[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 96 (Thursday, May 18, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28819-28821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7560]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24793; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-056-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330, A340-200, and A340-
300 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 A330, A340-200, and A340-300 airplanes. This 
proposed AD would require replacing the attachment landing assemblies 
of certain blow-down panels of the wing leading edges with new, 
improved landing assemblies. This proposed AD results from several 
reports of full or partial loss of certain blow-down panels of the wing 
leading edges during flight. We are proposing this AD to prevent damage 
to the airplane and hazards to persons or property on the ground.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 19, 2006.

[[Page 28820]]


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, 
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 in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2006-
24793; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-056-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 European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) notified us that an 
unsafe condition may exist on certain Airbus A330, A340-200, and A340-
300 airplanes. The EASA advises that several operators have reported 
full or partial loss of certain blow-down panels of the wing leading 
edges during flight. Analysis showed that wing vibration resulted in 
wear formation of the rivet slots or complete shearing of the attaching 
rivets of the blow-down panel landings. This condition, if not 
corrected, could result in damage to the airplane and hazards to 
persons or property on the ground.

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Service Bulletins A330-57-3091; and A340-57-4100; 
both dated October 25, 2005. The service bulletins describe procedures 
for replacing the attachment landing assemblies of certain blow-down 
panels of the wing leading edges with new, improved landing assemblies. 
Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is 
intended to adequately address the unsafe condition. The EASA mandated 
the service information and issued the EASA airworthiness directive 
2006-0048, dated February 16, 2006, to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of these airplanes in the European Union.

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 FAA Order 
8100.14A, ``Interim Procedures for Working with the European Community 
on Airworthiness Certification and Continued Airworthiness,'' dated 
August 12, 2005, the EASA has kept the FAA informed of the situation 
described above. We have examined the EASA'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

    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
of Model A330 airplanes to comply with the modifications required by 
this proposed AD. The estimated labor rate is $80 per work hour.

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Number of U.S.-
       Airplane group           Work hours         Parts      Cost per airplane     registered      Fleet cost
                                                                                    airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1, 2, 3, 4, 5...............              68         $25,120            $30,560  5 (group 2             $152,800
                                                                                  only).
6...........................              11           2,480              3,360  22.............          73,920
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Currently, there are no Model A340-200 or A340-300 airplanes on the 
U.S. Register. However, if an affected Model A340-200 or A340-300 
airplane is imported and placed on the U.S. Register in the future, the 
estimated costs shown in the table above will apply to accomplish the 
required actions of this proposed AD for that 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,

[[Page 28821]]

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-2006-24793; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-
056-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by June 19, 
2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus A330, A340-200, and A340-300 
airplanes, certificated in any category; all serial numbers; except 
for airplanes which have received both Airbus modification 47249 and 
Airbus modification 53383 in production.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from several reports of full or partial loss 
of certain blow-down panels of the wing leading edges during flight. 
We are issuing this AD to prevent damage to the airplane and hazards 
to persons or property on the ground.

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.

Replacement

    (f) Within 56 months after the effective date of this AD, 
replace the landing assemblies of certain blow-down panels of the 
wing leading edges with new, improved landing assemblies; in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service 
Bulletin A330-57-3091; or Airbus Service Bulletin A340-57-4100; both 
dated October 25, 2005; as applicable.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g)(1) 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.
    (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

    (h) The European Aviation Safety Agency airworthiness directive 
2006-0048, dated February 16, 2006, also addresses the subject of 
this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 9, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-7560 Filed 5-17-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P