[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 97 (Monday, May 20, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29261-29263]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-11913]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0424; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-014-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 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 all
Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter, A330-200 and -300, and A340-200 and -
300 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of
cracked adjacent frame forks of a forward cargo door. This proposed AD
would require repetitive detailed inspections for cracks and sheared,
loose, or missing rivets of the forward cargo door and, for certain
airplanes, of the aft cargo door, and repair if necessary. We are
proposing this AD to detect and correct cracked or ruptured cargo door
frames, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the
forward or aft cargo door.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 5, 2013.
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, 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; email [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, WA. 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-2013-0424;
Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-014-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.
[[Page 29262]]
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 2012-0274, dated December 21, 2012 (referred to
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified
products. The MCAI states:
One A330 operator recently reported a case where two adjacent
frame (FR) forks of a forward cargo door were found cracked. FR20B
was found cracked through, FR21 was found cracked half through. At
the time of the findings, the affected aeroplane had accumulated
around 21 000 flight cycles (FC) and it had already been inspected
in accordance with EASA AD 2011-0007R1 [which corresponds to FAA AD
2012-12-12, Amendment 39-17092 (77 FR 37797, June 25, 2012)] and
[airworthiness limitation instructions] ALI Task 523106-01-1.
However, during those inspections, the forward cargo door handle
access panel is not required to be removed, which explains why the
cracks at these two internal frame locations were not detected.
After further analysis, it was determined that, in case of
cracked or ruptured (forward or aft) cargo door frame, the loads
will be transferred to the remaining structural elements. However,
the second load path is able to sustain the loads for a limited
number of flight cycles only.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
rupture of two vertical frames, resulting in reduced structural
integrity of the forward or aft cargo door.
To address this condition, Airbus issued four separate Alert
Operators Transmissions (AOT), giving instructions for repetitive
inspections of the affected areas.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires
repetitive detailed visual inspections of aft cargo door at FR60 and
FR60A [for certain airplanes] and forward cargo door at FR21 and
FR20B [for all airplanes], where the cargo door handle access panels
are located, as follow:
--outer skin rivets for sheared, loose or missing rivets at frame
fork ends,
--whole inner forks for cracks and for sheared, loose or missing
rivets at frame web and flange after removal of handle access
panels, and
the accomplishment of the applicable corrective actions [which
include repair, in accordance with a method approved by the Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA.]
Note: Accomplishment of the above inspections does not cancel
accomplishment of the inspections as required by EASA AD 2011-
0007R1, nor accomplishment of those in accordance with ALI Task
523106-01-1.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.
Relevant Service Information
Airbus has issued the following Alert Operator Transmissions
(AOTs). The actions described in this service information are intended
to correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.
Airbus AOT A330-A52L001-12, dated December 3, 2012.
Airbus AOT A330-A52L003-12, dated December 3, 2012.
Airbus AOT A340-A52L002-12, dated December 3, 2012.
Airbus AOT A340-A52L004-12, dated December 3, 2012.
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 Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service
Information
The service information specifies to contact the manufacturer for
instructions on how to repair certain conditions, but this proposed AD
would require repairing those conditions using a method approved by the
FAA or the EASA (or its delegated agent).
Costs of Compliance
Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD
would affect about 66 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that
it would take about 1 work-hour per product to comply with the basic
requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per
work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed
AD on U.S. operators to be $5,610, or $85 per product.
We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide
cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this AD.
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);
3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and
4. 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
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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2013-0424; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-
014-AD.
[[Page 29263]]
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by July 5, 2013.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Airbus Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, -
223F, -243, -243F, -301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342,
and -343 airplanes; and Model A340-211, -212, -213, -311, -312, and
-313 airplanes; certificated in any category; all manufacturer
serial numbers (MSN).
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 52, Doors.
(e) Reason
This AD was prompted by reports of cracked adjacent frame forks
of a forward cargo door. We are issuing this AD to detect and
correct cracked or ruptured cargo door frames, which could result in
reduced structural integrity of the forward or aft cargo door.
(f) Compliance
You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD
performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions
have already been done.
(g) Inspections for Certain Airplanes
For Model A330-200, -200 Freighter, and -300 airplanes up to MSN
0162 inclusive, except those on which Airbus Service Bulletin A330-
52-3044 has been embodied in service; and for Model A340-200 and -
300 airplanes up to MSN 0164 inclusive, except those on which Airbus
Service Bulletin A340-52-4054 has been embodied in service: Before
the accumulation of 15,800 total flight cycles since the airplane's
first flight or within 100 flight cycles after the effective date of
this AD, whichever occurs later, do a detailed inspection of the
outer skin rivets at the frame fork end of frame (FR)60 and FR60A of
the aft cargo door for sheared, loose, or missing rivets; and do a
detailed inspection of the whole FR60 and FR60A forks for cracking
and for sheared, loose, or missing rivets at the frame web and
flanges; in accordance with Airbus Alert Operator Transmission (AOT)
A330-A52L001-12, dated December 3, 2012; or Airbus AOT A340-A52L002-
12, dated December 3, 2012; as applicable. Repeat the inspections
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 400 flight cycles.
(h) Inspections for All Airplanes
Within the applicable compliance time specified in paragraph
(h)(1) or (h)(2) of this AD, do a detailed inspection of outer skin
rivets at the frame fork end of FR21 and FR20B of the forward cargo
door for sheared, loose, or missing rivets; and do a detailed
inspection of the whole FR21 and FR20B forks for cracks and for
sheared, loose, or missing rivets at the frame web and flanges; in
accordance with Airbus AOT A330-A52L003-12, dated December 3, 2012;
or Airbus AOT A340-A52L004-12, dated December 3, 2012; as
applicable. Repeat this inspection thereafter at intervals not to
exceed 800 flight cycles.
(1) For airplanes having less than 18,400 total flight cycles
since the airplane's first flight as of the effective date of this
AD: Before the accumulation of 10,600 total flight cycles since the
airplane's first flight, or within 100 flight cycles after the
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later.
(2) For airplanes having 18,400 total flight cycles or more
since the airplane's first flight as of the effective date of this
AD: Within 50 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD.
(i) Repair
If any cracking, or sheared, loose, or missing rivet is found
during any inspection required by this AD, before further flight,
repair using a method approved by either the Manager, International
Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) (or its delegated agent).
(j) Actions Not Terminating Action
Doing the repair required by paragraph (i) of this AD is not
terminating action for the repetitive inspections required by
paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD for that cargo door, unless the
repair instruction specifically states it is terminating action.
(k) Other FAA AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,
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 emailed 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.
(l) Related Information
(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information
European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness Directive 2012-0274,
dated December 21, 2012, and the AOTs identified in paragraphs
(l)(1)(i) through (l)(1)(iv) of this AD, for related information.
(i) Airbus AOT A330-A52L001-12, dated December 3, 2012.
(ii) Airbus AOT A330-A52L003-12, dated December 3, 2012.
(iii) Airbus AOT A340-A52L002-12, dated December 3, 2012.
(iv) Airbus AOT A340-A52L004-12, dated December 3, 2012.
(2) For service information identified in this 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; email [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, WA. For information on
the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
Issued In Renton, Washington, on May 13, 2013.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-11913 Filed 5-17-13; 8:45 am]
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