[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 6, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5362-5364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1872]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27154; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-139-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A310 Airplanes and Model 
A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R Series Airplanes, and Model C4-605R 
Variant F airplanes (Collectively Called A300-600 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 all Airbus Model A310 airplanes and Model A300-600 series 
airplanes. This proposed AD would require revising the Airworthiness 
Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness by 
incorporating new and revised certification maintenance requirements. 
This proposed AD results from the manufacturer determining that 
additional and revised certification maintenance requirements are 
necessary in order to ensure continued operational safety of the 
affected airplanes. We are proposing this AD to prevent safety-
significant latent failures that would, in combination with one or more 
other specific failures or events, result in a hazardous or 
catastrophic failure condition of avionics, hydraulic systems, fire 
detection systems, fuel systems, or other critical systems.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 8, 2007.

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 98057-3356; 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 5363]]

number ``FAA-2007-27154; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-139-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 Part 
3, ``Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMR)'' of the 
Airworthiness Limitations section (ALS) for Airbus Model A310 airplanes 
and Airbus Model A300-600 series airplanes has been updated. The new 
CMRs, among other things, introduce new inspections. CMRs are intended 
to detect safety-significant latent failures that would, in combination 
with one or more other specific failures or events, result in a 
hazardous or catastrophic failure condition of avionics, hydraulic 
systems, fire detection systems, fuel systems, or other critical 
systems.

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued A310 Certification Maintenance Requirements AI/
ST5/849/85, Issue 12, dated February 2005, to Part 3 of the ALS for 
Model A310. Airbus has also issued A300-600 Certification Maintenance 
Requirements AI/ST5/829/85, Issue 12, dated February 2005, to Part 3 of 
the ALS for Model A300-600. Issue 12 of the documents:
     Adds two new Two Star CMR tasks for the thrust reverser 
actuation and cowling;
     Corrects existing CMRs; and
     For Model A300-600: Extends the applicability of a CMR and 
corrects the effectivity paragraph of the CMR.
    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-
2005-123, dated July 20, 2005, 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 revising 
the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness by incorporating new and revised CMRs.

Clarification of Compliance Time Between the Proposed AD and the French 
Airworthiness Directive

    The French airworthiness directive specifies to conform to the CMRs 
within two months with the exception of one CMR, MSI 78.30.99 (thrust 
reverser actuation and cowling tasks for airplanes that have installed 
a third line of defense). The French airworthiness directive specifies 
to conform to MSI 78.30.99 within three months or before the 
accumulation of 7,000 flight hours since installation of a third line 
of defense, whichever occurs later.
    However, this proposed AD would require revising the Airworthiness 
Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness by 
incorporating new and revised certification maintenance requirements 
within three months after the effective date of the proposed AD. In 
developing an appropriate compliance time for this action, we 
considered the urgency associated with the subject unsafe condition, 
the availability of required parts, and the practical aspect of 
affected operators accomplishing the operational and functional tests 
of critical systems and power plants and inspections for damage of 
certain parts that are specified in the CMRs.

Costs of Compliance

    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
to comply with this proposed AD.

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                Number of U.S.-
             Action                Work hours     Average labor    Cost per       registered        Fleet cost
                                                  rate per hour    airplane        airplanes
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Revision of maintenance program               1             $80          $80                 203         $16,240
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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

[[Page 5364]]

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-2007-27154; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-
139-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by March 8, 
2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Airbus Model A310 airplanes, Model 
A300 B4-601, B4-603, B4-620, and B4-622 airplanes, Model A300 B4-
605R and B4-622R airplanes, Model A300 F4-605R and F4-622R 
airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes, certificated 
in any category.

    Note 1: This AD requires revisions to certain operator 
maintenance documents to include new inspections. Compliance with 
these actions is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes that 
have been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the areas 
addressed by these inspections, the operator may not be able to 
accomplish the inspections described in the revisions. In this 
situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must 
request approval for an alternative method of compliance according 
to paragraph (g) of this AD. The request should include a 
description of changes to the required inspections that will ensure 
the continued damage tolerance of the affected structure. The FAA 
has provided guidance for this determination in Advisory Circular 
(AC) 25.1529-1.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from the manufacturer determining that 
additional and revised certification maintenance requirements are 
necessary in order to ensure continued operational safety of the 
affected airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent safety-
significant latent failures that would, in combination with one or 
more other specific failures or events, result in a hazardous or 
catastrophic failure condition of avionics, hydraulic systems, fire 
detection systems, fuel systems, or other critical systems.

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.

Revise the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Instructions for 
Continued Airworthiness

    (f) Within three months after the effective date of this AD, 
revise the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for 
Continued Airworthiness by incorporating Airbus A300-600 
Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMRs) AI/ST5/829/85, Issue 
12, dated February 2005 (for Model A310 airplanes); or Airbus A310 
CMR AI/ST5/849/85, Issue 12, dated February 2005 (for Model A300 B4-
601, B4-603, B4-620, and B4-622 airplanes, Model A300 B4-605R and 
B4-622R airplanes, Model A300 F4-605R and F4-622R airplanes, and 
Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes); as applicable. Accomplish 
the actions specified in the applicable CMRs at the times specified 
in the applicable CMRs. The actions must be accomplished in 
accordance with the applicable CMRs.

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) French airworthiness directive F-2005-123, dated July 20, 
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 29, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-1872 Filed 2-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P