[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 188 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56854-56856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8229]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-24990; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-013-AD;
Amendment 39-14772; AD 2006-20-03]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321
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
certain Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 airplanes. This AD requires
an inspection to determine if the stiff part of the girt and girt bar
position of the forward left-hand and right-hand passenger doors is
incorrect, and repair if necessary. This AD results from cases of girt
bar disengagement from the floor fitting during deployment tests of
slide rafts at the forward passenger doors. We are issuing this AD to
prevent disengagement of the telescopic girt bar from the airplane when
the door is opened in emergency situations, which could result in the
inability to open the passenger door and to use the escape slide/raft
at that door during an emergency evacuation of the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective November 2, 2006.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of November 2,
2006.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S.
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building,
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
Contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex,
France, for service information identified in this AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
227-2125; fax (425) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Examining the Docket
You may examine the airworthiness directive (AD) docket on the
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management
Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The Docket Management Facility office
(telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif
Building at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.
Discussion
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain Airbus Model
A319, A320, and A321 airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal
Register on June 12, 2006 (71 FR 33661). That NPRM proposed to require
an inspection to determine if the stiff part of the girt and girt bar
position of the forward left-hand and right-hand passenger doors is
incorrect, and repair if necessary.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.
Support for the NPRM
Airbus agrees with the NPRM.
Request To Withdraw the NPRM
The Air Transport Association (ATA), on behalf of its member, US
Airways, requests that we clarify the impact of AD 2005-23-05 on the
NPRM. (On October 25, 2005, we issued AD 2005-23-05, amendment 39-14363
(70 FR 69063, November 14, 2005), for certain Airbus Model A319-100,
A320-200, and A321-100 and -200 series
[[Page 56855]]
airplanes. AD 2005-23-05 requires modification of the telescopic girt
bar of the escape slide/raft assembly, and follow-on actions. AD 2005-
23-05 also requires a new modification of the telescopic girt bar and
the installation of placards on the modified girt bars, which terminate
the repetitive functional tests. We issued AD 2005-23-05 to prevent
failure of the escape slide/raft to deploy correctly, which could
result in the slide being unusable during an emergency evacuation and
consequent injury to passengers or airplane crewmembers.) US Airways
states that the intent of the NPRM has already been accomplished with
AD 2005-23-05. US Airways asserts that AD 2005-23-05 requires
replacement of the telescopic girt bar on affected slide rafts, and
that during replacement of the girt bar, the girt is reinstalled using
the same instructions referenced in the NPRM. US Airways points out
that the compliance time of AD 2005-23-05 is August 19, 2007.
Therefore, US Airways requests that we either withdraw the NPRM or
grant AD 2005-23-05 as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) to
the NPRM.
We do not agree to withdraw this AD, since the applicability of AD
2005-23-05 and this AD do not exactly match. Also, this AD mandates a
shorter compliance time than AD 2005-23-05. However, we do agree to
provide credit for accomplishing the actions in paragraph (g) of AD
2005-23-05. Paragraph (g) of AD 2005-23-05 references Airbus Service
Bulletin A320-52-1112, Revision 05, dated June 25, 2004, as the
appropriate source of service information for modifying the telescopic
girt bar. We have reviewed Airbus Service Bulletin A320-52-1112,
Revision 05, and have determined that accomplishing the actions in that
service bulletin is acceptable for accomplishing the actions specified
in paragraph (f) of this AD. Therefore, we have added a new paragraph
(h) to this AD allowing credit for accomplishment of paragraph (g) of
AD 2005-23-05. We have reidentified the subsequent paragraphs
accordingly.
Change to the Cost of Compliance
We have reduced our estimate for the number of affected airplanes
of U.S. registry.
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 changes described previously.
We have determined that the changes will neither increase the economic
burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
This AD affects about 200 airplanes of U.S. registry. The actions
in this AD take about 1 work hour 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 $16,000, or $80 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):
2006-20-03 Airbus: Amendment 39-14772. Docket No. FAA-2006-24990;
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-013-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective November 2, 2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321
airplanes, certificated in any category; on which Airbus
Modification 20233, 25902, or 24365 (installation of slide raft) has
been done in production; excluding those airplanes having
manufacturer's serial numbers 1794, 2155, 2195, 2204, 2231, 2239,
2244, 2246, 2247, 2252, 2254, 2255, 2257, 2259, 2261, 2263, 2267,
2273, 2274, 2275, 2278, 2280, 2282, 2284, 2286, 2288, 2297, 2301,
2307, 2310, 2314, 2327, 2369, and subsequent.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from cases of girt bar disengagement from
the floor fitting during deployment tests of slide rafts at the
forward passenger doors. We are issuing this AD to prevent
disengagement of the telescopic girt bar from the airplane when the
door is opened in emergency situations, which could result in the
inability to open the passenger door and to use the escape slide/
raft at that door during an emergency evacuation 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.
Inspection and Repair
(f) Within 200 days after the effective date of this AD, do a
general visual inspection to determine if the stiff part of the girt
and girt bar position of the forward left-hand and right-hand
passenger doors is incorrect, in accordance with the Accomplishment
[[Page 56856]]
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1394, Revision 01,
dated December 12, 2005. If the stiff part of the girt or the girt
bar position is incorrect, before further flight, repair in
accordance with the service bulletin.
Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection
is: ``A visual examination of an interior or exterior area,
installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or
irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within touching
distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be necessary to
ensure visual access to all surfaces in the inspection area. This
level of inspection is made under normally available lighting
conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or
droplight and may require removal or opening of access panels or
doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be required to gain
proximity to the area being checked.''
(g) Inspecting and repairing if necessary before the effective
date of this AD in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-
1394, dated July 23, 2004, is acceptable for compliance with the
requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD.
Credit for AD 2005-23-05, Amendment 39-14363
(h) Accomplishing the actions required by paragraph (g) of AD
2005-23-05 is acceptable for compliance with the corresponding
requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(i)(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) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards
Certificate Holding District Office.
Related Information
(j) French airworthiness directive F-2005-172, issued December
21, 2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(k) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1394, Revision
01, dated December 12, 2005, 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
this document 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 Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room PL-401, Nassif
Building, Washington, DC; on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For
information on the availability of this material at the NARA, call
(202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 14, 2006.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-8229 Filed 9-27-06; 8:45 am]
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