FR Doc E7-23544

[Federal Register: December 10, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 236)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 69612-69614]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10de07-20]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-28996; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-217-AD;
Amendment 39-15283; AD 2007-25-02]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A310 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 all
Airbus Model A310 series airplanes. This AD requires revising the
Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued
Airworthiness to incorporate new and revised structural inspections and
inspection intervals. This AD results from issuance of new and revised
structural inspections and inspection intervals. We are issuing this AD
to detect and correct fatigue cracking, which could result in reduced
structural integrity of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective January 14, 2008.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of January 14,
2008.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
; or in person at the Docket Management Facility

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The address for the
Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is the Document Management
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30,
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Stafford, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
227-1622; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to all Airbus Model A310
series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on
August 16, 2007 (72 FR 45952). That NPRM proposed to require revising
the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued
Airworthiness to incorporate new and revised structural inspections and
inspection intervals.

Comments

We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.

[[Page 69613]]

Support for the NPRM

Airbus supports issuance of this AD without further delay.

Request To Revise Address for Reporting Requirement

Airbus requests that we revise the address for the reporting
requirement specified in the NPRM. We agree and have revised paragraph
(i) of this AD to refer to the address provided in Airbus's comment.

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 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 affects about 69 airplanes of U.S. registry. The required
actions take about 2 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate
of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the
AD for U.S. operators is $11,040, or $160 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 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):

2007-25-02 Airbus: Amendment 39-15283. Docket No. FAA-2007-28996;
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-217-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This AD becomes effective January 14, 2008.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

Note 1: This AD requires revisions to certain operator
maintenance documents to include new inspections. Compliance with
these inspections is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes
that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the
areas addressed by these inspections, the operator may not be able
to accomplish the inspections described in the revisions. In this
situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must
request approval for an alternative method of compliance according
to paragraph (j) of this AD. The request should include a
description of changes to the required inspections that will ensure
the continued damage tolerance of the affected structure. The FAA
has provided guidance for this determination in Advisory Circular
(AC) 25.1529-1.

Unsafe Condition

(d) This AD results from issuance of new and revised structural
inspections and inspection intervals. We are issuing this AD to
detect and correct fatigue cracking, which could result in reduced
structural integrity 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.

Revision of Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions
for Continued Airworthiness (ICA)

(f) Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, do the
actions specified in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD.
(1) Revise the ALS of the ICA to incorporate the structural
inspections and inspection intervals defined in Airbus A310
Airworthiness Limitations Items (ALI) Document, AI/SE-M2/95A.0263/
06, Issue 6, dated April 2006 (approved by the European Aviation
Safety Agency (EASA) on May 31, 2006) (hereafter referred to as
``Issue 6 of the ALI''). Accomplish the actions specified in Issue 6
of the ALI at the times specified in that ALI, except as provided by
paragraph (g) of this AD. Thereafter, except as provided by
paragraphs (f)(2) and (j) of this AD, no alternative structural
inspection intervals may be approved. The actions specified in Issue
6 of the ALI must be accomplished in accordance with Issue 6 of the
ALI.
(2) Revise the ALS of the ICA to incorporate the new and revised
structural inspections and inspection intervals defined in Airbus
Temporary Revision (TR) 6.1, dated November 2006 (approved by the
EASA on December 12, 2006), to Issue 6 of the ALI. Thereafter,
except as provided by paragraph (j) of this AD, no alternative
structural inspection intervals may be approved.

Exception to Issue 6 of the ALI

(g) The tolerance (grace period) for compliance with Issue 6 of
the ALI is within 1,500 flight cycles after the effective date of
this AD provided that none of the following is exceeded:
(1) Thresholds or intervals in the operator's current approved
maintenance schedule that are taken from a previous ALI issue, if
existing, and are higher than or equal to those given in Issue 6 of
the ALI.
(2) 18 months after the effective date of this AD.
(3) 50 percent of the intervals given in Issue 6 of the ALI.
(4) Any application tolerance specified in Section D of Issue 6
of the ALI.

Corrective Actions

(h) Damaged, cracked, or corroded structure detected during any
inspection done in accordance with Issue 6 of the ALI must be
repaired, before further flight, in accordance with Issue 6 of the
ALI; or in accordance with other data meeting the certification
basis of the airplane that has

[[Page 69614]]

been approved by either the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116,
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, or the EASA (or its delegated
agent). Where Issue 6 of the ALI specifies to contact Airbus for
appropriate action:
Before further flight, repair the damaged, cracked, or corroded
structure using a method approved by either the Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116, or the EASA (or its delegated agent).

Reporting Requirement

(i) If any damage that exceeds the allowable limits specified in
Issue 6 of the ALI is detected during any inspection required by
this AD: At the applicable time specified in paragraph (i)(1) or
(i)(2) of this AD, submit a report of the finding to Airbus,
Customer Service Directorate, Attn: Department Manager Maintenance
Engineering, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex,
France; e-mail: sched.maint@airbus.com. The report must include the
ALI task reference, airplane serial number, the number of flight
cycles and flight hours on the airplane, identification of the
affected structure, location and description of the finding
including its size and orientation, and the circumstance of
detection and inspection method used. Under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.), the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection
requirements contained in this AD and has assigned OMB Control
Number 2120-0056.
(1) If the inspection was done after the effective date of this
AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the inspection.
(2) If the inspection was accomplished prior to the effective
date of this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the
effective date of this AD.

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) To request a different method of compliance or a different
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19.
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local
FSDO.

Related Information

(k) EASA airworthiness directive 2006-0260, dated August 25,
2006, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

(l) You must use Airbus A310 Airworthiness Limitations Items
Document, AI/SE-M2/95A.0263/06, Issue 6, dated April 2006; and
Airbus Temporary Revision 6.1, including pages 1 and 2 of Section D
and page 1 of Section E, dated November 2006, to Airbus A310
Airworthiness Limitations Items Document, AI/SE-M2/95A.0263/06,
Issue 6, dated April 2006; 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 FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue,
SW., Renton, Washington; or at the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this
material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html
.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 23, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-23544 Filed 12-7-07; 8:45 am]

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