[Federal Register: September 19, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 181)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 54759-54761]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19se06-3]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-24793; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-056-AD;
Amendment 39-14764; AD 2006-19-07]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330, A340-200, and A340-
300 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, A340-200, and A340-300 airplanes. This AD
requires replacing the attachment landing assemblies of certain blow-
down panels of the wing leading edges with new, improved landing
assemblies. This AD results from several reports of full or partial
loss of certain blow-down panels of the wing leading edges during
flight. We are issuing this AD to prevent damage to the airplane and
hazards to persons or property on the ground.
DATES: This AD becomes effective October 24, 2006.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of October 24,
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: Tim Backman, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
227-2797; fax (425) 227-1149.
[[Page 54760]]
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, A340-200, and A340-300 airplanes. That NPRM was published in the
Federal Register on May 18, 2006 (71 FR 28819). That NPRM proposed to
require replacing the attachment landing assemblies of certain blow-
down panels of the wing leading edges with new, improved landing
assemblies.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.
Request To Revise Applicability To Reflect Secondary Service Bulletins
Airbus states that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
airworthiness directive 2006-0048, dated February 16, 2006, is written
to exclude airplanes modified in service in accordance with Airbus
Service Bulletins A330-57-3084 and A330-57-3063, or A340-57-4092 and
A340-57-4071 (these service bulletins introduced the replacements that
were subsequently cited in the primary service bulletins--Airbus
Service Bulletins A330-57-3091 and A340-57-4100, both dated October 25,
2005--and mandated by EASA airworthiness directive 2006-0048). Airbus
therefore requests that we revise the NPRM to agree with the EASA
airworthiness directive and exclude airplanes modified in service as
described in the secondary service bulletins.
We partially agree. We acknowledge that airplanes which have been
modified as described in the secondary service bulletins require no
further work in accordance with this AD. However, we have not revised
the applicability of the AD; rather, we have included a new paragraph
(g) in the AD to state that replacements done in accordance with the
secondary service bulletins are considered to be acceptable for
compliance with the requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD. We have
re-identified subsequent paragraphs of the AD accordingly.
Request To Revise Applicability To Reflect Primary Service Bulletins
Airbus further requests that we revise the applicability of the
NPRM to exclude certain other airplanes. Airbus states that EASA
airworthiness directive 2006-0048 excludes airplanes modified in
service as described in Airbus Service Bulletin A330-57-3091 or A340-
57-4100, both dated October 25, 2005, which are cited as the primary
sources of service information for accomplishing the requirements of
this AD. Airbus asserts that the AD should agree with the EASA
airworthiness directive and exclude airplanes which have been modified
in service as described in Airbus Service Bulletin A330-57-3091 or
A340-57-4100.
We disagree. We have not excluded those airplanes in the
applicability of this AD; rather, this AD includes a requirement to
accomplish the actions specified in the primary service bulletins. This
requirement will ensure that the actions described in the service
bulletins and required by this AD are accomplished on all affected
airplanes. Operators must continue to operate the airplanes in the
configuration required by this AD unless an alternative method of
compliance is approved in accordance with the procedures specified in
paragraph (h) of this AD. We have not revised the AD in this regard.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously.
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators
of Model A330 airplanes to comply with the modifications required by
this AD. The estimated labor rate is $80 per work hour.
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of U.S.-
Airplane group Work hours Parts Cost per registered Fleet cost
airplane airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1, 2, 3, 4, 5................. 68 $25,120 $30,560 5 (group 2 only) $152,800
6............................. 11 2,480 3,360 22.............. 73,920
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Currently, there are no Model A340-200 or A340-300 airplanes on the
U.S. Register. However, if an affected Model A340-200 or A340-300
airplane is imported and placed on the U.S. Register in the future, the
estimated costs shown in the table above will apply to accomplish the
required actions of this AD for that 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 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:
[[Page 54761]]
(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):
2006-19-07 Airbus: Amendment 39-14764. Docket No. FAA-2006-24793;
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-056-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective October 24, 2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A330, A340-200, and A340-300
airplanes, certificated in any category; all serial numbers; except
for airplanes which have received both Airbus Modification 47249 and
Airbus Modification 53383 in production.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from several reports of full or partial loss
of certain blow-down panels of the wing leading edges during flight.
We are issuing this AD to prevent damage to the airplane and hazards
to persons or property on the ground.
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
(f) Within 56 months after the effective date of this AD,
replace the landing assemblies of certain blow-down panels of the
wing leading edges with new, improved landing assemblies; in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service
Bulletin A330-57-3091 (for Model A330 airplanes) or Airbus Service
Bulletin A340-57-4100 (for Model A340-200 and A340-300 airplanes),
both dated October 25, 2005, as applicable.
Actions Previously Accomplished in Accordance With Alternative Service
Information
(g) Actions done in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletins
A330-57-3084 and A330-57-3063, or A340-57-4092 and A340-57-4071, at
the revision levels specified in Table 1 of this AD, as applicable,
are considered to be acceptable for compliance with the requirements
of paragraph (f) of this AD. After the effective date of this AD,
only Airbus Service Bulletin A330-57-3091 or A340-57-4100; both
dated October 25, 2005; as applicable, may be used.
Table 1.--Alternative Service Information
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Airbus Service Bulletin Revision Effective date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A330-57-3063................................... 01.................... July 23, 2004.
A330-57-3063................................... Original.............. July 12, 2001.
A330-57-3084................................... 01.................... February 17, 2006.
A330-57-3084................................... Original.............. December 14, 2004.
A340-57-4071................................... 02.................... September 10, 2004.
A340-57-4071................................... 01.................... July 23, 2004.
A340-57-4071................................... Original.............. July 12, 2001.
A340-57-4092................................... 01.................... February 17, 2006.
A340-57-4092................................... Original.............. December 14, 2004.
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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) The European Aviation Safety Agency airworthiness directive
2006-0048, dated February 16, 2006, also addresses the subject of
this AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(j) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A330-57-3091, dated
October 25, 2005; or Airbus Service Bulletin A340-57-4100, dated
October 25, 2005; 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 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
.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 7, 2006.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-15330 Filed 9-18-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P