E7-24332. Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 Series Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

During planned maintenance visit on two aircraft, corrosion was found on the upper surface of the wing lower skin panel N^o 1, inside the Right Hand (RH) inboard dry bay.

It was discovered that [certain] access panels * * * had been omitted from the access requirements of the associated AMM (airplane maintenance manual) task (AMM 05-25-40) until the August 2001 revision.

The result is that some * * * inspections may have not been fully accomplished due to non-removal of [certain] panels * * *.

If the area has not been inspected with the correct access, and if AIRBUS Service Bulletin (SB) A320-57-1121 has not been performed, then some aircraft could remain insufficiently inspected until the next scheduled inspection. This may result in a high risk of corrosion findings greater than level 1.

Corrosion findings greater than level 1 in the wing could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane. The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

DATES:

We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 16, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

You may send comments by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: [phone].
• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-40, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov;​; or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations office (telephone [phone]) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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 [phone]; fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include “Docket No. FAA-2007-0337; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-111-AD” at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposed AD based on those comments.

Discussion

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA Airworthiness Directive 2007-0064R1, dated September 21, 2007 (referred to after this as “the MCAI”), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

During planned maintenance visit on two aircraft, corrosion was found on the upper surface of the wing lower skin panel N^o 1, inside the Right Hand (RH) inboard dry bay.

It was discovered that access panels 540CZ, 540DZ, 640CZ and 640DZ had been omitted from the access requirements of the associated AMM (aircraft maintenance manual) task (AMM 05-25-40) until the August 2001 revision.

The result is that some ZL-540-02-1 or ZL-540-02-2 (or ZL-540-02 and ZL-640-02) inspections may have not been fully accomplished due to non-removal of panels 540CZ, 540DZ, 640CZ and 640DZ.

If the area has not been inspected with the correct access, and if AIRBUS Service Bulletin (SB) A320-57-1121 has not been performed, then some aircraft could remain insufficiently inspected until the next scheduled inspection. This may result in a high risk of corrosion findings greater than level 1.

Corrosion findings greater than level 1 in the wing could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane. The corrective actions include an inspection for corrosion in the wing tank dry bay, and repair if necessary. You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-57-1121, dated October 9, 2002. The actions described in this service information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information provided in the MCAI and related service information.

We might also have proposed different actions in this AD from those in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are highlighted in a NOTE within the proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 103 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 4 work-hours per product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $32,960, or $320 per product.

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 determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed regulation:

1. Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866;

2. Is not a “significant rule” under the 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 proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Safety

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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 AD:

Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2007-0337; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-111-AD.

Comments Due Date

(a) We must receive comments by January 16, 2008.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes, certificated in any category, all certified models, all serial numbers, on which Maintenance Review Board Report (MRBR) zonal tasks ZL-540-02 and ZL-640-02 (for MRBR up to Revision 7) or MRBR zonal task ZL-540-02-1 or ZL-540-02-2 (for MRBR since Revision 8) have already been performed before the effective date of this AD, and for which it cannot be substantiated that access panels 540CZ, 540DZ, 640CZ and 640DZ were removed for inspection. This AD does not apply to the airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(3) of this AD.

(1) Airplanes on which zonal tasks ZL-540-02-1 and ZL-540-02-2 (or ZL-540-02 and ZL-640-02) have been performed in accordance with airplane maintenance manual (AMM) 05-25-40 at August 2001 revision or later revision.

(2) Airplanes on which one of the following Airworthiness Limitation Items (ALI)/MRBR tasks have been performed: 572004-01-X, 572004-03-X; 572020-01-X, 572020-02-X; 572027-01-X, 572027-03-X; 572053-01-X, 572053-02-X; 572060-02-X; or 572061-02-X; where X represents the task applicability index.

(3) Airplanes delivered after March 27, 2007.

Note 1:

Up to MRBR Revision 7, ZL-540-02 covered Zone 540 and ZL-640-02 covered Zone 640. Since MRBR Revision 8, ZL-540-02-1 or ZL-540-02-2 also cover the corresponding RH wing zone (Zone 640).

Subject

(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57: Wings.

Reason

(e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) states:

During planned maintenance visit on two aircraft, corrosion was found on the upper surface of the wing lower skin panel N° 1, inside the Right Hand (RH) inboard dry bay.

It was discovered that access panels 540CZ, 540DZ, 640CZ and 640DZ had been omitted from the access requirements of the associated AMM (aircraft maintenance manual) task (AMM 05-25-40) until the August 2001 revision.

The result is that some ZL-540-02-1 or ZL-540-02-2 (or ZL-540-02 and ZL-640-02) inspections may have not been fully accomplished due to non-removal of panels 540CZ, 540DZ, 640CZ and 640DZ.

If the area has not been inspected with the correct access, and if AIRBUS Service Bulletin (SB) A320-57-1121 has not been performed, then some aircraft could remain insufficiently inspected until the next scheduled inspection. This may result in a high risk of corrosion findings greater than level 1.

Corrosion findings greater than level 1 in the wing could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane. The corrective actions include an inspection for corrosion in the wing tank dry bay, and repair if necessary.

Actions and Compliance

(f) Unless already done, do the following actions. Within 14 months after the effective date of this AD, perform a detailed visual inspection of the wing tank dry bay to detect corrosion and if any corrosion is found, before further flight, contact Airbus for repair instructions and repair. Do all applicable actions in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-57-1121, dated October 9, 2002. Another approved method for doing the detailed inspection and applicable corrective actions is the accomplishment of one of the following ALI/MRBR tasks: 572004-01-X, 572004-03-X; 572020-01-X, 572020-02-X; 572027-01-X, 572027-03-X; 572053-01-X, 572053-02-X; 572060-02-X; or 572061-02-X; and ZL-540-02-X if panels 540CZ, 540DZ, 640CZ, and 640DZ panels have been removed; where X represents the task applicability index.

FAA AD Differences

Note 2:

This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows: No differences.

Other FAA AD Provisions

(g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Tim Dulin, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]. 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.

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service.

(3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056.

Related Information

(h) Refer to MCAI EASA Airworthiness Directive 2007-0064R1, dated September 21, 2007, and Airbus Service Bulletin A320-57-1121, dated October 9, 2002, for related information.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 10, 2007.

Ali Bahrami,

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.