[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10409-10411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4163]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0144; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-152-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 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 all 
Airbus Model A300 series airplanes; Model A310 series airplanes; Model 
A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model C4-605R 
Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series 
airplanes). This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracked fuel 
pump canister hoods located in fuel tanks. This proposed AD would 
require replacing any hood halves of fuel pump canisters that are 
cracked. We are proposing this AD to prevent any detached canister hood 
fragments/debris from being ingested into the fuel feed system, and the 
metallic debris inside the fuel tank resulting in a potential source of 
ignition and consequent fire or explosion.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 9, 2012.

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 W12-140, 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; email: [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-2012-0144; 
Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-152-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 2011-0124, dated June 30, 2011 (referred to 
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    This [EASA] AD results from findings of cracked fuel pump 
canister hoods located in fuel tanks.
    From the analyses, laboratory testing and examinations made so 
far, it is presently thought that vibration-induced fatigue can be 
identified as the root cause for the cracks found on in-service 
aeroplanes. However, current data does not yet permit to exclude 
some other potential contributing factors.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
detached canister hood fragments/debris to be ingested into the fuel 
feed system. Also, the metallic debris inside the fuel tank could 
result in a potential source of ignition and consequent fire or 
explosion.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
repetitive [detailed] inspections of all fuel pump canister hood 
halves and their replacement if any [cracking] damage is found. This 
[EASA] AD also requires the inspection results to be reported.
    This [EASA] AD is considered to be an interim action. The 
reports that are required by this [EASA] AD will enable the 
manufacturer to obtain better insight into the nature, cause, and 
extent of the fuel pump canister hood cracking, and eventually to 
develop final action to address the unsafe condition. Once final 
action has been identified, further AD actions could be considered.

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

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Mandatory Service Bulletins A300-28-0089, A300-
28-6106, and A310-28-2173, all including Inspection Findings--Reporting 
Sheet, all Revision 01, all dated April 15, 2011. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD 
would affect about 221 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that 
it would take up to 12 work-hours per product to comply with the basic 
requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per 
work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed 
AD on U.S. operators to be $225,420, or $1,020 per product.

[[Page 10410]]

    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 1 work-hour. We have no way of determining the number of 
products that may need these actions.
    We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide 
cost estimates for certain parts required for the on-condition actions 
(replacing fuel pump canister hood halves) specified in this proposed 
AD.

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 affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and
    4. 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-2012-0144; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-
152-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by April 9, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the airplanes identified in paragraphs 
(c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(3) of this AD; certificated in any category; 
all certificated models; all serial numbers.
    (1) Airbus Model A300 B2-1C, B2K-3C, B2-203, B4-2C, B4-103, and 
B4-203 airplanes.
    (2) Airbus Model A310-203, -204, -221, -222, -304, -322, -324, 
and -325 airplanes.
    (3) Airbus Model A300 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.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 28: Fuel.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of cracked fuel pump canister 
hoods located in fuel tanks. We are issuing this AD to prevent any 
detached canister hood fragments/debris from being ingested into the 
fuel feed system, and the metallic debris inside the fuel tank 
resulting in a potential source of ignition and consequent fire or 
explosion.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Initial Inspection and Replacement

    Within 30 months after the effective date of this AD, do a 
detailed inspection for cracking of the fuel pump canister hood 
halves installed on all fuel pump canisters having part numbers (P/
N) 2052C11, 2052C12, and C93R51-601, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin specified in 
paragraphs (g)(1), (g)(2), and (g)(3) of this AD, as applicable. If 
any crack is found on any fuel pump canister hood half during any 
inspection, before further flight, replace the fuel pump canister 
hood half, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of the 
service bulletin specified in paragraph (g)(1), (g)(2), or (g)(3) of 
this AD, as applicable.
    (1) For Model A300 airplanes: Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 
A300-28-0089, including Inspection Findings--Reporting Sheet, 
Revision 01, dated April 15, 2011.
    (2) For Model A300-600 airplanes: Airbus Mandatory Service 
Bulletin A300-28-6106, including Inspection Findings--Reporting 
Sheet, Revision 01, dated April 15, 2011.
    (3) For Model A310 airplanes: Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 
A310-28-2173, including Inspection Findings--Reporting Sheet, 
Revision 01, dated April 15, 2011.

(h) Repetitive Inspections

    Within 30 months after accomplishing the actions specified in 
paragraph (g) of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 
30 months, repeat the detailed inspection specified in paragraph (g) 
of this AD.

(i) Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service 
Information

    Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletins A300-28-0089, 
A300-28-6106, and A310-28-2173, all dated January 13, 2011, as 
applicable, are considered acceptable for compliance with the 
corresponding action specified in this AD.

(j) Reporting to Airbus

    Submit reports of the findings (both positive and negative) of 
the inspections required by paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD to 
Airbus at the applicable time specified in paragraph (j)(1) or 
(j)(2) of this AD, using the form ``Inspection Findings--Reporting 
Sheet'' provided in the service bulletin identified in paragraphs 
(g)(1), (g)(2), and (g)(3) of this AD, as applicable.
    (1) If the inspection was done on or after the effective date of 
this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the inspection.
    (2) If the inspection was done before the effective date of this 
AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the effective date of 
this AD.

(k) Other FAA AD Provisions

    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. 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

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Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-2125; 
fax (425) 227-1149. Information may be emailed 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.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: A federal agency may not conduct or 
sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a 
person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a 
collection of information subject to the requirements of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information 
displays a current valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number 
for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public reporting for 
this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 5 
minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, 
completing and reviewing the collection of information. All 
responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Comments 
concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing 
the burden should be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. 
SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: Information Collection Clearance 
Officer, AES-200.

(l) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 
Airworthiness Directive 2011-0124, dated June 30, 2011; and the 
Airbus mandatory service bulletins identified in paragraphs (g)(1), 
(g)(2), and (g)(3) of this AD; for related information.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 7, 2012.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-4163 Filed 2-21-12; 8:45 am]
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