AD 2013-04-10

AD Final Rules - 2013-04-10.pdf
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AD Number:
2013-04-10
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
FAA-2012-1159
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes
Subject:
Wings
Status:
Current
Citation:
Federal Register Volume 78, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 5, 2013)
Citation Publish Date:
03/05/2013
Effective Date:
04/09/2013
Make:
Airbus SAS
Model:
A310-203 | A310-204 | A310-222 | A310-304 | A310-322 | A310-324
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Large Airplane
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
Office of Primary Responsibility:
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 5, 2013)]


[Rules and Regulations]


[Pages 14162-14164]


From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[FR Doc No: 2013-04340]


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Federal Aviation Administration


14 CFR Part 39


[Docket No. FAA-2012-1159; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-028-AD; Amendment 39-17368;


AD 2013-04-10]


RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes


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


ACTION:
 
Final rule.


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


SUMMARY:
 
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A310-


203, -204, -222, -304, -322, and -324 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a design review of the fuel


tank access covers and analyses comparing compliance of the access covers to different tire burst


models. 'Type 21' panels located within the debris zone revealed that they could not sustain the


impact of the tire debris. This AD requires modifying the wing manhole surrounds and replacing


certain fuel access panels. We are issuing this AD to prevent a possibility of a fire due to tire debris


impact on the fuel access panels.


DATES:
 
This AD becomes effective April 9, 2013.


The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain


publications listed in this AD as of April 9, 2013


ADDRESSES:
 
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in


person at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground


Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
 
Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, International


Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA


98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-2125; fax (425) 227-1149.
2


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:


Discussion


We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD


that would apply to the specified products. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on


November 7, 2012 (77 FR 66762). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the


specified products. The Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information (MCAI) states:


Following a design review of the fuel tank access covers and further analyses aiming


at comparing compliance of the access covers to different tyre burst models, panels


'Type 21' revealed to be a matter of concern when located within the tyre debris zone.


It has been demonstrated that 'Type 21' Super Plastic Formed (SPF) panels for fuel


access, installed on left hand (LH) and right hand (RH) wings at manhole positions


No. 1 and No. 2 of A310 aeroplanes pre-MSN500 could not sustain in an acceptable


manner the impact of tyre debris.


This condition, if not corrected, could result, following tyre debris impact, in fuel


leaking and consequently fire on that area of the aeroplane.


For the reasons described above, this [European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)] AD


requires the replacement of SPF 'Type 21' access panels with [type 11 access panels


with]'Type 11A' [associated clamp plates] or 'Type 21R' access panels and concurrent


modification of the manhole surrounds at positions No.1 and No.2 to prevent re-


installation of 'Type 21' panels at those positions.


You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.


Comments


We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We received no


comments on the NPRM (77 FR 66762, November 7, 2012) or on the determination of the cost to the


public.


Conclusion


We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the public interest require


adopting the AD as proposed.


Costs of Compliance


We estimate that this AD will affect 56 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will


take about 40 work-hours per product to comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average


labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $6,340 per product. Where the service


information lists required parts costs that are covered under warranty, we have assumed that there


will be no charge for these parts. As we do not control warranty coverage for affected parties, some


parties may incur costs higher than estimated here. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of


this AD to the U.S. operators to be $545,440, or $9,740 per product.