20948 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 81 / Thursday, April 26, 2001 / Proposed Rules

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 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:

Aerospatiale: Docket 2001–NM–38–AD.

Applicability: Model ATR72–101, –201,

–102, –202, –211, and –212 series airplanes,

certificated in any category, except those on

which Modification 3719 has been

performed.

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 (c) 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 the chafing of electrical wires,

which could cause a short circuit and failure

of the elevator control cable and the green

system hydraulic pump, resulting in reduced

controllability of the airplane and consequent

injury to the crew and passengers,

accomplish the following:

Inspection and Corrective Action

(a) Within 25 days after the effective date

of this AD: Perform a general visual

inspection of harness route 2P and the pitch

control cable for chafing, in accordance with

Avions de Transport Regional Service

Bulletin ATR72–92–1004, dated January 26,

2001.

(1) If no chafing is found, no further action

is required by this paragraph.

(2) If any chafing of the harness route 2P

or the pitch control cable is found during the

inspection, prior to further flight, replace the

applicable part with a new or serviceable part

in accordance with Avions de Transport

Regional Service Bulletin ATR72–92–1004,

dated January 26, 2001.

Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a

general visual inspection is defined as: ‘‘A

visual examination of an interior or exterior

area, installation, or assembly to detect

obvious damage, failure, or irregularity. This

level of inspection is made under normally

available lighting conditions such as

daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or droplight, and may require removal or opening of

access panels or doors. Stands, ladders, or

platforms may be required to gain proximity

to the area being checked.’’

(b) Within 25 days after the effective date

of this AD: Remove the oversized clamp (20

mm), part number (P/N) NSA935807–20, at

frame 28, which retains power supply cables

loom 2P for the green circuit hydraulic

pump, and install a 16mm clamp, P/N

NSA935807–16, with new orientation, in

accordance with Avions de Transport

Regional Service Bulletin ATR72–92–1004,

dated January 26, 2001.

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, Transport

Airplane Directorate, 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 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

(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.

Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed

in French airworthiness directive 2001–056–

055(B), dated February 7, 2001.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 19,

2001.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–10346 Filed 4–25–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001–NM–04–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model

A310 Series Airplanes and Airbus

Model A300 B4–600, B4–600R, and F4–

600R (Collectively Called 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

certain Airbus Model A310 series

airplanes and Airbus Model A300 B4–

600, B4–600R, and F4–600R

(collectively called A300–600) series

airplanes. This proposal would require

revising the Airplane Flight Manual to

prohibit the airplane from being moved

during inertial reference unit alignment.

This action is necessary to prevent a

loss of positioning data and a display of

incorrect attitude data to the flight crew,

which could result in severe

consequences to the airworthiness of the

airplane if operated under flight

conditions with no visual reference.

This action is intended to address the

identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by

May 29, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 81 / Thursday, April 26, 2001 / Proposed Rules 20949

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001–NM–

04–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, except Federal

holidays. Comments may be submitted

via fax to (425) 227–1232. Comments

may also be sent via the Internet using

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

via fax or the Internet must contain

‘‘Docket No. 2001–NM–04–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:

Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–1175;

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 Number 2001–NM–04–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.

2001–NM–04–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, notified the

FAA that an unsafe condition may exist

on Airbus Model A310 series airplanes

and Airbus Model A300 B4–600, B4–

600R, and F4–600R (collectively called

A300–600) series airplanes with certain

Honeywell Inertial Reference Units

(IRU), also called Internial Reference

Systems (IRS). The DGAC advises that

operator reported the loss of positioning

data and the display of incorrect

attitude data shortly after take-off,

because the aircraft had been moved on

the ground before the end of the IRU

alignment procedure. This condition, if

not corrected, could result in severe

consequences to the airworthiness of the

airplane if operated under flight

conditions with no visual reference.

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information

Airbus has issued A310 Temporary

Revision (TR) 4.03.00/22, and A300–600

TR 4.03.00/22, both dated September

18, 2000, to the Airplane Flight Manual

(AFM), which prohibit the flight crew

from moving the aircraft during IRU

alignment. (In the Temporary Revision

page, Inertial Reference Unit—IRU—is

referred to as the Intertial Reference

System—IRS.) Accomplishment of the

actions specified in the TRs is intended

to adequately address the identified

unsafe condition. The DGAC classified

these TRs as mandatory and issued

French airworthiness directive 2000–

480–325(B), dated November 29, 2000,

in order to assure the continued

airworthiness of these airplanes in

France.

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 applicable FAA-approved

AFMs to prohibit moving the airplane

during IRU alignment.

Differences Between Proposed Rule and

Foreign Airworthiness Directive

The proposed AD would differ from

the parallel French airworthiness

directive in that it would require

accomplishment of the revision to the

applicable AFMs within 10 days after

the effective date of this AD. In

developing an appropriate compliance

time for this AD, the FAA considered

not only the DGAC’s recommendation,

but the degree of urgency associated

with addressing the subject unsafe

condition, the average utilization of the

affected fleet, and the time necessary to

perform the revision (less than one

hour). In light of all of these factors, the

FAA finds a 10-day compliance time for

completing the required actions to be

warranted, in that it represents an

appropriate interval of time allowable

for affected airplanes to continue to

operate without compromising safety.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 157 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 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

$9,420, 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

20950 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 81 / Thursday, April 26, 2001 / Proposed Rules

action, and that no operator would

accomplish those actions in the future if

this proposed 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 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 2001–NM–04–AD.

Applicability: Model A310 series airplanes

and Model A300 B4–600, B4–600R, and F4–

600R (collectively called A300–600) series

airplanes; certificated in any category; with

installed Inertial Reference Units (IRU)

Honeywell 10 MCU part number (P/N)

HG1050BD02 or HG1050BD05.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent a loss of positioning data and

a display of incorrect attitude data to the

flight crew, accomplish the following:

Revision to Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)

(a) Within 10 days after the effective date

of this AD, revise the Normal Procedures

section of the FAA-approved AFM to include

the following information. This may be

accomplished by inserting either a copy of

this AD or Temporary Revision (TR) 4.03.00/

22 into the A310 AFM or the A300–600

AFM, as applicable, facing 4.03.00 page 1.

‘‘COCKPIT PREPARATION

Do not move the aircraft during IRS

alignment.

PRIOR TO TAKEOFF

Scan PFD/ND to check correct display of

all primary attitude and heading

information.’’

(b) When the information in TR 4.03.00/22

has been incorporated into FAA-approved

general revisions of the AFM, the general

revisions may be incorporated in the AFM,

and this TR or this AD may be removed from

the AFM.

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, Transport

Airplane Directorate, FAA. 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.

Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed

in French airworthiness directive 2000–480–

325(B), dated November 29, 2000.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 19,

2001.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–10345 Filed 4–25–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001–NM–02–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing

Model 747 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

supersedure of an existing airworthiness

directive (AD), applicable to certain

Boeing Model 747 series airplanes, that

currently requires repetitive detailed

visual inspections to find discrepancies

of the installation of the midspar fuse

pins of the inboard and outboard struts,

and follow-on actions, if necessary. The

existing AD also provides an optional

terminating modification for the

repetitive inspections. This action

would mandate accomplishment of the

previously optional terminating

modification. The actions specified by

the proposed AD are intended to find

and fix discrepancies of the installation

of the midspar fuse pins, which could

result in loss of the secondary retention

capability of the fuse pins, migration of

the fuse pins, and consequent loss of the

strut and engine from the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received by

June 11, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001–NM–

02–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 be

submitted via fax to (425) 227–1232.

Comments may also be sent via the

Internet using the following address: 9-

anm-nprmcomment@faa.gov. Comments

sent via fax or the Internet must contain

‘‘Docket No. 2001–NM–02–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

Boeing Commercial Airplane Group,

P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington

98124–2207. This information may be

examined at the FAA, Transport