[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 236 (Monday, December 10, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69612-69614]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23544]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-28996; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-217-AD; 
Amendment 39-15283; AD 2007-25-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A310 Series 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 A310 series airplanes. This AD requires revising the 
Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness to incorporate new and revised structural inspections and 
inspection intervals. This AD results from issuance of new and revised 
structural inspections and inspection intervals. We are issuing this AD 
to detect and correct fatigue cracking, which could result in reduced 
structural integrity of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective January 14, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of January 14, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The address for the 
Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is the Document Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

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: 

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 A310 
series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on 
August 16, 2007 (72 FR 45952). That NPRM proposed to require revising 
the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness to incorporate new and revised structural inspections and 
inspection intervals.

Comments

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

[[Page 69613]]

Support for the NPRM

    Airbus supports issuance of this AD without further delay.

Request To Revise Address for Reporting Requirement

    Airbus requests that we revise the address for the reporting 
requirement specified in the NPRM. We agree and have revised paragraph 
(i) of this AD to refer to the address provided in Airbus's comment.

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 with the change described previously. 
We have determined that this change will neither increase the economic 
burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD affects about 69 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 the 
AD for U.S. operators is $11,040, 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):

2007-25-02 Airbus: Amendment 39-15283. Docket No. FAA-2007-28996; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-217-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective January 14, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Airbus Model A310 series airplanes, 
certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD requires revisions to certain operator 
maintenance documents to include new inspections. Compliance with 
these inspections 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 (j) 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 issuance of new and revised structural 
inspections and inspection intervals. We are issuing this AD to 
detect and correct fatigue cracking, which could result in reduced 
structural integrity 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.

Revision of Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions 
for Continued Airworthiness (ICA)

    (f) Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, do the 
actions specified in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD.
    (1) Revise the ALS of the ICA to incorporate the structural 
inspections and inspection intervals defined in Airbus A310 
Airworthiness Limitations Items (ALI) Document, AI/SE-M2/95A.0263/
06, Issue 6, dated April 2006 (approved by the European Aviation 
Safety Agency (EASA) on May 31, 2006) (hereafter referred to as 
``Issue 6 of the ALI''). Accomplish the actions specified in Issue 6 
of the ALI at the times specified in that ALI, except as provided by 
paragraph (g) of this AD. Thereafter, except as provided by 
paragraphs (f)(2) and (j) of this AD, no alternative structural 
inspection intervals may be approved. The actions specified in Issue 
6 of the ALI must be accomplished in accordance with Issue 6 of the 
ALI.
    (2) Revise the ALS of the ICA to incorporate the new and revised 
structural inspections and inspection intervals defined in Airbus 
Temporary Revision (TR) 6.1, dated November 2006 (approved by the 
EASA on December 12, 2006), to Issue 6 of the ALI. Thereafter, 
except as provided by paragraph (j) of this AD, no alternative 
structural inspection intervals may be approved.

Exception to Issue 6 of the ALI

    (g) The tolerance (grace period) for compliance with Issue 6 of 
the ALI is within 1,500 flight cycles after the effective date of 
this AD provided that none of the following is exceeded:
    (1) Thresholds or intervals in the operator's current approved 
maintenance schedule that are taken from a previous ALI issue, if 
existing, and are higher than or equal to those given in Issue 6 of 
the ALI.
    (2) 18 months after the effective date of this AD.
    (3) 50 percent of the intervals given in Issue 6 of the ALI.
    (4) Any application tolerance specified in Section D of Issue 6 
of the ALI.

Corrective Actions

    (h) Damaged, cracked, or corroded structure detected during any 
inspection done in accordance with Issue 6 of the ALI must be 
repaired, before further flight, in accordance with Issue 6 of the 
ALI; or in accordance with other data meeting the certification 
basis of the airplane that has

[[Page 69614]]

been approved by either the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, or the EASA (or its delegated 
agent). Where Issue 6 of the ALI specifies to contact Airbus for 
appropriate action:
    Before further flight, repair the damaged, cracked, or corroded 
structure using a method approved by either the Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, or the EASA (or its delegated agent).

Reporting Requirement

    (i) If any damage that exceeds the allowable limits specified in 
Issue 6 of the ALI is detected during any inspection required by 
this AD: At the applicable time specified in paragraph (i)(1) or 
(i)(2) of this AD, submit a report of the finding to Airbus, 
Customer Service Directorate, Attn: Department Manager Maintenance 
Engineering, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, 
France; e-mail: [email protected]. The report must include the 
ALI task reference, airplane serial number, the number of flight 
cycles and flight hours on the airplane, identification of the 
affected structure, location and description of the finding 
including its size and orientation, and the circumstance of 
detection and inspection method used. Under the provisions of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.), the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection 
requirements contained in this AD and has assigned OMB Control 
Number 2120-0056.
    (1) If the inspection was done after the effective date of this 
AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the inspection.
    (2) If the inspection was accomplished prior to the effective 
date of this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the 
effective date of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (j)(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

    (k) EASA airworthiness directive 2006-0260, dated August 25, 
2006, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (l) You must use Airbus A310 Airworthiness Limitations Items 
Document, AI/SE-M2/95A.0263/06, Issue 6, dated April 2006; and 
Airbus Temporary Revision 6.1, including pages 1 and 2 of Section D 
and page 1 of Section E, dated November 2006, to Airbus A310 
Airworthiness Limitations Items Document, AI/SE-M2/95A.0263/06, 
Issue 6, dated April 2006; to perform the actions that are required 
by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved 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 November 23, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-23544 Filed 12-7-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P