Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319-131, -132, and -133; A320-231, -232, and -233; and A321-131 and -231 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 145 (Thursday, July 29, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45243-45246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16914]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT)

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-18681; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-56-AD; 
Amendment 39-13748; AD 2004-15-14]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319-131, -132, and -133; 
A320-231, -232, and -233; and A321-131 and -231 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Airbus Model A319-131, -132, and -133; A320-231, -232, and -
233; and A321-131 and -231 series airplanes. This AD requires revising 
the airplane flight manual (AFM) to advise the flightcrew of procedures 
associated with the intermittent interruption of the electrical power. 
Under certain conditions, this AD also requires inspecting for signs of 
arcing and performing any necessary corrective actions. This AD also 
provides for optional terminating action for the requirements of the 
AD. This AD is prompted by reports of fretting and consequent arcing of 
the electrical harness of the integrated drive generator (IDG) at the 
pin-to-socket connector at the firewall. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent transient loss of certain systems and consequent reduced 
ability of the flightcrew to cope with adverse flight conditions.

DATES: Effective August 13, 2004.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of August 
13, 2004.
    We must receive comments on this AD by September 27, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this AD.
    <bullet> DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    <bullet> Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.

[[Page 45244]]

    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> 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.
    For the service information identified in this AD, contact Airbus, 
1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. You can 
examine this information at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

Docket Management System (DMS)

    The FAA has implemented new procedures for maintaining AD dockets 
electronically. As of May 17, 2004, new AD actions are posted on DMS 
and assigned a docket number. We track each action and assign a 
corresponding directorate identifier. The DMS AD docket number is in 
the form ``Docket No. FAA-2004-99999.'' The Transport Airplane 
Directorate identifier is in the form ``Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
999-AD.'' Each DMS AD docket also lists the directorate identifier 
(``Old Docket Number'') as a cross-reference for searching purposes.

Examining the Dockets

    You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, 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 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT street 
address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in 
the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Dulin, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2141; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de 
l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the airworthiness authority for 
France, notified the FAA of numerous reports of the intermittent 
interruption of the electrical power supply. The power interruption has 
been attributed to arcing of the electrical harness of the integrated 
drive generator (IDG) at the pin-to-socket connector at the firewall. 
The affected IDG connectors are installed on Airbus Model A319, A320, 
and A321 series airplanes equipped with International Aero Engines 
(IAE) Model V2500. In most of the incidents, the generator control unit 
(GCU) detected the arcing and shut down the associated IDG with only 
minor consequences. However, in some cases, the GCU--because of 
intermittent arcing--did not shut down the IDG. Investigation revealed 
that the arcing is due to fretting corrosion between the Cannon 
connector installed on the nacelle side of the firewall and the Souriau 
connector installed on the pylon side of the firewall. The following 
events have occurred or could occur during flight as a result of the 
intermittent loss of electrical power supply:
    <bullet> Flickering cabin lights;
    <bullet> Flickering primary flight and navigation displays;
    <bullet> Transient disconnection of several systems (autopilot, yaw 
damper, auto throttle), triggering warnings from the electronic 
centralized aircraft monitoring (ECAM) displays and prompting 
diversions to the nearest available airport; and
    <bullet> Loss of IDG power supply on the affected engine.
    These conditions, if not corrected, could result in reduced ability 
of the flightcrew to cope with adverse flight conditions.

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Temporary Revision (TR) 4.02.00/20 to the A318/
319/320/321 Airplane Flight Manual (AFM). The TR, dated May 3, 2004, 
provides background information and operational recommendations 
regarding the intermittent interruption of electrical power supply.
    Airbus has also issued Service Bulletin A320-71-1030, dated 
February 27, 2003. The service bulletin describes procedures for 
replacing the IDG harness on the nacelle side of the firewall to 
eliminate the pin-to-socket arcing. Specifically, harnesses having 
Cannon connectors are replaced with harnesses having Souriau 
connectors. The Souriau connector provides a better connection of the 
IDG electrical harness at the firewall. Airbus Service Bulletin A320-
71-1030 refers to International Aero Engines Information Bulletin 
V2500-NAC-70-0736, dated January 28, 2003, as an additional source of 
information for the IDG harness/connector replacement.
    The DGAC approved these service documents. The DGAC has issued 
French airworthiness directive F-2004-074, dated May 26, 2004, to 
ensure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    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. We have examined the DGAC's findings, 
evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that AD action is 
necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States.
    Therefore, we are issuing this AD to prevent transient loss of the 
systems connected to the affected arcing connector and consequent 
reduced ability of the flightcrew to cope with adverse flight 
conditions. This AD requires revising the AFM to advise the flightcrew 
of procedures associated with the intermittent interruption of the 
electrical power. Under certain conditions, this AD also requires 
inspecting for signs of arcing and performing any necessary corrective 
actions. This AD also provides for optional terminating action for the 
requirements of the AD. The actions must be done in accordance with the 
service information described previously, except as described below.

Differences Between FAA and DGAC Airworthiness Directive

    The following differences have been coordinated between the FAA and 
the DGAC.
    The French airworthiness directive does not require inspecting an 
IDG that has been shut down in accordance with the TR or that has been 
shut down automatically. We have determined that investigative and 
corrective actions (including an inspection for signs of arcing, and 
repair or replacement of any discrepant IDG harness/connector with a 
new harness/connector) are necessary due to the severity of the problem 
to prevent the unsafe condition from recurring. The inspections and 
corrective actions must be done in accordance with a method approved by 
the FAA.
    The French airworthiness directive applies to all Model A319, A320, 
and A321 series airplanes equipped with IAE V2500 series engines--
regardless of the type of connector installed. This AD, however, 
applies to only those airplanes having Cannon connectors on the

[[Page 45245]]

nacelle side of the firewall and Souriau connectors on the pylon side 
of the firewall. There have been no reported problems on airplanes 
equipped with Souriau connectors on both sides of the firewall. 
Therefore, the applicability of this AD excludes production airplanes 
that have been equipped with Souriau connectors on both sides of the 
firewall on both engines (accomplished via Airbus Modification 32943). 
This AD also includes a provision for replacing, on both engines, the 
IDG harnesses having Cannon connectors with IDG harnesses having 
Souriau connectors; this replacement would terminate the requirements 
of this AD.

Interim Action

    We consider this AD interim action. We may consider further 
rulemaking at a later date to mandate replacement of the subject 
connectors, as specified in Airbus Service Bulletin A320-71-1030.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD; therefore, providing notice and opportunity for public comment 
before the AD is issued is impracticable, and good cause exists to make 
this AD effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements that affect 
flight safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for 
public comment; however, we invite you to submit any written relevant 
data, views, or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an 
address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2004-18681; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-56-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the AD. We will consider 
all comments received by the closing date and may amend the AD in light 
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 with FAA 
personnel concerning this AD. Using the search function of our docket 
Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets, 
including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed 
the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You can review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you can visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.
    We are reviewing the writing style we currently use in regulatory 
documents. We are interested in your comments on whether the style of 
this document is clear, and your suggestions to improve the clarity of 
our communications with you. You can get more information about plain 
language at http://www/faa.gov/language and http://www.plainlanguage.gov.

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 the 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 this AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to 
examine the regulatory evaluation.

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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2004-15-14 Airbus: Amendment 39-13748. Docket No. FAA-2004-18681; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-56-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective August 13, 2004.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A319-131, -132, and -133; 
A320-231, -232, and -233; and A321-131 and ``231 series airplanes; 
certificated in any category; except those airplanes on which Airbus 
Modification 32943 has been incorporated in production.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by reports of intermittent interruption 
of the electrical power supply due to fretting and consequent arcing 
of the electrical harness of the integrated drive generator (IDG) at 
the pin-to-socket connector at the firewall. The FAA is issuing this 
AD to prevent the transient loss of certain systems and the 
consequent reduced ability of the flightcrew to cope with adverse 
flight conditions.

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.

Revision of Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)

    (f) Within 10 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Limitations section of the Airbus A318/319/320/321 AFM to 
include the information in Temporary Revision (TR) 4.02.00/20, dated 
May 3, 2004. This may be done by inserting a copy of the TR into the 
AFM. When the TR has been included in general revisions of the AFM, 
those general revisions may be inserted into the AFM, provided the 
relevant information in the general revisions is identical to that 
in the TR.

Post-IDG Shutdown Inspection

    (g) If an IDG is shut down by the flightcrew in accordance with 
the TR procedures specified in paragraph (f) of this AD, or if an 
IDG is shut down automatically, do the actions specified in 
paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD.
    (1) Before further flight, inspect the firewall connector of the 
affected IDG to detect signs of arcing, in accordance with a method 
approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, FAA. If any sign of arcing is detected: Before 
further flight, either repair the connector or replace the connector 
with a new connector, in accordance with a method approved by the 
Manager, International Branch, ANM-116.
    (2) Operate the airplane with the affected IDG inoperative in 
accordance with the provisions and compliance periods specified in 
the FAA-approved Master Minimum Equipment List. Before further use 
of the affected IDG, do the actions specified in paragraph (g)(1) of 
this AD.

Terminating Action

    (h) Replacement of the IDG harnesses and connectors on both 
engines in accordance

[[Page 45246]]

with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-71-1030, dated February 27, 2003, 
terminates the requirements of this AD.

    Note 1: Airbus Service Bulletin A320-71-1030 refers to 
International Aero Engines Information Bulletin V2500-NAC-70-0736, 
dated January 28, 2003, as an additional source of information for 
the harness/connector replacement specified in paragraph (h) of this 
AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance 
with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) Unless this AD specifies otherwise, you must use Temporary 
Revision 4.02.00/20, dated May 3, 2004, to the Airbus A318/319/320/
321 Airplane Flight Manual; and Airbus Service Bulletin A320-71-
1030, dated February 27, 2003; as applicable; to perform the actions 
that are required by this AD. (Only page 1 of the temporary revision 
contains the date of the document.) The Director of the Federal 
Register approves the incorporation by reference of these documents 
in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For copies of 
the documents, contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 
Blagnac Cedex, France. You can review copies at the Docket 
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC; or at the 
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information 
on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, 
or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

Related Information

    (k) French airworthiness directive F-2004-074, dated May 26, 
2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 16, 2004.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service
[FR Doc. 04-16914 Filed 7-28-04; 8:45 am]
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