[Federal Register: September 19, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 182)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 54872-54874]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19se03-32]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2002-NM-137-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B4-622R and A300 F4-
622R Airplanes, and Model A310-324 and -325 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Airbus Model A300 B4-622R
and A300 F4-622R airplanes, and Model A310-324 and -325 series
airplanes, that are equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW4000 series
engines. This proposal would require replacement of the existing
flexible hose assembly that connects the oil pressure transmitter to
the main oil circuit, with a new improved tube assembly. This action is
necessary to prevent failure of the oil pressure indicator and low-oil-
pressure warning in the event of an engine fire, which could result in
an unannounced shutdown of the engine. This action is intended to
address the identified unsafe condition.
DATES: Comments must be received by October 20, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-NM-137-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this
location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232.
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address:
9-anm-nprmcomment@faa.gov. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must
contain ``Docket No. 2002-NM-137-AD'' in the subject line and need not
be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached
electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 or 2000 or
ASCII text.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Airbus Industrie, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707
Blagnac Cedex, France. This information may be examined at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
227-1175; fax (425) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this action may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Submit comments using the following format:
[sbull] Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a
request to change the compliance time and a request to change the
service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
[sbull] For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed
AD is being requested.
[sbull] Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each
request.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments
[[Page 54873]]
submitted will be available, both before and after the closing date for
comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A
report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance
of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this action must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 2002-NM-137-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped
and returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 2002-NM-137-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
The Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC),
which is the airworthiness authority for France, notified the FAA that
an unsafe condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A300 B4-622R and
A300 F4-622R airplanes, and Model A310-324 and -325 series airplanes,
that are equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW4000 series engines. The DGAC
advises that the flexible hose assembly that connects the oil pressure
transmitter to the main oil circuit on Pratt & Whitney PW4000 series
engines is not compliant with requirements for fireproofing. An oil
line in this location should have zero-flow fireproofing, but the
flexible hose assembly currently installed provides only low-flow
fireproofing. This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure
of the oil pressure indicator and low-oil-pressure warning in the event
of an engine fire, which could result in an unannounced shutdown of the
engine.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
Airbus has issued Service Bulletins A300-79-6003 (for Model A300
B4-622R and A300 F4-622R airplanes) and A310-79-2004 (for Model A310-
324 and -325 series airplanes), both dated January 31, 2002. Those
service bulletins describe procedures for replacement of the existing
flexible hose assembly that connects the oil pressure transmitter to
the main oil circuit, with a new improved tube assembly. Among other
benefits, the new improved tube assembly meets zero-flow fireproofing
requirements. The service bulletins also describe procedures for
performing a test of the engine oil system after the replacement, which
includes testing the tube and connectors of the new improved tube
assembly for a leak or a loose connection. Accomplishment of the
actions specified in the applicable service bulletin is intended to
adequately address the identified unsafe condition. The DGAC classified
these service bulletins as mandatory and issued French airworthiness
directive 2002-173(B), dated April 3, 2002, to ensure the continued
airworthiness of these airplanes in France.
The Airbus service bulletins refer to Pratt & Whitney Alert Service
Bulletin PW4NAC A79-21, dated October 15, 2001, as an additional source
of service information for the replacement of the flexible hose
assembly with a new improved tube assembly.
FAA's Conclusions
These airplane models are manufactured in France and are type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
Sec. 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the
applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed
of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of
the DGAC, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD
action is necessary for products of this type design that are
certificated for operation in the United States.
Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design registered
in the United States, the proposed AD would require accomplishment of
the actions specified in the applicable Airbus service bulletin
described previously.
Changes to 14 CFR Part 39/Effect on the Proposed AD
On July 10, 2002, the FAA issued a new version of 14 CFR part 39
(67 FR 47997, July 22, 2002), which governs the FAA's airworthiness
directives system. The regulation now includes material that relates to
altered products, special flight permits, and alternative methods of
compliance (AMOCs). Because we have now included this material in part
39, only the office authorized to approve AMOCs is identified in each
individual AD.
Change to Labor Rate Estimate
We have reviewed the figures we have used over the past several
years to calculate AD costs to operators. To account for various
inflationary costs in the airline industry, we find it necessary to
increase the labor rate used in these calculations from $60 per work
hour to $65 per work hour. The cost impact information, below, reflects
this increase in the specified hourly labor rate.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 139 airplanes of U.S. registry would be
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 10 work
hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the
average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts would be
provided by the manufacturer at no charge. Based on these figures, the
cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be
$90,350, or $650 per airplane.
The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in
the future if this AD were not adopted. The cost impact figures
discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to
perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures
typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to
gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other
administrative actions.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein 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. Therefore, it
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the
Rules Docket.
[[Page 54874]]
A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the
location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Airbus: Docket 2002-NM-137-AD.
Applicability: Model A300 B4-622R and A300 F4-622R airplanes,
and Model A310-324 and -325 series airplanes, equipped with Pratt &
Whitney PW4000 series engines; certificated in any category; except
those on which Airbus Modification 12468 has been accomplished in
production.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent failure of the oil pressure indicator and low-oil-
pressure warning in the event of an engine fire, which could result
in an unannounced shutdown of the engine, accomplish the following:
Replacement
(a) Within 8 months after the effective date of this AD, replace
the existing flexible hose assembly, part number (P/N) 113286, that
connects the oil pressure transmitter to the main oil circuit, with
a new improved tube assembly, P/N 221-5318-501. Before further
flight after the replacement, perform a test of the engine oil
system. Do these actions according to the Accomplishment
Instructions of the service bulletin specified in paragraph (a)(1)
or (a)(2) of this AD, as applicable.
(1) For Model A300 B4-622R and A300 F4-622R airplanes: Airbus
Service Bulletin A300-79-6003, dated January 31, 2002.
(2) For Model A310-324 and -325 series airplanes: Airbus Service
Bulletin A310-79-2004, dated January 31, 2002.
Note 1: Airbus Service Bulletins A300-79-6003 and A310-79-2004
refer to Pratt & Whitney Alert Service Bulletin PW4NAC A79-21, dated
October 15, 2001, as an additional source of service information for
the replacement required by this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(b) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, International
Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, is authorized
to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD.
Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in French
airworthiness directive 2002-173(B), dated April 3, 2002.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 10, 2003.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-23935 Filed 9-18-03; 8:45 am]
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