Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330 and A340 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 27, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34100-34102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16050]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-NM-177-AD; Amendment 39-12293; AD 2001-13-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330 and A340 Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
is applicable to all Airbus Model A330 and A340 series airplanes. This 
action requires revising the Airplane Flight Manual to advise the 
flight crew of appropriate procedures to follow in the event of lost or 
erroneous airspeed indications. This action is necessary to prevent 
inadvertent excursions outside the normal flight envelope. This action 
is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Effective July 12, 2001.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before July 27, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-NM-177-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 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: 
[email protected]. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must 
contain ``Docket No. 2001-NM-177-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 for Windows or 
ASCII text.
    Information concerning this AD may be examined at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tamra Elkins, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2669; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile 
(DGAC), which is the airworthiness authority for France, notified the 
FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on all Airbus Model A330 and 
A340 series airplanes. The DGAC advises that operators have reported 
several cases of sudden fluctuation of airspeed indications (including 
calibrated airspeed, true airspeed, and Mach) in cruise during severe 
icing conditions. Lost or erroneous airspeed indications could result 
in lack of sufficient information for the flight crew to safely operate 
the airplane, and consequent inadvertent excursions outside the normal 
flight envelope.

DGAC Actions

    The DGAC has issued French airworthiness directives 2001-068(B) and 
2001-069(B), both dated February 21, 2001, to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of these airplanes in France. Those directives and this 
AD advise the flight crew to follow the same procedures under the same 
conditions.

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 
certificated for operation in the United States.

Explanation of Requirements of 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, this AD is being issued to prevent inadvertent 
excursions outside the normal flight envelope due to insufficient 
information for the flight crew to safely operate the airplane. This AD 
requires revising the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to 
advise the flight crew of appropriate procedures to follow in the event 
of such airspeed anomalies.

Determination of Rule's Effective Date

    Since a situation exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this regulation, it is found that notice and opportunity for prior 
public comment hereon are impracticable, and that good cause exists for 
making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves 
requirements affecting flight safety and, thus, was not preceded by 
notice and an opportunity for public comment, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this 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 under the caption ADDRESSES. All 
communications received on or before

[[Page 34101]]

the closing date for comments will be considered, and this rule may be 
amended in light of the comments received. Factual information that 
supports the commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in 
evaluating the effectiveness of the AD action and determining whether 
additional rulemaking action would be needed.
    Submit comments using the following format:
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> For each issue, state what specific change to the AD is 
being requested.
    <bullet> 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 rule that might 
suggest a need to modify the 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 that 
summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this 
AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket 2001-NM-177-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

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.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency 
regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe 
condition in aircraft, and that it is not a ``significant regulatory 
action'' under Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further 
that this action involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory 
Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is 
determined that this emergency regulation otherwise would be 
significant under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final 
regulatory evaluation will be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket. 
A copy of it, if filed, 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, 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:

2001-13-13  Airbus Industrie: Amendment 39-12293. Docket 2001-NM-
177-AD.

    Applicability: All Model A330 and A340 series airplanes, 
certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent inadvertent excursions outside the normal flight 
envelope by ensuring that the flight crew is advised of appropriate 
procedures to follow in the event of lost or erroneous airspeed 
indications, accomplish the following:

Revision of Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)

    (a) Within 10 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the ``Procedures Following Failure'' of Section 4 of the FAA-
approved AFM to include the following information. This may be 
accomplished by inserting a copy of this AD into the AFM.
    ``In the event of erroneous airspeed in flight or at take-off, 
or if the airspeed indication is lost, accomplish the following:

Unreliable Airspeed

    Note: Unreliable airspeed may be caused by a radome destruction 
or obstructed pitots. If the failure is due to radome destruction, 
the drag will be increased and therefore N1 must be increased by 3% 
in cruise or 1.5% in approach.


Switch OFF the AP/FD and A/THR
Maintain flaps/slats in current configuration
Check that speedbrakes are retracted
When airborne, select landing gear up
<bullet> With slats extended--Apply MCT thrust and set the pitch 
attitude to 12.5 deg.
<bullet> In clean configuration--Apply CLB thrust
<bullet> When below FL100, set the pitch attitude to 10 deg.
<bullet> When above FL100, set the pitch attitude to 5 deg.

    Note: Respect Stall warning if in alternate law

When the flight path is stabilized, set the PROBE WINDOW HEAT to ON.
Adjust pitch attitude and thrust regarding flight phase and aircraft 
configuration to obtain and maintain target speed.

    In the event of a double pitot probe heat failure, accomplish 
the following:

Double Probe Heat Failure

If icing conditions cannot be avoided:
Switch OFF one of the affected ADRs''

    Note 1: The procedures identified in paragraph (a) of this AD 
have been introduced into the A330 AFM by the manufacturer at the 
revision levels listed below.


------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Revision
                       Airplane model                           number
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A330-202...................................................           04
A330-223...................................................           04
A330-243...................................................           03
A330-301...................................................           05
A330-321...................................................           04
A330-322...................................................           04
A330-323...................................................           03
A330-341...................................................           04
A330-342...................................................           04
A330-343...................................................           03
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    Note 2: When the information in paragraph (a) of this AD has 
been incorporated into the FAA-approved general revisions of the 
AFM, the general revisions may be incorporated into the AFM, 
provided the information in this AD and the general revisions is 
identical. This AD may then be removed from the AFM.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (b) 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 Operations 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

    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 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.

    Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in French 
airworthiness directives 2001-068(B) and 2001-069(B), both dated 
February 21, 2001.

Effective Date

    (d) This amendment becomes effective on July 12, 2001.


[[Page 34102]]


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 20, 2001.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-16050 Filed 6-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U

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