[Federal Register: December 17, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 242)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 70213-70214]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17de03-28]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2002-NM-18-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321
Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Airbus Model A319, A320,
and A321 series airplanes. This proposal would require replacing the
upper guide rod fittings at the rear passenger doors with improved
fittings. This action is necessary to prevent failure of an upper guide
rod fitting, which could cause a rear passenger door to jam during
opening, delaying an emergency evacuation and resulting in injury to
passengers or crew members. This action is intended to address the
identified unsafe condition.
DATES: Comments must be received by January 16, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-NM-18-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this
location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232.
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address:
9-anm-nprmcomment@faa.gov. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must
contain ``Docket No. 2002-NM-18-AD'' in the subject line and need not
be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached
electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 or 2000 or
ASCII text.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Airbus, 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: 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
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 action may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Submit comments using the following format:
[sbull] Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a
request to change the compliance time and a request to change the
service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
[sbull] For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed
AD is being requested.
[sbull] Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each
request.
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 action must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 2002-NM-18-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-114, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 2002-NM-18-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
The Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC),
which is the airworthiness authority for France, notified the FAA that
an unsafe condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A319, A320, and
A321 series airplanes. The DGAC advises that there have been several
reports of cracking and rupture of the upper guide rod fittings for the
rear passenger doors on in-service airplanes. This condition, if not
corrected, could cause a rear passenger door to jam during opening,
delaying an emergency evacuation and resulting in injury to passengers
or crew members.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-53-1154, Revision 2, dated
March 7, 2003. That service bulletin describes procedures for replacing
the upper guide rod fitting on each rear passenger door with an
improved fitting. The improved fitting is stronger than the existing
one due to an increase in thickness and different material.
Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletin is
intended to adequately address the identified unsafe condition. The
DGAC classified a previous revision of this service bulletin as
mandatory and issued French airworthiness directive 2001-634(B), dated
December 26, 2001, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these
airplanes in France.
FAA's Conclusions
These airplane models are manufactured in France and are 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
action is necessary for products of this type design that are
[[Page 70214]]
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 accomplishment of
the actions specified in the service bulletin described previously.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 440 airplanes of U.S. registry would be
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 10 work
hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the
average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts would cost
approximately $2,200 per airplane. Based on these figures, the cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be
$1,254,000, or $2,850 per airplane.
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. The cost impact figures
discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to
perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures
typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to
gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other
administrative actions. The manufacturer may cover the cost of
replacement parts associated with this proposed AD, subject to warranty
conditions. As a result, the costs attributable to the proposed AD may
be less than stated above.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein 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. Therefore, it
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132.
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: Docket 2002-NM-18-AD.
Applicability: Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes;
certificated in any category; on which Airbus Modification 30821 has
not been accomplished.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent failure of an upper guide rod fitting, which could
cause a rear passenger door to jam during opening, delaying an
emergency evacuation and resulting in injury to passengers or crew
members, accomplish the following:
Replacement
(a) Within 22 months after the effective date of this AD,
replace the upper guide rod fitting on each rear passenger door with
an improved fitting by doing all actions in and per the
Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1154,
Revision 2, dated March 7, 2003.
Replacements Accomplished Previously
(b) Replacements accomplished before the effective date of this
AD per the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin
A320-53-1154, dated July 12, 2001; or Revision 1, dated August 28,
2002; are acceptable for compliance with the corresponding action
required by this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(c) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, International
Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, is authorized
to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD.
Note 1: The subject of this AD is addressed in French
airworthiness directive 2001-634(B), dated December 26, 2001.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 5, 2003.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-31064 Filed 12-16-03; 8:45 am]
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