[Federal Register: September 19, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 180)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 54854-54856]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19se05-14]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-22456; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-128-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A321-100 and -200 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 A321-100 and -200 series airplanes. This
proposed AD would require replacing the crashworthiness pins on the
side-stay of the main landing gear (MLG) with new pins having an
increased internal notch diameter. This proposed AD results from
testing on the side-stay crashworthiness pins on the MLG, which
revealed that, in the case of an emergency landing, the crashworthiness
pins installed will not ensure a correct MLG collapse. We are proposing
this AD to prevent a punctured fuel tank, which could cause damage to
the airplane or injury to passengers.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 19,
2005.
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.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; 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-2005-
22456; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-128-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 Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC),
which is the airworthiness authority for France, notified us that an
unsafe condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A321-100 and -200
series airplanes. The DGAC advises that, during the development
qualification program of the 93T maximum takeoff weight (MTOW),
complementary tests performed revealed that the main landing gear (MLG)
side-stay crashworthiness pins installed with Airbus Modification 24982
are not compatible. In the case of an emergency landing, the
crashworthiness pins installed will not ensure a correct MLG collapse,
and a risk of fuel tank puncture that could cause damage to the
airplane or injury to passengers could result.
Relevant Service Information
Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-32-1229, dated August 9,
2001. The service bulletin describes procedures for replacing the
crashworthiness pin on the MLG side-stay with a new pin having an
increased internal notch diameter. Accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information is intended to adequately address the unsafe
condition. The DGAC mandated the service information and issued French
airworthiness directive 2002-074(B) R1, dated March 20, 2002, to ensure
the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France.
The Airbus service bulletin refers to Messier-Dowty Service
Bulletin 201-32-26, dated July 20, 2001, as an additional source of
service information for replacing the crashworthiness pins.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
These airplane models are manufactured in France and are type
[[Page 54855]]
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. We have examined the DGAC'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, except as discussed below.
Difference Between Proposed AD and French Airworthiness Directive
The applicability of the French airworthiness directive excludes
airplanes on which Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1229 was
accomplished in service. However, we have not excluded those airplanes
in the applicability of this proposed AD; rather, this proposed AD
would include a requirement to accomplish the actions specified in that
service bulletin. This proposed requirement would ensure that the
actions specified in the service bulletin are accomplished on all
affected airplanes. Operators must continue to operate the airplane in
the configuration required by this proposed AD unless an alternative
method of compliance is approved.
Costs of Compliance
The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators
to comply with this proposed AD.
Estimated Costs
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Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours Average labor Parts Cost per registered Fleet cost
rate per hour airplane airplanes
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Pin replacement................................... 2 $65 $0 $130 1 $130
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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-2005-22456; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-
128-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by October
19, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A321-111, -112, and -131
airplanes; and Model A321-211 and -231 airplanes; certificated in
any category, including airplanes modified in production by Airbus
Modification 24982, but excluding airplanes modified in production
by Airbus Modification 30046.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from testing on the side-stay
crashworthiness pins on the main landing gear (MLG), which revealed
that, in the case of an emergency landing, the crashworthiness pins
installed will not ensure a correct MLG collapse. We are issuing
this AD to prevent a punctured fuel tank, which could cause damage
to the airplane or injury to passengers.
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.
Pin Replacement
(f) Within 27 months after the effective date of this AD,
replace any crashworthiness pin having part number 201525620 with
part number 201525621, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1229, dated August
9, 2001.
Note 1: Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1229 refers to Messier-
Dowty Service Bulletin 201-32-26, dated July 20, 2001, as an
additional source of service information for replacing the
crashworthiness pins.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(g) 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.
[[Page 54856]]
Related Information
(h) French airworthiness directive 2002-074(B) R1, dated March
20, 2002, also addresses the subject of this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 9, 2005.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-18529 Filed 9-16-05; 8:45 am]
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