Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A310 Series Airplanes; and Airbus Model A300-600 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 114 (Thursday, June 14, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32782-32785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-11200]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27361; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-237-AD; 
Amendment 39-15097; AD 2007-12-19]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A310 Series Airplanes; and 
Airbus Model A300-600 Series 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 the 
products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an airworthiness authority 
of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an 
aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as explosion 
risks. Chafing of the fuel pump cables could result in short circuits 
leading to fuel pump failure, intermittent operation, arcing, and 
possible fuel tank explosion. We are issuing this AD to require actions 
to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective July 19, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of July 19, 
2007.

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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Stafford, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
227-1622; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    The FAA is implementing a new process for streamlining the issuance 
of ADs related to MCAI. This streamlined process will allow us to adopt 
MCAI safety requirements in a more efficient manner and will reduce 
safety risks to the public. This process continues to allow all FAA AD 
issuance processes to meet legal, economic, Administrative Procedure 
Act, and Federal Register requirements. We also continue to meet our 
technical decision-making responsibilities to identify and correct

[[Page 32783]]

unsafe conditions on U.S.-certificated products.
    This AD references the MCAI and related service information that we 
considered in forming the engineering basis to correct the unsafe 
condition. The AD contains text copied from the MCAI and for this 
reason might not follow our plain language principles.
    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 13, 2007 (72 
FR 11302). That NPRM proposed to require modification of the fuel pump 
wiring against short circuits.
    The MCAI states that the FAA has published SFAR 88 (Special Federal 
Aviation Regulation 88). In their letters referenced 04/00/02/07/01-
L296, dated March 4th, 2002, and 04/00/02/07/03-L024, dated February 3, 
2003, the JAA (Joint Aviation Authorities) recommended the application 
of a similar regulation to the National Aviation Authorities (NAA). 
Under this regulation, all holders of type certificates for passenger 
transport aircraft with either a passenger capacity of 30 or more, or a 
payload capacity of 7,500 pounds (3,402 kilograms) or more, which have 
received their certification since January 1, 1958, are required to 
conduct a design review against explosion risks.
    The MCAI design review found that fuel pump cables can possibly 
become chafed in their metallic conduits. The chafing of the fuel pump 
cables can result in short circuits leading to fuel pump failure, 
intermittent operation, arcing, and possible fuel tank explosion. The 
MCAI, which requires modification of the fuel pump wiring against short 
circuits, is a consequence of this design review.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We considered the comment received.

Request To Refer to Latest Service Bulletin

    Airbus requests that we refer to the latest revision of Service 
Bulletin A310-24-2097. Airbus states that Service Bulletin A310-24-
2097, Revision 02, dated May 24, 2007, has been released to operators. 
Airbus notes that the service bulletin does not introduce any 
additional work.
    We have reviewed Airbus Service Bulletin A310-24-2097, Revision 02, 
dated May 24, 2007 (we referred to Airbus Service Bulletins A310-24-
2097, dated February 15, 2006; and Revision 01, dated October 11, 2006; 
as appropriate sources of service information for accomplishing the 
actions proposed in the NPRM). Revision 02 of the service bulletin does 
not add additional work. Revision 02 of the service bulletin updates 
the effectivity and introduces minor changes. Therefore, we have 
revised this AD to refer to Revision 02 of the service bulletin as an 
appropriate source of service information for doing the required 
actions.

Clarification of Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC) Paragraph

    We have revised this action to clarify the appropriate procedure 
for notifying the principal inspector before using any approved AMOC on 
any airplane to which the AMOC applies.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data, including the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the 
AD with the changes described previously. We determined that these 
changes will not increase the economic burden on any operator or 
increase the scope of the AD.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in 
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it 
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the 
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable in a U.S. court of 
law. In making these changes, we do not intend to differ substantively 
from the information provided in the MCAI and related service 
information.
    We might also have required different actions in this AD from those 
in the MCAI in order to follow our FAA policies. Any such differences 
are described in a separate paragraph of the AD. These requirements, if 
any, take precedence over the actions copied from the MCAI.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 205 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it will take about 72 work-hours per product to 
comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. 
Required parts will cost about $7,190 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 $2,654,750, or 
$12,950 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 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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 
docket contains the NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket 
Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section.

[[Page 32784]]

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

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

2007-12-19 Airbus: Amendment 39-15097. Docket No. FAA-2007-27361; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-237-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective July 19, 
2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A310 series airplanes; and 
Model A300-600 series airplanes; certificated in any category; all 
certified models, all serial numbers, except for aircraft which have 
received in production Airbus modification 13118 or Airbus Service 
Bulletin (SB) A310-24-2097 or A300-24-6094.

Reason

    (d) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states that the FAA has published SFAR 88 (Special Federal Aviation 
Regulation 88). In their letters referenced 04/00/02/07/01-L296, 
dated March 4th, 2002, and 04/00/02/07/03-L024, dated February 3, 
2003, the JAA (Joint Aviation Authorities) recommended the 
application of a similar regulation to the National Aviation 
Authorities (NAA). Under this regulation, all holders of type 
certificates for passenger transport aircraft with either a 
passenger capacity of 30 or more, or a payload capacity of 7,500 
pounds (3,402 kilograms) or more, which have received their 
certification since January 1, 1958, are required to conduct a 
design review against explosion risks. The MCAI design review found 
that fuel pump cables can possibly become chafed in their metallic 
conduits. The chafing of the fuel pump cables can result in short 
circuits leading to fuel pump failure, intermittent operation, 
arcing, and possible fuel tank explosion. The MCAI, which requires 
modification of the fuel pump wiring against short circuits, is a 
consequence of this design review.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) Within 37 months after the effective date of this AD: Modify 
the inner and outer fuel pumps, route 1P and 2P harnesses in the LH 
(left-hand) wing and in the RH (right-hand) wing in accordance with 
the instructions of Airbus Service Bulletins A300-24-6094, dated 
February 15, 2006; A300-24-6094, Revision 01, dated July 18, 2006; 
A310-24-2097, dated February 15, 2006; A310-24-2097, Revision 01, 
dated October 11, 2006; or A310-24-2097, Revision 02, dated May 24, 
2007; as applicable.

FAA AD Differences

    Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information 
as follows: No differences.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (f) 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. Send information to Attn: Tom 
Stafford, Aerospace Engineer, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-1622; fax (425) 227-1149. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.
    (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.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information 
collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-
0056.

Related Information

    (g) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 
Directive 2006-0284 R1, dated February 13, 2007; and Airbus Service 
Bulletins A300-24-6094, dated February 15, 2006; A300-24-6094, 
Revision 01, dated July 18, 2006; A310-24-2097, dated February 15, 
2006; A310-24-2097, Revision 01, dated October 11, 2006; and A310-
24-2097, Revision 02, dated May 24, 2007; for related information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (h) You must use the applicable service information specified in 
Table 1 of this AD to do the actions required by this AD, unless the 
AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France.
    (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the 
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information 
on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or 
go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

                                  Table 1.--Material Incorporated by Reference
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         Airbus service bulletin                      Revision                              Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A300-24-6094............................  Original.......................  February 15, 2006.
A300-24-6094............................  01.............................  July 18, 2006.
A310-24-2097............................  Original.......................  February 15, 2006.
A310-24-2097............................  01.............................  October 11, 2006.
A310-24-2097............................  02.............................  May 24, 2007.
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[[Page 32785]]

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 1, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-11200 Filed 6-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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