FR Doc 05-19333

[Federal Register: October 4, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 191)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 57732-57734]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04oc05-5]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22539; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-08-AD;
Amendment 39-14300; AD 2005-20-07]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330-300 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Airbus Model A330-300 series airplanes. This AD requires reinforcing
the structure of the center fuselage by installing external stiffeners
(butt straps) at frame (FR) 53.3 on the fuselage skin between left-hand
and right-hand stringer 13, and related investigative actions. This AD
results from a report that, during fatigue tests of the fuselage,
cracks initiated and grew at the circumferential joint of FR53.3. We
are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking of the fuselage, which
could result in reduced structural integrity of the fuselage.

DATES: Effective October 19, 2005.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of October 19,
2005.
We must receive comments on this AD by December 5, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this AD.
DOT Docket web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow

the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your

comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex,
France, for service information identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Backman, Aerospace Engineer, ANM-
116, International Branch, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601
Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-
2797; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Although this is a final rule that was not preceded by notice and
an opportunity for public comment, we invite you to submit any relevant
written data, views, or arguments regarding this AD. Include ``Docket
No. FAA-2005-22539; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-08-AD'' at the
beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the
overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy

[[Page 57733]]

aspects of the AD. We will consider all comments received by the
closing date and may amend the AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will

also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this AD. Using the search function of that web
site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets,
including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed
the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.).
You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you may visit
http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

You may 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. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after the Docket Management System
receives them.

Discussion

The Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC),
which is the airworthiness authority for France, notified us that an
unsafe condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A330-300 series
airplanes. The DGAC advises that, during fatigue tests of the fuselage,
cracks initiated and grew at the circumferential joint of frame (FR)
53.3. This condition, if not corrected, could result in reduced
structural integrity of the fuselage.

Relevant Service Information

Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A330-53-3127, including Appendix
01, Revision 01, dated November 21, 2003. The service bulletin
describes procedures for reinforcing the structure of the center
fuselage by installing external doublers (butt straps) at FR53.3 on the
fuselage skin between left- and right-hand stringer 13. The
installation of the three butt straps includes removing fasteners and
doing the related investigative action of rototesting the holes where
the fasteners were removed. If a crack is found during a rototest, the
service bulletin specifies contacting Airbus for repair instructions.
If no crack is found, the installation includes counter-drilling the
fastener holes in the butt straps, cold-expanding the matching holes in
the fuselage, reaming and deburring the holes, shimming, and applying
sealant around the butt straps. Accomplishing the actions specified in
the service information is intended to adequately address the unsafe
condition. The DGAC mandated the service information and issued French
airworthiness directive F-2003-415, dated November 12, 2003, to ensure
the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

These airplane models are manufactured in France and are type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
section 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. We have examined the DGAC's findings,
evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that we need to
issue an AD for products of this type design that are certificated for
operation in the United States.
Therefore, we are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking of
the fuselage, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the
fuselage. This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the
service information described previously.

Difference Between the Proposed AD and the French Airworthiness
Directive

The applicability of French airworthiness directive F-2003-415,
dated November 12, 2003, excludes airplanes on which Airbus Service
Bulletin A330-53-3127, Revision 01, has been accomplished in service.
However, we have not excluded those airplanes in the applicability of
this proposed AD; rather, this proposed AD includes a requirement to
accomplish the actions specified in that service bulletin. This
requirement would ensure that the actions specified in the service
bulletin and required by this proposed AD are accomplished on all
affected airplanes. Operators must continue to operate the airplane in
the configuration required by this proposed AD unless an alternative
method of compliance is approved.

Costs of Compliance

None of the airplanes affected by this action are on the U.S.
Register. All airplanes affected by this AD are currently operated by
non-U.S. operators under foreign registry; therefore, they are not
directly affected by this AD action. However, we consider this AD
necessary to ensure that the unsafe condition is addressed if any
affected airplane is imported and placed on the U.S. Register in the
future.
The following table provides the estimated costs to comply with
this AD for any affected airplane that might be imported and placed on
the U.S. Register in the future.

Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average labor Cost per
Action Work hours rate per hour Parts cost airplane
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Installation................................ 172 $65 $8,920 $20,100
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FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

No airplane affected by this AD is currently on the U.S. Register.
Therefore, providing notice and opportunity for public comment is
unnecessary before this AD is issued, and this AD may be made effective
in less than 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register.

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

[[Page 57734]]

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 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 the 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 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 and placed it in the AD docket. 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2005-20-07 Airbus: Amendment 39-14300. Docket No. FAA-2005-22539;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-08-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This AD becomes effective October 19, 2005.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to Model A330-301, -321, -322, -323, -341, -
342, and -343 series airplanes, certificated in any category, except
those on which Airbus Modification 41652 has been accomplished in
production.

Unsafe Condition

(d) This AD results from a report that, during fatigue tests of
the fuselage, cracks initiated and grew at the circumferential joint
of frame (FR) 53.3. We are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue
cracking of the fuselage, which could result in reduced structural
integrity of the fuselage.

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.

Installation

(f) At the later of the times in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of
this AD: Install the butt straps at FR53.3 on the fuselage skin
between left- and right-hand stringer 13, and do all related
investigative and corrective actions before further flight. Except
as provided by paragraph (g) of this AD, do all actions in
accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A330-53-3127, Revision 01,
dated November 21, 2003.
(1) Before the accumulation of 14,700 total flight cycles or
51,400 total flight hours, whichever occurs earlier.
(2) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD.

Contact the FAA/Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation Civile
(DGAC) for Certain Repair Instructions

(g) If any crack is detected during the related investigative
actions (rototest) required by paragraph (f) of this AD: Before
further flight, repair the crack according to a method approved by
either the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport
Airplane Directorate; or the DGAC (or its delegated agent).

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(h)(1) 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.
(2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards
Certificate Holding District Office.

Related Information

(i) French airworthiness directive F-2003-415, dated November
12, 2003, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

(j) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A330-53-3127, Revision
01, dated November 21, 2003, to perform the actions that are
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director
of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of
this document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
Contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex,
France, for a copy of this service information. You may review
copies at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif
Building, Washington, DC; on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or

at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For
information on the availability of this material at the NARA, call
(202) 741-6030, or go to http://www. archives. gov/federal --

Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 20, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-19333 Filed 10-3-05; 8:45 am]

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