Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R Series Airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F Airplanes (Collectively Called A300-600 Series Airplanes); and Model A310 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 18, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28417-28419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9658]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20625; Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-148-AD; 
Amendment 39-14092; AD 2005-10-15]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and 
F4-600R Series Airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F Airplanes 
(Collectively Called A300-600 Series Airplanes); and Model A310 Series 
Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Airbus model airplanes, as specified above. This AD requires 
modifying the electrical bonding points of additional center tanks. 
This AD is prompted by the results of fuel system reviews conducted by 
the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent electrical arcing 
inside the fuel tank, due to insufficient bonding, which could result 
in the ignition of fuel vapors with a potential risk of explosion of 
the fuel tank.

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 22, 2005.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of June 
22, 2005.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France.
    Docket: The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any 
final disposition. 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 located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL-401,

[[Page 28418]]

Washington, DC. This docket number is FAA-2005-20625; the directorate 
identifier for this docket is 2003-NM-148-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2125; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with an AD for certain Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R 
series airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively 
called A300-600 series airplanes); and Model A310 series airplanes. 
That action, published in the Federal Register on March 16, 2005 (70 FR 
12816), proposed to require modifying the electrical bonding points of 
additional center tanks.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. No comments have been submitted on the proposed 
AD or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD affects about 2 airplanes of U.S. registry. The actions 
will take about 48 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate of 
$65 per work hour. Required parts will cost about $470 per airplane. 
Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators 
is $7,180, or $3,590 per airplane.

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 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 this AD:
    (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.
    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):

2005-10-15 Airbus: Amendment 39-14092. Docket No. FAA-2005-20625; 
Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-148-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective June 22, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to the airplanes listed in Table 1 of this 
AD, certificated in any category, equipped with one or more 
additional center tanks (ACTs).

                         Table 1.--Applicability
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Airbus model--                     As identified in--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R        Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-
 series airplanes, and Model C4-605R      6060, dated December 7, 1999.
 Variant F airplanes (collectively
 called A300-600 series airplanes).
A310 series airplanes..................  Airbus Service Bulletin A310-28-
                                          2137, Revision 02, dated April
                                          7, 2003.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by the results of fuel system reviews 
conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
electrical arcing inside the fuel tank, due to insufficient bonding, 
which could result in the ignition of fuel vapors with a potential 
risk of explosion of the fuel tank.

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.

Modify the Electrical Bonding Points

    (f) Within 30 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the electrical bonding points of the ACT(s), by doing all of the 
actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus 
Service Bulletin A300-28-6060, dated December 7, 1999 (for Model 
A300-600 series airplanes); or Airbus Service Bulletin A310-28-2137, 
Revision 02, dated April 7, 2003 (for Model A310 series airplanes); 
as applicable.

Credit for Previous Service Bulletins

    (g ) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A310-28-2137, dated December 
7, 1999; or Revision 01, dated January 12, 2002; are acceptable for 
compliance with the requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD.

[[Page 28419]]

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) 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.

Related Information

    (i) French airworthiness directive 2003-161(B), dated April 30, 
2003, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A300-28-6060, dated 
December 7, 1999; or Airbus Service Bulletin A310-28-2137, Revision 
02, dated April 7, 2003; as applicable; to perform the actions that 
are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 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. To get copies of the service information, contact 
Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. 
To view the AD docket, go to the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, 
Nassif Building, Washington, DC. To review copies of the service 
information, go to 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 May 9, 2005.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-9658 Filed 5-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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