[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15870-15872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6614]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0255; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-253-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A310 Series Airplanes, and 
Airbus 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), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation 
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe 
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 
condition as:

    An operator reported several cases of wire damages at the pylon/
wing interface. Analysis revealed that wires damages are due to 
installation quality issue resulting from lack of information in 
installation drawings and job cards.
    Moreover detailed analysis has highlighted that the Low Pressure 
Valve (LPV) wires were not segregated by design.
* * * * *
    If left uncorrected, the wire chafing could impact fire 
protection and detection system. It may also induce dormant failure 
on LPV preventing its closure leading to a permanent and 
uncontrolled fire (in case of fire ignited upstream the High 
Pressure Valve (HPV)).
* * * * *

    The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address 
the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 6, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-40, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Airbus SAS--EAW (Airworthiness Office), 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 
31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 
93 44 51; e-mail [email protected]; Internet http://www.airbus.com. You may review copies of the referenced service 
information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is 
in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
227-2125; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2011-0255; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-253-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD based on those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive 2010-0178, dated August 23, 2010 (referred to 
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    An operator reported several cases of wire damages at the pylon/
wing interface. Analysis revealed that wires damages are due to 
installation quality issue resulting from lack of information in 
installation drawings and job cards.
    Moreover detailed analysis has highlighted that the Low Pressure 
Valve (LPV) wires were not segregated by design.
    Due to design similarities, A310, A300-600 and A300-600ST 
aeroplanes can be affected, depending on the wires installation in 
the concerned area.
    If left uncorrected, the wire chafing could impact fire 
protection and detection system. It may also induce dormant failure 
on LPV preventing its closure leading to a permanent and 
uncontrolled fire (in case of fire ignited upstream the High 
Pressure Valve (HPV)).
    For the reasons explained above, this AD requires the 
modification of the electrical installation in the pylon/wing 
interface to avoid wire damages.

    The modification includes a general visual inspection of wires for 
damage. and repair if necessary. You may obtain further information by 
examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin A300-24-6106, 
including Appendix 01, dated March 31, 2010; and Mandatory Service 
Bulletin A310-24-2106, including Appendix 01, dated May 27, 2010. The 
actions described in this service information are intended to correct 
the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have 
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service 
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we 
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition 
exists and is likely to exist or

[[Page 15871]]

develop on other products of the same type design.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in 
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it 
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the 
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these 
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information 
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
    We might also have proposed different actions in this AD from those 
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are 
highlighted in a NOTE within the proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD 
would affect about 185 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that 
it would take about 16 work-hours per product to comply with the basic 
requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per 
work-hour. Required parts would cost about $1,170 per product. Where 
the service information lists required parts costs that are covered 
under warranty, we have assumed that there will be no charge for these 
costs. As we do not control warranty coverage for affected parties, 
some parties may incur costs higher than estimated here. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to 
be $468,050, or $2,530 per product.

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 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 this 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, 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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2011-0255; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-
253-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by May 6, 2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus 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; Model A300 C4-605R Variant 
F airplanes; Airbus Model A310-203, -204, -221, -222, -304, -322, -
324, and -325 airplanes; certificated in any category.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 24: 
Electrical Power.

Reason

    (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states:
    An operator reported several cases of wire damages at the pylon/
wing interface. Analysis revealed that wires damages are due to 
installation quality issue resulting from lack of information in 
installation drawings and job cards.
    Moreover detailed analysis has highlighted that the Low Pressure 
Valve (LPV) wires were not segregated by design.
* * * * *
    If left uncorrected, the wire chafing could impact fire 
protection and detection system. It may also induce dormant failure 
on LPV preventing its closure leading to a permanent and 
uncontrolled fire (in case of fire ignited upstream the High 
Pressure Valve (HPV)).
* * * * *

Compliance

    (f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Actions

    (g) Within 30 months or 4,000 flight hours after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs first: Modify the electrical 
installation in the pylon/wing interface on the left-hand and right-
hand side by doing a general visual inspection of wires for damage 
and doing all applicable repairs, replace the cable tie with lacing 
tape, improve the electrical installation at the level of the 
electrical ramp, and improve the segregation of both routes of the 
LPV channels 1 and 2 between LPV connector and ramp; in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Mandatory Service 
Bulletin A300-24-6106, dated March 31, 2010 (for Airbus Model A300 
B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model C4-605R 
Variant F airplanes); or Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A310-24-
2106, dated May 27, 2010 (for Airbus Model A310 series airplanes). 
Do all applicable repairs before further flight.

FAA AD Differences

    Note 1: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information 
as follows: No differences.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (h) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 
principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the International 
Branch, send it to ATTN: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone 
(425) 227-2125; fax (425) 227-1149. Information may be e-mailed to: 
[email protected].

[[Page 15872]]

Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal 
inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the 
local flight standards district office/certificate holding district 
office. The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this 
AD.
    (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.

Related Information

    (i) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 
Directive 2010-0178, dated August 23, 2010; Airbus Mandatory Service 
Bulletin A300-24-6106, dated March 31, 2010; and Airbus Mandatory 
Service Bulletin A310-24-2106, dated May 27, 2010; for related 
information.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 14, 2011.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-6614 Filed 3-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P