Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 197 / Wednesday, October 13, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 60801

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

September 29, 2004. 

Kalene C. Yanamura, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 04–22470 Filed 10–12–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2004–18602; Directorate 

Identifier 2003–NM–160–AD; Amendment 

39–13816; AD 2004–20–11] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model 

A300 B2 and B4 Series Airplanes; and 

Model A300 B4–600, B4–600R, and F4–

600R Series Airplanes, and Model C4–

605R Variant F Airplanes (Collectively 

Called A300–600)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Airbus Model A300 B2 and B4 series 

airplanes; and certain Airbus Model 

A300 B4–600, B4–600R, and F4–600R 

series airplanes; and Model C4–605R 

Variant F airplanes (collectively called 

A300–600). This AD requires an 

inspection of the skin panels of the wing 

slats for damage and certain repairs, and 

applicable related investigative/

corrective actions if necessary. This AD 

is prompted by the results of an 

engineering evaluation that revealed 

that several repairs and some allowable 

damage limits specified in the structural 

repair manuals do not provide adequate 

static and/or fatigue strength for 

repaired wing slats. We are issuing this 

AD to find and fix previously done 

repairs of the wing slats that have 

inadequate static and/or fatigue 

strength, which, if not corrected, could 

result in loss of the slats and consequent 

reduced controllability of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective 

November 17, 2004. 

The incorporation by reference of 

certain publications listed in the AD is 

approved by the Director of the Federal 

Register as of November 17, 2004.

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Airbus, 1 

Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 

Blagnac Cedex, France. You can 

examine this information 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.

You can examine the contents of this 

AD docket on the Internet at http://

dms.dot.gov, or at the Docket 

Management Facility, U.S. Department 

of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, 

SW., room PL–401, on the plaza level of 

the Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Technical information: Tim Backman, 

Aerospace Engineer, International 

Branch, ANM–116, FAA, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–2797; 

fax (425) 227–1149. 

Plain language information: Marcia 

Walters, marcia.walters@faa.gov.

Examining the Docket 

The AD docket contains the proposed 

AD, comments, and any final 

disposition. You can examine the AD 

docket on the Internet at http://

dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket 

Management Facility office between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. The 

Docket Management Facility office 

(telephone (800) 647–5227) is located on 

the plaza level of the Nassif Building at 

the DOT street address stated in the 

ADDRESSES section.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA 

proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 with 

an AD for all Airbus Model A300 B2 

and B4 series airplanes; and certain 

Airbus Model A300 B4–600, B4–600R, 

C4–605R Variant F, and F4–600R 

(collectively called A300–600) series 

airplanes. The proposed AD was 

published in the Federal Register on 

July 15, 2004 (69 FR 42368), to require 

an inspection of the skin panels of the 

wing slats for damage and certain 

repairs, and applicable related 

investigative/corrective actions if 

necessary. 

Comments 

We provided the public the 

opportunity to participate in the 

development of this AD. No comments 

have been submitted on the proposed 

AD or on the determination of the cost 

to the public. 

Conclusion 

We have carefully reviewed the 

available data and determined that air 

safety and the public interest require 

adopting the AD as proposed. 

Explanation of Change to Applicability 

We have revised the applicability of 

the existing AD to identify model 

designations as published in the most 

recent type certificate data sheet for the 

affected models. 

Costs of Compliance 

This AD will affect about 120 

airplanes of U.S. registry. The actions 

will take about 3 work hours per 

airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 

per work hour. Based on these figures, 

the estimated cost of the AD for U.S. 

operators is $23,400, or $195 per 

airplane. 

Regulatory Findings 

We have 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 that this AD: 

(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. 

We prepared a regulatory evaluation 

of the estimated costs to comply with 

this AD. See the ADDRESSES section for 

a location to examine the regulatory 

evaluation.

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 airworthiness 

directive:

60802 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 197 / Wednesday, October 13, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 

2004–20–11 Airbus: Amendment 39–13816. 

Docket No. FAA–2004–18602; 

Directorate Identifier 2003–NM–160–AD. 

Effective Date 

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) 

becomes effective November 17, 2004.

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to all airplanes, 

certificated in any category, as identified in 

in Table 1 of this AD.

TABLE 1.—APPLICABILITY

Model Serial nos. 

A300 B2 and B4 series airplanes.All. 

A300 B4–600, B4–600R, 

and F4–600R series airplanes, and Model C4–

605R Variant F airplanes 

(collectively called A300–

600).

796 and earlier. 

Unsafe Condition 

(d) This AD was prompted by the results 

of an engineering evaluation that revealed 

that several repairs and some allowable 

damage limits specified in the structural 

repair manuals do not provide adequate 

static and/or fatigue strength for repaired 

wing slats. We are issuing this AD to find and 

fix previously done repairs of the wing slats 

that have inadequate static and/or fatigue 

strength, which, if not corrected, could result 

in loss of the slats and consequent reduced 

controllability of the airplane. 

Compliance 

(e) You are responsible for having the 

actions required by this AD performed within 

the compliance times specified, unless the 

actions have already been done. 

Service Bulletins 

(f) The term ‘‘service bulletin,’’ as used in 

this AD, means the Accomplishment 

Instructions of the applicable service bulletin 

listed in Table 2 of this AD.

TABLE 2.—SERVICE BULLETINS

For model Airbus service bulletin 

(1) A300 B4–600, B4–600R, and F4–600R series airplanes, and Model 

C4–605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called A300–600).

A300–57–6092, Revision 02, dated November 21, 2002. 

(2) A300 B2 and B4 series airplanes ....................................................... A300–57–0238, Revision 02, dated November 21, 2002. 

Inspection and Related Investigative/

Corrective Actions 

(g) Within 18 months or 1,500 flight cycles 

from the effective date of this AD, whichever 

occurs first: Do a detailed inspection of the 

skin panels of the wing slats for damage and 

certain repairs, and do all applicable related 

investigative/corrective actions, by 

accomplishing all the actions in the 

applicable service bulletin. Do the actions in 

accordance with the service bulletin, except 

as required by paragraphs (h) and (i) of this 

AD. Do any related investigative/corrective 

action before further flight.

Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a 

detailed inspection is ‘‘an intensive visual 

examination of a specific structural area, 

system, installation, or assembly to detect 

damage, failure, or irregularity. Available 

lighting is normally supplemented with a 

direct source of good lighting at intensity 

deemed appropriate by the inspector. 

Inspection aids such as mirror, magnifying 

lenses, etc., may be used. Surface cleaning 

and elaborate access procedures may be 

required.’’

Repair 

(h) If any damage is detected during the 

inspection required by paragraph (g) of this 

AD, and the service bulletin recommends 

contacting Airbus for appropriate action: 

Before further flight, repair in accordance 

with a method approved by either the 

Manager, International Branch, ANM–116, 

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate; or the 

Direction Ge ́ne ́rale de l’Aviation Civile 

(DGAC) (or its delegated agent). 

(i) If any repair that has a specific Airbus 

approval other than a Repair Approval Sheet 

signed by the DGAC (or its delegated agent) 

is found during the inspection required by 

paragraph (g) of this AD, and the service 

bulletin specifies that the related 

investigative action is not necessary: Before 

further flight, do the applicable related 

investigative/corrective actions required by 

paragraph (g) of this AD. 

(j) Where there are differences between this 

AD and the service bulletin, the AD prevails. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(k) The Manager, International Branch, 

ANM–116, has the authority to approve 

AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 

procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

Related Information 

(l) French airworthiness directive 2003–

086(B), effective March 15, 2003, also 

addresses the subject of this AD. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(m) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin 

A300–57–0238, Revision 02, dated November 

21, 2002; or Airbus Service Bulletin A300–

57–6092, Revision 02, dated November 21, 

2002; as applicable; unless the AD specifies 

otherwise. The Director of the Federal 

Register approves the incorporation by 

reference of these documents in accordance 

with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For 

copies of the service information, contact 

Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 

31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA), call (202) 

741–6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/

federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/

ibr_locations.html. You may view the AD 

docket at the Docket Management Facility, 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street SW., room PL–401, Nassif 

Building, Washington, DC.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

September 29, 2004. 

Kalene C. Yanamura, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 04–22469 Filed 10–12–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. 2003–NM–85–AD; Amendment 

39–13818; AD 2004–20–13] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Empresa 

Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. 

(EMBRAER) Model EMB–135 and 

EMB–145 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a 

new airworthiness directive (AD), 

applicable to certain EMBRAER Model 

EMB–135 and EMB–145 series 

airplanes, that requires inspection of the 

housings of the main landing gear 

(MLG) leg strut bushings, and related 

investigative and corrective actions, and 

other specified actions. The actions 

specified by this AD are intended to 

prevent corrosion of the housings of the 

MLG leg strut bushings and consequent 

failure of the MLG. This action is