[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 68 (Friday, April 8, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19724-19726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-8416]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0309; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-255-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; 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); and Model A310 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:

    A specific failure case of the THSA [trimmable horizontal 
stabilizer actuator] upper primary attachment, which may result in a 
loading of the upper secondary attachment, has been identified by 
analysis.
    Primary load path failure can be caused by bearing migration 
from the upper attachment gimbal by failure or loss of a retention 
bolt.
    In case of failure of the THSA upper primary attachment, the 
THSA upper secondary attachment would engage. Because the upper 
attachment secondary load path can only withstand the loads for a 
limited period of time, the condition where it would be engaged 
could lead, if not detected, to the failure of the secondary load 
path, which would likely result in loss of control of the aeroplane.

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 23, 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-2011-0309; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-255-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 2010-0224, dated November 4, 2010 (referred to 
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    A specific failure case of the THSA [trimmable horizontal 
stabilizer actuator] upper primary attachment, which may result in a 
loading of the upper secondary attachment, has been identified by 
analysis.
    Primary load path failure can be caused by bearing migration 
from the upper attachment gimbal by failure or loss of a retention 
bolt.
    In case of failure of the THSA upper primary attachment, the 
THSA upper secondary attachment would engage. Because the upper 
attachment secondary load path can only withstand the loads for a 
limited period of time, the condition where it would be engaged 
could lead, if not detected, to the failure of the secondary load 
path, which would likely result in loss of control of the aeroplane.
    For the reasons explained above, this AD requires installation 
of three secondary retention plates for the gimbal bearings on the 
THSA upper primary attachment.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Mandatory Service Bulletins A300-27-6066 (for 
Model A300-600 series airplanes) and A310-27-2103 (for Model A310 
series

[[Page 19725]]

airplanes), both dated June 10, 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 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 215 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it 
would take 4 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 $3,021 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 $722,615, or $3,361 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-2011-0309; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-
255-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by May 23, 2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all 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, and Model A300 C4-605R 
Variant F airplanes; and 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 27: Flight 
controls.

Reason

    (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states:
    A specific failure case of the THSA [trimmable horizontal 
stabilizer actuator] upper primary attachment, which may result in a 
loading of the upper secondary attachment, has been identified by 
analysis.
    Primary load path failure can be caused by bearing migration 
from the upper attachment gimbal by failure or loss of a retention 
bolt.
    In case of failure of the THSA upper primary attachment, the 
THSA upper secondary attachment would engage. Because the upper 
attachment secondary load path can only withstand the loads for a 
limited period of time, the condition where it would be engaged 
could lead, if not detected, to the failure of the secondary load 
path, which would likely result in loss of control of the aeroplane.

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.

Installation

    (g) Within 30 months after the effective date of this AD, 
install three retention plates on the THSA upper primary attachment, 
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus 
Mandatory Service Bulletin A300-27-6066 (for Model A300-600 series 
airplanes) or Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A310-27-2103 (for 
Model A310 series airplanes), both dated June 10, 2010.

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, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using 
the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

[[Page 19726]]

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]. 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 (EASA) 
Airworthiness Directive 2010-0224, dated November 4, 2010; and 
Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletins A300-27-6066 and A310-27-2103, 
both dated June 10, 2010.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 31, 2011.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-8416 Filed 4-7-11; 8:45 am]
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