[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 24, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40222-40224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14044]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27268; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-190-AD; 
Amendment 39-15135; AD 2007-15-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 
Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 airplanes. This AD requires 
revising the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for 
Continued Airworthiness to incorporate new limitations for fuel tank 
systems. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the 
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential of 
ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with 
flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and 
consequent loss of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective August 28, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of August 28, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC.
    Contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, 
France, for service information identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Dulin, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
227-2141; 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 Operations 
office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is 
located on the ground floor of the West 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 would apply to all Airbus Model A318, 
A319, A320, and A321 airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal 
Register on February 22, 2007 (72 FR 7936). That NPRM proposed to 
require revising the Airworthiness Limitations section of the 
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate new limitations 
for fuel tank systems.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the single comment received. 
The commenter, Airbus, supports the NPRM.

[[Page 40223]]

Explanation of Change to Applicability

    We have removed the Model A318-121 and A318-122 airplanes from the 
applicability because Models A318-121 and A318-122 have not yet been 
certificated by the FAA. When the Model A318-121 and A318-122 are 
certificated, the airworthiness limitations applicable to these models 
will include the limitations required by this AD in the FAA-approved 
type design for these models.

Changes to Language for Repetitive Intervals

    In paragraph (f) of the NPRM, we stated that all tasks identified 
in Section 1 of Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 Fuel Airworthiness 
Limitations, Document 95A.1931/05, Issue 1, dated December 19, 2005, `` 
* * * must be accomplished within the repetitive interval specified in 
Section 1 of Document 95A.1931/05. * * *'' We have revised paragraph 
(f) of this AD to more clearly state that ``* * * the repetitive 
inspections must be accomplished thereafter at the intervals specified 
in Section 1 of Document 95A.1931/05. * * *''
    Airbus issued Operator Information Telex (OIT) SE 999.0076/06, 
dated June 20, 2006, to identify the applicable sections of the Airbus 
A318/A319/A320/A321 Airplane Maintenance Manual necessary for 
accomplishing the tasks specified in Section 1 of Document 95A.1931/05. 
We have added a note to paragraph (f) of this AD to refer to that OIT.

Clarification of Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC) Paragraph

    We have revised this action to clarify the appropriate procedure 
for notifying the principal inspector before using any approved AMOC on 
any airplane to which the AMOC applies.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously. 
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the 
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD affects about 720 airplanes of U.S. registry. The required 
actions take about 2 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate 
of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of 
this AD for U.S. operators is $115,200, or $160 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 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

    2007-15-06 Airbus: Amendment 39-15135. Docket No. FAA-2007-
27268; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-190-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective August 28, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Airbus Model A318-111 and -112 
airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -
133 airplanes; Model A320-111, -211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -
233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -
231, and -232 airplanes; certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD requires revisions to certain operator 
maintenance documents to include new inspections and critical design 
configuration control limitations (CDCCLs). Compliance with the 
operator maintenance documents 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 and CDCCLs, the operator 
may not be able to accomplish inspections and CDCCLs 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 (i) of this AD. The request should 
include a description of changes to the required inspections and 
CDCCLs that will preserve the critical ignition source prevention 
feature of the affected fuel system.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the 
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential of 
ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with 
flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and 
consequent loss 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.

Revise Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) To Incorporate Fuel 
Maintenance and Inspection Tasks

    (f) Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the ALS of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to 
incorporate Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 ALS Part 5--Fuel 
Airworthiness Limitations, dated February 28, 2006, as defined in 
Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 Fuel Airworthiness Limitations, Document 
95A.1931/05, Issue 1, dated December 19, 2005 (approved by the 
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on

[[Page 40224]]

March 14, 2006), Section 1, ``Maintenance/Inspection Tasks.'' For 
all tasks identified in Section 1 of Document 95A.1931/05, the 
initial compliance times start from the effective date of this AD 
and the repetitive inspections must be accomplished thereafter at 
the intervals specified in Section 1 of Document 95A.1931/05.

    Note 2: Airbus Operator Information Telex (OIT) SE 999.0076/06, 
dated June 20, 2006, identifies the applicable sections of the 
Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 Airplane Maintenance Manual necessary for 
accomplishing the tasks specified in Section 1 of Document 95A.1931/
05.

Revise ALS To Incorporate CDCCLs

    (g) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the ALS of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to 
incorporate Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 ALS Part 5--Fuel 
Airworthiness Limitations, dated February 28, 2006, as defined in 
Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 Fuel Airworthiness Limitations, Document 
95A.1931/05, Issue 1, dated December 19, 2005 (approved by the EASA 
on March 14, 2006), Section 2, ``Critical Design Configuration 
Control Limitations.''

No Alternative Inspections, Inspection Intervals, or CDCCLs

    (h) Except as provided by paragraph (i) of this AD: After 
accomplishing the actions specified in paragraphs (f) and (g) of 
this AD, no alternative inspections, inspection intervals, or CDCCLs 
may be used.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(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) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.

Related Information

    (j) EASA airworthiness directive 2006-0203, dated July 11, 2006, 
also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 Fuel Airworthiness 
Limitations, Document 95A.1931/05, Issue 1, dated December 19, 2005; 
and Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 ALS Part 5--Fuel Airworthiness 
Limitations, dated February 28, 2006; to perform the actions that 
are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 
Director of the Federal Register approves the incorporation by 
reference of these documents in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 
1 CFR part 51. Contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 
Blagnac Cedex, France, for a copy of this service information. You 
may review copies at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 
Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the National Archives 
and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: 
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 13, 2007.
Stephen P. Boyd,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-14044 Filed 7-23-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P