Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A310 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 188 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56853-56854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8228]



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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 188 / Thursday, September 28, 2006 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 56853]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-25421; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-074-AD; 
Amendment 39-14770; AD 2006-20-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A310 Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Airbus Model A310 airplanes. This AD requires revising the Limitations 
section of the airplane flight manual by incorporating restrictions for 
high altitude operations. This AD results from several incidents of 
pitch oscillations with high vertical loads that occurred during 
turbulence at high altitudes. We are issuing this AD to prevent pitch 
oscillations during turbulence, which could result in reduced 
controllability of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective November 2, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of November 2, 
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 Backman, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
227-2797; 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 all Airbus Model A310 
airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on July 24, 
2006 (71 FR 41744). That NPRM proposed to require revising the 
Limitations section of the airplane flight manual (AFM) by 
incorporating restrictions for high altitude operations.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM 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 62 airplanes of U.S. registry. It takes 
approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the required AFM 
revision, 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 $4,960, 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 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:


[[Page 56854]]


    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):

2006-20-01 Airbus: Amendment 39-14770. Docket No. FAA-2006-25421; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-074-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective November 2, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Airbus Model A310 airplanes, 
certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from several incidents of pitch oscillations 
with high vertical loads that occurred during turbulence at high 
altitudes. We are issuing this AD to prevent pitch oscillations 
during turbulence, which could result in reduced controllability 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.

Revision of Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)

    (f) Within 10 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Limitations section of the Airbus A310 AFM to include the 
information in Airbus A310 Temporary Revision (TR) 2.03.00/21, dated 
April 11, 2005. This may be done by inserting a copy of the TR into 
the AFM. When the information in the TR has been included in the 
general revisions of the AFM, those general revisions may be 
inserted into the AFM, provided the relevant information in the 
general revisions is identical to that in the TR.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g)(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

    (h) French airworthiness directive F-2005-114, dated July 6, 
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Airbus A310 Temporary Revision 2.03.00/21, 
dated April 11, 2005, to the Airbus A310 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 14, 2006.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-8228 Filed 9-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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