05-163. Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A310 Series Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A310 series airplanes. This AD requires modifying the wire routing of electrical harness 636VB in the right-hand wing. This AD is prompted by the manufacturer's analysis for compliance with Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 88, which has shown that wiring 2M of the 115V anti-collision white strobe lights and wiring 2S of the fuel quantity indication system (FQIS) should be rerouted into separate conduits. We are issuing this AD to prevent chafing damage to wiring 2M and 2S, which could result in a short circuit and consequently introduce an electrical current into the wiring of the FQIS and create an ignition source in the fuel tank.

DATES:

This AD becomes effective February 11, 2005.

The incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of February 11, 2005.

ADDRESSES:

For service information identified in this AD, contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. You can examine this information at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call [phone], or go to: http://www.archives.gov/​federal_​register/​code_​of_​federal_​regulations/​ibr_​locations.html.

You can examine the contents of this 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., room PL-401, on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC. This docket number is FAA-2004-19560; the directorate identifier for this docket is 2004-NM-121-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

Examining the Docket

The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any final disposition. You can examine the 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 [phone]) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 with an AD for all Airbus Model A310 series airplanes. That action, published in the Federal Register on November 9, 2004 (69 FR 64871), proposed to require modifying the wire routing of electrical harness 636VB in the right-hand wing.

Comments

We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the development of this AD. No comments have been submitted on the proposed AD 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 will affect about 51 airplanes of U.S. registry. The required actions will take about 34 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts will cost about $356 per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators is $130,866 or $2,566 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. 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

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 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. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2005-01-06 Airbus: Amendment 39-13930. Docket No. FAA-2004-19560; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-121-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This AD becomes effective February 11, 2005.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to all Airbus Model A310-203, -204, -221, -222, -304, -322, -324, and -325 series airplanes, certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

(d) This AD was prompted by the manufacturer's analysis for compliance with Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 88, which has shown that wiring 2M of the 115V anti-collision white strobe lights and wiring 2S of the fuel quantity indication system (FQIS) should be rerouted into separate conduits. We are issuing this AD to prevent chafing damage to wiring 2M and 2S, which could result in a short circuit and consequently introduce an electrical current into the wiring of the FQIS and create an ignition source in the fuel tank.

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.

Modification

(f) Within 72 months after the effective date of this AD, modify the routing of electrical harness 636VB in the right-hand wing by accomplishing all of the actions in the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A310-28-2140, Revision 04, dated March 31, 2004.

Credit for Previously Accomplished Service Bulletins

(g) Modification of the routing of electrical harness 636VB accomplished before the effective date of this AD in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A310-28-2140, Revision 02, dated May 24, 2002; or Revision 03, dated November 21, 2002; is acceptable for compliance with the requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(h) 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.

Related Information

(i) French airworthiness directive F-2004-005, dated January 7, 2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

(j) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A310-28-2140, Revision 04, dated March 31, 2004, to perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approves the incorporation by reference of this document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For copies of the service information, contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. For information on the availability of this material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), call [phone], or go to http://www.archives.gov/​federal_​ register/code_of _federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

You may view the AD docket at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW, room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 27, 2004.

Kevin M. Mullin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.