Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319-100 and A320-200 Series Airplanes; and Model A320-111 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 88 (Monday, May 8, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26685-26687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4232]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-23948; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-246-AD; 
Amendment 39-14587; AD 2006-10-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319-100 and A320-200 
Series Airplanes; and Model A320-111 Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Airbus Model A319-100 and A320-200 series airplanes, and Model 
A320-111 airplanes. This AD requires modifying the wiring to the fuel 
pump control of the center fuel tank. This AD results from reports that 
the low-pressure warning for the fuel pumps of the center fuel tank has 
come on in flight. We are issuing this AD to ensure that the fuel pumps 
do not run while dry, which could result in a potential ignition source 
inside the center fuel tank, which, in combination with flammable fuel 
vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of 
the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 12, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of June 12, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
    Contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, 
France, for service information identified in this AD.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the airworthiness directive (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 street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain Airbus Model 
A319-100 and A320-200 series airplanes, and Model A320-111 airplanes. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on February 22, 2006 
(71 FR 9046). That NPRM proposed to require modifying the wiring to the 
fuel pump control of the center fuel tank.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the single comment received. 
The commenter, Airbus, supports the NPRM.

Change to the NPRM

    We have corrected the date for Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-
1059, Revision 04, in Table 1 of the AD to February 3, 1999 (instead of 
February 4, 1999).

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD with the change described previously. 
We have determined that this change will neither increase the

[[Page 26686]]

economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD will affect about 119 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 
required actions will take about 17 work hours per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $65 per work hour. There is no cost for parts. 
Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators 
is $131,495, or $1,105 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 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):

2006-10-03 Airbus: Amendment 39-14587. Docket No. FAA-2006-23948; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-246-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective June 12, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, 
-115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; and Model A320-111, -211, -
212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; certificated in any 
category; that have received Airbus Modification 20024 in production 
(installation of a center tank), except airplanes on which Airbus 
Modification 24373 has been accomplished.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports that the low-pressure warning 
for the fuel pumps of the center fuel tank has come on in flight. We 
are issuing this AD to ensure that the fuel pumps do not run while 
dry, which could result in a potential ignition source inside the 
center fuel tank, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, 
could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the 
airplane.

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.

Modification

    (f) Within 20 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the wiring to the fuel pump control of the center fuel tank by doing 
all actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus 
Service Bulletin A320-28-1059, Revision 06, dated June 29, 2000.

Actions Done in Accordance With Previous Revisions of Service Bulletin

    (g) Modifications done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with the service bulletins identified in Table 1 of this 
AD are acceptable for compliance with the requirements of paragraph 
(f) of this AD.

            Table 1.--Previous Revisions of Service Bulletin
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Revision
    Airbus Service Bulletin        level                 Date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A320-28-1059..................           04  February 3, 1999.
A320-28-1059..................           05  March 12, 1999.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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-2005-173, dated October 26, 
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1059, Revision 
06, dated June 29, 2000, 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/

[[Page 26687]]

code--of--federal--regulations/ ibr--locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 28, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-4232 Filed 5-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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