaining ring on the pressure-off 
brakes (POBs) of the power control units of the slats and flaps, 
which could result in slat or flap blowback or runaway, with 
consequent reduced controllability of the airplane, accomplish the 
following:

Inspection

    (a) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD: 
Inspect the identification plates of the POBs installed on the power 
control units of the slats and flaps to determine the serial numbers 
of the POBs, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-2096, Revision 01, dated September 
19, 2001.

    Note 1:  Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-2096, Revision 01, 
dated September 19, 2001, refers to Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg 
Service Bulletin 511A0100-27-03, dated November 16, 2000, as the 
appropriate source for identifying affected serial numbers of POBs, 
and as an additional source of service information for replacing 
affected POBs.

Replacement

    (b) For any POB with an affected serial number, as identified in 
Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-2096, Revision 01, dated September 
19, 2001: Before further flight, replace the POB with a new or 
serviceable POB that does not have an affected serial number, or 
with a POB that has been modified per the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-2096, Revision 01, 
dated September 19, 2001. Replace the POB per the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-2096, Revision 01, 
dated September 19, 2001.

Actions Accomplished Previously

    (c) Inspections and replacements accomplished before the 
effective date of this AD per Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-2096, 
dated March 21, 2001, are acceptable for compliance with the 
corresponding actions required by this AD.

Parts Installation

    (d) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install, 
on any airplane, a POB with a part number and serial number listed 
in Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-2096, Revision 01, dated 
September 19, 2001.

No Reporting or Return of Parts Is Required

    (e) Although the service bulletins referenced in this AD specify 
to submit certain information and return POBs with affected serial 
numbers to the POB manufacturer, this AD does not include such a 
requirement.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (f) 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.

    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in French 
airworthiness directive 2001-185(B), dated May 16, 2001.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 25, 2004.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-7292 Filed 3-31-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P