[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 14, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1861-1863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-812]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 96-NM-92-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A320 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 1862]]
SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Airbus Model A320 series
airplanes. This proposal would require repetitive inspections to detect
cracking and delamination of the containers in which the left and right
off-wing emergency evacuation slides are stored, and repair, if
necessary. If cracking and delamination in excess of certain limits are
found, the proposed AD also would require replacement of the slide with
a modified slide; and replacement of the discrepant container with a
serviceable container. Replacement of the slide with a modified slide
would terminate the requirement for repetitive inspections. This
proposal is prompted by a report indicating that a slide deployed
during flight, which resulted in the loss of the slide and the
container door. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended
to prevent the loss of the escape slides during flight, which could
make the emergency exits located over each wing unusable and result in
damage to the fuselage.
DATES: Comments must be received by February 24, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 96-NM-92-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this location
between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Airbus Industrie, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707
Blagnac Cedex, France. This information may be examined at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Huber, Aerospace Engineer,
Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206)
227-2589; fax (206) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 96-NM-92-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 96-NM-92-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
The Direction Generale de la Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the
airworthiness authority for France, recently notified the FAA that an
unsafe condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A320 series
airplanes. The DGAC advises that it has received a report indicating
that the left off-wing emergency evacuation slide on one airplane
inadvertently deployed during flight. A subsequent inspection revealed
that both the left off-wing slide and the door to the container in
which the slide was stored were missing. Based on the findings of the
inspection, it was concluded that the loss of the slide and the
container door were the result of the packed slide pressing against
(and thereby exerting excessive internal pressure on) the container.
This contact and resultant excessive pressure also contributed to
delamination of the container door.
A slide is mounted on each side of the airplane in the wing-to-body
fairing. Should the slide begin to deploy during flight, air moving
over the wing can separate the slide from the airplane. This loss of
the slide during flight could make the two emergency exits located over
each wing unusable and result in damage to the fuselage.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-25-1161, dated June 21,
1995, which describes procedures for conducting repetitive detailed
visual inspections to detect cracking and delamination of the left and
right slide containers and container doors, and repair, if necessary.
When cracking and delamination of the container or container door
exceed certain limits, this service bulletin also describes procedures
for replacing a discrepant container with a serviceable container; and
for replacing the slide with a modified slide. Accomplishment of the
slide replacement would eliminate the need for repetitive inspections
of that container and door.
Airbus also has issued Service Bulletin A320-25-1156, dated June
21, 1995, which describes procedures for the replacement of the slide
with a modified slide. When the modified slide is packed into its
container, there is a 5 mm clearance between the slide and the
container door. This modification is intended to keep the packed slide
from pressing against the container door, thus alleviating pressure on
the door; the modification also would eliminate a cause of delamination
of the container door.
The DGAC classified the Airbus service bulletins as mandatory and
issued French airworthiness directive (C/N) 95-186-071(B) R1, dated
February 14, 1996, in order to assure the continued airworthiness of
these airplanes in France.
Note: The Airbus service bulletins reference the following
service documents as additional sources of procedural service
information:
--Airbus All Operator Telex 25-09, dated January 2, 1995;
--Airbus All Operator Telex 25-09, Revision 1, dated January 2,
1995;
--Air Cruisers Service Bulletin 004-25-37; and
--Air Cruisers Service Bulletin 004-25-38.
(Air Cruisers is the manufacturer of the slide system.)
FAA's Conclusions
This airplane model is manufactured in France and is 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. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed
of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of
the DGAC, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD
[[Page 1863]]
action is necessary for products of this type design that are
certificated for operation in the United States.
Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design registered
in the United States, the proposed AD would require repetitive detailed
visual inspections to detect cracking and delamination of the container
and container door for the left and right escape slides, and repair, if
necessary. If damage to the container door exceeds certain limits, the
proposed AD would require replacement of the escape slide with a
modified slide, and replacement of the discrepant container with a
serviceable container. Accomplishment of the slide replacement would
constitute terminating action for the repetitive inspections of the
container and container door. The actions would be required to be
accomplished in accordance with the Airbus service bulletins described
previously.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 115 Airbus Model 320 series airplanes of
U.S. registry would be affected by this proposed AD.
It would take approximately 5 work hours per airplane to accomplish
the proposed inspection, at an average labor rate of $60 per work hour.
Based on these figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S.
operators is estimated to be $34,500, or $300 per airplane, per
inspection.
The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in
the future if this AD were not adopted.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects 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. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Airbus Industrie: Docket 96-NM-92-AD.
Applicability: Model A320 series airplanes listed in Airbus
Service Bulletin A320-25-1156, dated June 21, 1995; certificated in
any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (b) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent the loss of the off-wing emergency evacuation slides
(``escape slides'') during flight, which could make the two
emergency exits located over each wing unusable and result in damage
to the airplane, accomplish the following:
(a) Within 500 hours time-in-service after the effective date of
this AD, perform a detailed visual inspection to detect cracking and
delamination of each off-wing container, including the container
door, in which an escape slide is stored, in accordance with Airbus
Service Bulletin A320-25-1161, dated June 21, 1995.
Note 2: Accomplishment of inspections prior to the effective
date of this AD in accordance with Airbus All Operator Telex 25-09,
dated January 2, 1995, or Revision 1, dated January 2, 1995; or Air
Cruisers Service Bulletin 004-25-38; is considered acceptable for
compliance with this paragraph.
(1) If no crack or delamination is found, repeat the detailed
visual inspection required by paragraph (a) of this AD thereafter at
intervals not to exceed 18 months or 4,000 landings, whichever
occurs earlier.
(2) If any crack or delamination is found which does not exceed
the limits specified in the service bulletin, prior to further
flight, repair the crack or delamination in accordance with this
service bulletin.
(3) If any crack or delamination is found which exceeds the
limits specified in the, prior to further flight, replace the
discrepant container with a serviceable container in accordance with
Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1161, dated June 21, 1995; and
replace the escape slide with a slide modified in accordance with
Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1156, dated June 21, 1995.
Replacement of the slide constitutes terminating action for the
repetitive inspections of that container required by paragraph
(a)(1) of this AD.
Note 3: Accomplishment of the slide modification prior to the
effective date of this AD in accordance with Airbus All Operator
Telex 25-09, dated January 2, 1995, or Revision 1, dated January 2,
1995; or Air Cruisers Service Bulletin 004-25-37; is considered
acceptable for compliance with this paragraph.
(b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Manager, Standardization Branch, ANM-113,
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their
requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector,
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager,
Standardization Branch, ANM-113.
Note 4: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.
(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 7, 1997.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-812 Filed 1-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U