Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 115 / Wednesday, June 14, 2000 / Proposed Rules 37315

1159 (G–II), G–1159A (G–III), and G–

1159B (G–IIB) series airplanes, was

published in the Federal Register as a

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)

on May 8, 1996 (61 FR 20764). The

proposed rule would have required

inspections to detect cracking and/or

corrosion at various locations of the

wings, and modification of cracked and/

or corroded parts. That action was

prompted by a report indicating that

cracks, caused by stress corrosion, were

found at various locations at buttock

line (BL) 0 to BL 19 of the lower wing

plank. The proposed actions were

intended to prevent such stress

corrosion, which could result in

structural failure of the wing under

certain load conditions.

Actions that Occurred Since the NPRM

Was Issued

Since the issuance of that NPRM,

Gulfstream has provided evidence to the

FAA that the actions proposed in the

NPRM have been accomplished on all

affected airplanes. (Evidence was

provided to the FAA in Gulfstream’s

letter of May 30, 2000, which is filed in

the Rules Docket.)

FAA’s Conclusions

Upon further consideration, the FAA

has determined that requiring the

modification specified in the NPRM

(Rules Docket 96–NM–90–AD) is

unnecessary since the unsafe condition

no longer exists. Accordingly, the

proposed rule is hereby withdrawn.

Withdrawal of this notice of proposed

rulemaking constitutes only such action,

and does not preclude the agency from

issuing another notice in the future, nor

does it commit the agency to any course

of action in the future.

Regulatory Impact

Since this action only withdraws a

notice of proposed rulemaking, it is

neither a proposed nor a final rule and

therefore is not covered under Executive

Order 12866, the Regulatory Flexibility

Act, or DOT Regulatory Policies and

Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26,

1979).

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

The Withdrawal

Accordingly, the notice of proposed

rulemaking, Docket 96–NM–90–AD,

published in the Federal Register on

May 8, 1996 (61 FR 20764), is

withdrawn.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 7,

2000.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–14954 Filed 6–13–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–NM–62–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model

A330 and A340 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to

certain Airbus Model A330 and A340

series airplanes. This proposal would

require repetitive inspections to check

for backlash of the spherical bearing of

the active aileron servo-controls, and

follow-on corrective actions, if

necessary. This proposal also provides

optional terminating action for the

repetitive inspections. This action is

necessary to detect and correct excess

backlash of the spherical bearing of the

active aileron servo-controls, which

could result in failure of the active

aileron servo-controls and consequent

reduced controllability of the airplane.

This action is intended to address the

identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by

July 14, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000–NM–

62–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays. Comments may also

be sent via the Internet using the

following address: 9-anmnprmcomment@faa.gov. Comments sent

via the Internet must contain ‘‘Docket

No. 2000–NM–62–AD’’ in the subject

line and need not be submitted in

triplicate.

The service information referenced in

the proposed rule may be obtained from

Airbus Industrie, 1 Rond Point Maurice

Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France.

This information may be examined at

the FAA, Transport Airplane

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington.

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:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications shall

identify the Rules Docket number and

be submitted in triplicate to the address

specified above. All communications

received on or before the closing date

for comments, specified above, will be

considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained

in this notice may be changed in light

of the comments received.

Submit comments using the following

format:

• Organize comments issue-by-issue.

For example, discuss a request to

change the compliance time and a

request to change the service bulletin

reference as two separate issues.

• For each issue, state what specific

change to the proposed AD is being

requested.

• Include justification (e.g., reasons or

data) for each request.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report

summarizing each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this

proposal will be filed in the Rules

Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket Number 2000–NM–62–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

ANM–114, Attention: Rules Docket No.

37316 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 115 / Wednesday, June 14, 2000 / Proposed Rules

2000–NM–62–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

The Direction Ge ́ne ́rale 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 series airplanes.

The DGAC advises that it has received

reports of servo-control rod end failures

occurring on the active aileron. These

failures have been attributed to wear

and migration of the Teflon liner of the

eye-end spherical bearing, which then

caused metal-to-metal contact. This

condition, if not detected and corrected,

could result in failure of the active

aileron servo-controls and consequent

reduced controllability of the airplane.

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information

The manufacturer has issued Airbus

Service Bulletins A330–27–3073,

Revision 01 (for Model A330 series

airplanes), and A340–27–4079, Revision

01 (for Model A340 series airplanes),

each dated January 18, 2000. These

service bulletins describe procedures for

repetitive inspections to check for

backlash of the spherical bearing of the

active aileron servo-controls, and

follow-on corrective actions, if

necessary. Follow-on corrective actions

involve, among other things, installing

new ECP7 standard servo-controls and

performing repetitive inspections, or

replacing ECP7 standard servo-controls

with ECP8 or ECP9 standard servocontrols, which would eliminate the

need for the repetitive inspections

required by this proposed AD.

The DGAC classified these service

bulletins as mandatory and issued

French airworthiness directives 2000–

014–108(B) (for Model A330 series

airplanes) and 2000–017–134(B) (for

Model A340 series airplanes), each

dated January 12, 2000, in order to

assure the continued airworthiness of

these airplanes in France.

Additionally, Airbus has issued

Service Bulletins A330–27–3075, dated

September 24, 1999, and A330–27–

3054, Revision 01, dated November 8,

1999 (for Model A330 series airplanes);

and A340–27–4081, dated September

24, 1999, and A340–27–4062, Revision

01, dated November 8, 1999 (for Model

A340 series airplanes). These service

bulletins are referenced in the

previously described service bulletins as

additional sources of service

information for the installation of ECP8

or ECP9 standard servo-controls, which

would eliminate the need for the

repetitive inspections.

FAA’s Conclusions

These airplane models are

manufactured in France and are type

certificated for operation in the United

States under the provisions of section

21.29 of the Federal Aviation

Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the

applicable bilateral airworthiness

agreement. Pursuant to this bilateral

airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has

kept the FAA informed of the situation

described above. The FAA has

examined the findings of the DGAC,

reviewed all available information, and

determined that AD action is necessary

for products of this type design that are

certificated for operation in the United

States.

Explanation of Requirements of

Proposed Rule

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other airplanes of the same

type design registered in the United

States, the proposed AD would require

accomplishment of the actions specified

in the service bulletins described

previously, except as discussed below.

Differences Between Proposed AD and

Relevant Service Information

The Airbus service bulletins (A330–

27–3073 and A340–27–4079) identify

various compliance times for

replacement of the active aileron servocontrols, depending upon the amount of

backlash detected; the French

airworthiness directives support those

criteria. However, this proposed AD

would require that, if any backlash

greater than 0.2 millimeter (mm) (0.0078

inch) is detected, corrective actions be

accomplished prior to further flight. The

FAA has determined that, because of the

safety implications and consequences

associated with excess backlash, any

subject active aileron servo-control that

is found to have an amount of backlash

exceeding the specified limits of this AD

must be replaced prior to further flight.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 3 airplanes of

U.S. registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 20 work hours per

airplane to accomplish the proposed

inspection, and that the average labor

rate is $60 per work hour. Based on

these figures, the cost impact of the

proposed AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $3,600, or $1,200 per

airplane, per inspection cycle.

The cost impact figure discussed

above is based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the proposed requirements of this AD

action, and that no operator would

accomplish those actions in the future if

this AD were not adopted.

Should an operator elect to

accomplish the optional terminating

action, it would take approximately

between 16 and 20 work hours per

airplane, depending upon the airplane

model, to accomplish the proposed

optional terminating action, at an

average labor rate of $60 per work hour.

Based on these figures, the cost impact

of this optional terminating action on

U.S. operators is estimated to be

between $960 and $1,200 per airplane.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein

would 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 proposal

would not have federalism implications

under Executive Order 13132.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this proposed 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) if

promulgated, 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 copy of the draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this

action is contained in the Rules Docket.

A copy of it may be obtained by

contacting 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.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration proposes to amend 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:

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:

Airbus Industrie: Docket 2000–NM–62–AD.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 115 / Wednesday, June 14, 2000 / Proposed Rules 37317

Applicability: Model A330 and A340 series

airplanes, certificated in any category, except

those airplanes on which Airbus

Modification 47433 (Airbus Service Bulletin

A330–27–3075 or A340–27–4081) or Airbus

Modification 45512 (Airbus Service Bulletin

A330–27–3054 or A340–27–4062) has been

installed.

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 otherwise 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 (e) 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 detect and

correct excess backlash of the spherical

bearing of the active aileron servo-controls,

which could result in failure of the active

aileron servo-control and consequent

reduced controllability of the airplane,

accomplish the following:

Inspection

(a) Perform an inspection to check for

backlash of the spherical bearing of the active

aileron servo-controls, in accordance with

Airbus Service Bulletin A330–27–3073,

Revision 01 (for Model A330 series

airplanes), or A340–27–4079, Revision 01

(for Model A340 series airplanes), each dated

January 18, 2000; as applicable; at the

applicable time specified in paragraph (a)(1)

or (a)(2) of this AD.

(1) For airplanes that, as of the effective

date of this AD, have accumulated 13,000

total flight hours or less: Perform the

inspection within 6 months after the effective

date of this AD, or within 6 months after

accumulating 9,000 total flight hours,

whichever occurs later.

(2) For airplanes that, as of the effective

date of this AD, have accumulated more than

13,000 total flight hours: Perform the

inspection within 3 months after the effective

date of this AD.

Repetitive Inspections

(b) If, during the inspection required by

paragraph (a) of this AD, no backlash is

detected, or if any backlash is detected that

is less than or equal to 0.2 millimeter (mm)

(0.0078 inch) on all active aileron servocontrols, repeat the inspection required by

paragraph (a) of this AD thereafter at

intervals not to exceed 15 months or until the

actions of paragraph (d) of this AD are

accomplished on all active aileron servocontrols.

Corrective Actions

(c) If, during any inspection required by

paragraph (a) or (b) of this AD, any backlash

is detected that is more than 0.2 mm (0.0078

inch), prior to further flight, accomplish the

requirements of either paragraph (c)(1) or

(c)(2) of this AD, in accordance with Airbus

Service Bulletin A330–27–3073, Revision 01

(for Model A330 series airplanes), or A340–

27–4079, Revision 01 (for Model A340 series

airplanes); each dated January 18, 2000; as

applicable.

(1) Replace discrepant active aileron servocontrols with new ECP7 standard servocontrols in accordance with the applicable

service bulletin, and repeat the inspection

required by paragraph (a) of this AD

thereafter at intervals not to exceed 15

months or until the requirements of

paragraph (d) of this AD are accomplished;

or

(2) Replace discrepant active servo-controls

with ECP8 or ECP9 standard servo-controls,

in accordance with the applicable service

bulletin.

Note 2: Any inspection or replacement

accomplished prior to the effective date of

this AD, in accordance with Airbus Service

Bulletin A330–27–3073 (for Model A330

series airplanes) or A340–27–4079 (for Model

A340 series airplanes), each dated August 31,

1999, is considered acceptable for

compliance with the applicable requirement

specified by this AD.

Optional Terminating Action

(d) Replacement of all active servo-controls

with ECP8 or ECP9 standard servo-controls,

in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletins

A330–27–3075, dated September 24, 1999,

and A330–27–3054, Revision 01, dated

November 8, 1999 (for Model A330 series

airplanes); or A340–27–4081, dated

September 24, 1999, and A340–27–4062,

Revision 01, dated November 8, 1999 (for

Model A340 series airplanes); as applicable;

constitutes terminating action for the

requirements of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(e) 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, FAA

Transport Airplane Directorate. 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 3: 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

(f) 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 4: The subject of this AD is addressed

in French airworthiness directives 2000–

014–108(B) and 2000–017–134(B), each dated

January 12, 2000.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 7,

2000.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–14955 Filed 6–13–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 250

Extension of Time for Comments

Concerning the Guides for the

Household Furniture Industry

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice of extension of comment

period.

SUMMARY: The Federal Trade

Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) has

extended the date by which comments

must be submitted concerning the

review of its Guides for the Household

Furniture Industry (‘‘Household

Furniture Guides’’ or the ‘‘Guides’’). The

Commission solicited comments until

June 9, 2000. In response to a request

from an industry trade association, the

Commission grants an extension of the

comment period until July 10, 2000.

DATES: Written comments will be

accepted until July 10, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should

be submitted to Office of the Secretary,

Federal Trade Commission, Room H–

159, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,

Washington, DC 20580. Comments

should be identified as ‘‘Household

Furniture Industry Guides, 16 CFR Part

250—Comment.’’ If possible, submit

comments both in writing and on a

personal computer diskette in Word

Perfect or other word processing format

(to assist in processing, please identify

the format and version used). Written

comments should be submitted, when

feasible and not burdensome, in five

copies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ingrid Whittaker-Ware, Attorney,

Southeast Region, Federal Trade

Commission, 60 Forsyth Street, SW.,

Atlanta, Georgia 30303, telephone

number (404) 656–1364. E-mail address

(for questions or information only):

‘‘Furniture@FTC.gov’’.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April

10, 2000, the Commission published in

the Federal Register a request for public

comments on the overall costs, benefits

and the continuing need for its Guides

for the Household Furniture Industry 16

CFR part 250, as part of its regulatory

review program, 65 FR 18933. The

Guides are voluntary guidelines issued