[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 117 (Monday, June 18, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36211-36213]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14798]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0636; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-037-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 
certain Airbus Model A300 B4-601, B4-603, and B4-605R airplanes, Model 
A300 F4-605R airplanes, Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes, and 
Model A310-204 and -304 airplanes, powered by General Electric (GE) 
CF6-80C2 series engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of 
two single-engine flame-out events during inclement weather. This 
proposed AD would require installing a shunt of the rotary selector 
(introducing an auto-relight function). We are proposing this AD to 
prevent a long engine restart sequence after a non-selection of 
continuous re-light by the crew and a flame-out event of both engines, 
which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane, 
especially at low altitude.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 2, 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

[[Page 36212]]

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-2012-0636; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-037-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 2011-0113, dated June 17, 2011 (referred to 
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    Two single [engine] flame out events attributed to inclement 
weather occurred on Wide Body (WB) aeroplanes powered with GE CF6-
80C2 engines.
    On WB aeroplanes, no auto-relight function is embodied. To avoid 
long engine restart sequence after a non selection of continuous 
relight by the crew and a flame out event of both engines, resulting 
in strongly reduced control of the aeroplane especially at low 
altitude, the manufacturer Airbus designed a modification by 
introducing auto-relight function for aeroplanes powered by GE CF6-
80C2 engines.
    For the reason described above, this EASA AD requires the 
installation on the aeroplane of an auto-relight function 
[installing a shunt of the rotary selector] as a precaution and to 
increase restart capability without crew action.

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

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin A310-74-2003, Revision 
02, including Appendix 1, dated February 9, 2012 (for Model A310-204 
and -304 airplanes); and Mandatory Service Bulletin A300-74-6003, 
Revision 02, including Appendix 1, dated February 9, 2012 (for Model 
A300 B4-601, B4-603, and B4-605R airplanes, Model A300 F4-605R 
airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes). 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 47 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that 
it would take about 80 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 $12,500 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 
parts. 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 $907,100, or $19,300 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);
    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:

[[Page 36213]]

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-2012-0636; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-
037-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by August 2, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Model A300 B4-601, B4-603, and B4-605R 
airplanes Model A300 F4-605R airplanes, Model A300 C4-605R Variant F 
airplanes, and Model A310-204 and -304 airplanes; certificated in 
any category; all serial numbers, powered by General Electric (GE) 
CF6-80C2 series engines.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 74: Ignition.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of two single-engine flame-out 
events during inclement weather. We are issuing this AD to prevent a 
long engine restart sequence after a non-selection of continuous re-
light by the crew and a flame-out event of both engines, which could 
result in reduced controllability of the airplane, especially at low 
altitude.

(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) Modification

    Within 6,000 flight hours or 30 months after the effective date 
of this AD, whichever occurs later: Modify the airplane by 
installing a shunt of the rotary selector (introducing an auto-
relight function), in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A300-74-6003, 
Revision 02, including Appendix 1, dated February 9, 2012 (for Model 
A300 B4-601, B4-603, and B4-605R airplanes, Model A300 F4-605R 
airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes); or Airbus 
Mandatory Service Bulletin A310-74-2003, Revision 02, including 
Appendix 1, dated February 9, 2012 (for Model A310-204 and -304 
airplanes).

(h) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for the actions required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this AD using the applicable service information 
specified in paragraphs (h)(1) or (h)(2) of this AD.
    (1) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A300-74-6003, Revision 01, 
including Appendix 1, dated April 1, 2011 (for Model A300 B4-601, 
B4-603, and B4-605R airplanes, Model A300 F4-605R, and Model A300 
C4-605R Variant F airplanes).
    (2) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A310-74-2003, Revision 01, 
including Appendix 1, dated April 1, 2011 (for Model A310-204 and -
304 airplanes).

(i) Other FAA AD Provisions

    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 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.

(j) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI EASA Airworthiness Directive 2011-0113, dated June 
17, 2011; and the service information specified in paragraph (j)(1) 
and (j)(2) of this AD; for related information.
    (1) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A300-74-6003, Revision 02, 
including Appendix 1, dated February 9, 2012.
    (2) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A310-74-2003, Revision 02, 
including Appendix 1, dated February 9, 2012.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 7, 2012.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-14798 Filed 6-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P