[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 19, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2985-2987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-993]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20079; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-147-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B2 and B4 Series 
Airplanes; Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R Series Airplanes, 
and Model C4-605R Variant F Airplanes (Collectively Called A300-600); 
and Model A310 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (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 models, as specified above. This proposed AD would 
require installing safety signs on all passenger/crew doors, emergency 
exit doors, and cargo compartment doors. This proposed AD is prompted 
by a report of injuries occurring on in-service airplanes when 
crewmembers forcibly initiated opening of passenger/crew doors against 
residual pressure causing the doors to rapidly open. We are proposing 
this AD to ensure that crewmembers are informed of the risks associated 
with forcibly opening passenger/crew, emergency exit, and cargo doors 
before an airplane is fully depressurized, which will prevent injury to 
crewmembers, and subsequent damage to the airplane caused by the rapid 
opening of the door.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 18, 
2005.

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 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. This docket 
number is FAA-2005-20079; the directorate identifier for this docket is 
2004-NM-147-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Backman, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2797; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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-2005-20079; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-147-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

[[Page 2986]]

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.

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 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. 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 A300 B2 and B4 
series airplanes; Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series 
airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called 
A300-600); and Model A310 series airplanes. The DGAC advises that 
accidents occurred on in-service airplanes when crewmembers forcibly 
initiated opening of passenger/crew doors against residual pressure 
causing the doors to rapidly open. If cabin crewmembers are not 
informed of the risks associated with opening passenger/crew and 
emergency exit doors when an airplane is not fully depressurized, they 
may attempt to forcibly open the doors. This condition, if not 
corrected, could result in injury to crewmembers, and subsequent damage 
to the airplane caused by the rapid opening of the door.

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued the following service bulletins:

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             Airbus model               Airbus service bulletin    Revision                  Date
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A300 B2 and B4 series airplanes......  A300-11-0027............           01  January 30, 2004.
A300-600 airplanes...................  A300-11-6001............           01  January 30, 2004.
A310 series airplanes................  A310-11-2002............           03  February 4, 2004.
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    The service bulletins describe procedures for installing safety 
signs on the inside and outside of the passenger/crew doors and 
emergency exit doors, and on the outside of the cargo compartment 
doors. 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-2004-003, dated January 7, 2004, to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of these airplanes in France.

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 
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. We have examined the DGAC 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 
accomplishing the actions specified in the service information 
described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would affect about 182 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The proposed actions would take about 5 work hours per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts would cost 
about $0 per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of 
the proposed AD for U.S. operators is $59,150, or $325 per airplane.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

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:

[[Page 2987]]

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-2005-20079; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
147-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration must receive comments on 
this AD action by February 18, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A300 B2 and B4 series 
airplanes; Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, 
and Model C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called A300-
600); and Model A310 series airplanes; certificated in any category; 
except those modified in production by either Airbus Modifications 
10152 and 10219, or Modifications 8357 and 10151.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by reports of injuries occurring on in-
service airplanes when crewmembers forcibly initiated opening of 
passenger/crew doors against residual pressure causing the doors to 
rapidly open. We are issuing this AD to ensure that crewmembers are 
informed of the risks associated with forcibly opening passenger/
crew, emergency exit, and cargo doors before an airplane is fully 
depressurized, which will prevent injury to crewmembers, and 
subsequent damage to the airplane caused by the rapid opening of the 
door.

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.

Service Bulletin References

    (f) The term ``service bulletin,'' as used in this AD, means the 
Accomplishment Instructions of the following service bulletins, as 
applicable:
    (1) For Model A300 B2 and B4 series airplanes: Airbus Service 
Bulletin A300-11-0027, Revision 01, dated January 30, 2004;
    (2) For Model A300-600 airplanes: Airbus Service Bulletin A300-
11-6001, Revision 01, dated January 30, 2004; and
    (3) For Model A310 series airplanes: Airbus Service Bulletin 
A310-11-2002, Revision 03, dated February 4, 2004.

Install Safety Signs

    (g) Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, 
install safety signs on the inside and outside of the passenger/crew 
doors and emergency exit doors, and on the outside of the cargo 
compartment doors, in accordance with the applicable service 
bulletin.

Credit for Previous Service Bulletins

    (h) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A300-11-0027, dated October 
27, 1993; Airbus Service Bulletin A300-11-6001, dated October 27, 
1993; and Airbus Service Bulletin A300-11-2002, Revision 2, dated 
January 27, 1995; as applicable; are acceptable for compliance with 
the requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i) 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

    (j) French airworthiness directive F-2004-003, dated January 7, 
2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 6, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-993 Filed 1-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P