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

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 45 (Thursday, March 8, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10348-10349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3840]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-26706; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-216-AD; 
Amendment 39-14974; AD 2007-05-13]
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 
installing spacer assemblies at the attachment points of the YZ-latches 
of the cargo loading system in the forward and aft cargo compartments, 
as applicable. This AD results from tests that have shown that the 
attachment points of the YZ-latches of the cargo loading system fail 
under maximum loads. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 
attachment points of the YZ-latches, which could result in unrestrained 
cargo causing damage to the fire protection system, hydraulic system, 
electrical wiring, or other equipment located in the forward and aft 
cargo compartments. This damage could adversely affect the continued 
safe flight of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 12, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of April 12, 
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: 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 December 28, 2006 (71 FR 78105). That NPRM proposed to 
require installing spacer assemblies at the attachment points of the 
YZ-latches of the cargo loading system in the forward and aft cargo 
compartments, as applicable.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the one comment received. 
The commenter, Airbus, the manufacturer, supports the NPRM.

New Revision of Service Bulletin

    Since we issued the NPRM, we have received Revision 02 of Airbus 
Service Bulletin A320-25-1294, dated September 5, 2006. Revision 02 was 
issued to update the effectivity and kit information. We have updated 
the service bulletin reference in paragraph (f) of the AD to be 
Revision 02, and added Revision 01 of the service bulletin to paragraph 
(g) of the AD, ``Credit for Actions Done According to Previous Issues 
of Service Bulletin.''

Conclusion

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

Costs of Compliance

    This AD affects about 1 airplane of U.S. registry. The required 
actions take about 4 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate 
of $80 per work hour. Required parts cost about $2,049 per airplane. 
Based on these figures, the estimated cost of this AD for the U.S. 
operator is $2,369.

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

[[Page 10349]]

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):

2007-05-13 Airbus: Amendment 39-14974. Docket No. FAA-2006-26706; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-216-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 12, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 
airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD, 
certificated in any category. This AD excludes Airbus Model A319, 
A320, and A321 airplanes identified in paragraph (c)(3) of this AD, 
certificated in any category.
    (1) Including airplanes on which one of the following has been 
incorporated in production: Airbus Modification 20065, 20040, 24495, 
24848, 24496, 21895, 21896, 25905, 25907, 22601, 22602, 27187, 
28319, 28322, 28330, 28335, or 31797.
    (2) Including airplanes on which one of the following has been 
incorporated in service: Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1132, A320-
25-1133, A320-25-1145, A320-25-1175, A320-25-1177, A320-25-1276, 
A320-25-1278, A320-28-1134, or A320-28-1141.
    (3) Excluding airplanes on which both Airbus Modifications 32244 
and 32245, or both Airbus Modifications 32316 and 32317, have been 
incorporated in production.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from tests that have shown that the 
attachment points of the YZ-latches of the cargo loading system fail 
under maximum loads. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of 
the attachment points of the YZ-latches, which could result in 
unrestrained cargo causing damage to the fire protection system, 
hydraulic system, electrical wiring, or other equipment located in 
the forward and aft cargo compartments. This damage could adversely 
affect the continued safe flight 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.

Installation

    (f) Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, 
install spacer assemblies at the attachment points of the YZ-latches 
of the cargo loading system in the forward and aft cargo 
compartments, as applicable, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1294, Revision 02, 
dated September 5, 2006.

Credit for Actions Done According to Previous Issues of Service 
Bulletin

    (g) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1294, dated March 
14, 2003; and Revision 01, dated March 27, 2006; are acceptable for 
compliance with the corresponding requirements of paragraph (f) of 
this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(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

    (i) European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) airworthiness 
directive 2006-0184, dated July 3, 2006, also addresses the subject 
of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1294, Revision 
02, dated September 5, 2006, 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 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. E7-3840 Filed 3-7-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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