[Federal Register: April 6, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 65)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 17351-17353]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06ap05-21]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-20874; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-279-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model 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 A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This
proposed AD would require modifying the parking brake system to
automatically restore the normal parking brake if the parking brake
pressure decreases below a certain threshold. This proposed AD is
prompted by a report of failure of the parking brake while the airplane
was on the holding point of the runway before takeoff, leading to a
runway departure. We are proposing this AD to ensure normal braking is
available to prevent possible runway departure in the event of failure
of the parking brake.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 6, 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
http://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-2005-20874; the directorate identifier for this docket is
2004-NM-279-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-2005-20874;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-279-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 website, anyone can find and read the
[[Page 17352]]
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 A319, A320, and A321
series airplanes. The DGAC advises that one operator reported failure
of the parking brake while the airplane was on the holding point of the
runway before takeoff, leading to a runway departure. The flight crew
tried to stop the airplane with the brake pedals, but were
unsuccessful. Additional reports were received from other operators of
incidents of braking difficulty after the parking brake was selected.
Analysis showed that the airplane is designed so that normal braking is
inhibited when the parking brake is selected. In the case of parking
brake loss, a flight crew operations manual (FCOM) procedure recommends
immediately releasing the parking brake handle to restore braking
through the pedals; however, excess pilot workload can preclude using
that procedure. When the parking brake lever is selected to the ON
position, the parking brake selector valve sends a signal to the
braking and steering control unit, which inhibits the normal braking
system. These conditions, if not corrected, could result in possible
runway departure in the event of failure of the parking brake.
Relevant Service Information
Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-32-1201, Revision 01, dated
May 29, 2002. The service bulletin describes procedures for modifying
the parking brake system (including installing placards) to
automatically restore the normal parking brake if the parking brake
pressure decreases below a certain threshold. The service bulletin also
describes procedures for performing operational tests after
accomplishing the modification. 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-2004-137, dated November 10, 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
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. 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 357 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The proposed modification would take about 23 work hours per airplane,
at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts would
cost about $5,600 per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated
cost of the proposed modification for U.S. operators is $2,532,915, or
$7,095 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.
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-2005-20874; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
279-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The Federal Aviation Administration must receive comments on
this AD action by May 6, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
[[Page 17353]]
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 series
airplanes; certificated in any category; except those modified in
production by Airbus Modification 30062.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by a report of failure of the parking
brake while the airplane was on the holding point of the runway
before takeoff, leading to a runway departure. We are issuing this
AD to ensure normal braking is available to prevent possible runway
departure in the event of failure of the parking brake.
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 52 months after the effective date of this AD: Modify
the parking brake system by accomplishing all the actions specified
in the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-
32-1201, Revision 01, dated May 29, 2002.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(g) The Manager, International Branch, 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-2004-137, dated November
10, 2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 29, 2005.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-6766 Filed 4-5-05; 8:45 am]
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