[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 9, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1558-1560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-152]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-0391; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-271-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A318-100 and A319-100
Series Airplanes; A320-111 Airplanes; A320-200 Series Airplanes; and
A321-100 and A321-200 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 supersede an existing airworthiness
directive (AD) that applies to certain Airbus Model A318-100 and A319-
100 series airplanes; A320-111 airplanes; A320-200 series airplanes;
and A321-100 and A321-200 series airplanes. The existing AD currently
requires a one-time inspection of the horizontal hinge pin of the 103VU
electrical panel in the avionics compartment to determine if the hinge
pin can move out of the hinge, and related investigative and corrective
actions if necessary. This proposed AD would require installing a hinge
pin stopper on the internal door of the 103VU electrical panel. This
proposed AD results from a report indicating that electrical wire
damage was found in the 103VU electrical panel due to contact between
the hinge pin and the adjacent electrical wire harness. We are
proposing this AD to prevent contact between the horizontal hinge pin
and the adjacent electrical wire harness, which could result in damage
to electrical wires, and consequent arcing and/or failure of associated
systems.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 8,
2008.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
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 proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Dulin, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
227-2141; fax (425) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2007-0391;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-271-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
On January 26, 2006, we issued AD 2006-03-10, amendment 39-14474
(71 FR 6665, February 9, 2006), for certain Airbus Model A318-100 and
A319-100 series airplanes; A320-111 airplanes; A320-200 series
airplanes; and A321-100 and A321-200 series airplanes. That AD requires
a one-time inspection of the horizontal hinge pin of the 103VU
electrical panel in the avionics compartment to determine if the hinge
pin can move out of the hinge, and related investigative and corrective
actions if necessary. That AD resulted from a report indicating that
electrical wire damage was found in the 103VU electrical panel due to
contact between the hinge pin and the adjacent electrical wire harness.
We issued that AD to prevent contact between the horizontal hinge pin
and the adjacent electrical wire harness, which could result in damage
to electrical wires, and consequent arcing and/or failure of associated
systems.
Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued
Since we issued AD 2006-03-10, the European Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Community, has informed us that the inspections and applicable
corrective actions specified in Airbus All Operators Telex 25A1440,
dated February 15, 2005 (referred to in AD 2006-03-10 as the
appropriate source of service information for the required actions),
are not adequate to address the identified unsafe condition (i.e.,
contact between the horizontal hinge pin and the adjacent electrical
wire harness,
[[Page 1559]]
which could result in damage to electrical wires, and consequent arcing
and/or failure of associated systems).
Relevant Service Information
Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-25-1535, dated April 27,
2007. The service bulletin describes procedures for installing a hinge
pin stopper on the internal door of the 103VU electrical panel.
Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is
intended to adequately address the unsafe condition. The EASA mandated
the service information and issued airworthiness directive 2007-0214,
dated August 7, 2007, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these
airplanes in the European Union.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
These airplanes are manufactured in France and are type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. As described in FAA
Order 8100.14A, ``Interim Procedures for Working with the European
Community on Airworthiness Certification and Continued Airworthiness,''
dated August 12, 2005, the EASA has kept the FAA informed of the
situation described above. We have examined the EASA's findings,
evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that AD action is
necessary for airplanes of this type design that are certificated for
operation in the United States.
This proposed AD would supersede AD 2006-03-10. This proposed AD
would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service
bulletin described previously.
Costs of Compliance
This proposed AD would affect about 658 Airbus Model A318-100 and
A319-100 series airplanes; A320-111 airplanes; A320-200 series
airplanes; and A321-100 and A321-200 series airplanes of U.S. registry.
The new proposed actions would take about 1 work hour per airplane, at
an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Required parts would cost
about $20 per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of
the new actions specified in this proposed AD for U.S. operators is
$65,800, or $100 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 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, 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
removing amendment 39-14474 (71 FR 6665, February 9, 2006) and adding
the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2007-0391; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-
271-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by February
8, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2006-03-10.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A318-111 and -112; A319-111,
-112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133; A320-111, -211, -212,
-214, -231, -232, and -233; and A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -
213, -231, and -232 airplanes; certificated in any category; all
manufactured serial numbers; except for those airplanes on which
Airbus Modification 36115 has been done in production or Airbus
Service Bulletin A320-25-1535, dated April 27, 2007, has been done
in service.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report indicating that electrical
wire damage was found in the 103VU electrical panel due to contact
between the hinge pin and the adjacent electrical wire harness. We
are issuing this AD to prevent contact between the horizontal hinge
pin and the adjacent electrical wire harness, which could result in
damage to electrical wires, and consequent arcing and/or failure of
associated systems.
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.
Installation
(f) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD,
install a hinge pin stopper on the internal door of the 103VU
electrical panel in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions
of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1535, dated April 27, 2007.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(g)(1) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, 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.
[[Page 1560]]
Related Information
(h) European Aviation Safety Agency airworthiness directive
2007-0214, dated August 7, 2007, also addresses the subject of this
AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 19, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-152 Filed 1-8-08; 8:45 am]
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