[Federal Register: July 17, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 136)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 40387-40389]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17jy06-2]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-24522; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-002-AD;
Amendment 39-14680; AD 2006-14-09]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330-200 and -300, and
A340-200 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 A330-200 and -300, and A340-200 and -300 series
airplanes. This AD requires modifying certain rotary actuator
assemblies for the leading edge slat. This AD results from a leak found
at the seal of the torque limiter output shaft of the Type A rotary
actuator of leading edge slat No. 1. We are issuing this AD to prevent
a decrease in the torque limiter function, which could result in
degradation and damage to the attachment bolts of the leading edge
slat, loss of the slat, and consequent reduced control of the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective August 21, 2006.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of August 21,
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 the service information identified in this AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Backman, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
227-2797; 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
A330-200 and -300, and A340-200 and -300 series airplanes. That NPRM
was published in the Federal Register on April 21, 2006 (71 FR 20599).
That NPRM proposed to require modifying certain rotary actuator
assemblies for the leading edge slat.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the single comment received.
[[Page 40388]]
Request To Revise the Applicability
Airbus requests that Model A330-302 and -303 airplanes be included
in the applicability of paragraph (c) of the NPRM. Airbus states that
those airplanes are in the process of being type certificated in the
U.S.
We agree. We have determined that Model A330-302 and -303 airplanes
are subject to the identified unsafe condition of this AD. Therefore,
we have revised the applicability of paragraph (c) of this AD to
include those airplanes to ensure that the identified unsafe condition
is addressed if any of those affected airplanes are imported and placed
on the U.S. Register in the future.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD with the change described previously.
This change will neither increase the economic burden on any operator
nor increase the scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
This AD affects about 9 airplanes of U.S. registry. The
modification (including operational test) takes about 4 work hours per
airplane, at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Required parts
are free of charge. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the
AD for U.S. operators is $2,880, or $320 per airplane.
Currently, there are no affected Model A330-302 and -303 airplanes
on the U.S. Register. However, if an affected airplane is imported and
placed on the U.S. Register in the future, it would be subject to the
same per-airplane cost specified above.
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 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):
2006-14-09 Airbus: Amendment 39-14680. Docket No. FAA-2006-24522;
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-002-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective August 21, 2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A330-201, 202, -203, -223,
and -243; A330-301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and -
343; A340-211, -212, and -213; and A340-311, -312, and -313
airplanes, certificated in any category; except airplanes on which
Airbus Modification 50138 was done during production.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a leak found at the seal of the torque
limiter output shaft of the Type A rotary actuator of leading edge
slat No. 1. We are issuing this AD to prevent a decrease in the
torque limiter function, which could result in degradation and
damage to the attachment bolts of the leading edge slat, loss of the
slat, and consequent reduced control 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.
Modification
(f) Within 38 months after the effective date of this AD: Modify
any Type A rotary actuator assembly for the leading edge slat having
part number (P/N) 954A0000-01 or 954A0000-02, or P/N 954B0000-01, as
applicable, by doing all the applicable actions in accordance with
the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A330-27-
3100, Revision 01, dated May 23, 2005; or A340-27-4106, Revision 01,
dated May 23, 2005; as applicable.
(g) Modification of any Type A rotary actuator assembly for the
leading edge slat having P/N 954B0000-01, in accordance with Airbus
Service Bulletin A330-27-3105 or A340-27-4110, both Revision 02,
both dated October 10, 2005; as applicable; is acceptable for
compliance with the corresponding modification specified in
paragraph (f) of this AD.
Note 1: Airbus Service Bulletins A330-27-3100 and A340-27-4106
refer to Goodrich Actuation Systems Service Bulletin 954-27-M954-07,
Revision 2, dated August 9, 2004; and Airbus Service Bulletins A330-
27-3105 and A340-27-4110 refer to Goodrich Actuation Systems Service
Bulletin 954-27-M954-06, Revision 2, dated May 20, 2004; as
additional sources of service information for modifying the rotary
actuator assembly for the leading edge slat.
Parts Installation
(h) As of the effective date of this AD, no Type A rotary
actuator assembly for the leading edge slat having P/N 954A0000-01,
-02, or 954B0000-01 may be installed unless the part has been
modified in accordance with the actions required by paragraph (f) or
(g) of this AD, as applicable.
Actions Accomplished Previously
(i) Modifications done before the effective date of this AD in
accordance with Airbus Service Bulletins A330-27-3100, dated October
30, 2002; A330-27-3105, dated October 30, 2002, or Revision 01,
dated March 27, 2003; A340-27-4106, dated October 30, 2002; or A340-
27-4110, dated October 30, 2002, or Revision 01, dated March 27,
2003; as applicable; are acceptable
[[Page 40389]]
for compliance with the corresponding requirements of paragraphs (f)
and (g) of this AD, as applicable.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(j)(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
(k) French airworthiness directives F-2005-067 and F-2005-068,
both dated April 27, 2005, also address the subject of this AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(l) You must use the applicable Airbus service bulletin
identified in Table 1 of this AD 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 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_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html
.
Table 1.--Material Incorporated by Reference
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Revision
Airbus Service Bulletin level Date
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A330-27-3100....................... 01 May 23, 2005.
A330-27-3105....................... 02 Oct. 10, 2005.
A340-27-4106....................... 01 May 23, 2005.
A340-27-4110....................... 02 Oct. 10, 2005.
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Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 6, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-6180 Filed 7-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P