[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 8, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7485-7487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3075]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 94-NM-222-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A310 and A300-600 Series
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Airbus Model A310 and
A300-600 series airplanes. This proposal would require repetitive Tap
Test inspections to detect debonding of the elevator skins, and
corrective actions, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by a report
that a debonded area of the upper skin of an elevator had been
discovered during a visual inspection. The actions specified by the
proposed AD are intended to prevent the presence of water in the
elevator, which could cause debonding of the elevator skins and,
consequently, adversely affect the structural integrity of the
elevator.
DATES: Comments must be received by March 22, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-NM-222-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this
location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Airbus Industrie, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707
Blagnac Cedex, France. [[Page 7486]] This information may be examined
at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Slotte, Aerospace Engineer,
Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206)
227-2797; fax (206) 227-1320.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed 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 above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 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 summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 94-NM-222-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 94-NM-222-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the
airworthiness authority for France, recently notified the FAA that an
unsafe condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A310 and A300-600
series airplanes. The DGAC advises that it has received a report
indicating that a debonded area was discovered on the upper skin of the
elevator on one airplane during a routine visual inspection. When the
external skin was cut to perform a repair of the debonded area, water
was discovered in the elevator. The presence of water in carbon fiber
elevators can cause debonding of the elevator skins. This condition, if
not corrected, could result in degradation of the structural integrity
of the elevator by causing stiffness of the elevator and by adversely
affecting the capability of the elevator to transfer loads.
Airbus has issued Service Bulletins A310-55-2016 (for Model A310
series airplanes) and A300-55-6014 (for Model A300-600 series
airplanes), both dated September 10, 1993, which describe procedures
for repetitive thermographic inspections to detect water in the
elevator. These service bulletins also provide procedures to protect
and repair debonded areas of the elevator. The DGAC classified both
service bulletins as mandatory and issued French airworthiness
directive CN 94-184-157(B), dated September 14, 1994, in order to
assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France.
The French airworthiness directive also mandates the accomplishment
of repetitive Tap Test inspections to detect disbonding of the elevator
skins. Procedures for performing these Tap Test inspections are
described in Airbus Model A310 and A300-600 Nondestructive Testing
Manuals (NTM).
This airplane model is manufactured in France and is type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed
of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of
the DGAC, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD
action is necessary for products of this type design that are
certificated for operation in the United States.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design registered
in the United States, the proposed AD would require repetitive Tap Test
inspections to detect debonding of the elevator skins, and corrective
actions, if necessary. These actions would be required to be
accomplished in accordance with the NTM.
Additionally, this proposal also would require repetitive
thermographic inspections of the elevator to detect trapped water if
certain amounts of debonding are detected. These inspections, and
necessary repair, would be required to be accomplished in accordance
with the Airbus service bulletins described previously.
As a result of recent communications with the Air Transport
Association (ATA) of America, the FAA has learned that, in general,
some operators may misunderstand the legal effect of AD's on airplanes
that are identified in the applicability provision of the AD, but that
have been altered or repaired in the area addressed by the AD. The FAA
points out that all airplanes identified in the applicability provision
of an AD are legally subject to the AD. If an airplane has been altered
or repaired in the affected area in such a way as to affect compliance
with the AD, the owner or operator is required to obtain FAA approval
for an alternative method of compliance with the AD, in accordance with
the paragraph of each AD that provides for such approvals. A note has
been included in this notice to clarify this.
This proposed AD also would require that certain water-affected
areas be repaired in accordance with a method approved by the FAA.
Accomplishment of a thermographic inspection and correction of any
discrepancy, would terminate the repetitive Tap Test inspections, but
would continue to require repetitive thermographic inspections.
The FAA estimates that 15 airplanes of U.S. registry would be
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 5 work
hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the
total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to
be $4,500, or $300 per airplane, per inspection cycle.
The total cost impact figure discussed above is based on
assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed
requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish
those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.
The regulations proposed herein would 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
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment. [[Page 7487]]
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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) if promulgated, 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 copy of the draft
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.
39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Airbus: Docket 94-NM-222-AD.
Applicability: Model A310 and A300-600 series airplanes on which
Airbus Modification 4805 has been installed, 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 (g) 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 presence of water in the elevator, which could
cause debonding of the elevator skins and, consequently, could
affect the structural integrity of the elevator, accomplish the
following:
(a) Perform a Tap Test inspection to detect debonding of the
elevator skins, in accordance with the procedures described in the
Airbus Model A300-600 or A310 Nondestructive Test Manual (NTM), as
applicable, at the later of the times specified in paragraphs (a)(1)
and (a)(2) of this AD.
(1) Prior to the accumulation of 5,000 total landings on the
elevator, or within 5 years after the first landing on the elevator,
whichever occurs later. Or
(2) Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD.
(b) If no debonding is detected, repeat the Tap Test inspection
required by paragraph (a) of this AD thereafter at intervals not to
exceed 500 landings or 3 months, whichever occurs first.
(c) If debonding is detected, the largest debonded area is
smaller than 400 cm2, and the distance between two debonded
areas is equal to or greater than 2.5 times the diameter of the
largest defect: Repeat the Tap Test inspection required by paragraph
(a) of this AD thereafter at intervals not to exceed 250 landings or
every 3 months, whichever occurs first.
(d) If the debonding detected is 400 cm2 or larger, prior
to further flight, perform a thermographic inspection to detect
water in the elevator, in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin
A310-55-2016 (for Model A310 series airplanes) or Airbus Service
Bulletin A300-55-6014 (for Model A300-600 series airplanes), both
dated December 1, 1990, as applicable. Prior to further flight,
correct any discrepancy in accordance with the applicable service
bulletin. Repeat the thermographic inspections thereafter at
intervals not to exceed 4,500 landings, or every five years,
whichever occurs first, in accordance with the applicable service
bulletin.
(e) If any water-affected area detected during any inspection
required by this AD is greater than 40,000 sq. mm. in size, prior to
further flight, repair in accordance with a method approved by the
Manager, Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate.
(f) Accomplishment of the thermographic inspections, as
specified in paragraph (d) of this AD, constitutes terminating
action for the repetitive tap test inspections required by paragraph
(a) of this AD.
(g) 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, Standardization Branch, ANM-113.
Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send
it to the Manager, Standardization Branch, ANM-113.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.
(h) 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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 2, 1995.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-3075 Filed 2-7-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
