Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330 and A340 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 42 (Monday, March 5, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9658-9660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3658]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-26684; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-193-AD; 
Amendment 39-14969; AD 2007-05-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330 and A340 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 all 
Airbus Model A330 and A340 airplanes. This AD requires revising the 
Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness by incorporating new and revised certification 
maintenance requirements (CMRs). This AD results from the 
manufacturer's determination that additional and revised CMRs are 
necessary in order to ensure continued operational safety of the 
affected airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent safety-
significant latent failures that would, in combination with one or more 
other specific failures or events, result in a hazardous or 
catastrophic failure condition.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 9, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of April 9, 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.
    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, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington

[[Page 9659]]

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 A330 
and A340 airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on 
December 27, 2006 (71 FR 77632). That NPRM proposed to require revising 
the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness by incorporating new and revised certification 
maintenance requirements (CMRs).

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 27 Model A330 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 
required actions 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 this AD for U.S. operators is $2,160, or $80 per airplane.
    Currently there are no affected Model A340 airplanes on the U.S. 
Register. However, if an affected airplane is imported and placed on 
the U.S. Register in the future, the required actions would 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 this AD to U.S. 
operators is $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):

2007-05-08 Airbus: Amendment 39-14969. Docket No. FAA-2006-26684; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-193-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 9, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Airbus Model A330 and A340 airplanes.

    Note 1: This AD requires revisions to certain operator 
maintenance documents to include new inspections. Compliance with 
these inspections is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes 
that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the 
areas addressed by these inspections, the operator may not be able 
to accomplish the inspections described in the revisions. In this 
situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must 
request approval for an alternative method of compliance according 
to paragraph (g) of this AD. The request should include a 
description of changes to the required inspections that will ensure 
the continued damage tolerance of the affected structure. The FAA 
has provided guidance for this determination in Advisory Circular 
(AC) 25-1529-1.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from the manufacturer's determination that 
additional and revised certification maintenance requirements (CMRs) 
are necessary in order to ensure continued operational safety of the 
affected airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent safety-
significant latent failures that would, in combination with one or 
more other specific failures or events, result in a hazardous or 
catastrophic failure condition.

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.

Revise the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Instructions for 
Continued Airworthiness

    (f) Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD: Revise 
the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for 
Continued Airworthiness by incorporating Airbus A330 Certification 
Maintenance Requirements, Document 955.2074/93, Issue 19, dated 
March 22, 2006 (for all Model A330 airplanes); or Airbus A340 
Certification Maintenance Requirements, Document 955.3019/92, Issue 
14, dated December 19, 2005 (for all Model A340 airplanes). 
Accomplish the actions specified in the applicable CMR at the times 
specified in the applicable CMR and in accordance with the 
applicable CMR, except as provided by paragraphs (f)(1), (f)(2), 
(f)(3), and (f)(4) of this AD.

[[Page 9660]]

    (1) The associated interval for any new task is to be counted 
from the effective date of this AD.
    (2) The associated interval for any revised task is to be 
counted from the previous performance of the task.
    (3) For Model A340 airplanes that have exceeded the more 
restrictive limitations of Airbus A340 Certification Maintenance 
Requirements, Document 955.3019/92, Issue 14, Maintenance 
Significant Items (MSI) 21.28.00 and 21.43.00: Do the task within 
2,500 flight hours after the previous accomplishment. Repeat the 
task thereafter at the applicable interval in the Airbus A340 
Certification Maintenance Requirements, Document 955.3019/92, Issue 
14.
    (4) For Model A340 airplanes that have accumulated more than 
2,700 flight hours since the last maintenance done in accordance 
with Airbus A340 Certification Maintenance Requirements, Document 
955.3019/92, Issue 14, MSI 28.24.00: Do the next task within 800 
flight hours after the effective date of this AD. Repeat the task 
thereafter at the applicable interval in the Airbus A340 
Certification Maintenance Requirements, Document 955.3019/92, Issue 
14.

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) The European Aviation Safety Agency airworthiness directives 
2006-0224, dated July 27, 2006, and 2006-0225, dated July 21, 2006, 
also address the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Airbus A330 Certification Maintenance 
Requirements, Document 955.2074/93, Issue 19, dated March 22, 2006; 
or Airbus A340 Certification Maintenance Requirements, Document 
955.3019/92, Issue 14, dated December 19, 2005; as applicable, 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 these documents 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 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 22, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-3658 Filed 3-2-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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