[Federal Register: July 9, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 130)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 37122-37124]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09jy07-8]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-28599; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-008-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300-600 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the
products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe
condition as:
The aim of this AD, is to mandate airworthiness requirements in
structural maintenance in accordance with the requirements defined
in the AIRBUS A300-600 Airworthiness Limitations Items (ALI)
document issue 11, referenced AI/SE-M2/95A.0502/06, approved by EASA
on 31 May 2006.
The unsafe condition is fatigue cracking, damage, or corrosion in
principal structural elements, which could result in reduced structural
integrity of the airplane. The proposed AD would require actions that
are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 8, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
DOT Docket Web Site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
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.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD
docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any
comments received, and other information. The street address for the
Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Stafford, Aerospace Engineer,
[[Page 37123]]
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
227-1622; fax (425) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Streamlined Issuance of AD
The FAA is implementing a new process for streamlining the issuance
of ADs related to MCAI. This streamlined process will allow us to adopt
MCAI safety requirements in a more efficient manner and will reduce
safety risks to the public. This process continues to follow all FAA AD
issuance processes to meet legal, economic, Administrative Procedure
Act, and Federal Register requirements. We also continue to meet our
technical decision-making responsibilities to identify and correct
unsafe conditions on U.S.-certificated products.
This proposed AD references the MCAI and related service
information that we considered in forming the engineering basis to
correct the unsafe condition. The proposed AD contains text copied from
the MCAI and for this reason might not follow our plain language
principles.
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2007-
28599; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-008-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because 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 we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2006-0374, dated December 15, 2006 (referred to
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:
The aim of this AD, is to mandate airworthiness requirements in
structural maintenance in accordance with the requirements defined
in the AIRBUS A300-600 Airworthiness Limitations Items (ALI)
document issue 11, referenced AI/SE-M2/95A.0502/06, approved by EASA
on 31 May 2006.
Issue 11 of this document (refer to the Summary of Changes
chapter for more details) deals in particular with the introduction
of new tasks and the reduction of threshold and interval of some ALI
tasks.
Some other clarifications are also brought to some tasks like
for example the access, the applicability period or the
applicability.
This AD supersedes DGAC AD F-2004-153, as it was mandating A300-
600 ALI issue 9.
The unsafe condition is fatigue cracking, damage, or corrosion in
principal structural elements, which could result in reduced structural
integrity of the airplane. Incorporating this revision into the
Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions for
Continued Airworthiness is intended to ensure the continued structural
integrity of these airplanes. You may obtain further information by
examining the MCAI in the AD docket.
Relevant Service Information
Airbus has issued A300-600 Airworthiness Limitation Items Document
AI/SE-M2/95A.0502/06, Issue 11, dated April 2006. The actions described
in this service information are intended to correct the unsafe
condition identified in the MCAI.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same
type design.
Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information
We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
We might also have proposed different actions in this AD from those
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are
described in a NOTE within the proposed AD.
Costs of Compliance
Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD
would affect about 138 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that
it would take about 1 work-hour per product to comply with this
proposed AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Based on
these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S.
operators to be $11,040, or $80 per product.
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 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 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. 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
[[Page 37124]]
this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.
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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2007-28599; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-
008-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by August 8, 2007.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A300-600 series airplanes,
all certified models, all serial numbers, certificated in any
category.
Subject
(d) Time Limits/Maintenance Checks.
Reason
(e) The mandatory continued airworthiness information (MCAI)
states:
The aim of this AD, is to mandate airworthiness requirements in
structural maintenance in accordance with the requirements defined
in the AIRBUS A300-600 Airworthiness Limitations Items (ALI)
document issue 11, referenced AI/SE-M2/95A.0502/06, approved by EASA
on 31 May 2006.
Issue 11 of this document (refer to the Summary of Changes
chapter for more details) deals in particular with the introduction
of new tasks and the reduction of threshold and interval of some ALI
tasks.
Some other clarifications are also brought to some tasks like
for example the access, the applicability period or the
applicability.
This AD supersedes DGAC AD F-2004-153, as it was mandating A300-
600 ALI issue 9.
The unsafe condition is fatigue cracking, damage, or corrosion in
principal structural elements, which could result in reduced
structural integrity of the airplane. Incorporating this revision
into the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions
for Continued Airworthiness is intended to ensure the continued
structural integrity of these airplanes.
Actions and Compliance
(f) Unless already done, within 3 months after the effective
date of this AD, revise the ALS of the Instructions for Continued
Airworthiness to incorporate Airbus A300-600 Airworthiness
Limitation Items Document AI/SE-M2/95A.0502/06, Issue 11, dated
April 2006. The tolerance (grace period) for compliance (specified
in paragraph 2 of Section B--Program Rules) with Issue 11 of the ALI
is within 2,000 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD,
provided that none of the following is exceeded:
(1) Thresholds or intervals in the operator's current approved
maintenance schedule that are taken from a previous ALI issue, if
existing, and are higher than or equal to those given in Issue 11 of
the ALI.
(2) 8 months after the effective date of this AD.
(3) 50 percent of the intervals given in Issue 11 of the ALI.
(4) Any application tolerance given in the task description of
Issue 11 of the ALI.
FAA AD Differences
Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information
as follows: No differences.
Other FAA AD Provisions
(g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, ATTN: Tom Stafford, Aerospace
Engineer, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; telephone (425)
227-1622; fax (425) 227-1149; has the authority to approve AMOCs for
this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
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.
(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
(3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information
collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-
0056.
Related Information
(h) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness
Directive 2006-0374, dated December 15, 2006, and Airbus A300-600
Airworthiness Limitation Items Document AI/SE-M2/95A.0502/06, Issue
11, dated April 2006, for related information.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 25, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-13211 Filed 7-6-07; 8:45 am]
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