[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 26, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43024-43025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14391]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-21023; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-262-AD; 
Amendment 39-14196; AD 2005-15-07]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A320-111 Airplanes and 
Model A320-200 Series Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Airbus Model A320-111 airplanes and Model A320-200 series 
airplanes. This AD requires installing insulator and cable ties to the 
electrical cables of the S routes at the gaps in the raceway in the 
wing trailing edge and the wing tip and wing root areas. This AD 
results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent injection of high voltage current into the 
low voltage wiring that passes through the fuel tanks, which could 
result in a possible fuel tank explosion.

DATES: Effective August 30, 2005.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of August 30, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the 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., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
    Contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, 
France, for service information identified in this 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:

Examining the Docket

    You may 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 street address stated in the 
ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain Airbus Model 
A320-111 airplanes and Model A320-200 series airplanes. That NPRM was 
published in the Federal Register on April 21, 2005 (70 FR 20724). That 
NPRM proposed to require installing insulator and cable ties to the 
electrical cables of the S routes at the gaps in the raceway in the 
wing trailing edge and the wing tip and wing root areas.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comment that has been 
received on the NPRM.

Support for the Proposed AD

    One commenter supports the NPRM.

Explanation of Change to Applicability

    We have revised the applicability of this AD to identify model 
designations as published in the most recent type certificate data 
sheet for the affected models.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment that has been received, and determined that air safety and the 
public interest require adopting the AD with the change described 
above.

[[Page 43025]]

Costs of Compliance

    This AD affects about 54 airplanes of U.S. registry. The actions 
take about 35 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 
per work hour. Required parts cost about $0 per airplane. Based on 
these figures, the estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators is 
$122,850, or $2,275 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 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 and placed it in the AD docket. 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2005-15-07 Airbus: Amendment 39-14196. Docket No. FAA-2005-21023; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-262-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective August 30, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.
    Applicability: (c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A320-111 
airplanes; and Model A320-211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 
airplanes; certificated in any category; except those modified in 
production by Airbus Modification 22626.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by the results of fuel system reviews 
conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
injection of high voltage current into the low voltage wiring that 
passes through the fuel tanks, which could result in a possible fuel 
tank explosion.
    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 60 months after the effective date of this AD, 
install insulator and cable ties to the electrical cables of the S 
routes at the gaps in the raceway in the wing trailing edge and the 
wing tip and wing root areas, in accordance with Airbus Service 
Bulletin A320-24-1062, Revision 05, dated June 27, 2002.

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.

Related Information

    (h) French airworthiness directive F-2004-173, dated October 27, 
2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A320-24-1062, Revision 
05, dated June 27, 2002, to perform the actions that are required by 
this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this 
document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 
Contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, 
France, for a copy of this service information. You may review 
copies at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Room PL-401, Nassif 
Building, Washington, DC; on the internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or 
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material at the NARA, call 
(202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 13, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-14391 Filed 7-25-05; 8:45 am]
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