[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 18, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28683-28684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12165]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 96 / Wednesday, May 18, 2011 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 28683]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27715; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-140-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330 and A340 Airplanes

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: The FAA withdraws a second supplemental NPRM for an 
airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Airbus Model A330-200, 
A330-300, A340-200, and A340-300 series airplanes; and Model A340-541 
and A340-642 airplanes. That second supplemental NPRM proposed to 
revise the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS), for all affected 
airplanes, by adding new Airworthiness Limitations Items (ALIs) to 
incorporate service life limits for certain items and inspections to 
detect fatigue cracking, accidental damage or corrosion in certain 
structures, in accordance with the revised ALS of the Instructions for 
Continued Airworthiness. Since the second supplemental NPRM was issued, 
we have published new NPRMs to propose to mandate the most recent 
airworthiness limitations for Model A330-200 and -300 series airplanes; 
and new ADs to mandate the most recent airworthiness limitations for 
Model A340-200 and -300 series airplanes; and Model A340-541 and -642 
airplanes. Accordingly, the proposed AD is withdrawn.

ADDRESSES: 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: Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, International Branch, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-
3356; telephone (425) 227-1138; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We proposed to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 
(14 CFR part 39) with a second supplemental notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) for a new AD for all Airbus Model A330-200, A330-300, 
A340-200, and A340-300 series airplanes; and Model A340-541 and A340-
642 airplanes. That second supplemental NPRM was published in the 
Federal Register on June 26, 2008 (73 FR 36288). That second 
supplemental NPRM would have required revising the Airworthiness 
Limitations section (ALS), for all affected airplanes, by adding new 
Airworthiness Limitations Items to incorporate service life limits for 
certain items and inspections to detect fatigue cracking, accidental 
damage or corrosion in certain structures, in accordance with the 
revised ALS of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness. That 
second supplemental NPRM was prompted by the issuance of new and more 
restrictive service life limits and structural inspections based on 
fatigue testing and in-service findings. The proposed actions were 
intended to detect and correct fatigue cracking, accidental damage, or 
corrosion in principal structural elements, and to prevent failure of 
certain life-limited parts, which could result in reduced structural 
integrity of the airplane.

Actions Since Second Supplemental NPRM Was Issued

    Since the second supplemental NPRM was issued, we have published 
new NPRMs to propose to mandate the most recent airworthiness 
limitations for Model A330-200 and -300 series airplanes; and new ADs 
to mandate the most recent airworthiness limitations for Model A340-200 
and -300 series airplanes; and Model A340-541 and -642 airplanes, as 
follows:
     NPRM 2010-NM-210-AD was published on March 22, 2011 (76 FR 
15867) for Model A330-200 and -300 series airplanes. That NPRM proposes 
to revise the airplane maintenance program by incorporating ``A330 
Airworthiness Limitation Items,'' Issue 17.
     NPRM 2010-NM-211-AD was published on March 22, 2011 (76 FR 
15872) for Model A330-200 and -300 series airplanes. That NPRM proposes 
to revise the maintenance program by incorporating Airbus A330 ALS Part 
1, ``Safe Life Airworthiness Limitation Items,'' Revision 05.
     AD 2011-04-05, Amendment 39-16605 was published on 
February 15, 2011 (76 FR 8612) for Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 
series airplanes. That AD requires revising the maintenance program by 
incorporating Airbus A340 ALS Part 1--Safe Life Airworthiness 
Limitation Items, Revision 05.
     AD 2011-04-06, Amendment 39-16606 was published on 
February 15, 2011 (76 FR 8610) for Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 
series airplanes. That AD requires revising the maintenance program by 
incorporating Airbus A340 Airworthiness Limitation Items, Issue 11.

FAA's Conclusions

    Upon further consideration, we have determined that the actions 
required by the second supplemental NPRM are required by other ADs that 
were published after issuance of the second supplemental NPRM. 
Accordingly, the supplemental NPRM is withdrawn.
    Withdrawal of the second supplemental NPRM does not preclude the 
FAA from issuing another related action or commit the FAA to any course 
of action in the future.

Regulatory Impact

    Since this action only withdraws a supplemental NPRM, it is neither 
a proposed nor a final rule and therefore is not covered under 
Executive Order 12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979).

[[Page 28684]]

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Withdrawal

    Accordingly, we withdraw the second supplemental NPRM, Docket No. 
FAA-2007-27715; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-140-AD, which was 
published in the Federal Register on June 26, 2008 (73 FR 36288).

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 6, 2011.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-12165 Filed 5-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P