Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B2, A300 B4, A300 B4-600, A300 B4-600R, A300 F4-600R, and A310 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 12 (Thursday, January 18, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4658-4660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1232]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-72-AD; Amendment 39-12077; AD 2001-01-07]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B2, A300 B4, A300 B4-
600, A300 B4-600R, A300 F4-600R, and A310 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to certain Airbus Model A300 B2, A300 B4, A300 B4-600, A300 
B4-600R, A300 F4-600R, and A310 series airplanes, that requires 
modification of the escape slides. The actions specified by this AD are

[[Page 4659]]

intended to prevent deflation of the escape slide after deployment, 
which could result in a delay during an emergency evacuation. This 
action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Effective February 22, 2001.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of February 22, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from Airbus Industrie, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 
Blagnac Cedex, France. This information may be examined at the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules 
Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of 
the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, 
Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norman B. Martenson, Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2110; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Airbus Model A300 B2 and 
A300 B4 (A300); Model A300 B4-600, A300 B4-600R, and A300 F4-600R 
(A300-600); and Model A310 series airplanes was published in the 
Federal Register on October 31, 2000 (65 FR 64901). That action 
proposed to require modification of the escape slides.

Comments

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were submitted in response 
to the proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    The FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest 
require the adoption of the rule as proposed.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 126 airplanes of U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 1 work hour per 
slide to accomplish the required actions, and that the average labor 
rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts will cost approximately $124 
to $185 per slide. Each Model A300 and A300-600 series airplane has 6 
escape doors, and each Model A310 series airplane has 4 escape doors. 
Based on these figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. 
operators is estimated to be between $736 and $1,470 per airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the 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.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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:

2001-01-07  Airbus Industrie: Amendment 39-12077. Docket 2000-NM-72-
AD.

    Applicability: The following airplanes, certificated in any 
category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Equipped with any       Excluding
              Model                BFGoodrich slide   airplanes modified
                                  having part number  in accordance with
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A300 B2 series..................  7A1296-001........  Airbus Service
A300 B4 series..................  7A1296-002........   Bulletin A300-25-
                                  7A1296-003........   0466, Revision
                                  7A1296-004........   01, dated
                                  7A1298-001........   December 1, 1999;
                                  7A1298-002........   or BFGoodrich
                                  7A1298-003........   Service Bulletin
                                  7A1298-004........   7A1296/7A1298-25-
                                                       298, dated
                                                       January 15, 1999.

[[Page 4660]]

 
A300 B4-600 series..............  7A1296-001........
A300 B4-600R series.............  7A1296-002........
A300 F4-600R series.............  7A1296-003........  Airbus Service
                                  7A1296-004........   Bulletin A300-25-
                                  7A1298-001........   6146, Revision
                                  7A1298-002........   01, dated
                                  7A1298-003........   December 1, 1999;
                                  7A1298-004........   or BFGoodrich
                                                       Service
                                                       Bulletin7A1296/
                                                       7A1298-25-298,
                                                       dated January 15,
                                                       1999.
A310 series.....................  7A1298-001........  Airbus Service
                                  7A1298-002........   Bulletin A310-25-
                                  7A1298-003........   2133, dated June
                                  7A1298-004........   21, 1999; or
                                                       BFGoodrich
                                                       Service Bulletin
                                                       7A1296/7A1298-25-
                                                       298, dated
                                                       January 15, 1999.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent deflation of the escape slide after deployment, which 
could result in a delay during an emergency evacuation, accomplish 
the following:

Modification

    (a) Within 34 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the escape slides in accordance with the applicable Airbus service 
bulletin listed in Table 1 of this AD, as follows:

                                           Table 1.--Service Bulletins
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Model                   Service  bulletin        Revision level                  Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A300..............................  A300-25-0466            01...................  December 1, 1999.
A300-600..........................  A300-25-6146            01...................  December 1, 1999.
A310..............................  A310-25-2133            Original.............  June 21, 1999.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note 2: The Airbus service bulletins refer to BFGoodrich Service 
Bulletin 7A1296/7A1298-25-298, dated January 15, 1999, as an 
additional source of service information for modifying the escape 
slides.

    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall 
install, on any airplane, a BFGoodrich escape slide having a part 
number listed in Table 2 of this AD, unless that slide has been 
modified in accordance with this AD:

                      Table 2.--Slide Part Numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
7A1296-001
7A1296-002................................
7A1296-003
7A1296-004................................
7A1298-001
7A1298-002................................
7A12 98-003
7A1298-004................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA. Operators shall submit their 
requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, 
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, International 
Branch, ANM-116.

    Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116.

Special Flight Permits

    (d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Secs. 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 
21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the 
requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

Incorporation by Reference

    (e) The modification shall be done in accordance with Airbus 
Service Bulletin A300-25-0466, Revision 01, dated December 1, 1999; 
Airbus Service Bulletin A300-25-6146, Revision 01, dated December 1, 
1999; or Airbus Service Bulletin A310-25-2133, dated June 21, 1999; 
as applicable. This incorporation by reference was approved by the 
Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) 
and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from Airbus Industrie, 1 
Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. Copies may 
be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

    Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in French 
airworthiness directive 2000-059-302(B), dated February 9, 2000.

Effective Date

    (f) This amendment becomes effective on February 22, 2001.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 9, 2001.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-1232 Filed 1-17-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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