Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 236 / Thursday, December 9, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 71351

Corrective Action 

(h) If any crack or fracture is found during 

any inspection required by this AD, and the 

bulletin specifies contacting Boeing for 

appropriate action: Before further flight, 

repair the crack or fracture according to a 

method approved by the Manager, Seattle 

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA; or 

per data meeting the type certification basis 

of the airplane approved by a Boeing 

Company Designated Engineering 

Representative (DER) who has been 

authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to 

make those findings. For a repair method to 

be approved, the approval must specifically 

reference this AD. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(i)(1) The Manager, Seattle ACO, FAA, has 

the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, 

if requested in accordance with the 

procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

(2) An AMOC that provides an acceptable 

level of safety may be used for any repair 

required by this AD, if it is approved by a 

Boeing Company DER who has been 

authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to 

make those findings. For a repair method to 

be approved, the approval must specifically 

refer to this AD. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(j) You must use Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 747–54A2224, dated September 30, 

2004, to perform the actions that are required 

by this AD, unless the AD specifies 

otherwise. The Director of the Federal 

Register approves the incorporation by 

reference of this document in accordance 

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

copies of the service information, contact 

Boeing Commercial Airplanes, PO Box 3707, 

Seattle, Washington 98124–2207. You can 

review copies at the Docket Management 

Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 

400 Seventh Street SW., room PL–401, Nassif 

Building, Washington, DC; or 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 

November 30, 2004. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 04–26793 Filed 12–8–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2004–19816; Directorate 

Identifier 2004–NM–231–AD; Amendment 

39–13895; AD 2004–25–07] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model 

A330 and A340 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Airbus Model A330 and A340 series 

airplanes. This AD requires regularly 

performing a complete electrical 

shutdown of the airplane to reset the 

integrated standby instrument system 

(ISIS). This AD also provides an 

optional terminating action. This AD is 

prompted by reports indicating that an 

airplane lost the ISIS, then, during the 

same flight, lost all electronic 

instrument system (EIS) display units. 

We are issuing this AD to prevent loss 

of the ISIS, which, if combined with 

loss of all EIS display units, could 

reduce the flightcrew’s situational 

awareness and contribute to loss of 

control of the airplane or impact with 

obstacles or terrain.

DATES: Effective December 27, 2004. 

The incorporation by reference of 

certain publications listed in the AD is 

approved by the Director of the Federal 

Register as of December 27, 2004. 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by February 7, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to submit comments on this 

AD. 

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to http:/

/dms.dot.gov and follow the instructions 

for sending your comments 

electronically. 

• Government-wide rulemaking Web 

site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov

and follow the instructions for sending 

your comments electronically. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility; 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, 

room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on 

the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 

400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

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 in person 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. 

This docket number is FAA–2004–

19816; the directorate identifier for this 

docket is 2004–NM–231–AD. 

Docket Management System (DMS) 

The FAA has implemented new 

procedures for maintaining AD dockets 

electronically. As of May 17, 2004, new 

AD actions are posted on DMS and 

assigned a docket number. We track 

each action and assign a corresponding 

directorate identifier. The DMS AD 

docket number is in the form ‘‘Docket 

No. FAA–2004–99999.’’ The Transport 

Airplane Directorate identifier is in the 

form ‘‘Directorate Identifier 2004–NM–

999–AD.’’ Each DMS AD docket also 

lists the directorate identifier (‘‘Old 

Docket Number’’) as a cross-reference 

for searching purposes. 

Examining the Docket 

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. Comments will be available in 

the AD docket shortly after the DMS 

receives them.

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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Direction Generale de l’Aviation Civile 

(DGAC), which is the airworthiness 

authority for France, notified the FAA 

that an unsafe condition may exist on 

certain Airbus Model A330 and A340 

71352 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 236 / Thursday, December 9, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 

series airplanes. The DGAC advises that 

an Airbus Model A340 series airplane 

lost the integrated standby instrument 

system (ISIS). During the same flight, all 

electronic instrument system (EIS) 

display units were also lost. 

Investigation revealed that the ISIS 

failure is caused by a time-counter fault 

that occurs after 145 hours of 

continuous power supply to the ISIS. 

Loss of the ISIS, if combined with loss 

of all EIS display units, could reduce 

the flightcrew’s situational awareness 

and contribute to loss of control of the 

airplane or impact with obstacles or 

terrain.

The subject ISIS on certain Airbus 

Model A340 series airplanes is also 

installed on certain Airbus Model A330 

series airplanes. Therefore, airplanes of 

both of these models may be subject to 

the identified unsafe condition. 

Relevant Service Information 

Airbus has issued Service Bulletins 

A330–34–3141 (for Airbus Model A330 

series airplanes), A340–34–4145 (for 

Airbus Model A340–200 and –300 series 

airplanes), and A340–34–5016 (for 

Airbus Model A340–541 and –642 

airplanes); all dated June 8, 2004. The 

service bulletins describe procedures for 

replacing the ISIS with an improved 

ISIS, which eliminates the need to 

regularly reset the ISIS. The actions 

specified in the service information, if 

accomplished, are intended to 

adequately address the unsafe 

condition. 

Airbus Service Bulletins A330–34–

3141, A340–34–4145, and A340–34–

5016 refer to Thales Service Bulletin 

C16221D–34–002 as an additional 

source of service information. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of This AD 

These airplane models are 

manufactured in France and are type 

certificated for operation in the United 

States under the provisions of 21.29 of 

the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 

CFR 21.29) and the applicable bilateral 

airworthiness agreement. According to 

this bilateral airworthiness agreement, 

the DGAC has kept us informed of the 

situation described above. We have 

examined the DGAC’s findings, 

evaluated all pertinent information, and 

determined that we need to issue an AD 

for products of this type design that are 

certificated for operation in the United 

States. 

Therefore, we are issuing this AD to 

prevent loss of the ISIS, which, if 

combined with loss of all EIS display 

units, could reduce the flightcrew’s 

situational awareness and contribute to 

loss of control of the airplane or impact 

with obstacles or terrain. This AD 

requires regularly performing a 

complete electrical shutdown of the 

airplane to reset the ISIS. This AD also 

provides an option for replacing the 

existing ISIS with an improved ISIS, 

which constitutes terminating action for 

the requirement to regularly perform a 

complete electrical shutdown. 

Differences Between the AD and French 

Emergency Airworthiness Directive 

This AD differs from the French 

emergency airworthiness directive in 

that this AD does not allow resetting the 

circuit breaker as a means of resetting 

the ISIS. This AD instead requires a 

complete electrical shutdown of the 

airplane, which the French emergency 

airworthiness directive provides as an 

alternative means of resetting the ISIS. 

The decision to not allow resetting the 

circuit breaker is based on FAA policy 

that pulling circuit breakers is not an 

acceptable means of routinely removing 

electrical power from airplane systems. 

This policy is based on the fact that use 

of a circuit breaker as a switch will 

degrade the ability of the circuit breaker 

to trip at its rated current trip point. 

The applicability of French 

Emergency Airworthiness Directive UF–

2004–167 excludes airplanes that 

accomplished Airbus Service Bulletin 

A330–34–3141, A340–34–4145, or 

A340–34–5016 in service. However, we 

have not excluded those airplanes in the 

applicability of this AD. Rather, this AD 

specifies that accomplishing the 

applicable service bulletin is an 

optional terminating action for the 

requirement to regularly reset the ISIS. 

This requirement ensures that the 

actions specified in this AD are 

accomplished on all affected airplanes. 

Interim Action 

We consider this AD interim action. 

We are currently considering requiring 

the optional terminating action 

specified in this AD, which eliminates 

the need to regularly perform a 

complete electrical shutdown of the 

airplane. However, the planned 

compliance time for this installation 

would allow enough time to provide 

notice and opportunity for public 

comment on the merits of the 

modification. 

FAA’s Determination of the Effective 

Date 

An unsafe condition exists that 

requires the immediate adoption of this 

AD; therefore, providing notice and 

opportunity for public comment before 

the AD is issued is impracticable, and 

good cause exists to make this AD 

effective in less than 30 days. 

Comments Invited 

This AD is a final rule that involves 

requirements that affect flight safety and 

was not preceded by notice and an 

opportunity for public comment; 

however, we invite you to submit any 

relevant written data, views, or 

arguments regarding this AD. Send your 

comments to an address listed under 

ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA–

2004–19816; Directorate Identifier 

2004–NM–231–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of the AD. We will consider all 

comments received by the closing date 

and may amend the AD in light of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http://

dms.dot.gov, including any personal 

information you provide. We will also 

post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact with FAA 

personnel concerning this AD. Using the 

search function of our docket Web site, 

anyone can find and read the comments 

in any of our dockets, including the 

name of the individual who sent the 

comment (or signed the comment on 

behalf of an association, business, labor 

union, etc.). You can review the DOT’s 

complete Privacy Act Statement in the 

Federal Register published on April 11, 

2000 (65 FR 19477–78), or you can visit 

http://dms.dot.gov.

We are reviewing the writing style we 

currently use in regulatory documents. 

We are interested in your comments on 

whether the style of this document is 

clear, and your suggestions to improve 

the clarity of our communications with 

you. You can get more information 

about plain language at http://www/

faa.gov/language and http://

www.plainlanguage.gov.

Authority for This Rulemaking 

The FAA’s authority to issue rules 

regarding aviation safety is found in 

Title 49 of the United States Code. 

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. 

This rulemaking is promulgated 

under the authority described in 

Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 

44701, ‘‘General requirements.’’ Under 

that section, the FAA is charged 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 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 236 / Thursday, December 9, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 71353

because it addresses an unsafe condition 

that is likely to exist or develop on 

products identified in this AD. 

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 the 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. 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 (AD):

2004–25–07 Airbus: Amendment 39–13895. 

Docket No. FAA–2004–19816; 

Directorate Identifier 2004–NM–231–AD.

Effective Date 

(a) This AD becomes effective December 

27, 2004. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A330 

and A340 series airplanes, certificated in any 

category; on which Airbus Modification 

47244 (reference Airbus Service Bulletin 

A330–34–3120 or A340–34–4138) has been 

done, and on which Airbus Modification 

52423 has not been done. 

Unsafe Condition 

(d) This AD was prompted by a report 

indicating that an airplane lost the integrated 

standby instrument system (ISIS), then, 

during the same flight, lost all electronic 

instrument system (EIS) display units. The 

FAA is issuing this AD to prevent loss of the 

ISIS, which, if combined with loss of all EIS 

display units, could reduce the flightcrew’s 

situational awareness and contribute to loss 

of control of the airplane or impact with 

obstacles or terrain. 

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. 

Requirement for Complete Electrical 

Shutdown 

(f) Within 3 days after the effective date of 

this AD, or within 5 days after the last ISIS 

reset or complete electrical shutdown of the 

airplane, whichever is first, perform a 

complete electrical shutdown of the airplane 

to reset the ISIS. Repeat the electrical 

shutdown of the airplane at intervals not to 

exceed 5 days, until the actions in paragraph 

(g) of this AD are done.

Note 1: This AD does not allow resetting 

the circuit breaker as a means of resetting the 

ISIS.

Optional Terminating Action 

(g) Replacing the existing ISIS, part number 

(P/N) C16221DB04, with an improved ISIS, 

P/N C16221WA01, in accordance with 

Airbus Service Bulletin A330–34–3141 (for 

Airbus Model A330 series airplanes), A340–

34–4145 (for Airbus Model A340–200 and 

–300 series airplanes), or A340–34–5016 (for 

Airbus Model A340–541 and –642 airplanes); 

all dated June 8, 2004; as applicable; 

terminates the requirements of paragraph (f) 

of this AD.

Note 2: Airbus Service Bulletins A330–34–

3141, A340–34–4145, and A340–34–5016 

refer to Thales Service Bulletin C16221D–34–

002 as an additional source of service 

information.

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(h) The Manager, International Branch, 

ANM–116, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 

for this AD, if requested in accordance with 

the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

Related Information 

(i) French Emergency Airworthiness 

Directive UF–2004–167, dated October 19, 

2004, also addresses the subject of this AD. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(j) If the optional terminating action in 

paragraph (g) of this AD is accomplished, you 

must use Airbus Service Bulletin A330–34–

3141, dated June 8, 2004; Airbus Service 

Bulletin A340–34–4145, dated June 8, 2004; 

or Airbus Service Bulletin A340–34–5016, 

dated June 8, 2004; as applicable; to perform 

the actions that are specified in paragraph (g) 

of this AD. The Director of the Federal 

Register approves the incorporation by 

reference of these document 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. You can 

review copies at the Docket Management 

Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 

400 Seventh Street SW., room PL–401, Nassif 

Building, Washington, DC; or 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 

November 30, 2004. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 04–26791 Filed 12–8–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2004–19556; Directorate 

Identifier 2004–CE–37–AD; Amendment 39–

13887; AD 2004–24–11] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; SchemppHirth Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DuoDiscus Gliders

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Schempp-Hirth (SCHEMPP–HIRTH) 

Flugzeugbau GmbH Model Duo-Discus 

gliders. This AD requires you to do a 

one-time inspection of the bonding of 

the spar cap and spar web and repair 

any defective bonding of the spar cap 

and spar web. This AD is the result of 

mandatory continuing airworthiness 

information (MCAI) issued by the 

airworthiness authority for Germany. 

The actions specified by this AD are 

intended to detect and correct failure of 

the bonding of the spar cap and spar 

web, which, if not detected and 

corrected, could result in an in-flight 

wing failure.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on 

December 30, 2004. 

As of December 30, 2004, the Director 

of the Federal Register approved the 

incorporation by reference of certain 

publications listed in the regulation.