Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330 Airplanes and Model A340-200 and -300 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 8, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38895-38898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14468]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-0266; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-170-AD; 
Amendment 39-15576; AD 2008-13-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330 Airplanes and Model 
A340-200 and -300 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Airbus Model A330 airplanes and Model A340-200 and -300 series 
airplanes. This AD requires revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) 
to prohibit the flightcrew from performing CAT 2 and CAT 3 automatic 
landings and roll-outs at certain airports. This AD also provides an 
optional terminating action for the AFM revision. This AD results from 
data showing that the magnetic variation table installed in certain 
Honeywell and Northrop Grumman air data inertial reference units 
(ADIRUs) is obsolete at certain airports. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent the airplane from departing the runway during a CAT 2 or CAT 3 
automatic landing or roll-out, due to differences between actual 
magnetic variation and the values in the ADIRU magnetic variation 
tables.

DATES: This AD is effective August 12, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of August 12, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through

[[Page 38896]]

Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the 
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. 
The address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is the 
Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Backman, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
227-2797; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to 
certain Airbus Model A330 series airplanes and Model A340-200 and -300 
series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on 
December 3, 2007 (72 FR 67868). That NPRM proposed to require revising 
the airplane flight manual (AFM) to prohibit the flightcrew from 
performing CAT 2 and CAT 3 automatic landings and roll-outs at certain 
airports. That NPRM also proposed to provide an optional terminating 
action for the AFM revision.

Comments

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

Request To Refer to Additional Service Information

    Mr. Jean-Dominique Bouton states that the ``Optional Terminating 
Action'' paragraph does not include the latest air data inertial 
reference unit (ADIRU) standards, which can be installed in place of 
the older standards addressed by the NPRM. The commenter identifies the 
following service bulletins as optional terminating actions to the AFM 
revision: Airbus Service Bulletin A330-34-3183, dated June 16, 2006; 
Airbus Service Bulletin A330-34-3191, dated March 16, 2007; Airbus 
Service Bulletin A340-34-4173, dated June 16, 2006; and Airbus Service 
Bulletin A340-34-4180, dated March 16, 2007. As justification, the 
commenter states that these service bulletins include the latest ADIRU 
standards, which can be installed in place of the older standards 
addressed by this AD.
    We infer the commenter requests that we revise paragraph (i) of 
this AD by including the service bulletins identified above. We agree 
to add Airbus Service Bulletin A330-34-3183 to paragraph (i)(2) of this 
AD, and Airbus Service Bulletin A340-34-4173 to paragraph (i)(4) of 
this AD. Airbus Service Bulletin A330-34-3183 incorporates a later 
ADIRU standard than the one specified in Airbus Service Bulletin A330-
34-3159, dated February 10, 2005, which is identified as a terminating 
action in paragraph (i)(2) of this AD. Airbus Service Bulletin A340-34-
4173 also incorporates a later ADIRU standard than the one specified in 
Airbus Service Bulletin A340-34-4163, dated February 10, 2005, which is 
identified as a terminating action in paragraph (i)(4) of this AD. The 
later ADIRU standard builds on the earlier standard and introduces 
general improvements and a new magnetic variation table. The service 
bulletin for the later ADIRU standard has the earlier service bulletin 
as a concurrent requirement.
    However, we do not agree to add Airbus Service Bulletin A330-34-
3191 and Airbus Service Bulletin A340-34-4180 to paragraph (i) of this 
AD because those service bulletins do not have the service bulletin for 
the earlier standard as a concurrent requirement. We refer to European 
Aviation Safety Agency airworthiness directive 2006-0232, dated August 
7, 2006, as related information in paragraph (k) of this AD. However, 
under the provisions of paragraph (j) of this AD, we will consider 
requests for approval of an alternative method of compliance if 
sufficient data are submitted to substantiate that the design change 
would provide an acceptable level of safety. We have not changed this 
AD in this regard.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the 
AD with the change described previously. We also determined that this 
change will not increase the economic burden on any operator or 
increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD affects about 40 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 the 
AD for U.S. operators is $3,200, or $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

    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.
    You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of 
compliance in the AD Docket.

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.

[[Page 38897]]

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2008-13-13 Airbus: Amendment 39-15576. Docket No. FAA-2007-0266; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-170-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective August 12, 
2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A330-200, A330-300, A340-
200, and A340-300 series airplanes, certificated in any category; 
equipped with the air data inertial reference units (ADIRUs) 
identified in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD.
    (1) Honeywell ADIRUs having part numbers (P/Ns) HG2030AC0X 
(where X is any number between 0 and 9 inclusive) and P/Ns 
HG2030ADYY (where YY is any number between 00 and 10 inclusive).
    (2) Northrop Grumman (formerly Litton) ADIRUs having P/Ns 
465020-030303ZZ (where ZZ is any number between 00 and 12 
inclusive).

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from data showing that the magnetic 
variation table installed in certain Honeywell and Northrop Grumman 
ADIRUs is obsolete at certain airports. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent the airplane from departing the runway during a CAT 2 or CAT 
3 automatic landing or roll-out, due to differences between actual 
magnetic variation and the values in the ADIRU magnetic variation 
tables.

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.

Temporary Revision (TR) References

    (f) The term ``Temporary Revision,'' as used in this AD, means 
the following TRs, as applicable:
    (1) For Model A330-200 and A330-300 series airplanes equipped 
with any Honeywell ADIRU identified in paragraph (c)(1) of this AD: 
Airbus TR 2.05.00/67, Issue 2, dated September 19, 2007, to the 
Airbus A330 Airplane Flight Manual (AFM);
    (2) For Model A330-200 and A330-300 series airplanes equipped 
with any Northrop Grumman ADIRU identified in paragraph (c)(2) of 
this AD: Airbus TR 2.05.00/68, dated March 31, 2006, to the Airbus 
A330 AFM;
    (3) For Model A340-200 and A340-300 series airplanes equipped 
with any Honeywell ADIRU identified in paragraph (c)(1) of this AD: 
Airbus TR 2.05.00/87, Issue 2, dated September 19, 2007, to the 
Airbus A340 AFM; and
    (4) For Model A340-200 and A340-300 series airplanes equipped 
with any Northrop Grumman ADIRU identified in paragraph (c)(2) of 
this AD: Airbus TR 2.05.00/88, dated March 31, 2006, to the Airbus 
A340 AFM.

AFM Revision

    (g) Within 14 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Limitations Section of the Airbus A330 or A340 AFM, as 
applicable, to prohibit the flightcrew from performing CAT 2 and CAT 
3 automatic landings and roll-outs at certain airports by 
incorporating the applicable Temporary Revision into the AFM. 
Operate the airplane according to the limitations in the applicable 
TR.
    (h) When the information in the applicable TR has been 
incorporated into the general revisions of the Airbus A330 or A340 
AFM, as applicable, the general revisions may be inserted into the 
AFM, and the TR may be removed from the AFM.

Optional Terminating Action

    (i) Replacing the ADIRUs with new, improved ADIRUs as specified 
in paragraph (i)(1), (i)(2), (i)(3), or (i)(4) of this AD terminates 
the AFM revision required by paragraph (g) of this AD.
    (1) For Model A330-200 and A330-300 series airplanes equipped 
with any Honeywell ADIRU identified in paragraph (c)(1) of this AD, 
doing the replacement in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A330-34-3104, dated July 17, 
2003; or Airbus Service Bulletin A330-34-3165, dated June 28, 2006.
    (2) For Model A330-200 and A330-300 series airplanes equipped 
with any Northrop Grumman ADIRU identified in paragraph (c)(2) of 
this AD, doing the replacement in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A330-34-3132, dated December 
16, 2003, or Revision 01, dated August 18, 2004; Airbus Service 
Bulletin A330-34-3159, dated February 10, 2005; or Airbus Service 
Bulletin A330-34-3183, dated June 16, 2006.
    (3) For Model A340-200 and A340-300 series airplanes equipped 
with any Honeywell ADIRU identified in paragraph (c)(1) of this AD, 
doing the replacement in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A340-34-4114, dated July 17, 
2003; or Airbus Service Bulletin A340-34-4166, dated June 28, 2006.
    (4) For Model A340-200 and A340-300 series airplanes equipped 
with any Northrop Grumman ADIRU identified in paragraph (c)(2) of 
this AD, doing the replacement in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A340-34-4141, dated December 
16, 2003, or Revision 01, dated August 18, 2004; Airbus Service 
Bulletin A340-34-4163, dated February 10, 2005; or Airbus Service 
Bulletin A340-34-4173, dated June 16, 2006.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (j)(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) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
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.

Related Information

    (k) European Aviation Safety Agency airworthiness directive 
2006-0232, dated August 7, 2006, also addresses the subject of this 
AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (l) You must use the applicable service information contained in 
Table 1 of this AD to do the actions required by this AD, unless the 
AD specifies otherwise. If you do the optional actions specified in 
this AD, you must use the applicable service information contained 
in Table 2 of this AD to do those actions, 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 of the service information 
incorporated by reference 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

                        Table 1.--Material Incorporated by Reference for Required Actions
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                 Service Information                               Issue                         Date
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Airbus Temporary Revision 2.05.00/67 to the Airbus     2...........................  September 19, 2007.
 A330 Airplane Flight Manual.
Airbus Temporary Revision 2.05.00/68 to the Airbus     Original....................  March 31, 2006.
 A330 Airplane Flight Manual.
Airbus Temporary Revision 2.05.00/87 to the Airbus     2...........................  September 19, 2007.
 A340 Airplane Flight Manual.
Airbus Temporary Revision 2.05.00/88 to the Airbus     Original....................  March 31, 2006.
 A340 Airplane Flight Manual.
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[[Page 38898]]


                        Table 2.--Material Incorporated by Reference for Optional Actions
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                 Service Information                               Issue                         Date
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Airbus Service Bulletin A330-34-3104.................  Original....................  July 17, 2003.
Airbus Service Bulletin A330-34-3132.................  Original....................  December 16, 2003.
Airbus Service Bulletin A330-34-3132.................  01..........................  August 18, 2004.
Airbus Service Bulletin A330-34-3159.................  Original....................  February 10, 2005.
Airbus Service Bulletin A330-34-3165.................  Original....................  June 28, 2006.
Airbus Service Bulletin A330-34-3183.................  Original....................  June 16, 2006.
Airbus Service Bulletin A340-34-4114.................  Original....................  July 17, 2003.
Airbus Service Bulletin A340-34-4141.................  Original....................  December 16, 2003.
Airbus Service Bulletin A340-34-4141.................  01..........................  August 18, 2004.
Airbus Service Bulletin A340-34-4163.................  Original....................  February 10, 2005.
Airbus Service Bulletin A340-34-4166.................  Original....................  June 28, 2006.
Airbus Service Bulletin A340-34-4173.................  Original....................  June 16, 2006.
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    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 13, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-14468 Filed 7-7-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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