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

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 188 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56854-56856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8229]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24990; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-013-AD; 
Amendment 39-14772; AD 2006-20-03]
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 
an inspection to determine if the stiff part of the girt and girt bar 
position of the forward left-hand and right-hand passenger doors is 
incorrect, and repair if necessary. This AD results from cases of girt 
bar disengagement from the floor fitting during deployment tests of 
slide rafts at the forward passenger doors. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent disengagement of the telescopic girt bar from the airplane when 
the door is opened in emergency situations, which could result in the 
inability to open the passenger door and to use the escape slide/raft 
at that door during an emergency evacuation 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: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
227-2125; 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 June 12, 2006 (71 FR 33661). That NPRM proposed to require 
an inspection to determine if the stiff part of the girt and girt bar 
position of the forward left-hand and right-hand passenger doors is 
incorrect, and repair if necessary.

Comments

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

Support for the NPRM

    Airbus agrees with the NPRM.

Request To Withdraw the NPRM

    The Air Transport Association (ATA), on behalf of its member, US 
Airways, requests that we clarify the impact of AD 2005-23-05 on the 
NPRM. (On October 25, 2005, we issued AD 2005-23-05, amendment 39-14363 
(70 FR 69063, November 14, 2005), for certain Airbus Model A319-100, 
A320-200, and A321-100 and -200 series

[[Page 56855]]

airplanes. AD 2005-23-05 requires modification of the telescopic girt 
bar of the escape slide/raft assembly, and follow-on actions. AD 2005-
23-05 also requires a new modification of the telescopic girt bar and 
the installation of placards on the modified girt bars, which terminate 
the repetitive functional tests. We issued AD 2005-23-05 to prevent 
failure of the escape slide/raft to deploy correctly, which could 
result in the slide being unusable during an emergency evacuation and 
consequent injury to passengers or airplane crewmembers.) US Airways 
states that the intent of the NPRM has already been accomplished with 
AD 2005-23-05. US Airways asserts that AD 2005-23-05 requires 
replacement of the telescopic girt bar on affected slide rafts, and 
that during replacement of the girt bar, the girt is reinstalled using 
the same instructions referenced in the NPRM. US Airways points out 
that the compliance time of AD 2005-23-05 is August 19, 2007. 
Therefore, US Airways requests that we either withdraw the NPRM or 
grant AD 2005-23-05 as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) to 
the NPRM.
    We do not agree to withdraw this AD, since the applicability of AD 
2005-23-05 and this AD do not exactly match. Also, this AD mandates a 
shorter compliance time than AD 2005-23-05. However, we do agree to 
provide credit for accomplishing the actions in paragraph (g) of AD 
2005-23-05. Paragraph (g) of AD 2005-23-05 references Airbus Service 
Bulletin A320-52-1112, Revision 05, dated June 25, 2004, as the 
appropriate source of service information for modifying the telescopic 
girt bar. We have reviewed Airbus Service Bulletin A320-52-1112, 
Revision 05, and have determined that accomplishing the actions in that 
service bulletin is acceptable for accomplishing the actions specified 
in paragraph (f) of this AD. Therefore, we have added a new paragraph 
(h) to this AD allowing credit for accomplishment of paragraph (g) of 
AD 2005-23-05. We have reidentified the subsequent paragraphs 
accordingly.

Change to the Cost of Compliance

    We have reduced our estimate for the number of affected airplanes 
of U.S. registry.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously. 
We have determined that the changes will neither increase the economic 
burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD affects about 200 airplanes of U.S. registry. The actions 
in this AD 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 the AD for U.S. operators is $16,000, 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:

    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):

2006-20-03 Airbus: Amendment 39-14772. Docket No. FAA-2006-24990; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-013-AD.

Effective Date

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

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 
airplanes, certificated in any category; on which Airbus 
Modification 20233, 25902, or 24365 (installation of slide raft) has 
been done in production; excluding those airplanes having 
manufacturer's serial numbers 1794, 2155, 2195, 2204, 2231, 2239, 
2244, 2246, 2247, 2252, 2254, 2255, 2257, 2259, 2261, 2263, 2267, 
2273, 2274, 2275, 2278, 2280, 2282, 2284, 2286, 2288, 2297, 2301, 
2307, 2310, 2314, 2327, 2369, and subsequent.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from cases of girt bar disengagement from 
the floor fitting during deployment tests of slide rafts at the 
forward passenger doors. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
disengagement of the telescopic girt bar from the airplane when the 
door is opened in emergency situations, which could result in the 
inability to open the passenger door and to use the escape slide/
raft at that door during an emergency evacuation 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.

Inspection and Repair

    (f) Within 200 days after the effective date of this AD, do a 
general visual inspection to determine if the stiff part of the girt 
and girt bar position of the forward left-hand and right-hand 
passenger doors is incorrect, in accordance with the Accomplishment

[[Page 56856]]

Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1394, Revision 01, 
dated December 12, 2005. If the stiff part of the girt or the girt 
bar position is incorrect, before further flight, repair in 
accordance with the service bulletin.

    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.''

    (g) Inspecting and repairing if necessary before the effective 
date of this AD in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-
1394, dated July 23, 2004, is acceptable for compliance with the 
requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD.

Credit for AD 2005-23-05, Amendment 39-14363

    (h) Accomplishing the actions required by paragraph (g) of AD 
2005-23-05 is acceptable for compliance with the corresponding 
requirements of paragraph (f) 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 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

    (j) French airworthiness directive F-2005-172, issued December 
21, 2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1394, Revision 
01, dated December 12, 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 14, 2006.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-8229 Filed 9-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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