[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 6, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17340-17342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6758]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 6, 2005 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 17340]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20867; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-188-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Airbus Model A300-600 airplanes. This proposed AD would 
require an inspection for evidence of chafing between the hydraulic 
flexible hose and the ram air turbine (RAT) hub, and related 
investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD is 
prompted by reports of holes in the RAT hub cover. We are proposing 
this AD to prevent a hole in the RAT hub cover. A hole in the RAT hub 
cover could allow water to enter the RAT governing mechanism, freeze 
during flight, and jam the governing mechanism. In addition, the metal 
particles that result from chafing between the hydraulic flexible hose 
and the RAT could mix with the lubricant grease and degrade the 
governing mechanism. In an emergency, a jammed or degraded RAT could 
result in its failure to deploy, loss of hydraulic pressure or 
electrical power to the airplane, and consequent reduced 
controllability of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 6, 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.
     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-2005-20867; the directorate identifier for this 
docket is 2004-NM-188-AD.

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

    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-2005-20867; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-188-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 Web site, 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 B4-600, B4-
600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F 
airplanes (collectively called A300-600 airplanes). The DGAC advises 
that, during a maintenance inspection, an operator discovered a hole in 
the ram air turbine (RAT) hub. Investigation revealed that the hole 
resulted from chafing between the hydraulic flexible hose and RAT hub 
cover. Further investigation revealed that a similar finding had been 
reported during airplane production. The subsequent investigation 
revealed that, when the flexible hoses for the hydraulic system were 
installed, the binding had not been performed correctly. Due to the 
incorrect installation of the binding, a hose chafed the RAT hub and 
eventually wore a hole into the hub cover. A hole in the RAT hub cover 
could allow water to enter the RAT governing mechanism, freeze during 
flight, and jam the governing mechanism. In addition, the metal 
particles that result from chafing

[[Page 17341]]

between the hydraulic flexible hose and the RAT could mix with the 
lubricant grease and degrade the governing mechanism. In an emergency, 
a jammed or degraded RAT could result in failure of RAT deployment, 
loss of hydraulic pressure or electrical power to the airplane, and 
consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A300-29-6054, Revision 01, 
including Appendix 01, dated November 4, 2004. The service bulletin 
describes procedures for doing a one-time detailed visual inspection 
for evidence of chafing between the hydraulic flexible hose and the RAT 
hub, and related investigative and corrective actions. The related 
investigative and corrective actions include:
     If any damage is found on the RAT hub, referencing the 
Airbus A300-600 Component Maintenance Manual (CMM) to determine if the 
damage is within the limits specified in the CMM.
     Replacing the RAT if any damage exceeds the limits 
specified in the CMM.
     Replacing a damaged hose.
     If no damage is found on the RAT hub, measuring the 
clearance between the hydraulic flexible hose and the RAT hub.
     If the clearance between the hydraulic flexible hose and 
the RAT hub is insufficient, and the hose is not damaged, reworking the 
binding of the hose.
    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-
2004-133, dated August 4, 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 
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 
accomplishing the actions specified in the service information 
described previously, except as discussed under ``Difference Among the 
Proposed AD, French Airworthiness Directive, and Service Bulletin.''

Difference Among the Proposed AD, French Airworthiness Directive, and 
Service Bulletin

    Operators should note that, although the parallel French 
airworthiness directive and service bulletin include a requirement to 
submit inspection results to the airplane manufacturer, this proposed 
AD would not require that action. Furthermore, where the service 
bulletin specifies to return damaged RATs to the vendor or a repair 
station, this proposed AD would not require that action.

Clarification of Inspection Terminology

    In this proposed AD, the ``detailed visual inspection'' specified 
in the Airbus service bulletin is referred to as a ``detailed 
inspection.'' We have included the definition for a detailed inspection 
in a note in this proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
to comply with this proposed AD.

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         Number of
                                   Work     Average                          Cost per      U.S. -
             Action                hours   labor rate         Parts          airplane    registered   Fleet cost
                                            per hour                                     airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection......................       1          $65  None required.....          $65           12         $780
Rework binding..................       1           65  None required.....           65           12          780
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 17342]]

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-2005-20867; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
188-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration must receive comments on 
this AD action by May 6, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and 
F4-600R series airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F airplanes 
(collectively called A300-600 airplanes); certificated in any 
category; having serial numbers 0812, 0813, 0815 through 0818 
inclusive, 0821 through 0828 inclusive, and 0836 through 0838 
inclusive.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by reports of holes in the ram air 
turbine (RAT) hub. We are issuing this AD to prevent a hole in the 
RAT hub cover. A hole in the RAT hub cover could allow water to 
enter the RAT governing mechanism, freeze during flight, and jam the 
governing mechanism. In addition, the metal particles that result 
from chafing between the hydraulic flexible hose and the RAT could 
mix with the lubricant grease and degrade the governing mechanism. 
In an emergency, a jammed or degraded RAT could result in failure of 
RAT deployment, loss of hydraulic pressure or electrical power to 
the airplane, and consequent reduced controllability of the 
airplane.

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.

Inspection and Related Investigative/Corrective Actions

    (f) Within 2,500 flight hours after the effective date of this 
AD: Do a one-time detailed inspection for evidence of chafing 
between the hydraulic flexible hose and the RAT hub, and any 
applicable related investigative and corrective actions, by 
accomplishing all of the applicable actions specified in the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A300-29-6054, 
Revision 01, excluding Appendix 01, dated November 4, 2004. Any 
applicable corrective actions must be accomplished before further 
flight. Although the service bulletin specifies to submit certain 
information to the manufacturer, and to submit damaged RAMs to the 
vendor or a repair station, this AD does not include those 
requirements.

    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is: 
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or 
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available 
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good 
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as 
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning 
and elaborate procedures may be required.''

Actions Accomplished Previously

    (g) Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD, 
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service 
Bulletin A300-29-6054, excluding Appendix 01, dated June 8, 2004, 
are acceptable for compliance with the corresponding actions 
specified in this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) 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

    (i) French airworthiness directive F-2004-133, dated August 4, 
2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 25, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-6758 Filed 4-5-05; 8:45 am]
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