[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 180 (Monday, September 19, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54852-54854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18530]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 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.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 180 / Monday, September 19, 2005 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 54852]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22455; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-095-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 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 Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series 
airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called 
A300-600 series airplanes); and Model A310-300 series airplanes. This 
proposed AD would require inspecting the pilot's and co-pilot's seats 
to determine if a certain actuator having a certain part number is 
installed, and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD results 
from a production defect found in certain actuators during overhaul of 
the pilot's and co-pilot's seats. We are proposing this AD to prevent 
uncommanded movement of the pilot's or co-pilot's seat, which could 
result in interference with the operation of the airplane and 
consequent temporary loss of airplane control.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 19, 
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.
     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.
    Contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, 
France, for service information identified in this proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Backman, Aerospace Engineer, ANM-
116, International Branch, 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. Include the docket number ``FAA-
2005-22455; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-095-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 received 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 
that 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 may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

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 DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the Docket Management System 
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 series airplanes); and Model 
A310-300 series airplanes. The DGAC advises that a production defect 
(abnormal wear of the gear at the end of the rotor shaft) was found on 
certain actuators during overhaul of the pilot's and co-pilot's seats. 
That defect could cause a deficiency in the seat control system and 
consequent uncommanded horizontal movement of the seats which is 
hazardous at high speeds during takeoff. Further investigation revealed 
that a batch of actuators were equipped with defective rotor shafts. 
These conditions, if not corrected, could result in uncommanded 
movement of the pilot's or co-pilot's seat, which could result in 
interference with the operation of the airplane and consequent 
temporary loss of airplane control.

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Service Bulletins A300-25-6194 (for A300-600 
series airplanes) and A310-25-2182 (for A310-300 series airplanes), 
both dated February 1, 2005. The service bulletins describe procedures 
for inspecting the pilot's and co-pilot's seats to determine if a 
certain actuator having a certain part number (P/N) is installed, and 
corrective action if necessary. The corrective action includes 
replacing any affected actuator with a new actuator. Accomplishing the 
actions specified in the service information is intended to adequately 
address the unsafe condition. The DGAC mandated the

[[Page 54853]]

service information and issued French airworthiness directive F-2005-
038, dated March 2, 2005, to ensure the continued airworthiness of 
these airplanes in France.
    The proposed AD refers to Sogerma-Services Service Bulletin TAA12-
25-616, dated November 30, 2004, as an additional source of service 
information for accomplishing the actuator replacement.

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 airplanes 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 Airbus service information 
described previously, except as discussed under ``Differences Between 
the Proposed AD and Service Information.''

Differences Between the Proposed AD and Service Information

    The French airworthiness directive requires inspecting the pilot's 
and co-pilot's seats to determine if a certain seat having a certain P/
N is installed, and if a certain actuator with a certain P/N is 
installed on the seat, but this proposed AD does not require an 
inspection for the P/N of the seat. The P/Ns for the seats are 
identified in the applicability section of this proposed AD; therefore, 
an inspection for that P/N is not necessary. Therefore, this AD 
requires an inspection for the actuator P/Ns only.
    Although the service bulletins referenced in this proposed AD 
specify to submit an inspection report to the manufacturer, this 
proposed AD does not include that requirement.

Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would affect about 169 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The proposed inspection would take about 1 work hour per airplane, at 
an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is $10,985, or $65 
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 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, 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2005-22455; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-
095-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by October 
19, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A300 B4-601, B4-603, B4-620, 
and B4-622 airplanes, A300 B4-605R and B4-622R airplanes, A300 F4-
605R and F4-622R airplanes, and A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes; 
and Airbus Model A310-304, -322, -324, and -325 airplanes; 
certificated in any category; equipped with Sogerma Socea powered 
seats having part number (P/N) TAAI2-13PE00-01, -13PE01-01, -13CE00-
01, or 13CE01-01 installed.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a production defect found in certain 
actuators during overhaul of the pilot's and co-pilot's seats. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent uncommanded movement of the pilot's 
or co-pilot's seat, which could result in interference with the 
operation of the airplane and consequent temporary loss of airplane 
control.

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 for Actuator Part Numbers and Corrective Action

    (f) Within 600 flight hours or 30 days after the effective date 
of this AD, whichever is first: Inspect to determine if a Messier 
Bugatti (Labinal) actuator with P/N 4136290004 or 4136290005 is 
installed on the pilot's or co-pilot's seat by doing all the actions 
specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service 
Bulletin A310-25-2182 (for A310-300 series airplanes) or A300-25-
6194 (for A300-600 series airplanes), both dated February 1, 2005, 
as applicable.
    (1) If no actuator with the identified P/N is installed, no 
further action is required by this paragraph.
    (2) If any actuator with any identified P/N is installed: Within 
6 months after the effective date of this AD, replace the affected 
actuator with a new actuator in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the applicable service bulletin.

    Note 1: Airbus Service Bulletins A310-25-2182 and A300-25-6194, 
both dated February 1, 2005, reference Sogerma-Services Service 
Bulletin TAA12-25-616, dated November 30, 2004, as an additional 
source of service information for accomplishing the actuator 
replacement.


[[Page 54854]]



Parts Installation

    (g) After the effective date of this AD, no Messier Bugatti 
(Labinal) actuator with P/N 4136290004 or 4136290005 may be 
installed on any airplane.

No Reporting Required

    (h) Although the service bulletins referenced in this AD specify 
to submit an inspection report to the manufacturer, this AD does not 
include that requirement.

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-2005-038, dated March 2, 
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 9, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-18530 Filed 9-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P