This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

51383

Vol. 62, No. 190

Wednesday, October 1, 1997

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–NM–183–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model

A320 and A321 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 A320 and A321

series airplanes. This proposal would

require a revision to the Airplane Flight

Manual (AFM) to include procedures for

the flightcrew to follow in the event of

radio altimeter height malfunction. This

proposal also would require

replacement of certain radio altimeter

antennas with improved antennas, at

which time the AFM revision would no

longer be required. This proposal is

prompted by issuance of mandatory

continuing airworthiness information by

a foreign civil airworthiness authority.

The actions specified by the proposed

AD are intended to prevent output of

erroneous radio altimeter height

information to the flightcrew and

autopilot, which could result in reduced

ability of the flightcrew to cope with

adverse operating conditions.

DATES: Comments must be received by

October 27, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–103,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–NM–

183–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.

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:

Charles Huber, Aerospace Engineer,

Standardization Branch, ANM–113,

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington 98055–4056; telephone

(425) 227–2589; 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.

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 97–NM–183–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–103, Attention: Rules Docket No.

97–NM–183–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 A320 and A321 series airplanes.

The DGAC advises that it has received

a report indicating that erroneous radio

altimeter height information was

provided to the flightcrew and to the

autopilot on an Airbus Model A320

series airplane. This resulted in a

premature autopilot engagement of the

FLARE mode during approach, and

other aural and visual flight deck

indications associated with the radio

altimeter height malfunction.

Subsequent investigation revealed that a

manufacturing flaw in the solder

connection of the radio altimeter

antenna caused the erroneous

indications. This condition, if not

corrected, could result in output of

erroneous radio altimeter height

information to the flightcrew and

autopilot, which could result in reduced

ability of the flightcrew to cope with

adverse operating conditions.

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information

Airbus has issued All Operators Telex

(AOT) 34–03, dated February 20, 1996,

which describes procedures for

replacement of a certain antenna of the

radio altimeter with an improved

antenna. This AOT states that the

operational procedures described in

Airbus Flight Operation Telex (FOT)

945.0968/96 must be applied as long as

the affected antennas are installed. This

FOT has been incorporated into Airbus

A319/320/321 Flight Manual Temporary

Revision (TR) 2.05.00/13 (not dated)

which describes procedures for revising

the Limitations Section of the Airplane

Flight Manual (AFM) to provide

procedures for the flightcrew to follow

in the event of radio altimeter

malfunction.

Accomplishment of the actions

specified in this service information is

intended to adequately address the

identified unsafe condition. The DGAC

classified the AOT as mandatory and

issued French airworthiness directive

(CN) 96–172–084(B), dated August 28,

1996, in order to assure the continued

airworthiness of these airplanes in

France.
51384 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 190 / Wednesday, October 1, 1997 / Proposed Rules

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 information described

previously.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 50 airplanes

of U.S. registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 1 work hour per airplane

to accomplish the proposed AFM

revision, and 1 work hour per airplane

to accomplish the proposed antenna

replacement, at an average labor rate of

$60 per work hour. Required parts

would be provided by the manufacturer

at no cost to operators. Based on these

figures, the cost impact of the proposed

AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be

$6,000, or $120 per airplane.

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.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein

would not have substantial direct effects

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,

in accordance with Executive Order

12612, it is determined that this

proposal would not have sufficient

federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

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: Docket 97–NM–183–AD.

Applicability: Model A320 and A321 series

airplanes; equipped with Collins radio

altimeter antennas having part number (P/N)

622–8701–002 and a serial number below

2014; certificated in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

otherwise 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 (d) 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 output of erroneous radio

altimeter height information to the flightcrew

and autopilot, due to inadequate antenna

solder connections, which could result in

reduced ability of the flightcrew to cope with

adverse operating conditions, accomplish the

following:

(a) Within 10 days after the effective date

of this AD, revise the Limitations Section of

the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual

(AFM) by incorporating Airbus A319/320/

321 Flight Manual Temporary Revision (TR)

2.05.00/13 (not dated) into the AFM to

provide procedures for the flightcrew to

follow in the event of radio altimeter

malfunction.

(b) Within 6 months after the effective date

of this AD, replace any COLLINS radio

altimeter antenna having P/N 622–8701–002,

a serial number below 2014, and white paint

on the inner side of the C-sink hole, with a

new antenna having the same P/N that is

fitted with metallic C-sink inserts in its

attaching holes; in accordance with Airbus

All Operators Telex (AOT) 34–03, dated

February 20, 1996. Accomplishment of the

actions specified in this paragraph

constitutes terminating action for the AFM

revision required by paragraph (a) of this AD.

(c) As of the effective date of this AD, no

person shall install a Collins radio altimeter

antenna having P/N 622–8701–002 and a

serial number below 2014, unless the

antenna is fitted with metallic C-sink inserts

in its attaching holes.

(d) 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,

Standardization Branch, ANM–113, 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, Standardization

Branch, ANM–113.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Standardization Branch,

ANM–113.

(e) 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 96–172–

084(B), dated August 28, 1996.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on

September 25, 1997.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–25976 Filed 9–30–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U