[Federal Register: March 3, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 41)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 10342-10344]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03mr05-10]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-20453; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-270-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321
Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes.
This proposed AD would require replacing the water drain valves in the
forward and aft cargo doors with new valves. This proposed AD is
prompted by a report indicating that, during a test of the fire
extinguishing system, air leakage through the water drain valves in the
forward and aft cargo doors reduced the concentration of fire
extinguishing agent to below the level required to suppress a fire. We
are proposing this AD to prevent air leakage through the water drain
valves, which, in the event of a fire in the forward or aft cargo
compartment, could result in an insufficient concentration of fire
extinguishing agent and consequent inability of the fire extinguishing
system to suppress the fire.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 4, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed 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.
By 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.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France.
You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at
[[Page 10343]]
dms.dot.gov, or in person 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. This docket
number is FAA-2005-20453; the directorate identifier for this docket is
2004-NM-270-AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Dulin, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
227-2141; fax (425) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-20453;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-270-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the
proposed 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 proposed AD. Using the search function of our
docket 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 can review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you
can visit http://dms.dot.gov.
Examining the Docket
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. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS 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 A318, A319, A320,
and A321 series airplanes. The DGAC advises that a test of the fire
containment capability of the forward and aft cargo compartments was
performed on a Model A319 series airplane. The test revealed that the
concentration of the halon fire extinguishing agent decreased below the
level required to suppress a fire. Investigation revealed that the drop
in concentration of halon was due to too high a rate of air renewal in
the compartment. Further investigation revealed that air leakage
through the water drain valves in the forward and aft cargo doors and
around the aft cargo temperature sensor contributed to the reduced
concentration of halon. The air leakage allowed the halon to leak out
of the compartment, and the remaining concentration of halon was
insufficient to suppress a fire. Water drain valves not reaching the
differential pressure necessary to attain the closure set point caused
the air leakage through the water drain valves. In the event of a fire
in the forward or aft cargo compartment, air leakage through the water
drain valves, if not corrected, could result in an insufficient
concentration of fire extinguishing agent and consequent inability of
the fire extinguishing system to suppress the fire.
The water drain valves installed in forward and aft cargo doors on
the Model A318, A320, and A321 series airplanes are identical to those
on the affected Model A319 series airplanes. Therefore, all of these
models may be subject to the same unsafe condition.
Other Related Rulemaking
The DGAC has issued French airworthiness directive F-2004-123,
dated July 21, 2004, to address air leakage around the aft cargo
temperature sensor; we are planning to address the unsafe condition of
that French airworthiness directive with a separate rulemaking action.
Relevant Service Information
Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-52-1124, dated May 6, 2004.
The service bulletin describes procedures for replacing the water drain
valves in the forward and aft cargo doors with new valves that close at
a lower differential pressure. 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-2004-172, dated October 27, 2004, to ensure
the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed 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 proposing this AD, which would require
accomplishing the actions specified in the service information
described previously.
Costs of Compliance
This proposed AD would affect about 434 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The proposed actions would take about 3 to 5 work hours per airplane,
depending on airplane configuration, at an average labor rate of $65
per work hour. Required parts would cost about $120 to $200 per
airplane, depending on airplane configuration. Based on these figures,
the estimated cost of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is between
$136,710 and $227,850, or between $315 and $525 per airplane.
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.
[[Page 10344]]
Regulatory Findings
We have 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 that the 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 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. 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, 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
airworthiness directive (AD):
Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2005-20453; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
270-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The Federal Aviation Administration must receive comments on
this AD action by April 4, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321
series airplanes, certificated in any category, as listed in Table 1
of this AD.
Table 1.--Applicability
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But not having
the following
Having the following Or the following Airbus Airbus
Airbus model-- Airbus modification service bulletin modification
installed in production-- incorporated in service-- installed in
production--
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A318 series airplanes................... Not applicable............ Not applicable............ 33232
A319 series airplanes................... 25642 or 26213............ A320-52-1088.............. 33232
A320 series airplanes................... 26213 or 26603............ A320-52-1088.............. 33232
A321 series airplanes................... 26213 or 26603............ A320-52-1088.............. 33232
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Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by a report indicating that, during a
test of the fire extinguishing system, air leakage through the water
drain valves in the forward and aft cargo doors reduced the
concentration of fire extinguishing agent to below the level
required to suppress a fire. We are issuing this AD to prevent air
leakage through the water drain valves, which, in the event of a
fire in the forward or aft cargo compartment, could result in an
insufficient concentration of fire extinguishing agent and
consequent inability of the fire extinguishing system to suppress
the fire.
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.
Replacement of Water Drain Valves
(f) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, replace
the water drain valves in the forward and aft cargo doors with new
valves that close at a lower differential pressure, by doing all of
the applicable actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions
of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-52-1124, dated May 6, 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-2004-172, dated October 27,
2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 22, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-4079 Filed 3-2-05; 8:45 am]
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