[Federal Register: December 9, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 236)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 71342-71344]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09de04-3]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2004-19023; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-123-AD;
Amendment 39-13899; AD 2004-25-11]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321
Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This
AD requires removing two maintenance lights in the hydraulics bay,
disconnecting the wiring for the lights, and modifying the switches.
This AD is prompted by underlying safety issues involved in fuel tank
explosions on several large transport airplanes. We are issuing this AD
to prevent an ignition source for fuel vapor in the hydraulics bay,
which could result in fire or explosion in the adjacent center wing
fuel tank.
DATES: This AD becomes effective January 13, 2005.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of
January 13, 2005.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. You
can examine this information at the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this
material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html
.
You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at
http://dms.dot.gov, or at the Docket Management Facility, U.S.
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, on
the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Technical information: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
227-2125; fax (425) 227-1149.
Plain language information: Marcia Walters, marcia.walters@faa.gov.
Examining the Docket
The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any final
disposition. You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR Part 39
with an AD for certain Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series
airplanes. The proposed AD was published in the Federal Register on
September 7, 2004 (69 FR 54055), to require removing two maintenance
lights in the hydraulics bay, disconnecting the wiring for the lights,
and modifying the switches.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comments that have been
submitted on the proposed AD.
Request To Include a Terminating Action
One commenter states that it has no objection to the proposed AD
but requests that we revise the proposed AD to include a terminating
action that includes installation of an explosion-proof lighting
system.
We acknowledge the commenter's request but do not concur. The
commenter's request did not include any technical information about an
explosion-proof lighting system, nor did it describe the procedures
associated with installing such a system. Further, we do not know of
any service information at this time that provides procedures for
installing this type of system. Once such service information is
available and approved, we may consider approving a request for an
alternative method of compliance
[[Page 71343]]
(AMOC) for the requirements of this AD. No change has been made to the
final rule.
Request To Provide Option of Deactivating Power
One commenter requests that we revise the proposed AD to include an
option that would allow an operator to deactivate the power to the
subject maintenance lights by modifying certain switch wiring. The
commenter notes that this modification would reduce the cost of
deactivating the existing lights and allow easier installation when
replacement lights are available. The commenter states that this
modification ``would equally address the unsafe condition.''
We do not concur with the commenter's request. The commenter did
not provide any information on how it plans to modify the wiring to
deactivate power to the subject maintenance lights. We may approve a
request for an AMOC for the requirements of this AD if the commenter
submits this request with technical data supporting its request. No
change has been made to the final rule.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comments that have been submitted, and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators
to comply with this AD.
Estimated Costs
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Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours Average labor Parts Cost per registered Fleet cost
rate per hour airplane airplanes
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Remove lights, disconnect wires, and modify 3 $65 $70 $265 648 $171,720
switches.........................................
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Authority for This Rulemaking
The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is
found in Title 49 of the United States Code. 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.
This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General
requirements.'' Under that section, the FAA is charged with promoting
safety 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 AD.
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that this AD will not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 that this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866;
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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 AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to
examine the regulatory evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0
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]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
2004-25-11 Airbus: Amendment 39-13899. Docket No. FAA-2004-19023;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-123-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective January
13, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321
series airplanes; certificated in any category; except those
airplanes on which Airbus Modification 33518 has been accomplished
in production.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by underlying safety issues involved in
fuel tank explosions on several large transport airplanes. We are
issuing this AD to prevent an ignition source for fuel vapor in the
hydraulics bay, which could result in fire or explosion in the
center wing fuel tank.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Modification
(f) Within 19 months after the effective date of this AD, remove
maintenance lights 9LL and 10LL from the hydraulics bay, disconnect
the wiring for the lights, and modify the 12LL switches. Do the
actions in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-92-1032,
dated March 8, 2004.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(g) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport
Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for
this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14
CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(h) French airworthiness directive F-2004-073, dated May 26,
2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A320-92-1032, dated
March 8, 2004, to perform the actions that are required by this AD,
unless the AD specifies otherwise. The
[[Page 71344]]
Director of the Federal Register approves the incorporation by
reference of this document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1
CFR part 51. For copies of the service information, contact Airbus,
1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. For
information on the availability of this material at the National
Archives and Records Administration (NARA), call (202) 741-6030, or
go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
You may view the AD docket at the
Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400
Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 30, 2004.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-26916 Filed 12-8-04; 8:45 am]
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