Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 86 (Thursday, May 3, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26154-26156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10471]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0041; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-167-AD; 
Amendment 39-17037; AD 2012-09-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Airbus Model A300 B2-1C, B2K-3C, B2-203, B4-2C, B4-103, and B4-203 
airplanes. This AD was prompted by analysis that in a specific failure 
case of the upper primary attachment of the trimmable horizontal 
stabilizer actuator (THSA), the THSA upper secondary attachment engaged 
because it could only withstand the loads for a limited period of time. 
This AD requires installing three secondary retention plates for the 
gimbal bearings on the THSA upper primary attachment. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent failure of the secondary load path, which could 
result in loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 7, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 7, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation,

[[Page 26155]]

Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
227-2125; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on February 6, 2012 (77 
FR 5726). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    A specific failure case of the THSA [trimmable horizontal 
stabilizer actuator] upper primary attachment, which may result in a 
loading of the upper secondary attachment, has been identified by 
analysis.
    Primary load path failure can be caused by bearing migration 
from the upper attachment gimbal by failure or loss of a retention 
bolt.
    In case of failure of the THSA upper primary attachment, the 
THSA upper secondary attachment would engage. Because the upper 
attachment secondary load path can only withstand the loads for a 
limited period of time, the condition where it would be engaged 
could lead, if not detected and corrected, to the failure of the 
secondary load path, which would likely result in loss of control of 
the aeroplane.
    For the reasons explained above, this [EASA] AD requires 
installation of three secondary retention plates for the gimbal 
bearings on the THSA upper primary attachment.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (77 FR 5726, February 6, 
2012) or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed, except for 
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (77 FR 5726, February 6, 2012) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (77 FR 5726, February 6, 2012).

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect about 15 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it will take about 2 work-hours per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average 
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $6,541 
per product. Where the service information lists required parts costs 
that are covered under warranty, we have assumed that there will be no 
charge for these parts. As we do not control warranty coverage for 
affected parties, some parties may incur costs higher than estimated 
here. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the 
U.S. operators to be $100,665, or $6,711 per product.

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 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 the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
    3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and
    4. 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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains the NPRM 77 FR 5726, February 6, 
2012), the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for the Docket Operations office 
(telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will 
be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2012-09-02 Airbus: Amendment 39-17037. Docket No. FAA-2012-0041; 
Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-167-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective June 7, 
2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Airbus Model A300 B2-1C, B2K-3C, B2-203, 
B4-2C, B4-103, and B4-203 airplanes, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27: Flight 
controls.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by analysis that in a specific failure case 
of the upper primary attachment of the trimmable horizontal 
stabilizer actuator (THSA), the THSA upper secondary attachment 
engaged because it could only withstand the loads for a limited 
period of time. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 
secondary load path, which could result in loss of control of the 
airplane.

[[Page 26156]]

(f) Compliance

    You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD 
performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions 
have already been done.

(g) Actions

    Within 30 months after the effective date of this AD, install 3 
retention plates for the gimbal bearings on the THSA upper primary 
attachment, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A300-27-0204, dated March 11, 
2011.

(h) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using 
the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 
39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the International Branch, send it to Attn: Dan Rodina, 
Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 
98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-2125; fax (425) 227-1149. 
Information may be emailed to:  9-
ANM[dash]116[dash]AMOC[dash][email protected]. Before using any 
approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or 
lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight 
standards district office/certificate holding district office. The 
AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
    (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.

(i) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 
Airworthiness Directive 2011-0112, dated June 15, 2011; and Airbus 
Mandatory Service Bulletin A300-27-0204, dated March 11, 2011; for 
related information.

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) You must use the following service information to do the 
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference (IBR) of the following service information under 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51:
    (i) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A300-27-0204, dated March 
11, 2011.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Airbus SAS--EAW (Airworthiness Office), 1 Rond Point Maurice 
Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; 
fax +33 5 61 93 44 51; email [email protected]; 
Internet http://www.airbus.com.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
Washington. For information on the availability of this material at 
the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
    (4) You may also review copies of the service information that 
is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at an NARA facility, 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 April 23, 2012.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-10471 Filed 5-2-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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