[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 3, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51703-51705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22304]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 95-NM-101-AD; Amendment 39-9362; AD 95-19-01]
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330 and A340 Series
Airplanes Equipped With BFGoodrich Evacuation Slides and Slide/Rafts
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD),
applicable to Airbus Model A330 and A340 series airplanes equipped with
certain BFGoodrich evacuation slides and slide/rafts. This action
requires an inspection to detect the presence of certain discrepancies
of the packboard associated with the evacuation slides and slide/rafts,
and replacement or modification of the packboard unit, if necessary. It
also requires the eventual modification of all affected packboard
units. This amendment is prompted by reports indicating that these
packboards have disengaged from the door mounting, due to cracking of
the packboard and associated latch assembly that was incurred during
hard landings. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent
the packboard from disengaging from the door and restraining the door
from fully opening, thereby preventing the evacuation slide from
inflating and making both the slide and the door unusable during an
emergency evacuation.
DATES: Effective October 18, 1995.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as
of October 18, 1995.
Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or
before December 4, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-NM-101-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98055-4056.
The service information referenced in this AD may be obtained from
BFGoodrich Company, Aircraft Evacuation Systems, Department 7916,
Phoenix, Arizona 85040. This information may be examined at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington; or at the FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood,
California; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol
Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Gfrerer, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft
Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California
90712; telephone (310) 627-5338; fax (310) 627-5210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: During flight testing on one Airbus Model
A340 series airplane, the packboard units partially disengaged from the
door mountings during hard landings. This caused cracking of the
packboard edge and subsequent breakage of the latch assembly that
connects the packboard to the door mounting. Such cracking of the
[[Page 51704]]
packboard shell can cause the packboard to flex enough to cause this
disengagement. The tolerance stack-up of the components holding the
packboard to the door can result in inadequate engagement between the
packboard rails, the latch assembly, and the rail adapter attachment.
Should the packboard disengage from the door, it may then restrain the
door from fully opening. This condition, if not corrected, could
prevent the evacuation slide from inflating, thereby making both the
slide and the associated door unusable during an emergency evacuation.
The FAA has reviewed and approved BFGoodrich Service Bulletin
5A2917/27/63-25-279, dated January 12, 1995, which describes procedures
for inspecting the slide and slide/raft packboards (1) to detect
cracking in the end panels, (2) to determine if an excessive amount of
gap exists between the bottom of the packboard rail and the top of the
packboard, and (2) to determine if the chamfered surface on the rail
adapter is below the rail (not showing). The service bulletin describes
procedures fro replacing the packboard unit if any of these conditions
are found.
The FAA also has reviewed and approved BFGoodrich Service Bulletin
5A2917/27/63-25-278, Revision 1, dated July 14, 1995, which describes
procedures for modifying the packboard assemblies. This modification
entails replacing the latch and anchor block assemblies with new one-
piece assemblies; installing new rail adaptors and associated
setscrews; removing the portability handles from Type A door units; and
reinforcing the packboards of certain Type A doors.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design, this AD is
being issued to prevent the packboard from disengaging from the door
and restraining the door from fully opening, thereby preventing the
evocation slide from inflating and making both the slide and the door
unusable during an emergency evacuation. This AD requires a one-time
inspection of the packboard unit to detect various discrepancies, and
either the replacement or modification of the packboard if any of these
conditions exist. This AD also requires that all affected packboards
eventually be modified. The actions are required to be accomplished in
accordance with the service bulletins described previously.
None of the Model A330 or A340 series airplanes affected by this
action is on the U.S. Register. All airplanes included in the
applicability of this rule currently are operated by non-U.S. operators
under foreign registry; therefore, they are not directly affected by
this AD action. However, the FAA considers that this rule is necessary
to ensure that the unsafe condition is addressed in the event that any
of these subject airplanes are imported and placed on the U.S. Register
in the future.
Should an affected airplane be imported and placed on the U.S.
Register in the future, it would require approximately 1 work hour per
airplane to accomplish the inspection, at an average labor charge of
$60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the
inspection requirement of this AD would be $60 per airplane.
The modification required by this AD action would require 2 work
hours per slide to accomplish, at an average labor charge of $60 per
work hour. There are 8 affected slides per airplane. Required parts
would be provided by BFGoodrich at no cost to operators. Based on these
figures, the total cost impact of the modification requirement of this
AD would be $120 per slide, or $960 per airplane.
Since this AD action does not affect any airplane that is currently
on the U.S. register, it has no adverse economic impact and imposes no
additional burden on any person. Therefore, notice and public
procedures hereon are unnecessary and the amendment may be made
effective in less than 30 days after publication in the Federal
Register.
Comments Invited
Although this action is in the form of a final rule and was not
preceded by notice and opportunity for public comment, comments are
invited on this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this
rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may
desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number and be
submitted in triplicate to the address specified under the caption
ADDRESSES. All communications received on or before the closing date
for comments will be considered, and this rule may be amended in light
of the comments received. Factual information that supports the
commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating
the effectiveness of the AD action and determining whether additional
rulemaking action would be needed.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might
suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be
available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the
Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that
summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this
AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 95-NM-101-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct
effects 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, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
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 USC 106(g), 40101, 40113, 44701.
[[Page 51705]]
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
95-19-01 Airbus: Amendment 39-9362. Docket 95-NM-101-AD.
Applicability: Model A330 and A340 series airplanes; equipped
with BFGoodrich evacuation slides or slide/rafts having part numbers
and packboards as listed in Table 1 (Effectivity) of BFGoodrich
Service Bulletin 5A2917/27/63-25-278, Revision 1, dated July 14,
1995; certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
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 use the authority
provided in paragraph (c) of this AD to request approval from the
FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current
configuration eliminates the unsafe condition; or different actions
necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such
a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD.
In no case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or
repair remove any airplane from the applicability of this AD.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously. To prevent the packboard from disengaging from the door
and restraining the door from fully opening, thereby preventing the
evacuation slide from inflating and making both the slide and the
door unusable during an emergency evacuation, accomplish the
following:
(a) Within 450 flight hours after the effective date of this AD,
inspect the packboard unit of the slide and/or slide/raft in
accordance with paragraphs 2A., 2B., and 2C. of the Accomplishment
Instructions of BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 5A2917/27/63-25-279,
dated January 12, 1995. If any discrepancy is found during this
inspection, prior to further flight, accomplish either paragraph
(a)(1) or (a)(2) of this AD:
(1) Replace the packboard unit in accordance with BFGoodrich
Service Bulletin 5A2917/27/63-25-279, dated January 12, 1995; or
(2) Modify the packboard unit in accordance with BFGoodrich
Service Bulletin 5A2917/27/63-25-278, Revision 1, dated July 14,
1995. After such modification, no further action is required by this
AD.
(b) Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, modify
the packboard of the evacuation slide and slide/raft in accordance
with BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 5A2917/27/63-25-278, Revision 1,
dated July 14, 1995. This modification constitutes terminating
action for the requirements of this AD.
(c) 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, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification
Office (ACO), FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall
submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the
Manager, Los Angeles ACO.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Los Angeles ACO.
(d) 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.
(e) The inspection and replacement shall be done in accordance
with BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 5A2917/27/63-25-279, dated January
12, 1995. The modification shall be done in accordance with
BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 5A2917/27/63-25-278, Revision 1, dated
July 14, 1995. 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 BFGoodrich Company,
Aircraft Evacuation Systems, Department 7916, Phoenix, Arizona
85040. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the
FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California; or at
the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW.,
suite 700, Washington, DC.
(e) This amendment becomes effective on October 18, 1995.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 1, 1995.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-22304 Filed 10-2-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
