68878 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 221 / Wednesday, November 15, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

Documentation Services, Airbus Industrie

Customer Services Directorate, 1 Rond Point

Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex

France; fax (+33) 5 61 93 28 06.

(1) For inspections accomplished after the

effective date of this AD: Submit the report

within 30 days after performing the

inspection.

(2) For inspections accomplished prior to

the effective date of this AD: Submit the

report within 30 days after the effective date

of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(c) 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 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

(d) 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

(e) The actions shall be done in accordance

with Airbus Service Bulletin A300–22A6042,

Revision 01, including Appendix 01, dated

March 7, 2000; Airbus Service Bulletin

A300–22A0115, Revision 02, including

Appendix 01, dated March 7, 2000; or Airbus

Service Bulletin A310–22A2053, Revision 01,

including Appendix 01, dated March 7, 2000;

as applicable. 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 Airbus Industrie, 1 Rond Point

Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex,

France. 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 French airworthiness directive 2000–115–

304(B) R2, dated July 12, 2000, as revised by

Erratum, dated August 9, 2000.

(f) This amendment becomes effective on

December 20, 2000.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on

November 6, 2000.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–28967 Filed 11–14–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–NM–114–AD; Amendment

39–11978; AD 2000–23–08]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model

A310 and A300–600 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to certain Airbus Model

A310 and A300–600 series airplanes,

that requires replacement of the flight

control computers (FCC) with new,

improved FCC’s having updated

software installed. This amendment also

requires, for some airplanes,

modification of the wiring of the FCC’s.

The actions specified by this AD are

intended to prevent autopilot reversions

in certain flight conditions, which could

result in misunderstanding by the flight

crew and consequent reduced ability to

take appropriate action. This action is

intended to address the identified

unsafe condition.

DATES: Effective December 20, 2000.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of December

20, 2000.

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,

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 certain Airbus

Model A310 and A300–600 series

airplanes was published in the Federal

Register on August 25, 2000 (65 FR

51775). That action proposed to require

replacement of the flight control

computers (FCC) with new, improved

FCC’s having updated software

installed. That action also proposed to

require, for some airplanes,

modification of the wiring of the FCC’s.

Comments

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.

Conclusion

The FAA has determined that air

safety and the public interest require the

adoption of the rule as proposed.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 116 airplanes

of U.S. registry will be affected by this

proposed AD.

It will take as much as 17 work hours

per airplane to accomplish the required

replacements, at an average labor rate of

$60 per work hour. Required parts will

cost as much as $5,064 per airplane.

Based on these figures, the cost impact

of the required replacements on U.S.

operators is estimated to be as much as

$705,744, or $6,084 per airplane.

It will take approximately 1 work

hour per airplane to accomplish the

required modification of the wiring, at

an average labor rate of $60 per work

hour. Based on these figures, the cost

impact of the required modification on

U.S. operators is estimated to be $6,960,

or $60 per airplane.

The cost impact figures discussed

above are based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the requirements of this AD action, and

that no operator would accomplish

those actions in the future if this AD

were not adopted. The cost impact

figures discussed in AD rulemaking

actions represent only the time

necessary to perform the specific actions

actually required by the AD. These

figures typically do not include

incidental costs, such as the time

required to gain access and close up,

planning time, or time necessitated by

other administrative actions.

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.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 221 / Wednesday, November 15, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 68879

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:

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:

2000–23–08 Airbus Industrie: Amendment

39–11978. Docket 2000–NM–114–AD.

Applicability: Model A310 series airplanes

equipped with flight control computers (FCC)

having part number (P/N) B350AAM4 or

B470ABM2, and Model A300–600 series

airplanes equipped with FCC’s having P/N

B470AAM2; certificated in any category;

except those airplanes on which Airbus

Modification 11899 or 11900 (Airbus Service

Bulletin A310–22–2048 or A310–22–2049 or

A300–22–6038) has been accomplished.

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 (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 autopilot reversions in certain

flight conditions, which could result in

misunderstanding by the flight crew and

consequent reduced ability to take

appropriate action, accomplish the following:

Replacement of FCC’s and Modification of

Wiring

(a) Within 26 months after the effective

date of this AD, replace the FCC’s with new,

improved FCC’s having updated software

installed; and modify the wiring, as

applicable; in accordance with paragraph

(a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(3), as applicable.

(1) For Airbus Model A310 series airplanes

equipped with FCC’s having P/N

B350AAM4: Replace the FCC’s in accordance

with Airbus Service Bulletin A310–22–2048,

Revision 01, dated March 6, 2000.

(2) For Airbus Model A310 series airplanes

equipped with FCC’s having P/N B470ABM2:

Replace the FCC’s in accordance with Airbus

Service Bulletin A310–22–2049, Revision 02,

dated March 6, 2000. Prior to or concurrent

with the replacement, modify the wiring in

accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin

A310–22–2051, Revision 02, dated March 8,

2000.

(3) For Airbus Model A300–600 series

airplanes equipped with FCC’s having P/N

B470AAM2: Replace the FCC’s in accordance

with Airbus Service Bulletin A300–22–6038,

dated August 24, 1999. Prior to or concurrent

with the replacement, modify the wiring in

accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin

A300–22–6040, Revision 02, dated March 6,

2000.

Note 2: Accomplishment of the actions

required by paragraph (a) of this AD prior to

the effective date of this AD in accordance

with Airbus Service Bulletin A310–22–2048,

dated December 13, 1999; A310–22–2049,

dated August 24, 1999, or Revision 01, dated

December 13, 1999; A310–22–2051, dated

August 26, 1999, or Revision 01, dated

December 13, 1999; or A300–22–6040, dated

August 26, 1999, or Revision 01, dated

December 13, 1999; is acceptable for

compliance with the applicable actions

specified in that paragraph.

Note 3: The Airbus service bulletins

reference SEXTANT Service Bulletins

B350AAM–22–008, B470AAM–22–013, and

B470ABM–22–012, each dated September 29,

1999, as additional sources of service

information for accomplishing the

replacement required by this AD.

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, FAA.

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 4: 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) The actions shall be done in accordance

with Airbus Service Bulletin A310–22–2048,

Revision 01, dated March 6, 2000; Airbus

Service Bulletin A310–22–2049, Revision 02,

dated March 6, 2000; Airbus Service Bulletin

A310–22–2051, Revision 02, dated March 8,

2000; Airbus Service Bulletin A300–22–6038,

dated August 24, 1999; and Airbus Service

Bulletin A300–22–6040, Revision 02, dated

March 6, 2000; as applicable. 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 Airbus

Industrie, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte,

31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. 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 5: The subject of this AD is addressed

in French airworthiness directive 2000–137–

305(B), dated August 21, 2000.

Effective Date

(e) This amendment becomes effective on

December 20, 2000.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on

November 6, 2000.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–28966 Filed 11–14–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–NM–129–AD; Amendment

39–11976; AD 2000–23–06]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Empresa

Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.

(EMBRAER) Model EMB–145 Series

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to certain EMBRAER Model

EMB–145 series airplanes, that requires

replacement of defective hydraulic

tubing in the left and right wings with

new hydraulic tubing. This amendment