Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 229 / Tuesday, November 28, 2000 / Proposed Rules 70821

Issued in Renton, Washington, on

November 21, 2000.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–30320 Filed 11–27–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–NM–124–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model

A310 and Model A300–600 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 all

Airbus Model A310 and A300–600

series airplanes. This proposal would

require revising the Airplane Flight

Manual. This action is necessary to

provide the flight crew with procedures

to maintain airplane controllability in

the event of an in-flight thrust reverser

deployment. This action is intended to

address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by

December 28, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000–NM–

124–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–124–AD’’ in the subject

line and need not be submitted in

triplicate. Comments sent via the

Internet as attached electronic files must

be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for

Windows or ASCII text.

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 action 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 action

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket 2000–NM–124–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.

2000–NM–124–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, has

advised the FAA that certain procedures

have been revised in the Airplane Flight

Manual (AFM) for Airbus Model A310

and A300–600 series airplanes. In the

event of an in-flight thrust reverser

deployment, the existing ‘‘ENG REV

UNLK’’ procedure could result in

reduced controllability of the airplane.

The revised procedures are intended to

address this problem.

The FAA has approved the following

revisions to Section 4.02.00 of the

Airbus AFM’s for Model A310 and

A300–600 series airplanes powered by

Pratt & Whitney and General Electric

engines:

Model/Series Reference Date

A310–203, –221, –222, and –304 ........................................................................ Ref. 02 ................................ November 23, 1999.

A310–324 and –325 ............................................................................................. Ref. 04 ................................ November 24, 1999.

A300–600 B4–605R ............................................................................................. Ref. 02 ................................ November 23, 1999.

A300–600 F4–605R .............................................................................................. Ref. 05 ................................ November 24, 1999.

A300–600 B4–622R ............................................................................................. Ref. 06 ................................ November 25, 1999.

Related AD

The FAA has issued a related AD, AD

99–18–19, amendment 39–11285 (64 FR

48277, September 3, 1999), which is

applicable to certain General Electric

engines installed on Airbus Model A310

and A300–600 series airplanes. Among

other things, that AD requires, at

paragraph (g), an AFM revision similar

to that proposed in this notice of

proposed rulemaking (NPRM). The FAA

may consider further rulemaking to

remove the AFM revision requirement

of paragraph (g) of AD 99–18–19. The

FAA can more adequately address the

identified unsafe condition by

incorporating that requirement into this

proposed AD, which is directed to

70822 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 229 / Tuesday, November 28, 2000 / Proposed Rules

airplanes rather than engines, and by

including all Airbus Model A310 and

A300–600 series airplanes powered by

Pratt & Whitney and General Electric

engines in the applicability of this

proposed AD.

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

revising the AFM to provide the flight

crew with procedures to maintain

airplane controllability in the event of

an in-flight thrust reverser deployment.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 116 airplanes

of U.S. registry would be affected by this

proposed AD. It would take

approximately 1 work hour per airplane

to do the actions, at an average labor

rate of $60 per work hour. Based on

these figures, the cost impact of the

proposed AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $6,960, or $60 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 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–124–

AD.

Applicability: All Model A310 and Model

A300–600 series airplanes; certificated in any

category.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To maintain airplane controllability in the

event of an in-flight thrust reverser

deployment, accomplish the following:

Revisions to the Airplane Flight Manual

(AFM)

(a) Within 30 days after the effective date

of this AD, revise the Limitations and

Emergency Procedures Sections of the FAAapproved AFM by inserting the following

references into Section 4.02.00 of the

applicable AFM.

Model/Series Reference Date

Airbus A310 AFM:

A310–203, –221, –222, and –304 ................................................................. Ref. 02 ................................ November 23, 1999.

A310–324 and –325 ...................................................................................... Ref. 04 ................................ November 24, 1999.

Airbus A300–600 AFM:

A300–600 B4–605R ...................................................................................... Ref. 02 ................................ November 23, 1999.

A300–600 F4–605R ...................................................................................... Ref. 05 ................................ November 24, 1999.

A300–600 B4–622R ...................................................................................... Ref. 06 ................................ November 25, 1999.

(b) After the AFM is revised as required by

paragraph (a) of this AD, the AFM revision

for Airbus Model A310 and A300–600 series

airplanes powered by certain General Electric

engines, as required by paragraph (g) of AD

99–18–19, amendment 39–11285, may be

removed.

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 Operations

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, International Branch,

ANM–116.

Note 1: 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.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on

November 21, 2000.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–30321 Filed 11–27–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P