34054 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 103 / Friday, May 26, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 16,

2000.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–12812 Filed 5–25–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–C

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99–NM–360–AD; Amendment

39–11743; AD 2000–10–19]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Israel

Aircraft Industries, Ltd., Model 1125

Westwind Astra and Astra SPX Series

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to certain Israel Aircraft

Industries, Ltd., Model 1125 Westwind

Astra and Astra SPX series airplanes,

that requires replacement of the existing

pneumatic de-icing boot pressure

indicator switch with a newly designed

switch. This amendment is prompted by

an occurrence on a similar airplane

model in which the pneumatic de-icing

boot indication light may have provided

the flightcrew with misleading

information as to the proper functioning

of the de-icing boots. The actions

specified by this AD are intended to

prevent ice accumulation on the

airplane leading edges, which could

result in reduced controllability of the

airplane.

DATES: Effective June 30, 2000.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of June 30,

2000.

ADDRESSES: The service information

referenced in this AD may be obtained

from Galaxy Aerospace Corporation,

One Galaxy Way, Fort Worth Alliance

Airport, Fort Worth, Texas 76177. This

information may be examined at the

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),

Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules

Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington; or at the Office of

the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Norman B. Martenson, Manager,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–2110;

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 Israel Aircraft

Industries, Ltd., Model 1125 Westwind

Astra and Astra SPX series airplanes

was published in the Federal Register

on January 24, 2000 (65 FR 3617). That

action proposed to require replacement

of the existing pneumatic de-icing boot

pressure indicator switch with a newly

designed switch.

Interested persons have been afforded

an opportunity to participate in the

making of this amendment. No

comments were submitted in response

to the proposal or the FAA’s

determination of the cost to the public.

Changes to the Proposed AD

Since issuance of the proposed AD,

the manufacturer has issued Astra Alert

Service Bulletin 1125–30A–199, dated

April 17, 2000, which describes

procedures for replacement of the wing

and tail de-icing boot pressure indicator

switches with improved switches. The

Civil Aviation Administration of Israel

(CAAI), which is the airworthiness

authority for Israel, classified this

service bulletin as mandatory.

Additionally, the CAAI previously

issued Israeli airworthiness directive

30–00–02–05, dated February 24, 2000,

in order to assure the continued

airworthiness of these airplanes in

Israel.

The FAA has determined that the

replacement described in the service

bulletin provides an adequate method of

addressing the unsafe condition

identified in this AD. Paragraph (a) of

the AD has been revised to include that

replacement as an acceptable means of

compliance to the requirements of the

AD. The applicability of the AD has also

been revised to exclude airplanes

having serial number 116 and up, on

which the replacement will be installed

in production.

The FAA has also revised the ‘‘Cost

Impact’’ section of the AD to provide the

estimated cost of the replacement in

accordance with the previously

described service bulletin, and to revise

the number of affected airplanes of U.S.

registry.

Conclusion

After careful review of the available

data, the FAA has determined that air

safety and the public interest require the

adoption of the rule with the changes

described previously. The FAA has

determined that these changes will

neither increase the economic burden

on any operator nor increase the scope

of the AD.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 89 airplanes

of U.S. registry will be affected by this

AD.

Should an operator elect to

accomplish the replacement in

accordance with Astra Alert Service

Bulletin 1125–30A–199, it will take

approximately 2 work hours per

airplane to accomplish it, at an average

labor rate of $60 per work hour.

Required parts may cost as much as

$1,455 per airplane. Based on these

figures, the cost impact of the

replacement on U.S. operators is

estimated to be as much as $1,575 per

airplane.

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, Incorporation by reference,

Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

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

1. The authority citation for part 39

continues to read as follows:

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 103 / Friday, May 26, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 34055

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

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding the following new airworthiness

directive:

2000–10–19 Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.:

Amendment 39–11743. Docket 99–NM–

360–AD.

Applicability: Model 1125 Westwind Astra

and Astra SPX series airplanes, serial

numbers 004 through 115 inclusive;

certificated in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

modified, altered, or repaired in the area

subject to the requirements of this AD. For

airplanes that have been modified, altered, or

repaired so that the performance of the

requirements of this AD is affected, the

owner/operator must request approval for an

alternative method of compliance in

accordance with paragraph (b) of this AD.

The request should include an assessment of

the effect of the modification, alteration, or

repair on the unsafe condition addressed by

this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent ice accumulation on the

airplane leading edges, which could result in

reduced controllability of the airplane,

accomplish the following:

Modification

(a) Within 1 year after the effective date of

this AD, replace the pneumatic de-icing boot

pressure indicator switch with a switch that

activates the flight deck indicator light at 15

pounds per square inch gage, in accordance

with Astra Alert Service Bulletin 1125–30A–

199, dated April 17, 2000, or in accordance

with a method approved by the Manager,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate.

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. 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 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.

Incorporation by Reference

(d) Except as provided by paragraph (a) of

this AD, the actions shall be done in

accordance with Astra Alert Service Bulletin

1125–30A–199, dated April 17, 2000. This

incorporation by reference was approved by

the Director of the Federal Register in

accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR

part 51. Copies may be obtained from Galaxy

Aerospace Corporation, One Galaxy Way,

Fort Worth Alliance Airport, Fort Worth,

Texas 76177. Copies may be inspected at the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at

the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North

Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington,

DC.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in Israeli airworthiness directive 30–00–02–

05, dated February 24, 2000.

(e) This amendment becomes effective on

June 30, 2000.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 16,

2000.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–12813 Filed 5–25–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99–NM–251–AD; Amendment

39–11742; AD 2000–10–18]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus

Industrie Model A300, A300–600, and

A310 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes

an existing airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to certain Airbus Industrie

Model A300, A300–600, and A310

series airplanes, that currently requires

inspections to detect cracks in the lower

spar axis of the pylons between ribs 6

and 7, and repair, if necessary. For

certain Model A310 series airplanes,

this amendment reduces the currently

required inspection thresholds and

intervals, and removes an option for a

terminating modification. This

amendment is prompted by issuance of

mandatory continuing airworthiness

information by a foreign civil

airworthiness authority. The actions

specified by this AD are intended to

prevent such fatigue cracking, which

could result in reduced structural

integrity of the engine pylon’s lower

spar, and possible separation of the

engine from the airplane.

DATES: Effective June 30, 2000.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of June 30,

2000.

The incorporation by reference of

certain other publications, as listed in

the regulations, was approved

previously by the Director of the Federal

Register as of June 28, 1996 (61 FR

26091, May 24, 1996).

ADDRESSES: The service information

referenced in this AD may be obtained

from Airbus Industrie, 1 Rond Point

Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex,

France. This information may be

examined at the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington; or at the Office of the

Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Norman B. Martenson, Manager,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–2110;

fax (425) 227–1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A

proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39)

by superseding AD 96–11–05,

amendment 39–9630 (61 FR 26091, May

24, 1996), which is applicable to certain

Airbus Industrie Model A300, A300–

600, and A310 series airplanes, was

published in the Federal Register on

February 14, 2000 (65 FR 7316). The

action proposed to continue to require

inspections to detect cracks in the lower

spar axis of the engine pylons for Airbus

Model A300 and A300–600 series

airplanes, and to require

accomplishment of the actions specified

in Airbus Service Bulletin A310–54–

2017, Revision 03, for Model A310

series airplanes.

Comments Received

Interested persons have been afforded

an opportunity to participate in the

making of this amendment. Due

consideration has been given to the

comments received.

No Objection to the Proposal

One commenter, an operator, states

that it is not affected by the proposed

AD, and therefore has no objection or

additional comments.