Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 29, 2009 / Rules and Regulations 49795 

this service information under 5 U.S.C. 

552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services 

Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H–65, 

Seattle, Washington 98124–2207; telephone 

206–544–5000, extension 1; fax 206–766– 

5680; e-mail me.boecom@boeing.com; 

Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.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 or 425–227–1152. 

(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 

September 15, 2009. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–22871 Filed 9–28–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2007–0390; Directorate 

Identifier 2007–NM–260–AD; Amendment 

39–16028; AD 2009–20–05] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model 

A318, A319, A320, and A321 Series 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

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: 

Several cases of cracks on the main landing 

gear (MLG) door hinge fitting and MLG door 

actuator fitting on the keel beam were 

reported. 

Such failure could lead to the loss [of] the 

MLG door and could cause damage to the 

aircraft and/or hazard to persons or property 

on the ground. 

* * * * * 

We are issuing this AD to require 

actions to correct the unsafe condition 

on these products. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective 

November 3, 2009. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of November 3, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD 

docket on the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov or in person at the 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Docket Operations, M–30, West 

Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 

Washington, DC. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim 

Dulin, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 227–2141; fax (425) 227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to include an AD that would 

apply to the specified products. That 

NPRM was published in the Federal 

Register on January 9, 2008 (73 FR 

1556). That NPRM proposed to correct 

an unsafe condition for the specified 

products. The MCAI states: 

Several cases of cracks on the main landing 

gear (MLG) door hinge fitting and MLG door 

actuator fitting on the keel beam were 

reported. 

Such failure could lead to the loss [of] the 

MLG door and could cause damage to the 

aircraft and/or hazard to persons or property 

on the ground. 

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) 

mandates a onetime detailed visual 

inspection (DVI) and special detailed 

inspection (SDI) of the MLG door hinge 

fitting and actuator fitting. 

The inspections are for cracking, 

damage, correct installation, and correct 

adjustment. The corrective actions 

include correcting incorrect adjustments 

and installations, and contacting Airbus 

for instructions to repair damage and 

cracking. You may obtain further 

information by examining the MCAI in 

the AD docket. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. We 

considered the comments received. 

Request for Partial Credit for 

Inspections 

Air Transport Association (ATA) on 

behalf of its member Northwest Airlines 

(NWA) requests that the AD give partial 

credit for inspections previously 

accomplished in accordance with 

Airworthiness Limitation Item (ALI) 

Task 533154–02–1. NWA specifies that 

after the ALI task is accomplished, full 

compliance would then require that 

certain aircraft maintenance manual 

(AMM) actions also be performed 

within the time limits specified in the 

NPRM. The AMM actions include 

confirmation that the door actuator and 

door hinge are correctly installed and 

adjusted, and that ‘‘A’’ and ‘‘H’’ 

dimensions are correct as specified in 

the service information referred to in the 

NPRM. 

We disagree with the request to 

change the AD to give partial credit for 

accomplishing the ALI task. If the 

actions specified in the ALI task are 

exactly the same as certain inspection 

requirements of the AD, then the 

operator would be in compliance with 

the corresponding requirements of the 

AD, as specified in paragraph (f) of the 

NPRM, which says, ‘‘Unless already 

done, do the following actions.’’ In 

order to receive credit for accomplishing 

the actions, an operator would need to 

provide verification, in accordance with 

the maintenance recording requirements 

specified in Section 121.380 of the 

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 

121.380). However, if the actions 

specified in the ALI task are not exactly 

the same then, under the provisions of 

paragraph (g)(1) of the final rule, we will 

consider requests for approval of an 

alternative method of compliance 

(AMOC) if sufficient data are submitted 

to substantiate that the alternative 

method would provide an acceptable 

level of safety. We have not changed the 

AD in this regard. 

Request To Clarify Root Cause of 

Cracking 

ATA and NWA state that improper 

rigging might not be the root cause of 

the cracking identified in the NPRM. 

NWA states that Airbus identified 

proper rigging of the main landing gear 

(MLG) door in accordance with the 

recently revised AMM as corrective 

action for preventing cracking. NWA 

states that it has been rigging the MLG 

door on its Airbus Model A319 and 

A320 series airplanes for many years 

before the AMM was revised and has 

had no known cracking at this location. 

Therefore, NWA questions whether or 

not the root cause of the cracking is due 

to improper rigging. 

We acknowledge that NWA has had 

no known cracking at this location, but 

note that, according to Airbus, several 

cases of cracked structures due to 

improper rigging have been found 

elsewhere in the fleet. Improper rigging 


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49796 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 29, 2009 / Rules and Regulations 

of the MLG door has been identified as 

one possible cause of the cracking and, 

therefore, re-rigging will help prevent 

future occurrences of cracking. We have 

not changed the AD in this regard. 

Request To Remove Reporting 

Requirement 

ATA and NWA state that the 

reporting requirements should be 

changed so that only positive crack 

inspection results are provided to 

Airbus. NWA notes that Airbus 

Mandatory Service Bulletin A320–53– 

1195, Revision 02, dated April 5, 2007; 

and Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A320–53–1196, Revision 01, dated 

November 29, 2006; currently require 

reporting of all inspection results to 

Airbus, whether there are findings or 

not. NWA believes it is an unnecessary 

burden to report negative findings. 

We disagree with removing the 

requirement to report negative findings. 

Reporting of both positive and negative 

findings is necessary to determine the 

scope of the problem and decide future 

actions. Reporting all findings will 

allow the manufacturer to conduct 

statistical analyses on a continuous 

basis rather than waiting for the 

compliance time to expire, which may 

be several years for certain airplanes. 

Access to all findings will help the 

manufacturer to develop final action to 

address the identified unsafe condition 

in an expeditious manner. However, we 

agree that some relief is appropriate 

regarding negative findings. We have 

added a new paragraph (f)(4) to this AD 

to specify that operators have 30 days to 

report negative findings. We have also 

revised paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of 

this AD to refer to paragraph (f)(4) of 

this AD. We have also revised 

applicable paragraphs of this AD to refer 

to Appendix 01 of Airbus Mandatory 

Service Bulletin A320–53–1195, 

Revision 02, dated April 5, 2007; and 

Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A320–53–1196, Revision 01, dated 

November 29, 2006. Appendix 01 

contains instructions for reporting 

findings. 

Additional Clarifications to This AD 

We have revised paragraphs (f)(1) and 

(f)(2) of this AD to clarify the references 

regarding the service information 

necessary to do the required action. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the available data, 

including the comments received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting the AD 

changes described previously. We also 

determined that these changes will not 

increase the economic burden on any 

operator or increase the scope of the AD. 

Differences Between This 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 our FAA 

policies. Any such differences are 

highlighted in a NOTE within the AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD will affect 

641 products of U.S. registry. We also 

estimate that it will take 28 work-hours 

per product to comply with the basic 

requirements of this AD. The average 

labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Based 

on these figures, we estimate the cost of 

this AD to the U.S. operators to be 

$1,435,840, or $2,240 per product. 

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. 

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 the NPRM, 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. 

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: 

2009–20–05 Airbus: Amendment 39–16028. 

Docket No. FAA–2007–0390; Directorate 

Identifier 2007–NM–260–AD. 

Effective Date 

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) 

becomes effective November 3, 2009. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A318, 

A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes, all 

certified models, certificated in any category, 

all serial numbers up to manufacturer’s serial 

number (MSN) 2850 inclusive, except MSNs 

0115, 0184, 0782, 1151, 1190, 2650, 2675, 

2706, 2801, and 2837. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 29, 2009 / Rules and Regulations 49797 

Subject 

(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 53: Fuselage. 

Reason 

(e) The mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI) states: 

Several cases of cracks on the main landing 

gear (MLG) door hinge fitting and MLG door 

actuator fitting on the keel beam were 

reported. 

Such failure could lead to the loss [of] the 

MLG door and could cause damage to the 

aircraft and/or hazard to persons or property 

on the ground. 

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) 

mandates a onetime detailed visual 

inspection (DVI) and special detailed 

inspection (SDI) of the MLG door hinge 

fitting and actuator fitting. 

The inspections are for cracking, damage, 

correct installation, and correct adjustment. 

The corrective actions include correcting 

incorrect adjustments and installations, and 

contacting Airbus for instructions to repair 

damage and cracking. 

Actions and Compliance 

(f) Unless already done, do the following 

actions. 

(1) At the latest of the times specified in 

paragraphs (f)(1)(i), (f)(1)(ii), and (f)(1)(iii) of 

this AD, perform detailed visual, high 

frequency eddy current (HFEC), and 

ultrasonic inspections (for cracking, damage, 

correct installation, and correct adjustment, 

as applicable) of the left hand (LH) and right 

hand (RH) MLG door actuator fitting on the 

keel beam, and do all applicable corrective 

actions before further flight, except as 

provided by paragraph (f)(4) of this AD. Do 

all actions required by this paragraph in 

accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Airbus Mandatory Service 

Bulletin A320–53–1195, Revision 02, 

including Appendix 01, dated April 5, 2007, 

except where that service bulletin specifies 

the applicable corrective action is contacting 

Airbus, contact Airbus for repair instructions 

and repair before further flight. 

(i) Within 6,000 flight cycles since first 

flight. 

(ii) Within 1,500 flight cycles after the 

effective date of this AD. 

(iii) Within 6,000 flight cycles from the 

latest MLG door actuator fitting replacement. 

(2) At the later of the times specified in 

paragraphs (f)(2)(i) and (f)(2)(ii) of this AD, 

perform detailed visual and HFEC 

inspections (for cracking, damage, correct 

installation, and correct adjustment, as 

applicable) of the LH and RH MLG door 

hinge fitting on the keel beam, and do all 

applicable corrective actions before further 

flight, except as provided by paragraph (f)(4) 

of this AD. Do all actions required by this 

paragraph in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus 

Mandatory Service Bulletin A320–53–1196, 

Revision 01, including Appendix 01, dated 

November 29, 2006, except where that 

service bulletin specifies the applicable 

corrective action is contacting Airbus, 

contact Airbus for repair instructions and 

repair before further flight. 

(i) Within 4,500 flight cycles since first 

flight. 

(ii) Within 1,500 flight cycles after the 

effective date of this AD. 

(3) Actions done before the effective date 

of this AD in accordance with the applicable 

service bulletins listed in paragraphs (f)(3)(i), 

(f)(3)(ii), and (f)(3)(iii) of this AD are 

acceptable for compliance with the 

corresponding actions required by this AD. 

(i) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A320–53–1195, dated June 23, 2006. 

(ii) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A320–53–1195, Revision 01, dated November 

29, 2006. 

(iii) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A320–53–1196, dated June 23, 2006. 

(4) Where the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Airbus Mandatory Service 

Bulletin A320–53–1195, Revision 02, 

including Appendix 01, dated April 5, 2007, 

or Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A320– 

53–1196, Revision 01, including Appendix 

01, dated November 29, 2006, specify to 

submit a report where no damage or crack is 

found during of the inspection required by 

paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD: Send the 

report to Airbus using the applicable 

reporting sheet in Appendix 01 of Airbus 

Mandatory Service Bulletin A320–53–1195, 

Revision 02, dated April 5, 2007, or Airbus 

Mandatory Service Bulletin A320–53–1196, 

Revision 01, dated November 29, 2006. Send 

the report at the applicable time specified in 

paragraph (f)(4)(i) or (f)(4)(ii) of this AD. 

(i) If the inspection was done on or after 

the effective date of this AD: Submit the 

report within 30 days after the inspection. 

(ii) If the inspection was done before the 

effective date of this AD: Submit the report 

within 30 days after the effective date of this 

AD. 

FAA AD Differences 

Note 1: This AD differs from the MCAI 

and/or service information as follows: No 

differences. 

Other FAA AD Provisions 

(g) The following provisions also apply to 

this AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 

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: Tim Dulin, 

Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, 

ANM–116, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone (425) 

227–2141; fax (425) 227–1149. Before using 

any approved AMOC on any airplane to 

which the AMOC applies, notify your 

principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or 

principal avionics inspector (PAI), as 

appropriate, or lacking a principal inspector, 

your local Flight Standards 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. 

(3) Reporting Requirements: For any 

reporting requirement in this AD, under the 

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 

the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 

has approved the information collection 

requirements and has assigned OMB Control 

Number 2120–0056. 

Related Information 

(h) Refer to MCAI European Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) Airworthiness 

Directive 2007–0161, dated June 11, 2007; 

Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A320–53– 

1195, Revision 02, including Appendix 01, 

dated April 5, 2007; and Airbus Mandatory 

Service Bulletin A320–53–1196, Revision 01, 

including Appendix 01, dated November 29, 

2006; for related information. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(i) You must use Airbus Mandatory Service 

Bulletin A320–53–1195, Revision 02, 

including Appendix 01, dated April 5, 2007; 

and Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A320–53–1196, Revision 01, including 

Appendix 01, dated November 29, 2006; as 

applicable; to do the actions required by this 

AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(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, Airworthiness 

Office—EAS, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 

31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; fax +33 5 61 

93 44 51; e-mail: account.airwortheas@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 or 425–227–1152. 

(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 

September 15, 2009. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–23093 Filed 9–28–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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