[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 6, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17351-17353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6766]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20874; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-279-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 
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 Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This 
proposed AD would require modifying the parking brake system to 
automatically restore the normal parking brake if the parking brake 
pressure decreases below a certain threshold. This proposed AD is 
prompted by a report of failure of the parking brake while the airplane 
was on the holding point of the runway before takeoff, leading to a 
runway departure. We are proposing this AD to ensure normal braking is 
available to prevent possible runway departure in the event of failure 
of the parking brake.

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.
     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-2005-20874; the directorate identifier for this docket is 
2004-NM-279-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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.

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-2005-20874; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-279-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

[[Page 17352]]

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 A319, A320, and A321 
series airplanes. The DGAC advises that one operator reported failure 
of the parking brake while the airplane was on the holding point of the 
runway before takeoff, leading to a runway departure. The flight crew 
tried to stop the airplane with the brake pedals, but were 
unsuccessful. Additional reports were received from other operators of 
incidents of braking difficulty after the parking brake was selected. 
Analysis showed that the airplane is designed so that normal braking is 
inhibited when the parking brake is selected. In the case of parking 
brake loss, a flight crew operations manual (FCOM) procedure recommends 
immediately releasing the parking brake handle to restore braking 
through the pedals; however, excess pilot workload can preclude using 
that procedure. When the parking brake lever is selected to the ON 
position, the parking brake selector valve sends a signal to the 
braking and steering control unit, which inhibits the normal braking 
system. These conditions, if not corrected, could result in possible 
runway departure in the event of failure of the parking brake.

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-32-1201, Revision 01, dated 
May 29, 2002. The service bulletin describes procedures for modifying 
the parking brake system (including installing placards) to 
automatically restore the normal parking brake if the parking brake 
pressure decreases below a certain threshold. The service bulletin also 
describes procedures for performing operational tests after 
accomplishing the modification. 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-2004-137, dated November 10, 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'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.

Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would affect about 357 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The proposed modification would take about 23 work hours per airplane, 
at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts would 
cost about $5,600 per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated 
cost of the proposed modification for U.S. operators is $2,532,915, or 
$7,095 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:

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-2005-20874; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
279-AD.

Comments Due Date

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

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

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Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 series 
airplanes; certificated in any category; except those modified in 
production by Airbus Modification 30062.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report of failure of the parking 
brake while the airplane was on the holding point of the runway 
before takeoff, leading to a runway departure. We are issuing this 
AD to ensure normal braking is available to prevent possible runway 
departure in the event of failure of the parking brake.

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 52 months after the effective date of this AD: Modify 
the parking brake system by accomplishing all the actions specified 
in the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-
32-1201, Revision 01, dated May 29, 2002.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g) The Manager, International Branch, 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-2004-137, dated November 
10, 2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 29, 2005.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-6766 Filed 4-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P