[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 26 (Monday, February 9, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5926-5928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2572]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-NM-303-AD; Amendment 39-13454; AD 2004-03-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and 
F4-600R (Collectively Called A300-600) Series Airplanes; and Model A310 
Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to all Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R 
(collectively called A300-600) series airplanes; and Model A310 series 
airplanes. This AD requires revising the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) 
to provide the flight crew with procedures to maintain controllability 
of the airplane in the event of an in-flight deployment of the thrust 
reverser. This action is necessary to ensure that the flight crew is 
advised of the potential hazard associated with an in-flight deployment 
of the thrust reverser, and the procedures necessary to address it. 
This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Effective March 15, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Information pertaining to this amendment may be examined at 
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane 
Directorate, Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to all Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-
600R, and F4-600R (collectively called A300-600) series airplanes; and 
Model A310 series airplanes; was published in the Federal Register on 
August 9, 2002 (67 FR 51787). That action proposed to require revising 
the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to provide the flight crew with 
procedures to maintain controllability of the airplane in the event of 
an in-flight deployment of the thrust reverser.

[[Page 5927]]

Comments

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the single comment received.

Request To Clarify What AFM Section Must Be Revised

    One commenter requests that the FAA clarify what section of the AFM 
must be revised. The commenter notes that the ``Explanation of 
Requirements of Proposed Rule'' section of the Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) states, ``the proposed AD would require revising the 
Limitations and Procedures section of the AFM.'' The commenter notes 
that the body of the AD does not specify to revise the Limitations 
section of the AFM.
    We agree that the reference in the ``Explanation of Requirements of 
Proposed Rule'' section of the NPRM is incorrect. That section is not 
restated in this final rule; thus, no change is necessary in this 
regard.

Explanation of Change to Final Rule

    We recognize that the provisions of the AFM revision required by 
this AD may already have been incorporated into the AFM of affected 
airplanes through a general revision of the AFM. Thus, we have added a 
new Note 1 to this final rule (and reidentified subsequent notes 
accordingly) to state that, when a ``ENG REV UNLK'' procedure identical 
to that in paragraph (a) of this AD has been included in the general 
revisions of the AFM, inserting the general revisions into the AFM is 
acceptable for compliance with this AD.

Conclusion

    After careful review of the available data, including the comment 
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public 
interest require the adoption of the rule with the change described 
previously. The FAA has determined that this change will neither 
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of 
the AD.

Changes to 14 CFR Part 39/Effect on the AD

    On July 10, 2002, the FAA issued a new version of 14 CFR part 39 
(67 FR 47997, July 22, 2002), which governs the FAA's airworthiness 
directives system. The regulation now includes material that relates to 
altered products, special flight permits, and alternative methods of 
compliance. However, for clarity and consistency in this final rule, we 
have retained the language of the NPRM regarding that material.

Explanation of Change to Cost Impact

    After the proposed AD was issued, we reviewed the figures we use to 
calculate the labor rate to do the required actions. To account for 
various inflationary costs in the airline industry, we find it 
appropriate to increase the labor rate used in these calculations from 
$60 per work hour to $65 per work hour. The economic impact 
information, below, has been revised to reflect this increase in the 
specified hourly labor rate.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 128 airplanes of U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 1 work hour per 
airplane to accomplish the proposed AFM revision, and that the average 
labor rate is $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost 
impact of this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $8,320, or $65 
per airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this AD 
action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the 
future if this AD were not adopted. The cost impact figures discussed 
in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to perform 
the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures 
typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to 
gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other 
administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from 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.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

0
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2004-03-10 Airbus: Amendment 39-13454. Docket 2001-NM-303-AD.

    Applicability: All Model A300 B4-600, A300 B4-600R, and F4-600R 
(collectively called A300-600) series airplanes; and all Model A310 
series airplanes; certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To ensure that the flight crew is advised of the potential 
hazard associated with an in-flight deployment of the thrust 
reverser, and the procedures necessary to address it, accomplish the 
following:

Revisions to the Airplane Flight Manual

    (a) Within 60 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Procedures Following Failures section of the Airplane Flight 
Manual (AFM) to include the ``ENG REV UNLK'' procedure contained in 
this paragraph of this AD. This may be accomplished by inserting a 
copy of this AD into the AFM.
    ``For airplanes fitted with ECAM SGU standard W23 or above:

ENG REV UNLK (MOD 10264 or MOD 10908 or 11318)

 
  --THROTTLE.............................  IDLE
  --MAX SPEED............................  300 KT
IF BUFFET OR BANK:
  --FUEL LEVER...........................  OFF
  --MAX SPEED............................  240 KT
  --Approach Speed: 1.3 Vs of selected
   landing configuration plus 10 kt. For
   airplanes fitted with ECAM SGU
   standard earlier than W23:
                              ENG REV UNLK
  --THROTTLE.............................  IDLE (memory item)
  --MAX SPEED............................  300 KT (memory item)
IF BUFFET OR BANK:
  --FUEL LEVER...........................  OFF
  --MAX SPEED............................  240 KT
  --Approach Speed: 1.3 Vs of selected
   landing configuration plus 10 kt.''
 


    Note 1: When an ``ENG REV UNLK'' procedure identical to that in 
paragraph (a)

[[Page 5928]]

of this AD has been included in the general revisions of the AFM, 
the general revisions may be inserted into the AFM, and the copy of 
this AD may be removed from the AFM.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (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, International Branch, ANM-116, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA. Operators shall submit their 
requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, 
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, International 
Branch, ANM-116.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116.

Special Flight Permits

    (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.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in French 
airworthiness directive 2001-186(B), dated May 16, 2001.

Effective Date

    (d) This amendment becomes effective on March 15, 2004.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 29, 2004.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-2572 Filed 2-6-04; 8:45 am]
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