[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 14, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54321-54323]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18211]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22411; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-074-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B2 Series Airplanes; 
Model A300 B4 Series Airplanes; Model A300 B4-600 Series Airplanes; 
Model A300 B4-600R Series Airplanes; Model F4 600R Series Airplanes; 
Model A300 C4-605R Variant F Airplanes; and Model A310-200 Series 
Airplanes; and Model A310-300 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 transport category airplanes. This proposed AD would 
require replacing the existing cabin altitude indicator in the cabin 
pressure control panel with a new, improved cabin altitude indicator. 
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 prevent injury to 
crewmembers, and subsequent damage to the airplane caused by rapid 
opening of the door.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 14, 
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.

[[Page 54322]]

    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-2005-22411; the directorate identifier for this docket is 
2005-NM-074-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-2005-22411; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-074-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 Docket Management System 
(DMS) receives them.

Discussion

    The DGAC, which is the airworthiness authority for France, notified 
us that an unsafe condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A300 B2 
series airplanes and A300 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 the existing cabin altitude pressure 
indicator can give a false indication of the cabin altitude especially 
when the pressurization system is operated in manual mode. Accidents 
have occurred on in-service airplanes when crewmembers forcibly 
initiated opening of passenger/crew doors against residual pressure (a 
positive pressure difference between inside the cabin and outside the 
cabin) causing the doors to rapidly open. In these accidents, the 
existing pressurization system did not indicate the presence of 
residual pressure in the cabin.

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Service Bulletins A300-21-0131, Revision 01, 
dated January 6, 2005; A300-21-6050, Revision 01, dated December 17, 
2004; and A310-21-2063, Revision 01, dated January 6, 2005. The service 
bulletins describe procedures for replacing the existing cabin altitude 
indicator in the cabin pressure control panel with a new improved cabin 
altitude indicator. The new cabin altitude indicator introduces a stop 
in the needle driving mechanism to limit the needle position near 5,000 
feet in case of extreme low altitude. (A stop already exists for the 
``overhigh'' altitude.) The new cabin altitude indicator is designed to 
prevent false interpretation of the needle position when altitude goes 
out of the normal range. 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-2005-027, dated February 16, 2005, to ensure 
the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France.
    All three service bulletins described above reference Thales 
Service Bulletin 37000-3-21-001, dated October 8, 2004, as an 
additional source of service information for replacing the cabin 
altitude indicator.

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.

Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would affect about 194 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The proposed actions would take about 7 work hours per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts would cost 
about $1,246 per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost 
of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is $329,994, or $1,701 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

[[Page 54323]]

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-2005-22411; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-
074-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration must receive comments on 
this AD action by October 14, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A300 B2-1A, B2-1C, B2K-3C, 
and B2-203 airplanes; Model A300 B4-2C, B4-103, and B4-203 
airplanes; Model A300 B4-601, B4-603, B4-620, and B4-622 airplanes; 
Model A300 B4-605R and B4-622 airplanes; Model A300 F4-605R and F4-
622R airplanes; Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes; Model A310-
203, -204, -221, and -222 airplanes; and Model A310-304, -322, -324, 
and -325 airplanes; certificated in any category; except for those 
airplanes on which Airbus Modification 12857 has been incorporated 
in production.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was 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 issuing this AD to 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.

Replacing the Cabin Altitude Indicator

    (f) Within 22 months after the effective date of this AD, 
replace the cabin altitude indicator (Part Number (P/N) 37000-3) in 
the cabin pressure control panel with a new improved cabin altitude 
indicator (P/N 37000-3-01), in accordance with the service bulletins 
specified in Table 1 of this AD, as applicable.

                                       Table 1.--Airbus Service Bulletins
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                                           Service bulletin and revision
                  Model                                number                               Date
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Model A300 B2 and A300 B4 series          A300-21-0131, Revision 01......  January 6, 2005.
 airplanes.
Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R and F4-600R    A300-21-6050, Revision 01......  December 17, 2004.
 series airplanes, and Model C4-605R
 Variant F airplanes.
Model A310-200 and -300 series airplanes  A310-21-2063, Revision 01......  January 6, 2005.
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    Note 1: The service bulletins specified in Table 1 of paragraph 
(f) of this AD describe installation of an in-service modification 
equivalent to production modification 12857.

Additional Source of Service Information

    Note 2: Each of the service bulletins specified in paragraph (f) 
of this AD refers to Thales Service Bulletin 37000-3-21-001, dated 
October 8, 2004, as an additional source of service information.

Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service Information

    (g) Replacement of the cabin altitude indicator with a new, 
improved indicator, in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A300-
21-6050, dated September 9, 2004; or A310-21-2063, dated September 
9, 2004; as applicable, before the effective date of this AD, is 
acceptable for the compliance with the requirements of paragraph (f) 
of this AD.

Parts Installation

    (h) After the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
Thales cabin altitude indicator having part number 37000-3 on any 
airplane.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 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-2005-027, dated February 
16, 2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 6, 2005.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-18211 Filed 9-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P