[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 6, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8896-8897]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5222]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 95-NM-198-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A320-111, -211, -212, and
-231 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 A320-111, -
211, -212, and -231 series airplanes. This proposal would require
removing the existing forward pintle nut and cross bolt on the main
landing gear (MLG), and installing a new nylon spacer and cross bolt
and nut. This proposal is prompted by results of fatigue testing which
revealed that the cross bolt and nut in the forward pintle pin of the
MLG were damaged due to fatigue cracking. The actions specified by the
proposed AD are intended to prevent such fatigue cracking, which could
result in collapse of the MLG.
DATES: Comments must be received by April 12, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-NM-198-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. This information may be examined at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Backman, Aerospace Engineer,
Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206)
227-2797; fax (206) 227-1149.
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 95-NM-198-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. 95-NM-198-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 A320 series
airplanes. The DGAC advises that during fatigue tests on an Airbus
Model A320 test article, the cross bolt and nut in the forward pintle
pin of the main landing gear (MLG) were found to be damaged due to
fatigue cracking. Such fatigue cracking, if not detected and corrected
in a timely manner, could result in collapse of the MLG.
Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-32-1119, Revision 1, dated
June 13, 1994, which describes procedures for removing the existing
forward pintle nut and cross bolt on the MLG, and installing a new
nylon spacer and cross bolt and nut. The new nylon spacer will absorb
deflections and reduce the loads on the cross bolt and the nut.
Additionally, the cross bolt is longer than the existing cross bolt to
accommodate the addition of the nylon spacer. (The Airbus service
bulletin references Dowty Aerospace Service Bulletin 200-32-194,
Revision 1, dated October 4, 1993, as an additional source of service
information for accomplishment of these procedures.) The DGAC
classified the service bulletin as mandatory and issued French
airworthiness directive 94-057-052 (B), dated March 16, 1994, in order
to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France. -
These airplane models are manufactured in France and are 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, the
proposed AD would require removing the existing forward pintle nut and
cross bolt on the MLG; and installing a new nylon spacer and cross bolt
and nut. The actions would be required to be accomplished in accordance
with the Airbus service bulletin described previously. -
The FAA estimates that 90 airplanes of U.S. registry would be
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 work
hour per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts will be
supplied by the parts manufacturer at no cost to the operators. Based
on these figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators
is estimated to be $5,400, or $60 per airplane. -
The 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
[[Page 8897]]
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. -
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 USC 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended] -
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Airbus: Docket 95-NM-198-AD.
-Applicability: Model A320-111, -211, -212, and -231 series
airplanes, on which Airbus Modification 23573 (Airbus Service
Bulletin A320-32-1119, Revision 1, dated June 13, 1994), has not
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 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 collapse of the main landing gear (MLG) during
landing, due to failure of the forward pintle pin cross bolt,
accomplish the following: -
(a) Remove the existing forward pintle nut and cross bolt; and
install a new nylon spacer and post-mod cross bolt and nut of the
MLG, in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1119,
Revision 1, dated June 13, 1994, at the later of the times specified
in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this AD. -
(1) Prior to the accumulation of 20,000 total landings, or at
the next main landing gear overhaul, whichever occurs first. -
(2) Within 500 landings after the effective date of this AD.
Note 2: The Airbus service bulletin references Dowty Aerospace
Service Bulletin 200-32-194, Revision 1, dated October 4, 1993, as
an additional source of service information for accomplishment of
these procedures.
(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, Standardization Branch, ANM-113,
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,
Standardization Branch, ANM-113.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.
(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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 27, 1996.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-5222 Filed 3-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
