Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330-200, A330-300, A340-200, and A340-300 Series Airplanes, and Model A340-541 and A340-642 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 5, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38059-38062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5944]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22524; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-135-AD; 
Amendment 39-14672; AD 2006-14-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330-200, A330-300, A340-
200, and A340-300 Series Airplanes, and Model A340-541 and A340-642 
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 A330-200, A330-300, A340-200, and A340-300 series 
airplanes, and Model A340-541 and A340-642 airplanes. This AD requires 
inspecting to determine if certain emergency escape slides/slide rafts 
(referred to as slide/rafts) are installed in certain crew/passenger 
doors; and, if so, performing a one-time inspection to determine if the 
electrical harnesses of the slide/rafts are properly routed, and 
rerouting the harnesses if necessary. This AD results from report that 
a slide/raft failed to deploy properly during a deployment test. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct improper routing of the 
electrical harnesses of certain slide/rafts, which could prevent proper 
deployment of the slide/rafts and delay evacuation of passengers and 
flightcrew during an emergency.

DATES: This AD becomes effective August 9, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of August 9, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket

[[Page 38060]]

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: 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:

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 street address stated in the 
ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain 
Airbus Model A330-200, A330-300, A340-200, and A340-300 series 
airplanes, and Model A340-541 and A340-642 airplanes. That supplemental 
NPRM was published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2006 (71 FR 
15073). That supplemental NPRM proposed to require inspecting to 
determine if certain emergency escape slides/slide rafts (referred to 
as slide/rafts) are installed in certain crew/passenger doors; and, if 
so, performing a one-time inspection to determine if the electrical 
harnesses of the slide/rafts are properly routed, and rerouting the 
harnesses if necessary.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the single comment received.

Request for Clarification of Compliance Time

    The Air Transport Association (ATA), on behalf of its member 
Northwest Airlines (NWA), requests that the compliance time be 
clarified. NWA asserts that some operators may have prior knowledge of 
airplanes having slide/rafts with affected part numbers before the 
release of this AD. NWA requests that the compliance time be clarified 
to ensure that operators having such prior knowledge have the full span 
of 1,700 flight hours specified by this AD to accomplish corrective 
actions on any affected airplane. Though NWA did not specifically make 
such a statement, it appears that NWA is concerned that such prior 
knowledge might require immediate grounding of some airplanes because 
of the ``before further flight'' clause of the NPRM.
    We partially agree. For any AD, compliance times are mandated 
during which operators are responsible for accomplishing the 
requirements of an AD. For example, operators may perform an inspection 
or, as allowed by this AD, review the maintenance records to comply 
with the AD. ``Compliance time'' specifies a period of time during 
which operators may determine the best time to accomplish the 
inspection, and we have no knowledge of individual operator inspection 
or review schedules within the compliance time limits. However, we 
acknowledge the concern of NWA and have determined that, in this case, 
``before further flight'' is not needed to ensure an acceptable level 
of safety, provided that corrective actions are accomplished within the 
specified compliance time. Therefore, we have revised paragraphs 
(f)(1)(ii) and (f)(2)(ii) of the AD to read ``within 1,700 flight hours 
after the effective date of this AD.''

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

Costs of Compliance

    This AD will affect about 27 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 
required actions will take about 3 work hours per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators is $5,265 or $195 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):

2006-14-01 Airbus: Amendment 39-14672. Docket No. FAA-2005-22524; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-135-AD.

[[Page 38061]]

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective August 9, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Airbus Model A330-201, -202, -203, -
223, -243, -301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and -343 
airplanes; Model A340-211, -212, -213, -311, -312, and -313 
airplanes; and Model A340-541 and -642 airplanes; certificated in 
any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report that an emergency escape 
slide/slide raft (referred to hereafter as a ``slide/raft'') failed 
to deploy properly during a deployment test. We are issuing this AD 
to detect and correct improper routing of the electrical harnesses 
of certain slide/rafts, which could prevent proper deployment of the 
slide/raft and delay evacuation of passengers and flightcrew during 
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.

Inspections and Corrective Actions

    (f) Within 1,700 flight hours after the effective date of this 
AD: Inspect certain crew/passenger doors as required by paragraph 
(f)(1) or (f)(2), as applicable, of this AD to determine if slide/
rafts having certain part numbers (P/Ns) are installed. A review of 
airplane maintenance records is acceptable in lieu of this 
inspection if the presence of the subject slide/rafts can be 
conclusively determined from that review.
    (1) For Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, -243, -301, -302, -
303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes and Model 
A340-211, -212, -213, -311, -312, and -313 airplanes: On both right- 
and left-hand sides, inspect to determine the P/N of the slide/rafts 
of crew/passenger doors 1 and 4, and--only if it is a type 1 door--
crew/passenger door 3. If crew/passenger door 3 is not a type 1 
door, it is not subject to any requirement of this AD.
    (i) If a slide/raft does not have P/N 7A1508-( ) or 7A1509-( ), 
no further action is required for that slide/raft by this paragraph.
    (ii) If a slide/raft has P/N 7A1508-( ) or 7A1509-( ), within 
1,700 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, perform a 
general visual inspection of the electrical harness of that slide/
raft and reroute the harness, as applicable, in accordance with 
paragraphs 4.2 through 4.2.4 of Airbus All Operators Telex (AOT) 
A330-25A3272, Revision 02; or Airbus AOT A340-25A4259, Revision 02, 
both dated June 1, 2005, as applicable.
    (2) For Model A340-541 and -642 airplanes: On both right- and 
left-hand sides, inspect to determine the P/N of the slide/rafts of 
crew/passenger doors 1 and 4.
    (i) If a slide/raft does not have P/N 7A1508-( ), no further 
action is required for that slide/raft by this paragraph.
    (ii) If a slide/raft has P/N 7A1508-( ), within 1,700 flight 
hours after the effective date of this AD, perform a general visual 
inspection of the electrical harness of that slide/raft and reroute 
the harness, as applicable, in accordance with paragraphs 4.2 
through 4.2.4 of Airbus AOT A340-25A5091, Revision 02, dated June 1, 
2005.


    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection 
is: ``A visual examination of an interior or exterior area, 
installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or 
irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within touching 
distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be necessary to 
ensure visual access to all surfaces in the inspection area. This 
level of inspection is made under normally available lighting 
conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or 
droplight and may require removal or opening of access panels or 
doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be required to gain 
proximity to the area being checked.''

Actions Accomplished According to Previous Issues of AOTs

    (g) Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with the Airbus AOTs listed in Table 1 of this AD, as 
applicable, are considered acceptable for compliance with the 
corresponding actions specified in paragraph (f) of this AD.

                    Table 1.--Previous Issues of AOTs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Airbus AOT              Revision level             Date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A330-25A3272 \1\............  Original............  March 17, 2005.
A330-25A3272-2005 \1\.......  01..................  March 24, 2005.
A340-25A4259 \2\............  Original............  March 17, 2005.
A340-25A4259-2005 \2\.......  01..................  March 24, 2005.
A340-25A5091 \3\............  Original............  March 17, 2005.
A340-25A5091-2005 \3\.......  01..................  March 24, 2005.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For Model A330-200 and -300 series airplanes.
\2\ For Model A340-200 and -300 series airplanes.
\3\ For Model A340-541 and -642 airplanes.

Parts Installation

    (h) After the effective date of this AD, no person may install 
any slide/raft having P/N 7A1508-( ) or 7A1509-( ) on any airplane 
unless the electrical harness of that slide/raft is determined to be 
properly routed in accordance with the requirements of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(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 14 CFR 
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

    (j) French airworthiness directive F-2005-077, dated May 11, 
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use the service information specified in Table 2 of 
this AD, as applicable, to perform the actions that are required by 
this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.

              Table 2.--Material Incorporated by Reference
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Airbus All Operators Telex      Revision level             Date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A330-25A3272................  02..................  June 1, 2005.
A340-25A4259................  02..................  June 1, 2005.
A340-25A5091................  02..................  June 1, 2005.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 38062]]

    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation 
by reference of these documents 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 June 23, 2006.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-5944 Filed 7-3-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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