[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 23, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29580-29583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4675]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-23760; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-211-AD; 
Amendment 39-14605; AD 2006-11-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B4-600R and A300 F4-
600R Series Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD),

[[Page 29581]]

which applies to certain Airbus Model A300 B4-600R and A300 F4-600R 
series airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitive inspections for 
damage of the center tank fuel pumps and fuel pump canisters and 
replacement of any damaged parts, and mandates modification of the 
canisters of the center tank fuel pumps, which terminates the 
repetitive inspections. For certain airplanes, this new AD requires a 
one-time inspection of the attachment bolts of the outlet flange of the 
canisters of the center tank fuel pumps for bolts that are too short 
and do not protrude through the nut, and replacement of the bolts if 
necessary. This AD results from several reports that the attachment 
bolts for the canisters, modified by the requirements in the existing 
AD, are too short and do not fully protrude from the nuts. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent damage to the fuel pump and fuel pump 
canister, which could result in loss of flame trap capability and could 
provide a fuel ignition source in the center fuel tank.

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 27, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of June 27, 2006.
    On December 20, 2004 (69 FR 65528, November 15, 2004), the Director 
of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of 
certain publications.
    On February 8, 2000 (65 FR 213, January 4, 2000), the Director of 
the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a 
certain publication.
    On December 28, 1998 (63 FR 70639, December 22, 1998), the Director 
of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a 
certain publication.

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: Thomas Stafford, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-1622; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the airworthiness directive (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 supersedes AD 2004-23-08, amendment 
39-13863 (69 FR 65528, November 15, 2004). The existing AD applies to 
certain Airbus Model A300 B4-600R and A300 F4-600R series airplanes. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on February 2, 2006 (71 
FR 5620). That NPRM proposed to continue to require repetitive 
inspections for damage of the center tank fuel pumps and fuel pump 
canisters and replacement of any damaged parts, and modification of the 
canisters of the center tank fuel pumps, which terminates the 
repetitive inspections. For certain airplanes, that NPRM also proposed 
to require a one-time inspection of the attachment bolts of the outlet 
flange of the canisters of the center tank fuel pumps for bolts that 
are too short and do not protrude through the nut, and replacement of 
the bolts if necessary.

Comments

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

Request for Exemption From New Actions

    Airbus asks that we include a note that specifies that airplanes on 
which Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6069, Revision 02, dated October 
17, 2003, has been accomplished previously are exempt from the new 
requirements in the NPRM.
    American Airlines (AA) states that paragraph (j) of the NPRM does 
not specifically reference Service Bulletin A300-28-6069, Revision 02; 
therefore, AA concludes that airplanes modified per Revision 02 are 
excluded from the NPRM because they would have been modified by 
incorporating the correct length bolt. AA adds that paragraph (j) 
instructs operators to do all the actions in accordance with paragraphs 
3.A., 3.B., 3.C., 3.D., and 3.E. of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6087, dated April 8, 2005. AA notes 
that Service Bulletin A300-28-6087 specifies that if the additional 
work in Service Bulletin A300-28-6069, Revision 02, has been 
accomplished, the actions specified in Service Bulletin A300-28-6087 
are not applicable. AA states that this conclusion may not be readily 
apparent to all operators and should be clarified.
    We agree with the above comments. We have included a note which 
specifies that airplanes modified in accordance with Service Bulletin 
A300-28-6069, Revision 02, are not subject to the requirements of 
paragraph (j) of this AD.

Request for Increased Administrative Responsiveness

    AA provided comments on its perception of the lack of 
administrative responsiveness to relevant emerging service information 
affecting regulatory actions. AA states that AD 2004-23-08, amendment 
39-13863 (69 FR 65528, November 15, 2004), issued on November 15, 2004, 
is an example of where relevant information to the regulatory actions 
was published prior to the release of the subject NPRM. AA adds that 
the unsafe condition addressed in this NPRM supersedure was first 
published in Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6069, Revision 02, dated 
October 17, 2003, which was issued 13 months prior to the release of AD 
2004-23-08 (the AD that was superseded). AA notes that sufficient 
awareness during that time should have allowed both unsafe conditions 
to be addressed concurrently in the NPRM.
    Although AA did not submit a specific request, we acknowledge their 
comments. We make every effort to streamline our rulemaking process and 
ensure that a complete and up-to-date rulemaking package is issued. 
While the condition was addressed in an earlier service bulletin, the 
corresponding DGAC airworthiness directive was not published until 
after we issued AD 2004-23-08. At that time we discovered that an 
unsafe condition existed related to the actions required by that AD. We 
are responsible for ensuring the continued airworthiness of U.S. type 
certificated and U.S-registered airplanes. Thus, we determined it was 
necessary to address the identified unsafe condition. This AD is 
intended to address that unsafe condition, and we find no change to 
this AD is possible with regard to the commenter's statements.

[[Page 29582]]

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD affects about 101 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The inspections that are required by AD 2004-23-08, and retained in 
this AD, take about 2 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate 
of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the 
currently required inspections is $130 per airplane, per inspection 
cycle.
    The modification that is required by AD 2004-23-08, and retained in 
this AD, takes about 2 work hours per airplane, at an average labor 
rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts will cost about $9,620 per 
airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the currently 
required modification is $9,750 per airplane.
    The new one-time inspection takes 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 new inspection specified in this AD for U.S. 
operators is $6,565 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 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 
removing amendment 39-13863 (69 FR 65528, November 15, 2004) and by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2006-11-01 Airbus: Amendment 39-14605. Docket No. FAA-2006-23760; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-211-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective June 27, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2004-23-08.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A300 B4-605R and B4-622R 
airplanes, and Model A300 F4-605R and F4-622R airplanes; 
certificated in any category; on which Airbus Modification 4801 has 
been accomplished; except airplanes on which Airbus Modification 
12314 has been installed in production.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from several reports that the attachment 
bolts for the canisters, modified by the requirements in the 
existing AD, are too short and do not fully protrude from the nuts. 
We are issuing this AD to prevent damage to the fuel pump and fuel 
pump canister, which could result in loss of flame trap capability 
and could provide a fuel ignition source in the center fuel tank.

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.

Restatement of Requirements of AD 2004-23-08

Inspections

    (f) Prior to the accumulation of 5,000 total hours' time-in-
service or within 250 hours' time-in-service after February 8, 2000 
(the effective date of AD 99-27-07 (superseded by AD 2004-23-08), 
amendment 39-11488), whichever occurs later, perform a detailed 
inspection for damage of the center tank fuel pumps and fuel pump 
canisters, in accordance with Airbus All Operators Telex (AOT) 28-
09, dated November 28, 1998. Repeat the inspection prior to the 
accumulation of 12,000 total hours' time-in-service, or within 250 
hours' time-in-service after accomplishment of the initial 
inspection, whichever occurs later. Thereafter, repeat the 
inspection at intervals not to exceed 250 hours' time-in-service, 
until accomplishment of the initial inspection required by paragraph 
(g) of this AD.


    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is: 
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or 
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available 
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good 
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as 
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning 
and elaborate procedures may be required.''


    (g) At the applicable time specified in paragraph (g)(1), 
(g)(2), or (g)(3) of this AD: Perform a detailed inspection to 
detect damage of the center tank fuel pumps and perform an eddy 
current inspection to detect damage of the fuel pump canisters, in 
accordance with Airbus Alert Service Bulletin A300-28A6061, dated 
February 19, 1999; or Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6061, Revision 
04, dated August 1, 2002. Repeat the inspections thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 1,500 flight cycles, until accomplishment of 
paragraph (i) of this AD. Accomplishment of the inspection required 
by this paragraph constitutes terminating action for the 
requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD.
    (1) For airplanes that have accumulated 11,000 or more total 
flight cycles as of February 8, 2000: Inspect within 300 flight 
cycles after February 8, 2000.
    (2) For airplanes that have accumulated 8,500 or more total 
flight cycles, but fewer than 11,000 total flight cycles, as of 
February 8, 2000: Inspect within 750 flight cycles after February 8, 
2000.
    (3) For airplanes that have accumulated fewer than 8,500 total 
flight cycles as of February 8, 2000: Inspect prior to the 
accumulation of 7,000 flight cycles, or within 1,500 flight cycles 
after February 8, 2000, whichever occurs later.

[[Page 29583]]

Corrective Action

    (h) If any damage is detected during any inspection required by 
this AD, prior to further flight, replace the damaged fuel pump or 
fuel pump canister with a new or serviceable part in accordance with 
Airbus Alert Service Bulletin A300-28A6061, dated February 19, 1999; 
or Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6061, Revision 04, dated August 
1, 2002.

Modification

    (i) Within 18 months after December 20, 2004 (the effective date 
of AD 2004-23-08): Modify the canisters of the center tank fuel 
pumps (including an operational test) by doing all the actions in 
accordance with paragraphs 3.A., 3.B., 3.C., and 3.D. of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6069, 
dated September 4, 2001; Revision 01, dated May 28, 2002; or 
Revision 02, dated October 17, 2003. After the effective date of 
this AD, Revision 02 of the service bulletin must be used for 
accomplishing the modification. Accomplishing this modification ends 
the repetitive inspections required by paragraph (g) of this AD.

New Requirements of This AD

One-Time Inspection/Replacement if Necessary

    (j) For airplanes on which Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6069, 
dated September 4, 2001; or Revision 01, dated May 28, 2002, has 
been accomplished before the effective date of this AD: Within 18 
months after the effective date of this AD, perform a one-time 
detailed inspection of the attachment bolts of the outlet flange of 
the canisters of the center tank fuel pumps for bolts that are too 
short and do not protrude through the nut, and replace the bolts as 
applicable, by doing all the actions in accordance with paragraphs 
3.A., 3.B., 3.C., 3.D., and 3.E. of the Accomplishment Instructions 
of Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6087, dated April 8, 2005. Do any 
applicable bolt replacement before further flight.


    Note 2: Airplanes modified in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6069, Revision 02, 
dated October 17, 2003, are not subject to the requirements of 
paragraph (j) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (k)(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.
    (3) AMOCs approved previously in accordance with AD 2004-23-08 
are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of this AD.

Related Information

    (l) French airworthiness directive F-2005-147, dated August 17, 
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (m) You must use the service bulletins specified in Table 1 of 
this AD, as applicable; to perform the actions that are required by 
this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6069, 
dated September 4, 2001; Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6069, 
Revision 02, dated October 17, 2003; and Airbus Service Bulletin 
A300-28-6087, dated April 8, 2005, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) On December 20, 2004 (69 FR 65528, November 15, 2004), the 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6069, Revision 01, 
dated May 28, 2002; and Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6061, 
Revision 04, dated August 1, 2002.
    (3) On February 8, 2000 (65 FR 213, January 4, 2000), the 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of Airbus Alert Service Bulletin A300-28A6061, dated 
February 19, 1999.
    (4) On December 28, 1998 (63 FR 70639, December 22, 1998), the 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of Airbus All Operators Telex (AOT) 28-09, dated November 
28, 1998.
    (5) 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 html.

                                  Table 1.--Material Incorporated by Reference
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       Airbus service information              Revision level                            Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Airbus Alert Service Bulletin A300-      Original..................  February 19, 1999.
 28A6061.
Airbus All Operators Telex 28-09.......  Original..................  November 28, 1998.
Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6061...  04........................  August 1, 2002.
Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6069...  Original..................  September 4, 2001.
Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6069...  01........................  May 28, 2002.
Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6069...  02........................  October 17, 2003.
Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6087...  Original..................  April 8, 2005.
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    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 11, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-4675 Filed 5-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P