AD 2006-15-06

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 139 (Thursday, July 20, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41118-41121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: E6-11414]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-23675; Directorate Identifier 2001-NM-320-AD; 
Amendment 39-14686; AD 2006-15-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B2-203 and A300 B4-
203 Airplanes; Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R Series 
Airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F Airplanes (Collectively Called 
A300-600 Series Airplanes); and Model A310-200 and -300 Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD), which applies to certain Airbus Model A300 series airplanes and 
all Model A300-600 and A310 series airplanes. That AD currently 
requires repetitive inspections of the pitch trim system to detect 
continuity defects in the autotrim function, and follow-on corrective 
actions if necessary. For certain airplanes, this new AD requires 
replacing the flight augmentation computers (FACs) with new improved 
FACs. This AD also revises the applicability of the existing AD. This 
AD results from the development of a final action intended to address 
the unsafe condition. We are issuing this AD to prevent a sudden change 
in pitch due to an out-of-trim condition combined with an autopilot 
disconnect, which could result in reduced controllability of the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective August 24, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of August 24, 
2006.
    On December 20, 2000 (65 FR 68876, November 15, 2000), the Director 
of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of 
certain other publications listed in the AD.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at <a href="http://dms.dot.gov">http://dms.dot.gov</a> 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: Tim Backman, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2797; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the airworthiness directive (AD) docket on the 
Internet at <a href="http://dms.dot.gov">http://dms.dot.gov</a> 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 supersedes AD 2000-23-07, amendment 
39-11977 (65 FR 68876, November 15, 2000). The existing AD applies to

[[Page 41119]]

certain Airbus Model A300 series airplanes and all Model A300-600 and 
A310 series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register 
on January 25, 2006 (71 FR 4062). That NPRM proposed to require 
repetitive inspections of the pitch trim system to detect continuity 
defects in the autotrim function, and follow-on corrective actions if 
necessary. That NPRM also proposed to require replacing the flight 
augmentation computers (FACs) with new improved FACs on certain 
airplanes.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comments that have been 
received on the NPRM.

Request To Revise Applicability: Paragraph (c)(1)

    The commenter, Airbus, requests that we revise paragraph (c)(1) of 
the NPRM to retain the applicability of the existing AD for A300 B2-203 
and A300 B4-203 airplanes. The applicability of AD 2000-23-07 for those 
airplanes is:

    Model A300 B2-203 and A300 B4-203 airplanes in a forward facing 
cockpit version, as listed in Airbus Service Bulletin A300-22A0115, 
Revision 02, dated March 7, 2000.

The applicability specified in paragraph (c)(1) of the NPRM omitted the 
restriction ``in a forward facing cockpit version.'' The commenter 
asserts that the mandatory actions for those airplanes are restated 
from AD 2000-23-07, so no new requirements for those airplanes are 
introduced in this AD.

    We agree that this AD adds no new requirements for those airplanes. 
In the revised applicability for those airplanes, the forward-facing-
cockpit restriction is removed because it is included in the service 
bulletin effectivity. We have not revised the applicability specified 
in the NPRM.

Request To Revise Applicability: Paragraph (c)(3)

    The same commenter found a typographical error in the NPRM. 
Paragraph (c)(3), which identifies affected A310-200 and -300 series 
airplanes by their associated modification number, should have referred 
to Modification 12931 instead of Modification 12932.
    We acknowledge this error and have revised this final rule 
accordingly.

Additional Changes to NPRM

    The requirements of paragraph (f) of the NPRM would apply to 
``airplanes subject to the requirements of AD 2000-23-07,'' which 
include:
    <bullet> Model A300 B2-203 and A300 B4-203 airplanes in a forward-
facing cockpit configuration;
    <bullet> All Model A310-200 and -300 series airplanes; and
    <bullet> Model A300-600 series airplanes, except those with 
Modification 12277 installed in production.
    We have revised this description to clarify the affected airplanes. 
Once an AD is superseded, no airplane is subject to its requirements, 
and it may not be possible for operators to obtain a copy to identify 
the affected airplanes and requirements. Because AD compliance records 
must be maintained permanently and transferred with airplanes, 
operators must always be able to determine whether a particular AD has 
been accomplished, even after it has been superseded. Therefore, we 
have revised paragraph (f) in this final rule to more precisely 
describe the airplanes affected by that requirement.
    We have also clarified paragraph (g) in this final rule by 
introducing the paragraph with the airplanes affected by this new 
requirement. Those airplanes are also identified in Table 1 of the AD.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comments that have been received, and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD with the changes described 
previously. We have determined that these changes will neither increase 
the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD affects about 86 airplanes of U.S. registry. The following 
table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators to comply with 
this AD.

                                                                     Cost Estimates
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                                                                                  Hourly
                Action                       Service bulletins          Work      labor        Parts cost                  Total per airplane
                                                                       hours       rate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection, per inspection cycle.....  A300-22A6042, A300-22A0115,           1        $65  None..............  $65, per inspection cycle.
                                        A310-22A2053.
FAC replacement......................  A300-22-6050, A310-22-2058..          9         65  $2,677............  $3,262.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

[[Page 41120]]

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 
removing amendment 39-11977 (65 FR 68876, November 15, 2000) and by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2006-15-06 Airbus: Amendment 39-14686. Docket No. FAA-2006-23675; 
Directorate Identifier 2001-NM-320-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective August 24, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2000-23-07.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to the following Airbus airplanes, 
certificated in any category.
    (1) Model A300 B2-203 and A300 B4-203 airplanes, as identified 
in Airbus Service Bulletin A300-22A0115, Revision 02, dated March 7, 
2000.
    (2) Model A300 B4-601, B4-603, B4-620, B4-622, A300 B4-605R, B4-
622R, A300 F4-605R, F4-622R, and A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes, 
except those modified in production by Airbus Modification 12932.
    (3) Model A310-203, -204, -221, -222, -304, -322, -324, and -325 
airplanes, except those modified in production by Airbus 
Modification 12931.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from the development of final action 
intended to address the unsafe condition. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent a sudden change in pitch due to an out-of-trim condition 
combined with an autopilot disconnect, 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.

Restatement of Requirements of AD 2000-23-07

Repetitive Inspections

    (f) For Model A300 B2-203 and A300 B4-203 airplanes in a 
forward-facing cockpit configuration; all Model A310-200 and -300 
series airplanes; and Model A300-600 series airplanes, except those 
with Modification 12277 installed in production: At the applicable 
time specified by paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD, perform an 
inspection of the autotrim function by testing the flight control 
computer (FCC)/flight augmentation computer (FAC) integrity in logic 
activation of the autotrim, in accordance with Airbus Service 
Bulletin A300-22A6042, Revision 01 (for Model A300-600 series 
airplanes); A300-22A0115, Revision 02 (for Model A300 series 
airplanes); or A310-22A2053, Revision 01 (for Model A310 series 
airplanes); all dated March 7, 2000; as applicable. If any 
discrepancy is found, prior to further flight, perform all 
applicable corrective actions (including trouble-shooting; replacing 
the FCC and/or FAC, as applicable; retesting; checking the wires 
between certain FCC and FAC pins; and repairing damaged wires) in 
accordance with the applicable service bulletin. Repeat the 
inspection thereafter at intervals not to exceed 500 flight hours. 
Replacement of both FACs in accordance with paragraph (g) of this AD 
terminates the inspection requirements of this paragraph.
    (1) For airplanes on which the pitch trim system test has been 
performed in accordance with the requirements of AD 2000-02-04, 
amendment 39-11522: Inspect within 500 flight hours after 
accomplishment of the test required by that AD, or within 20 days 
after December 20, 2000 (the effective date of AD 2000-23-07), 
whichever occurs later.
    (2) For all other airplanes: Inspect within 20 days after 
December 20, 2000.

New Requirements of this AD

FAC Replacement

    (g) For airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(2) and (c)(3) of 
this AD: At the time specified in Table 1 of this AD, replace the 
two FACs with new FACs in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A300-22-6050, dated October 
8, 2004; or A310-22-2058, dated April 6, 2005; as applicable.

                Table 1.--Compliance Times To Replace FACs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Required
                                                       compliance time
  Airplane model/            Configuration                after the
      series                                          effective date of
                                                           this AD
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A300-600..........  Without accomplishment of        24 months.
                     Airbus Service Bulletin A300-
                     22-6041, Revision 01, dated
                     February 21, 2001, or previous
                     version, or Modification 12277.
                    And without accomplishment of
                     Airbus Service Bulletin A300-
                     22-6050, dated October 8,
                     2004, or Modification 12932.
                    With accomplishment of Airbus    36 months.
                     Service Bulletin A300-22-6041,
                     Revision 01, dated February
                     21, 2001, or previous version,
                     or Modification 12277.
                    And without accomplishment of
                     Airbus Service Bulletin A300-
                     22-6050, dated October 8,
                     2004, or Modification 12932.
A310..............  Without accomplishment of        24 months.
                     Airbus Service Bulletin A310-
                     22-2052, Revision 01, dated
                     November 8, 2001, or previous
                     version, or Modification 12277.
                    And without accomplishment of
                     Airbus Service Bulletin A310-
                     22-2058, dated April 6, 2005,
                     or Modification 12931.
                    With accomplishment of Airbus    36 months.
                     Service Bulletin A310-22-2052,
                     Revision 01, dated November 8,
                     2001, or previous version, or
                     Modification 12277.
                    And without accomplishment of
                     Airbus Service Bulletin A310-
                     22-2058, dated April 6, 2005,
                     or Modification 12931.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part Installation

    (h) On or after the effective date of this AD, no person may 
install, on any airplane, any FAC having part number (P/N) B471AAM7 
(for Model A300-600 series airplanes) or FAC P/N B471ABM4 (for Model 
A310 series airplanes), unless the FAC is in compliance with 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

[[Page 41121]]

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 14 CFR 
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) The subject of this AD is addressed in French airworthiness 
directives F-2005-111 R1, dated December 21, 2005, and F-2000-115-
304 R5, dated July 6, 2005.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use the documents identified in Table 2 of this AD, 
as applicable, to perform the actions that are required by this AD, 
unless the AD specifies otherwise.

                                  Table 2.--Documents Incorporated by Reference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Airbus Service Bulletin                       Revision                             Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A300-22-6050.............................  Original.......................  October 8, 2004.
A300-22A0115.............................  02, including Appendix 01......  March 7, 2000.
A300-22A6042.............................  01, including Appendix 01......  March 7, 2000.
A310-22-2058.............................  Original.......................  April 6, 2005.
A310-22A2053.............................  01, including Appendix 01......  March 7, 2000.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the documents identified in Table 3 of 
this AD in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

                                Table 3.--New Documents Incorporated by Reference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Airbus Service Bulletin                       Revision                             Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A300-22-6050.............................  Original.......................  October 8, 2004.
A310-22-2058.............................  Original.......................  April 6, 2005.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) On December 20, 2000 (65 FR 68876, November 15, 2000), the 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of the documents identified in Table 4 of this AD.

                             Table 4.--Documents Previously Incorporated by Reference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Airbus Service Bulletin                       Revision                             Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A300-22A0115.............................  02, including Appendix 01......  March 7, 2000.
A300-22A6042.............................  01, including Appendix 01......  March 7, 2000.
A310-22A2053.............................  01, including Appendix 01......  March 7, 2000.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (3) 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 <a href="http://dms.dot.gov">http://dms.dot.gov</a>; 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 <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html">http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html</a>.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 7, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-11414 Filed 7-19-06; 8:45 am]
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