8610 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 31 / Tuesday, February 15, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–0040; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–NM–185–AD; Amendment 

39–16606; AD 2011–04–06] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model 

A340–200, –300, –500, and –600 Series 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for the 

products listed above. This 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: 

* * * * * 

The airworthiness limitations applicable to 

Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation 

Items (DT ALI) are currently given in Airbus 

A340 ALI Document reference AI/SE–M4/ 

95A.0051/97, which is approved by the 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 

and referenced in Airbus Airworthiness 

Limitations Section (ALS) Part 2. 

The issue 11 of Airbus A340 ALI 

Document introduces more restrictive 

maintenance requirements/airworthiness 

limitations. Failure to comply with this issue 

11 constitutes an unsafe condition. 

This new [EASA] AD retains the 

requirements of EASA AD 2007–0158, which 

is superseded, and requires the 

implementation of the more restrictive 

maintenance requirements/airworthiness 

limitations as specified in Airbus A340 ALI 

Document AI/SE–M4/95A.0051/97 issue 11. 

The unsafe condition is fatigue cracking, 

damage, and corrosion in certain 

structure, which could result in reduced 

structural integrity of the airplane. This 

AD requires actions that are intended to 

address the unsafe condition described 

in the MCAI. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective 

March 2, 2011. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in the AD 

as of March 2, 2011. 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by April 1, 2011. 

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: (202) 493–2251. 

• 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 AD, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

the Docket Operations office (telephone 

(800) 647–5527) is in the ADDRESSES

section. Comments will be available in 

the AD docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 227–1138; fax (425) 227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the aviation authority 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, has issued EASA 

Airworthiness Directive 2010–0036, 

dated March 8, 2010 (referred to after 

this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe 

condition for the specified products. 

The MCAI states: 

The airworthiness limitations are currently 

included in Airbus A340 Airworthiness 

Limitations Section (ALS). 

The airworthiness limitations applicable to 

Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation 

Items (DT ALI) are currently given in Airbus 

A340 ALI Document reference AI/SE–M4/ 

95A.0051/97, which is approved by the 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 

and referenced in Airbus Airworthiness 

Limitations Section (ALS) Part 2. 

The issue 11 of Airbus A340 ALI 

Document introduces more restrictive 

maintenance requirements/airworthiness 

limitations. Failure to comply with this issue 

11 constitutes an unsafe condition. 

This new [EASA] AD retains the 

requirements of EASA AD 2007–0158, which 

is superseded, and requires the 

implementation of the more restrictive 

maintenance requirements/airworthiness 

limitations as specified in Airbus A340 ALI 

Document AI/SE–M4/95A.0051/97 issue 11. 

The unsafe condition is fatigue cracking, 

damage, and corrosion in certain 

structure, which could result in reduced 

structural integrity of the airplane. You 

may obtain further information by 

examining the MCAI in the AD docket. 

Relevant Service Information 

Airbus has issued A340 

Airworthiness Limitation Items, 

Document AI/SE–M4/95A.0051/97, 

Issue 11, dated February 20, 2009. This 

document provides the mandatory time 

for maintenance tasks, structural 

inspection intervals, and related 

structural inspection procedures. 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 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 issuing this 

AD because we evaluated all pertinent 

information and determined the unsafe 

condition exists and is likely to exist or 

develop on other products of the same 

type design. 

There are no products of this type 

currently registered in the United States. 

However, this rule is necessary to 

ensure that the described unsafe 

condition is addressed if any of these 

products are placed on the U.S. Register 

in the future. 

Differences Between the 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 required 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 AD. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 31 / Tuesday, February 15, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 8611 

FAA’s Determination of the Effective 

Date 

Since there are currently no domestic 

operators of this product, notice and 

opportunity for public comment before 

issuing this AD are unnecessary. 

Comments Invited 

This AD is a final rule that involves 

requirements affecting flight safety, and 

we did not precede it by notice and 

opportunity for public comment. We 

invite you to send any written relevant 

data, views, or arguments about this AD. 

Send your comments to an address 

listed under the ADDRESSES section. 

Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA–2011–0040; 

Directorate Identifier 2010–NM–185– 

AD’’ at the beginning of your comments. 

We specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

this AD. We will consider all comments 

received by the closing date and may 

amend this AD because of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this AD. 

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 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 this AD: 

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 AD and placed it in the AD docket. 

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 AD: 

2011–04–06 Airbus: Amendment 39–16606. 

Docket No. FAA–2011–0040; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–NM–185–AD. 

Effective Date 

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) 

becomes effective March 2, 2011. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A340– 

211, –212, and –213 airplanes; A340–311, 

–312, and –313 airplanes; A340–541 

airplanes; and A340–642 airplanes; 

certificated in any category; all manufacturer 

serial numbers. 

Note 1: This AD requires revisions to 

certain operator maintenance documents to 

include new inspections. Compliance with 

these inspections is required by 14 CFR 

91.403(c). For airplanes that have been 

previously modified, altered, or repaired in 

the areas addressed by these inspections, the 

operator may not be able to accomplish the 

inspections described in the revisions. In this 

situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), 

the operator must request approval for an 

alternative method of compliance according 

to paragraph (i)(1) of this AD. The request 

should include a description of changes to 

the required inspections that will ensure the 

continued operational safety of the airplane. 

Subject 

(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 05. 

Reason 

(e) The mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI) European 

Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2009– 

0192 states: 

The airworthiness limitations are currently 

included in Airbus A340 Airworthiness 

Limitations Section (ALS). 

The airworthiness limitations applicable to 

Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation 

Items (DT ALI) are currently given in Airbus 

A340 ALI Document reference AI/SE–M4/ 

95A.0051/97, which is approved by the 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 

and referenced in Airbus Airworthiness 

Limitations Section (ALS) Part 2. 

The issue 11 of Airbus A340 ALI 

Document introduces more restrictive 

maintenance requirements/airworthiness 

limitations. Failure to comply with this issue 

11 constitutes an unsafe condition. 

This new [EASA] AD retains the 

requirements of EASA AD 2007–0158, which 

is superseded, and requires the 

implementation of the more restrictive 

maintenance requirements/airworthiness 

limitations as specified in Airbus A340 ALI 

Document AI/SE–M4/95A.0051/97 issue 11. 

The unsafe condition is fatigue cracking, 

damage, and corrosion in certain structure, 

which could result in reduced structural 

integrity of the airplane. 

Compliance 

(f) You are responsible for having the 

actions required by this AD performed within 

the compliance times specified, unless the 

actions have already been done. 

Revise the Maintenance Program 

(g) Within 3 months after the effective date 

of this AD: Revise the maintenance program 

by incorporating Airbus A340 Airworthiness 

Limitation Items (ALI), Document AI/SE–M4/ 

95A.0051/97, Issue 11, dated February 20, 

2009. At the times specified in Section 2 of 

Airbus A340 ALI Document AI/SE–M4/ 

95A.0051/97, Issue 11, dated February 20, 

2009, comply with all applicable 

maintenance requirements and associated 

airworthiness limitations included in Airbus 

A340 ALI Document AI/SE–M4/95A.0051/ 

97, Issue 11, dated February 20, 2009. 

Alternative Intervals or Limits 

(h) Except as provided by paragraph (i)(1) 

of this AD, after accomplishing the actions 

specified in paragraph (g) of this AD, no 

alternatives to the maintenance tasks, 

intervals, or limitations specified in 

paragraph (g) of this AD may be used. 

FAA AD Differences 

Note 2: This AD differs from the MCAI 

and/or service information as follows: No 

differences. 

Other FAA AD Provisions 

(i) The following provisions also apply to 

this AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 


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8612 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 31 / Tuesday, February 15, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 

Branch, ANM–116, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 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: Vladimir 

Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, International 

Branch, ANM–116, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 

Renton, Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 227–1138; fax (425) 227–1149. Before 

using any approved AMOC on any airplane 

to which the AMOC applies, notify your 

appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a 

principal inspector, the manager of the local 

flight standards district office/certificate 

holding district office. The AMOC approval 

letter must specifically reference this AD. 

(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. 

Related Information 

(j) Refer to MCAI EASA Airworthiness 

Directive 2010–0036, dated March 8, 2010; 

and Airbus A340 ALI, Document AI/SE–M4/ 

95A.0051/97, Issue 11, dated February 20, 

2009; for related information. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(k) You must use the service information 

contained in Airbus A340 Airworthiness 

Limitation Items, Document AI/SE–M4/ 

95A.0051/97, Issue 11, dated February 20, 

2009; to do the actions required by this AD, 

unless the AD specifies otherwise. Airbus 

Document AI/SE–M4/95A.0051/97 contains 

the following list of effective pages: 

Page title/description Page No.(s) Issue No. Date shown on page(s) 

Title Page ......................................................................... None shown ........................ 11 ........................................ February 20, 2009. 

Table of Contents ............................................................. 1–TOC ................................ None shown* ...................... February 20, 2009. 

Record of Revisions ......................................................... 1–ROR—4–ROR ................ None shown* ...................... February 20, 2009. 

Introduction ....................................................................... 1–9 ...................................... None shown* ...................... February 20, 2009. 

Airworthiness Limitations: 

Section 2–1 —A340–200/300 Airworthiness Limitations.1–102 .................................. 11 ........................................ February 2009. 

Section 2–2 —A340–500/600 Airworthiness Limitations.1–67 .................................... 11 ........................................ February 2009. 

Appendix A—Summary of Changes ................................ APXA–1 –APXA–13 ............ None shown* ...................... February 20, 2009. 

Appendix B—Abbreviations .............................................. APXB–1 .............................. None shown* ...................... February 20, 2009. 

Appendix C—Terms and Definitions ................................ APXC–1 .............................. None shown* ...................... February 20, 2009. 

(*The issue number is indicated only on the title page and Airworthiness Limitations pages of this document.) 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference of 

this service information under 5 U.S.C. 

552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus SAS—Airworthiness 

Office—EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 

31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 

5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; e-mail 

airworthiness.A330-A340@airbus.com; 

Internet http://www.airbus.com. 

(3) You may review copies of the service 

information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

425–227–1221. 

(4) You may also review copies of the 

service information that is incorporated by 

reference at the National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of this 

material at NARA, call 202–741–6030, or go 

to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/

code_of_federal_regulations/

ibr_locations.html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 

3, 2011. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–3065 Filed 2–14–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–0039; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–NM–184–AD; Amendment 

39–16605; AD 2011–04–05] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model 

A340–200, –300, –500, and –600 Series 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for the 

products listed above. This 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 (European Aviation 

Safety Agency AD 2009–0192) describes 

the unsafe condition as: 

Performing some quality tests on material, 

Airbus found that some 300M steel forgings 

used to manufacture certain landing gear 

components were below specification limits. 

Adapted airworthiness limitations were 

introduced in Airbus A340 Airworthiness 

Limitations Section (ALS) Part 1 ‘‘Safe Life 

Airworthiness Limitation Items (SL ALI)’’ for 

different source route codes. 

* * * * * 

This [EASA] AD introduces more 

restrictive life limitations for several landing 

gear components. 

The MCAI (EASA AD 2010–0131) 

describes the unsafe condition as: 

* * * * * 

The revision 04 of Airbus A330 and A340 

ALS Part 1 introduces more restrictive 

maintenance requirements and/or 

airworthiness limitations as specified in 

Airbus A330 and A340 ALS Part 1 revision 

04. 

The unsafe condition is failure of 

certain life-limited parts, which could 

result in reduced structural integrity of 

the airplane. This AD requires actions 

that are intended to address the unsafe 

condition described in the MCAI. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective 

March 2, 2011. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in the AD 

as of March 2, 2011. 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by April 1, 2011. 

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: (202) 493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 


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