[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 99 (Monday, May 23, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29673-29675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12507]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 99 / Monday, May 23, 2011 / Proposed
Rules
[[Page 29673]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2011-0474; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-213-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330-200 and -300 Series
Airplanes, and Model A340-200 and -300 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the
products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe
condition as:
It was noticed in production that the distance between the wire
harnesses 5376VB/2M and 5377VB/1M which are above the left-hand (LH)
and right-hand (RH) door 4, and the air conditioning duct could be
too small. This could result in collision between the flexible air
conditioning hose and wire harnesses.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to the short
circuit of wires dedicated to oxygen, which, in case of emergency,
could result in a large number of passenger oxygen masks not being
supplied with oxygen, possibly causing personal injuries.
* * * * *
The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address the
unsafe condition described in the MCAI.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 7, 2011.
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 W12-40, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Airbus SAS--Airworthiness Office--EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte,
31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61
93 45 80, e-mail [email protected]; Internet http://www.airbus.com. You may review copies of the referenced service
information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. For information on the availability of
this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office
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 Operations 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: Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
227-1138; 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-2011-0474;
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-213-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 based on 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
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2010-0103R1, dated April 28, 2011 (referred to
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products. The MCAI states:
It was noticed in production that the distance between the wire
harnesses 5376VB/2M and 5377VB/1M which are above the left-hand (LH)
and right-hand (RH) door 4, and the air conditioning duct could be
too small. This could result in collision between the flexible air
conditioning hose and wire harnesses.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to the short
circuit of wires dedicated to oxygen, which, in case of emergency,
could result in a large number of passenger oxygen masks not being
supplied with oxygen, possibly causing personal injuries.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires the
installation of a protective sleeve and an additional bracket to
maintain the appropriate distance between wires.
Revision 1 of this [EASA] AD is issued to revise the
applicability section of this AD in order to take into account all
configurations of air conditioning duct and the associated solutions
embodied in production.
For certain airplanes, required actions include modifying the support
assembly of the air outlet. For other airplanes, required actions
include exchanging certain attachment screws of the air outlet box
assembly on each door. You may obtain further information by examining
the MCAI in the AD docket.
Relevant Service Information
Airbus has issued Mandatory Service Bulletins A330-92-3077,
Revision 01, dated March 29, 2010 (for Model A330-200 and -300 series
airplanes); and A340-92-4078, Revision 01, dated April
[[Page 29674]]
9, 2010 (for Model A340-200 and -300 series airplanes).
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same
type design.
Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information
We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
We might also have proposed different actions in this AD from those
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are
highlighted in a NOTE within the proposed AD.
Costs of Compliance
Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD
would affect about 41 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that
it would take up to 11 work-hours per product to comply with the basic
requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per
work-hour. Required parts would cost up to $503 per product. Where the
service information lists required parts costs that are covered under
warranty, we have assumed that there will be no charge for these costs.
As we do not control warranty coverage for affected parties, some
parties may incur costs higher than estimated here. Based on these
figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to
be up to $58,958, or up to $1,438 per product.
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 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 this 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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, 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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2011-0474; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-
213-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by July 7, 2011.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to the Airbus airplanes identified in
paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD, all manufacturer serial
numbers; certificated in any category; except those identified in
paragraph (c)(3) of this AD.
(1) Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, -243, -301, -302, -303, -
321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes.
(2) Model A340-211, -212, -213, -311, -312, and -313 airplanes.
(3) Airplanes on which the following Airbus Modifications are
embodied in production: Both Airbus Modifications 57349 and 58924,
or Airbus Modification 201642 or 57562.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 92.
Reason
(e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
states:
It was noticed in production that the distance between the wire
harnesses 5376VB/2M and 5377VB/1M which are above the left-hand (LH)
and right-hand (RH) door 4, and the air conditioning duct could be
too small. This could result in collision between the flexible air
conditioning hose and wire harnesses.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to the short
circuit of wires dedicated to oxygen, which, in case of emergency,
could result in a large number of passenger oxygen masks not being
supplied with oxygen, possibly causing personal injuries.
* * * * *
Compliance
(f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Actions
(g) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD: Modify
the wire harness 5376VB/2M and 5377VB/1M attachments above the LH
and RH door 4, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of
Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-92-3077, Revision 01, dated
March 29, 2010; or Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A340-92-4078,
Revision 01, dated April 9, 2010; as applicable.
(h) For airplanes that have been modified before the effective
date of this AD in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions
of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-92-3077 or A340-92-4078,
both dated June 17, 2008: Within 24 months after the effective date
of this AD, perform the additional work identified in Airbus
Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-92-3077, Revision 01, dated March
29, 2010, or A340-92-4078, Revision 01, dated April 9, 2010, as
applicable (including modifying the support
[[Page 29675]]
assembly of the air outlet, or exchanging certain attachment screws
of the air outlet box assembly on each door, as applicable), in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Mandatory
Service Bulletin A330-92-3077, Revision 01, dated March 29, 2010, or
Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A340-92-4078, Revision 01, dated
April 9, 2010, as applicable.
FAA AD Differences
Note 1: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service
information as follows: No differences.
Other FAA AD Provisions
(i) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116, has the authority to approve AMOCs
for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR
39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your
principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as
appropriate. If sending information directly to the International
Branch, send it to ATTN: Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone
(425) 227-1138; fax (425) 227-1149. Information may be e-mailed to:
[email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC,
notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal
inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district
office/certificate holding district office. The AMOC approval letter
must specifically reference this AD.
(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
Related Information
(j) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness
Directive 2010-0103R1, dated April 28, 2011; Airbus Mandatory
Service Bulletin A330-92-3077, Revision 01, dated March 29, 2010;
and Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A340-92-4078, Revision 01,
dated April 9, 2010; for related information.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 13, 2011.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-12507 Filed 5-20-11; 8:45 am]
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