Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 56 (Friday, March 23, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13681-13683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5221]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-26272; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-153-AD; 
Amendment 39-14999; AD 2007-06-18]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A318, 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 all

[[Page 13682]]

Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 airplanes. This AD requires 
repetitive inspections of the operation of the main landing gear (MLG) 
door opening sequence to determine if a defective actuator is 
installed, and replacing any defective actuator with a new actuator. 
This AD results from reports of slow operation of the MLG door opening/
closing sequence due to a defective actuator. We are issuing this AD to 
detect and correct defective actuators of the MLG door, which could 
result in slow operation of the MLG door and consequent non-extension 
of the MLG during an emergency freefall operation.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 27, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of April 27, 
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 Dulin, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
227-2141; 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 A318, 
A319, A320, and A321 airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal 
Register on December 8, 2006 (71 FR 71101). That NPRM proposed to 
require repetitive inspections of the operation of the main landing 
gear (MLG) door opening sequence to determine if a defective actuator 
is installed, and to replace any defective actuator with a new 
actuator.

Relevant Service Information

    Since we issued the NPRM, we have reviewed Airbus Service Bulletin 
A320-32-1309, Revision 01, dated June 19, 2006. Revision 01 specifies 
that no additional work is necessary for airplanes modified by any 
previous issue. We referred to Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1309, 
dated March 7, 2006, in the NPRM for accomplishing the specified 
actions. We have changed this AD to refer to Revision 01 of the service 
bulletin for accomplishing the specified actions, and to give credit 
for accomplishing the specified actions in accordance with the original 
issue before the effective date of this AD.

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 with the 
change described previously. This change will neither increase the 
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Interim Action

    We consider this AD interim action. If final action is later 
identified, we may consider further rulemaking then.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD affects about 700 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 
inspection takes about 1 work hour per airplane, at an average labor 
rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost 
of the AD for U.S. operators is $56,000, or $80 per airplane, per 
inspection cycle.

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):

2007-06-18 Airbus: Amendment 39-14999. Docket No. FAA-2006-26272; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-153-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 27, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

[[Page 13683]]

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and 
A321 airplanes, certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of slow operation of the main 
landing gear (MLG) door opening/closing sequence due to a defective 
actuator. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct defective 
actuators of the MLG door, which could result in slow operation of 
the MLG door and consequent non-extension of the MLG during an 
emergency freefall operation.

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.

Repetitive Inspections/Replacement

    (f) At the time specified in paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this 
AD, as applicable: Do a general visual inspection of the operation 
of the MLG door opening sequence to determine if a defective 
actuator is installed by doing all the applicable actions, including 
replacing the door actuator, as applicable, specified in the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1309, 
Revision 01, dated June 19, 2006. Do all applicable replacements 
before further flight. Repeat the inspection thereafter at intervals 
not to exceed 900 flight cycles. Accomplishing the actions before 
the effective date of this AD in accordance with Airbus Service 
Bulletin A320-32-1309, dated March 7, 2006, is acceptable for 
compliance with the corresponding requirements in this paragraph.
    (1) For airplanes on which a record of the total number of 
flight cycles on the MLG door actuator is available: Before the 
accumulation of 3,000 total flight cycles on the MLG door actuator, 
or within 800 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever is later.
    (2) For airplanes on which a record of the total number of 
flight cycles on the MLG door actuator is not available: Within 800 
flight cycles after the effective date of this AD.

    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection 
is: ``A visual examination of an interior or exterior area, 
installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or 
irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within touching 
distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be necessary to 
enhance visual access to all exposed surfaces in the inspection 
area. This level of inspection is made under normally available 
lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, 
or droplight and may require removal or opening of access panels or 
doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be required to gain 
proximity to the area being checked.''

No Reporting/Parts Return Required

    (g) Although the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service 
Bulletin A320-32-1309, Revision 01, dated June 19, 2006, specify 
submitting certain information to the manufacturer and sending 
defective actuators back to the component manufacturer for 
investigation, this AD does not include those requirements.

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 airworthiness directive 
2006-0112, dated May 15, 2006, also addresses the subject of this 
AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1309, Revision 
01, dated June 19, 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 March 13, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-5221 Filed 3-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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