AirBUS airworthiness directive

[Federal Register: December 15, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 241)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 75432-75433]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15de06-11]

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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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[[Page 75432]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-26595; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-208-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A320 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 adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Airbus Model A320 series airplanes. This proposed AD would
require replacing the carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) actuator
fittings of the rudder with aluminum actuator fittings and doing
related investigative and corrective actions. This proposed AD results
from rupture of a CFRP actuator fitting during maintenance. We are
proposing this AD to prevent rupture of a rudder actuator fitting,
which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 16,
2007.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed AD.
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow

the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your

comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex,
France, for service information identified in this proposed 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:

Comments Invited

We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2006-
26595; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-208-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the
proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will

also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of
that Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union,
etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.


Examining the Docket

You may examine the 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 DOT
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after the Docket Management System
receives them.

Discussion

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
airworthiness authority for the European Union, notified us that an
unsafe condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A320 series
airplanes. The EASA advises that a carbon fiber plastic reinforced
(CFRP) actuator fitting of the rudder ruptured during incorrect
accomplishment of airplane maintenance task 27-21-00-710-001.
Investigation revealed that the CFRP actuator fittings cannot sustain
limit loads resulting from ground gust conditions due to design of the
fitting. Rupture of a rudder actuator fitting, if not corrected, could
result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-55-1030, dated March 6,
2006. The service bulletin describes procedures for replacing all three
of the CFRP actuator fittings of the rudder with aluminum actuator
fittings and doing related investigative and corrective actions. The
related investigative action is an inspection of the bushings to ensure
that they are not elongated or out of measurement. The corrective
action is to replace any damaged bushing with a new bushing.
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 2006-0262,
dated August 25, 2006, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these
airplanes in the European Union.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

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. 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

[[Page 75433]]

examined the EASA's findings, evaluated all pertinent information, and
determined that we need to issue an AD for airplanes of this type
design that are certificated for operation in the United States.
Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which would require
accomplishing the actions specified in the service information
described previously.

Costs of Compliance

This proposed AD would affect about 38 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The proposed action would take about 100 work hours per airplane, at an
average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Required parts would cost
about $6,310 per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost
of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is $543,780, or $14,310 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
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2006-26595; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-
208-AD.

Comments Due Date

(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by January
16, 2007.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A320 series airplanes,
certificated in any category; except those on which Airbus
Modification 21733 or 21999 has been incorporated in production.

Unsafe Condition

(d) This AD results from rupture of a carbon fiber reinforced
plastic (CFRP) actuator fitting during maintenance. We are issuing
this AD to prevent rupture of a rudder actuator fitting, which could
result in reduced controllability 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.

Replacement of Rudder Actuator Fittings

(f) Within 9,000 flight cycles or 12,000 flight hours, or 60
months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first:
Replace all of the CFRP actuator fittings of the rudder with
aluminum actuator fittings and do all the related investigative
actions, by accomplishing all of the actions specified in Airbus
Service Bulletin A320-55-1030, dated March 6, 2006. Do any
applicable corrective actions before further flight in accordance
with the Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(g)(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

(h) European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) airworthiness
directive 2006-0262, dated August 25, 2006, also addresses the
subject of this AD.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 27, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E6-21354 Filed 12-14-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-P