[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 227 (Friday, November 26, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68775-68777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25787]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-18809; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-91-AD; 
Amendment 39-13873; AD 2004-23-18]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 
Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This AD 
requires revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to prohibit 
operators from performing CAT 2 or CAT 3 automatic landings or roll-
outs at certain airports. This AD also provides for an optional 
terminating action for the AFM revision. This AD is prompted by data 
showing that the magnetic variation table installed in the Honeywell 
inertial reference system (IRS) is obsolete at certain airports. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent the airplane from departing the runway 
during a CAT 2 or CAT 3 automatic landing or roll-out, due to magnetic 
and IRS deviations.

DATES: This AD becomes effective January 3, 2005.
    The incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in 
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of 
January 3, 2005.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France.
    You can examine this information at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of 
this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person 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: Tim Dulin, 
Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-
4056; telephone (425) 227-2141; fax (425) 227-1149.
    Plain language information: Marcia Walters, [email protected].

Examining the Docket

    The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any final 
disposition. 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 a.m. and 5 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with

[[Page 68776]]

an AD for certain Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. 
The proposed AD was published in the Federal Register on August 10, 
2004 (69 FR 48426), to require revising the airplane flight manual 
(AFM) to prohibit operators from performing CAT 2 or CAT 3 automatic 
landings or roll-outs at certain airports. The proposed AD also 
provided for an optional terminating action for the AFM revision.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comments that have been 
submitted on the proposed AD. The commenters support the proposed AD.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comments that have been submitted, and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD will affect about 242 airplanes of U.S. registry. The AFM 
revision will take about 1 work hour per airplane, at an average labor 
rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost 
of the required AFM revision for U.S. operators is $15,730, or $65 per 
airplane.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2004-23-18 Airbus: Amendment 39-13873. Docket No. FAA-2004-18809; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-91-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective January 
3, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model A319, A320, and A321 series 
airplanes; certificated in any category; equipped with a Honeywell 
air data inertial reference unit (ADIRU) having any part number (P/
N) listed in Table 1 of this AD; on which Airbus Modification 30652, 
30941, or 30942 has not been done.

                      Table 1.--Honeywell ADIRU P/N
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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HG1150AC05.
HG1150AC06.
HG2030AC05.
HG2030AC06.
HG2030AC08.
HG2030AC09.
HG2030AD09.
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    (d) This AD was prompted by data showing that the magnetic 
variation table installed in the Honeywell inertial reference system 
(IRS) is obsolete at certain airports. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent the airplane from departing the runway during a CAT 2 or CAT 
3 automatic landing or roll-out, due to magnetic and IRS deviations.

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.

Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Revision

    (f) Within 14 days after the effective date of this AD: Revise 
the Limitations Section of the Airbus A318/319/320/321 AFM to 
prohibit operators from performing CAT 2 or CAT 3 automatic landings 
or roll-outs at certain airports by incorporating Airbus Temporary 
Revision (TR) 2.05.00/52, dated June 13, 2003, into the AFM, and 
operate the airplane in accordance with those limitations.
    (g) When the information in Airbus TR 2.05.00/52, dated June 13, 
2003, has been incorporated into the general revisions of the AFM, 
the general revisions may be inserted into the AFM, and the TR may 
be removed from the AFM.

Optional Terminating Action

    (h) Replacement of Honeywell ADIRUs having a P/N listed in Table 
1 of this AD with new ADIRUs having new P/Ns, by doing all the 
actions using the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service 
Bulletin A320-34-1231, Revision 02, dated October 10, 2002 (for 
Model A320 series airplanes); A320-34-1240, Revision 01, dated 
October 10, 2001 (for Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes); 
or A320-34-1249, dated June 25, 2001 (for Model A319, A320, and A321 
series airplanes); as applicable; terminates the AFM revision 
required by paragraph (f) of this AD. Following accomplishment of 
the replacement, the TR may be removed from the AFM.
    (i) Prior to or concurrently with accomplishment of the optional 
terminating action in paragraph (h) of this AD: Do the replacements 
using Airbus Service Bulletin A320-34-1084, dated September 15, 1994 
(for Model A320 series airplanes); A320-34-1129, Revision 01, dated 
July 22, 1997 (for Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes); or 
A320-34-1136, dated June 5, 1997 (for Model A319, A320, and A321 
series airplanes); as applicable.
    (j) Prior to or concurrently with accomplishment of Airbus 
Service Bulletin A320-34-1084: Do the modification of certain ADIRU 
equipment using Airbus Service Bulletin A320-34-1010, dated 
September 6, 1989 (for Model A320 series airplanes).
    (k) Honeywell Service Bulletins HG1150AC-34-0007, Revision 001, 
dated September 18, 2001; HG2030AC-34-0009, Revision 1, dated 
October 1, 2002; and HG2030AD-34-0007, Revision 1, dated June 4, 
2001; are referenced in the Airbus service bulletins specified in 
paragraph (h) of this AD as additional sources of service 
information for accomplishment of the replacement of the ADIRUs.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (l) 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

    (m) The subject of this AD is addressed in French airworthiness 
directive 2003-270(B), dated July 23, 2003.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (n) You must use Airbus Temporary Revision 2.05.00/52, dated 
June 13, 2003, to the Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 Airplane Flight 
Manual, to perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless 
the AD specifies

[[Page 68777]]

otherwise. (Only the first page of the temporary revision contains 
the document date; no other page of that document contains this 
information.) The Director of the Federal Register approves the 
incorporation by reference of this document in accordance with 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For copies of the service 
information, contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 
Blagnac Cedex, France. For information on the availability of this 
material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 
call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html html. 
You may view the AD docket at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Room PL-401, 
Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 10, 2004.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-25787 Filed 11-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P