02-146. Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330 Series Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Airbus Model A330 series airplanes, that requires removal of the shear pins that keep the rear fixed panels on the center landing gear closed and installation of new solid shear pins. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information from a foreign airworthiness authority. This action is intended to prevent the shear pins on the rear fixed panels of the center landing gear from failing, which could result in loss of the panels during flight with consequent injury to people on the ground. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES:

Effective February 8, 2002.

The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of February 8, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

The service information referenced in this AD may be obtained from Airbus Industrie, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. This information may be examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone [phone]; fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Airbus Model A330 series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2001 (66 FR 45951). That action proposed to require removal of the shear pins that keep the rear fixed panels on the center landing gear closed and installation of new solid shear pins.

Comments

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. No comments were submitted in response to the proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

Changes Made to the Proposed AD

Since issuance of the proposed AD, Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A330-52-3058, Revision 01, dated February 8, 2001. The original issue of this service bulletin, dated April 7, 2000, was referenced in the proposed AD as the appropriate source of service information for the required replacement. The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the airworthiness authority for France, classified this service bulletin as mandatory in order to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France. The FAA finds that the procedures in Revision 01 of the service bulletin are essentially the same as those in the original issue. Therefore, we have revised paragraph (a) of the final rule to reference Revision 01 of the service bulletin, and we have included a new “Note 2” to give credit to operators that may have accomplished the required actions prior to the effective date of this AD in accordance with the original issue of the service bulletin. Subsequent notes have been renumbered accordingly. Additionally, we have revised the applicability of the final rule to include Revision 01 of the service bulletin.

Conclusion

After careful review of the available data, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule with the changes described previously. The FAA has determined that these changes will neither increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 2 airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the required replacement, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts will be provided by the manufacturer at no charge. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $120, or $60 per airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted. The cost impact figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it is determined that this final rule does not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption “ADDRESSES.”

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Incorporation by reference
• Safety

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness directive:

2001-26-17 Airbus Industrie: Amendment 39-12583. Docket 2001-NM-28-AD.

Applicability: Model A330-202, -223, -243, -301, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and -343 series airplanes, on which Airbus Modification 47707 has not been incorporated; or Airbus Service Bulletin A330-52-3058, dated April 7, 2000, or Revision 01, dated February 8, 2001, has not been accomplished; certificated in any category.

Note 1:

This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (b) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously.

To prevent the shear pins on the rear fixed panels of the center landing gear from failing, which could result in loss of the panels during flight with consequent injury to people on the ground, accomplish the following:

Replacement

(a) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD: Remove the shear pins that keep the rear fixed panels of the center landing gear closed and install solid shear pins, in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A330-52-3058, Revision 01, dated February 8, 2001.

Note 2:

Accomplishment of the replacement in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A330-52-3058, dated April 7, 2000, prior to the effective date of this AD, is acceptable for compliance with the requirements of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used if approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116.

Note 3:

Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116.

Special Flight Permits

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

Incorporation by Reference

(d) The actions shall be done in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A330-52-3058, Revision 01, dated February 8, 2001. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from Airbus Industrie, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

Note 4:

The subject of this AD is addressed in French airworthiness directive 2001-042(B), dated January 24, 2001.

Effective Date

(e) This amendment becomes effective on February 8, 2002.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 21, 2001.

Ali Bahrami,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.