[Federal Register: May 16, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 94)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 28254-28256]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16my06-6]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-24104; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-231-AD;
Amendment 39-14595; AD 2006-10-11]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A310-200 and -300 Series
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Airbus Model A310-200 and -300 series airplanes. This AD
requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the flap transmission
shafts, and replacing the transmission shafts if necessary. This AD
also provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive
inspections. This AD results from reports of longitudinal cracks due to
stress corrosion in the transmission shafts between the power control
unit (PCU) and the torque limiters of the flap transmission system. We
are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the flap
transmission shaft, which could compromise shaft structural integrity
and lead to a disabled flap transmission shaft and reduced
controllability of the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective June 20, 2006.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of June 20, 2006.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the 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., Nassif Building,
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
Contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex,
France, for service information identified in this AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Stafford, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
227-1622; fax (425) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Examining the Docket
You may examine the airworthiness directive (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 street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.
Discussion
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain Airbus Model
A310-200 and -300 series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the
Federal Register on March 9, 2006 (71 FR 12152). That NPRM proposed to
require repetitive inspections for cracking of the flap transmission
shafts, and replacing the transmission shafts if necessary. The NPRM
also proposed to provide an optional terminating action for the
repetitive inspections.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the
determination of the cost to the public.
Change to NPRM
We inadvertently deleted reference to the reporting requirement
stated in the Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation Civile
(DGAC) Airworthiness Directive and the Airbus service bulletin. This AD
does not require reporting the results of the inspection to Airbus,
which is a difference among the DGAC Airworthiness Directive, the
service bulletin, and this AD. We have added our non-requirement as
paragraph (j) of this AD and reidentified subsequent paragraphs
accordingly.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD with the
change described previously. We have determined that this change will
neither increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the
scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
This AD will affect about 59 airplanes of U.S. registry. The
required inspections will take about 1 work hour per airplane, at an
average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the
estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators is $3,835, or $65 per
airplane, per inspection cycle.
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
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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 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 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):
2006-10-11 Airbus: Amendment 39-14595. FAA-2006-24104; Directorate
Identifier 2005-NM-231-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective June 20, 2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A310-203, -204, -221, -222,
-304, -322, -324, and -325 airplanes, certificated in any category;
except for airplanes on which Airbus Modification 12247 has been
embodied in production.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports of longitudinal cracks due to
stress corrosion in the transmission shafts between the power
control unit (PCU) and the torque limiters of the flap transmission
system. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the
flap transmission shaft, which could compromise shaft structural
integrity and lead to a disabled flap transmission shaft and reduced
controllability of the airplane.
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.
Inspection and Corrective Action
(f) At the earlier of the compliance times specified in
paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD: Perform a detailed inspection
for stress corrosion cracking of the flight transmission shafts
located between the PCU and the torque limiters in accordance with
the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-
2092, Revision 02, dated April 11, 2005. Thereafter, repeat the
inspections as required by paragraph (g) of this AD. Before further
flight, replace any cracked transmission shaft discovered during any
inspection required by this AD with a new or reconditioned shaft, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service
Bulletin A310-27-2095, dated March 29, 2000.
(1) Within 2,000 flight hours after the last flap asymmetry
protection test performed in accordance with Airbus A310 Maintenance
Planning Document (MPD) Task 275600-01-1.
(2) Within 8,000 flight cycles after the last flap asymmetry
protection test performed in accordance with Airbus A310 MPD Task
275600-02-1 or 800 flight cycles after the effective date of this
AD, whichever comes later.
Note 1: Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-2092, Revision 02, dated
April 11, 2005, refers to Lucas Liebherr Service Bulletin 551A-27-
624, Revision 1, dated August 18, 2000, as an additional source of
service information for accomplishing the inspections.
Note 2: Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-2092, Revision 02,
refers to Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-2095, dated March 29,
2000, as a source of service information for replacing the flap
transmission shafts.
Note 3: Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-2095 refers to Lucas
Liebherr Service Bulletin 551A-27-M551-05, dated January 12, 2000,
as an additional source of service information for replacing the
flap transmission shafts.
Repetitive Inspections
(g) Repeat the inspection required by paragraph (f) of this AD
at the applicable times specified in paragraphs (g)(1), (g)(2), and
(g)(3) of this AD.
(1) Before further flight after any occurrence of jamming of the
flap transmission system.
(2) At intervals not to exceed 2,000 flight hours after each
flap asymmetry protection test performed in accordance with Airbus
A310 MPD Task 275600-01-1.
(3) At intervals not to exceed 8,000 flight cycles after each
flap asymmetry protection test performed in accordance with Airbus
A310 MPD Task 275600-02-1.
Optional Terminating Action
(h) Replacing any flap transmission shaft with a new or
reconditioned transmission shaft in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-2095,
dated March 29, 2000, ends the inspections required for that
transmission shaft only.
Actions Performed Using Previously Issued Service Information
(i) Actions performed in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin
A310-27-2092, dated April 9, 1999; or Revision 01, dated December
11, 2001, are considered acceptable for compliance with the
corresponding requirements of this AD.
No Reporting
(j) Although Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-2092, Revision 02,
dated April 11, 2005, specifies to submit certain information to the
manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(k)(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
(l) French airworthiness directive F-2005-174, dated October 26,
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(m) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-2092, Revision
02, dated April 11, 2005; and Airbus Service Bulletin A310-27-2095,
dated March 29, 2000; as applicable, 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
these documents 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 copies 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
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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_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html
.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 8, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-4503 Filed 5-15-06; 8:45 am]
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