Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330-243, -341, -342, and -343 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 4, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57734-57736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19436]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22563; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-177-AD; 
Amendment 39-14304; AD 2005-20-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330-243, -341, -342, and 
-343 Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Airbus Model A330-243, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes. This AD requires 
revising the airplane flight manual to provide the flightcrew with new, 
ground ice-shedding procedures during long taxi periods in certain 
icing conditions. This AD results from reports of engine damage to the 
blades of the first stage of the intermediate pressure compressor due 
to ice accumulation. We are issuing this AD to prevent engine damage 
due to ice accumulation, which could result in an engine shutdown and 
cause the flightcrew to divert to the nearest available airport.

DATES: This AD becomes effective October 19, 2005.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of October 19, 
2005.

[[Page 57735]]

    We must receive comments on this AD by December 5, 2005.

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.
    <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.
    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, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2797; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), 
which is the airworthiness authority for France, notified us that an 
unsafe condition may exist on all Airbus Model A330-243, -341, -342, 
and -343 airplanes. The DGAC advises that it has received reports of 
engine damage to the blades of the first stage of the intermediate 
pressure compressor (IPC) due to ice accumulation. In one case, an 
engine shutdown in flight, prompting the flightcrew to divert to the 
nearest available airport. The other cases resulted in two unplanned 
engine removals. Investigations have revealed that the engines were 
damaged due to ground operations in severe ice conditions like extended 
running times at idle in very low outside air temperature (OAT) and 
freezing fog. During subsequent take-off, heat transfer combines with 
variable inlet guide vanes movements and tends to remove ice, which 
then impacts and damages the blades of the first stage of the IPC. 
Engine damage due to ice accumulation, if not corrected, could result 
in an engine shutdown and cause the flightcrew to divert to the nearest 
available airport.

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Temporary Revision (TR) 4.03.00/24, dated April 
2, 2004, to the A330 Airplane Flight Manual (AFM). The TR revises the 
Normal Procedures section of the AFM to provide the flightcrew with 
new, ground ice-shedding procedures during long taxi periods in very 
low OAT and freezing fog. Accomplishing the actions specified in the 
service information is intended to adequately address the unsafe 
condition. The DGAC mandated the service information and issued French 
airworthiness directive F-2004-081, dated June 9, 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 we need to 
issue an AD for products of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States. Therefore, we are issuing this AD to 
prevent engine damage due to ice accumulation, which could result in an 
engine shutdown and cause the flightcrew to divert to the nearest 
available airport. This AD requires revising the AFM to provide the 
flightcrew with new, ground ice-shedding procedures specified in the 
service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    None of the airplanes affected by this action are on the U.S. 
Register. All airplanes affected by this AD are currently operated by 
non-U.S. operators under foreign registry; therefore, they are not 
directly affected by this AD action. However, we consider this AD 
necessary to ensure that the unsafe condition is addressed if any 
affected airplane is imported and placed on the U.S. Register in the 
future.
    If an affected airplane is imported and placed on the U.S. Register 
in the future, the required actions would take about 1 work hour per 
airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these 
figures, the estimated cost of the AD would be $65 per airplane.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    No airplane affected by this AD is currently on the U.S. Register. 
Therefore, providing notice and opportunity for public comment is 
unnecessary before this AD is issued, and this AD may be made effective 
in less than 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register.

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 relevant written 
data, views, or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an 
address listed in the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-
22563; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-177-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the AD that might 
suggest a need to modify it.
    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 that 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 may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you may visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may 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 located 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 Docket Management System 
receives them.

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

[[Page 57736]]

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 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 and placed it in the AD docket. 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2005-20-10 Airbus: Amendment 39-14304. Docket No. FAA-2005-22563; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-177-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective October 19, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Airbus Model A330-243, -341, -342, 
and -343 airplanes, certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of damage to the engine blades 
of the first stage of the intermediate pressure compressor due to 
ice accumulation. We are issuing this AD to prevent engine damage 
due to ice accumulation, which could result in an engine shutdown 
and cause the flightcrew to divert to the nearest available airport.

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.

AFM Revision

    (f) Within 10 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Normal Procedures section of the Airbus A330 Airplane Flight 
Manual (AFM) by inserting a copy of Airbus Temporary Revision (TR) 
4.03.00/24, dated April 2, 2004, into the AFM.
    (g) When the information in Airbus TR 4.03.00/24, dated April 2, 
2004, is included in the general revisions of the AFM, the general 
revisions may be inserted in the AFM, and this TR may be removed.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(1) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 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 Sec.  
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

    (i) French airworthiness directive F-2004-081, dated June 9, 
2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use Airbus Temporary Revision 4.03.00/24, dated 
April 2, 2004, to the Airbus A330 Airplane Flight Manual to perform 
the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies 
otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this document in accordance with 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 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 
http://dms.dot.gov; 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 http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 20, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-19436 Filed 10-3-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U

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