[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 11, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18237-18239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5246]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24367; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-041-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 F4-600R Series 
Airplanes and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F 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 F4-600R series airplanes and Model A300 
C4-605R Variant F airplanes. This proposed AD would require modifying 
certain structure in the fuselage zone at the lavatory venturi 
installation in the nose section, and performing a related 
investigative action and corrective action if necessary. This proposed 
AD results from an analysis that revealed that airplanes equipped with 
Airbus Modification 08909 had a concentration of loads higher than 
expected in the fuselage zone (high stress) at the lavatory venturi 
installation in the nose section, which could be the origin of cracks 
that developed in the fuselage skin and propagated from the edge of the 
air vent hole. We are proposing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking of 
the fuselage skin, which could result in loss of the structural 
integrity of the fuselage and consequent rapid depressurization of the 
airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 11, 2006.

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: Tom Stafford, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-1622; 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 in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket

[[Page 18238]]

number ``FAA-2006-24367; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-041-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 Model A300 F4-600R series 
airplanes and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes. The DGAC advises 
that analysis revealed that airplanes equipped with Airbus Modification 
08909 had a concentration of loads higher than expected in the fuselage 
zone (high stress) at the lavatory venturi installation area between 
frame (FR) 12 and FR 12A on the left-hand side of the nose section, 
which could be the origin of cracks that developed in the fuselage skin 
and propagated from the edge of the air vent hole. This condition, if 
not corrected, could result in loss of the structural integrity of the 
fuselage and consequent rapid depressurization of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A300-53-6151, dated December 2, 
2005. The service bulletin describes procedures for modifying certain 
structure in the fuselage zone at the lavatory venturi installation 
area between FR 12 and FR 12A on the left-hand side of the nose 
section, and performing a related investigative action and corrective 
action if necessary. The related investigative action is a high 
frequency eddy current inspection of the skin panel cutout for 
cracking. The corrective action in the service bulletin recommends 
contacting Airbus for instructions for crack repair.
    The DGAC mandated the service information and issued French 
airworthiness directive F-2006-030, dated February 1, 2006, 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 
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 service information 
described previously, except as discussed under ``Differences Among 
Proposed AD, French Airworthiness Directive, and Service Information.''

Differences Among Proposed AD, French Airworthiness Directive, and 
Service Information

    The service bulletin specifies that you may contact the 
manufacturer for instructions on how to repair certain conditions, but 
this proposed AD requires you to repair those conditions using a method 
that we or the DGAC (or its delegated agent) approve. In light of the 
type of repair that would be required to address the unsafe condition, 
and consistent with existing bilateral airworthiness agreements, we 
have determined that, for this proposed AD, a repair we or the DGAC (or 
its delegated agent) approve is acceptable for compliance with this 
proposed AD.
    The applicability of the French airworthiness directive excludes 
airplanes on which Airbus Service Bulletin A300-53-6151 was 
accomplished in service. However, we have not excluded those airplanes 
in the applicability of this proposed AD; rather, this proposed AD 
includes a requirement to accomplish the actions specified in that 
service bulletin. This requirement would ensure that the actions 
specified in the service bulletin and required by this proposed AD are 
accomplished on all affected airplanes. Operators must continue to 
operate the airplane in the configuration required by this proposed AD 
unless an alternative method of compliance is approved.

Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would affect about 86 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The proposed modification (including the inspection) would take about 
28 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate of $80 per work 
hour. Required parts would cost about $1,260 per airplane. Based on 
these figures, the estimated cost of the proposed AD for U.S. operators 
is $301,000, or $3,500 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.

[[Page 18239]]

    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-2006-24367; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-
041-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by May 11, 
2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A300 F4-605R and F4-622R 
airplanes and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes, certificated 
in any category; on which Airbus Modification 08909 has been done in 
production; except airplanes on which Airbus Modification 12980 has 
been done in production.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from an analysis that revealed that 
airplanes equipped with Airbus Modification 08909 had a 
concentration of loads higher than expected in the fuselage zone 
(high stress) at the lavatory venturi installation in the nose 
section, which could be the origin of cracks that developed in the 
fuselage skin and propagated from the edge of the air vent hole. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking of the fuselage 
skin, which could result in loss of the structural integrity of the 
fuselage and consequent rapid depressurization 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/Investigative Action

    (f) Before the accumulation of 16,900 total flight cycles since 
first flight of the airplane: Modify the fuselage zone at the 
lavatory venturi installation area between frame (FR) 12 and FR 12A 
on the left-hand side of the nose section and do the related 
investigative action by accomplishing all the actions specified in 
the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A300-53-
6151, dated December 2, 2005.

Corrective Action

    (g) If any crack is found during the inspection required by this 
AD and Airbus Service Bulletin A300-53-6151, dated December 2, 2005, 
specifies to contact Airbus for crack repair: Before further flight, 
repair the crack using a method approved by either the Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; 
or the Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation Civile (or its 
delegated agent).

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(1) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance 
with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

Related Information

    (i) French airworthiness directive F-2006-030, dated February 1, 
2006, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 30, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-5246 Filed 4-10-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P