[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 6, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17347-17349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6768]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20861; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-020-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B2 and B4 Series 
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 B2 and B4 series airplanes. This proposed 
AD would require modifying the wiring of the autopilot pitch torque 
limiter switch. This proposed AD is prompted by several reports of 
pitch trim disconnect caused by insufficient length in the wiring to 
the pitch torque limiter lever. We are proposing this AD to prevent 
possible trim loss when the flightcrew tries to override the autopilot 
pitch control, which could result in uncontrolled flight 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.
     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 
Jacques Leborgne, Airbus Customer Service Directorate, 1 Rond Point 
Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; fax (+33) 5 61 93 36 14.
    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-2005-20861; the directorate identifier for this docket is 
2005-NM-020-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosanne Ryburn, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2139; 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-2005-20861; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-020-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.

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,

[[Page 17348]]

notified us that an unsafe condition may exist on certain Airbus Model 
A300 B2 and B4 series airplanes. The DGAC advises of several reports of 
pitch trim disconnect caused by insufficient length in the wiring to 
the pitch torque limiter lever. The DGAC also advises of possible trim 
loss when the flightcrew tries to override the autopilot pitch control. 
Possible trim loss, if not corrected, could result in uncontrolled 
flight of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A300-22-0117, dated September 7, 
2004. The service bulletin describes procedures for modifying the 
wiring of the autopilot pitch torque limiter switch. For certain 
airplanes, modification includes installing new clamps and harnesses. 
For certain other airplanes, modification includes the following:
     Modifying the equipment and wiring in the left-hand 
electronics rack 80VU.
     Modifying the equipment and wiring in relay box 103VU.
     Modifying the wiring between the left-hand rack 80VU and 
relay box 103VU.
     Modifying the wiring between the rudder and the upper half 
of the fuselage.
    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-
2004-186, dated November 24, 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 20 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The proposed actions would take about between 8 and 11 work hours per 
airplane, depending on airplane configuration, at an average labor rate 
of $65 per work hour. Required parts would cost about $1,840 and $4,280 
per airplane, depending on airplane configuration. Based on these 
figures, the estimated cost of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is 
between $47,200 and $99,900, or between $2,360 and $4,995 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-2005-20861; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-
020-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 B2 and B4 series 
airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in Airbus 
Service Bulletin A300-22-0117, dated September 7, 2004.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by several reports of pitch trim 
disconnect caused by insufficient length in the wiring to the pitch 
torque limiter lever. We are issuing this AD to prevent possible 
trim loss when the flightcrew tries to override the autopilot pitch 
control, which could result in uncontrolled flight 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.

Modification

    (f) Within 20 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the wiring of the autopilot pitch torque limiter switch, by doing 
all of the applicable actions specified in the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A300-22-0117, dated 
September 7, 2004.

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.

[[Page 17349]]

Related Information

    (h) French airworthiness directive F-2004-186, dated November 
24, 2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 30, 2005.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-6768 Filed 4-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P