[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 3, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63960-63962]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-24534]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19494; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-135-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 
Series Airplanes Equipped With Air Cruisers/Aerazur Forward and Aft 
Passenger Door Emergency Escape Slides

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes 
equipped with certain forward and aft passenger door emergency escape 
slides. This proposed AD would require modifying the forward and aft 
door slides. This proposed AD is prompted by manufacturer testing that 
has shown contact between the inflation hose and fabric roll, within a 
short period of time after inflation of the emergency escape slides, 
can rupture the inflation hose at its end fittings. We are proposing 
this AD to prevent interference between the inflation hose and slide 
fabric and rupture of the inflation hose, which could result in 
incomplete inflation of the emergency escape slides and consequent 
unavailability of those slides during an emergency evacuation.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 3, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
     DOT Docket web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW, Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     By fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France.
    You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, on 
the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Technical information: 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.
    Plain language information: Marcia Walters, [email protected].

[[Page 63961]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Docket Management System (DMS)

    The FAA has implemented new procedures for maintaining AD dockets 
electronically. As of May 17, 2004, new AD actions are posted on DMS 
and assigned a docket number. We track each action and assign a 
corresponding directorate identifier. The DMS AD docket number is in 
the form ``Docket No. FAA-2004-99999.'' The Transport Airplane 
Directorate identifier is in the form ``Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
999-AD.'' Each DMS AD docket also lists the directorate identifier 
(``Old Docket Number'') as a cross-reference for searching purposes.

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2004-19494; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-135-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of our 
docket website, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You can review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
can visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    We are reviewing the writing style we currently use in regulatory 
documents. We are interested in your comments on whether the style of 
this document is clear, and your suggestions to improve the clarity of 
our communications that affect you. You can get more information about 
plain language at http://www.faa.gov/language and http://www.plainlanguage.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office 
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    The Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), 
which is the airworthiness authority for France, notified us that an 
unsafe condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, 
and A321 series airplanes. The DGAC advises that manufacturer testing 
has shown that contact between the inflation hose and fabric roll, 
within a short period of time after inflation of the emergency escape 
slides, can rupture the inflation hose at its end fittings. This 
condition, if not corrected, could result in incomplete inflation of 
the emergency escape slides and consequent unavailability of those 
slides during an emergency evacuation.

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-25-1338, dated February 9, 
2004. The service bulletin describes procedures for modifying the 
forward and aft door slides. Accomplishing the actions specified in the 
service information is intended to adequately address the unsafe 
condition. The DGAC mandated the service information and issued French 
airworthiness directive F-2004-072, dated May 26, 2004, to ensure the 
continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France.
    The Airbus service bulletin refers to Air Cruisers/Aerazur Service 
Bulletin A320 004-25-72, dated October 28, 2003, as an additional 
source of service information for modifying the forward and aft door 
slides by bonding a hose retainer to the slide assembly; routing the 
hose assembly through the hose retainer; and reidentifying the slide 
assembly and slide system.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    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. We have examined the DGAC's findings, 
evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that we need to 
issue an AD for products of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States.
    Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which would require modifying 
the forward and aft door slides. The proposed AD would require you to 
use the Airbus service information described previously to perform 
these actions, except as discussed under ``Difference Between the 
Proposed AD and French Airworthiness Directive.''

Difference Between the Proposed AD and French Airworthiness Directive

    The applicability of French airworthiness directive F-2004-072 
excludes airplanes that accomplished Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-
1338 in service. However, we have not excluded those airplanes in the 
applicability of this proposed AD; rather, this proposed AD includes a 
requirement to accomplish the actions specified in that service 
bulletin. Such a requirement would ensure that the actions specified in 
the service bulletin and required by this proposed AD are accomplished 
on all affected airplanes. Operators must continue to operate the 
airplane in the configuration required by this proposed AD unless an 
alternative method of compliance is approved.

Costs of Compliance

    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
to comply with this proposed AD, at an average labor rate of $65 per 
work hour.

                                                                     Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                                                Number of
                                                 Work hours    Slides per                                         Cost per        U.S.-
                    Action                        per slide     airplane                   Parts                  airplane     registered    Fleet cost
                                                                                                                                airplanes
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Modification..................................            1             2   Free..............................         $130           648       $84,240
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[[Page 63962]]

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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. 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location 
to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2004-19494; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
135-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration must receive comments on 
this AD action by December 3, 2004.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A318-111 and -112 series 
airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -
133 series airplanes; Model A320-111, -211, -212, -214, -231, -232, 
and -233 series airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, and 
-231 series airplanes; certificated in any category; equipped with 
Air Cruisers/Aerazur forward passenger door emergency escape slides, 
part number (P/N) D31516-111, -113, -115, -117, -311, or -313, and 
aft passenger door emergency escape slides, part number (P/N) 
D31517-111, -113, -115, -117, -311, or -313; except those airplanes 
on which Airbus Modification 33429 has been accomplished in 
production.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by manufacturer testing that has shown 
contact between the inflation hose and fabric roll, within a short 
period of time after inflation of the emergency escape slides, can 
rupture the inflation hose at its end fittings. We are issuing this 
AD to prevent interference between the inflation hose and slide 
fabric and rupture of the inflation hose, which could result in 
incomplete inflation of the emergency escape slides and consequent 
unavailability of those slides during an emergency evacuation.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Modification

    (f) Within 37 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the forward and aft door slides, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1338, 
dated February 9, 2004.

    Note 1: Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1338, dated February 9, 
2004, refers to Air Cruisers/Aerazur Service Bulletin A320 004-25-
72, dated October 28, 2003, as an additional source of service 
information for modifying the forward and aft door slides.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for 
this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 
CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (h) French airworthiness directive F-2004-072, dated May 26, 
2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 20, 2004.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-24534 Filed 11-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P