Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 116 (Friday, June 16, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34817-34819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5424]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24431; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-011-AD; 
Amendment 39-14648; AD 2006-12-22]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 
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, A320, and A321 airplanes. This AD requires a 
detailed inspection for cracks and marks on the carbon blades of the 
ram air turbine (RAT), and replacement of the RAT with a new or 
serviceable RAT if necessary. This AD results from a report of three 
chord-wise cracks on the aft side of one carbon blade of a certain RAT. 
We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks and/or marks on the 
RAT carbon blades, which could result in reduced structural integrity 
of the carbon blade, and consequent loss of the RAT as a source of 
hydraulic and electrical power in an emergency.

DATES: This AD becomes effective July 21, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of July 21, 
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, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
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, A320, and A321 airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal 
Register on April 13, 2006 (71 FR 19136). That NPRM proposed to require 
a detailed inspection for cracks and marks on the carbon blades of the 
ram air turbine (RAT), and replacement of the RAT with a new or 
serviceable RAT if necessary.

Comments

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

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 as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD will affect about 34 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 
required inspection will take about 1 work hour per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of this AD for U.S. operators is $2,720, or $80 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

[[Page 34818]]

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):

2006-12-22 Airbus: Amendment 39-14648. Docket No. FAA-2006-24431; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-011-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective July 21, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to airplanes identified in Table 1 of this 
AD, certificated in any category; except those airplanes on which no 
modification/replacement of the ram air turbine (RAT) has been done 
since incorporating Airbus modification 27014 (installation of a 
Sundstrand RAT, part number (P/N) 766352) or 28413 (reinstallation 
of the Dowty RAT) in production.

                         Table 1.--Applicability
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Airbus model                        Equipped with
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) A320 airplanes...................  A Sundstrand RAT, P/N 762308,
                                        installed by incorporating
                                        Airbus modification 27189 in
                                        production.
(2) A319 and A321 airplanes..........  A Sundstrand RAT, P/N 762308,
                                        installed by incorporating
                                        Airbus modification 25364 in
                                        production or Airbus Service
                                        Bulletin A320-29-1075 in
                                        service.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report of three chord-wise cracks on 
the aft side of one carbon blade of a certain RAT. We are issuing 
this AD to detect and correct cracks and/or marks on the RAT carbon 
blades, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the 
carbon blade, and consequent loss of the RAT as a source of 
hydraulic and electrical power in an emergency.

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.

Inspection and Replacement

    (f) Within 600 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, 
do a detailed inspection for cracks and marks on the carbon blades 
of the RAT, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Airbus Service Bulletin A320-29-1124, dated November 23, 2005. If 
any crack or mark is found to be outside the limits specified in the 
service bulletin, before further flight, replace the RAT with a new 
or serviceable RAT in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the service bulletin.

    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is: 
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or 
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available 
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good 
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as 
mirrors, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning 
and elaborate procedures may be required.''

Parts Installation

    (g) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
Sundstrand RAT, P/N 762308, on any airplane, unless it has been 
inspected in accordance with paragraph (f) of this AD and found to 
be within the limits specified in the referenced service bulletin.

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-2005-212, issued December 
21, 2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A320-29-1124, dated 
November 23, 2005, 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.


[[Page 34819]]


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 7, 2006.
Kevin M. Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-5424 Filed 6-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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