Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 8, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47273-47275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18884]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0264; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-179-AD; 
Amendment 39-17147; AD 2012-15-17]
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 B4-603, B4-605R, and B4-622R airplanes; Model A300 
C4-605R Variant F airplanes; and Model A300 F4-600R series airplanes. 
This AD was prompted by a report that chafing was detected between the 
autopilot electrical wiring conduit and the wing bottom skin. This AD 
requires modifying the wiring installation on the right-hand wing. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent sparking due to electrical chafing when 
flammable vapors are present in the area, which could cause an 
uncontrolled fire.

[[Page 47274]]


DATES: This AD becomes effective September 12, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of September 
12, 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, 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, WA 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 March 15, 2012 (77 
FR 15291). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    During a scheduled general visual inspection in a zone adjacent 
to a fuel tank (zone 675) chafing was detected between the autopilot 
electrical wiring conduit and the wing bottom skin.
    This condition, in the scope of published FAA SFAR88 [Special 
Federal Aviation Regulation] and JAA [Joint Aviation Authority] 
Internal Policy INT/POL/25/12, is considered on ground to be a 
potential source of explosive condition due to the risk of a spark 
with electrical wire chafing when flammable vapours are present in 
the area. If left uncorrected, this condition could lead to an 
uncontrolled fire.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
modification of the wiring installation to improve the routing and 
the protection of the harnesses in the zone 675/Rib 6 of the Right 
Hand wing.

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 considered the comment received.

Request To Extend the Compliance Time

    UPS requested that we extend the proposed compliance time. The NPRM 
(77 FR 15291, March 15, 2012) proposed a compliance time of ``within 30 
months or 4,500 flight hours after the effective date of this AD,'' for 
modifying the wiring in zone 675 of the right-hand wing. UPS stated 
that extending the compliance time to ``within 40 months or 4,500 
flight hours after the effective date of this AD,'' would allow it to 
accomplish the required actions at its heavy maintenance facility 
during C-check visits. UPS stated that the line maintenance environment 
is not conducive to this type of work due to the required ground time, 
labor, and other resources, which are available at its major 
maintenance facility. UPS stated that its current maintenance program 
is based on a 30-month C-check interval. UPS also stated that in order 
to accommodate this modification at C-check in its major maintenance 
facility, it will need an additional 10 months to allow for planning 
and preparations, including developing engineering orders, prototyping, 
obtaining necessary management and finance approvals, parts 
acquisition, and parts lead-time.
    We do not agree to extend the compliance time specified in this 
final rule. In developing an appropriate compliance time for this 
action, we considered the urgency associated with the subject unsafe 
condition, the manufacturer's recommendations, the availability of 
required parts, and the practical aspect of accomplishing the required 
modification within a period of time that corresponds to the normal 
scheduled maintenance for most affected operators. Under the provisions 
of paragraph (h)(1) of the final rule, we will consider requests for 
approval of an extension of the compliance time if sufficient data are 
submitted to substantiate that the new compliance time would provide an 
acceptable level of safety. We have not changed the AD in this regard.

Conclusion

    We 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

    We estimate that this AD will affect 132 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it will take about 7 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 $1,720 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 $305,580, or $2,315 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 15291, March 15, 
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

[[Page 47275]]

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:

2012-15-17 Airbus: Amendment 39-17147. Docket No. FAA-2012-0264; 
Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-179-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective September 
12, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Model A300 B4-603, B4-605R, and B4-
622R airplanes; Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes; and Model 
A300 F4-605R and F4-622R airplanes; certificated in any category; 
all serial numbers.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 92.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report that chafing was detected 
between the autopilot electrical wiring conduit and the wing bottom 
skin. We are issuing this AD to prevent sparking due to electrical 
chafing when flammable vapors are present in the area, which could 
cause an uncontrollable fire.

(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) Modification

    Within 30 months or 4,500 flight hours after the effective date 
of this AD, whichever occurs first: Modify the wiring in zone 675 of 
the right-hand wing, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A300-24-6109, 
dated July 4, 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, WA 98057-
3356; telephone (425) 227-2125; fax (425) 227-1149. Information may 
be emailed to: [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 Airworthiness 
Directive 2011-0161, dated August 26, 2011; and Airbus Mandatory 
Service Bulletin A300-24-6109, dated July 4, 2011; for related 
information.

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) 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.
    (2) You must use the following service information to do the 
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A300-24-6109, dated July 
4, 2011.
    (3) 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.
    (4) 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.
    (5) 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 July 25, 2012.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-18884 Filed 8-7-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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