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[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 83 (Monday, April 30, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21291-21292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10595]

[[Page 21291]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-415-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 
Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the supersedure of an existing 
airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Airbus Model A319, 
A320, and A321 series airplanes, that currently requires modification 
of the forward and aft evacuation slide systems by replacing the Velcro 
restraints for the support logs with frangible link restraints. This 
action would reduce the time to accomplish the modification from 3 
years to 9 months. 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 the ingestion of sill support-log material into the aspirator 
of the evacuation slide, which could result in failure of the slide to 
inflate.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 30, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-415-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: 
[email protected]. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must 
contain ``Docket No. 2000-NM-415-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: Tim Dulin, Aerospace Engineer, 
ANM-116, FAA, International Branch, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2141; 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 2000-NM-415-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-415-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    On February 15, 2000, the FAA issued AD 2000-04-06, amendment 39-
11588 (65 FR 9212, February 24, 2000), applicable to certain Airbus 
Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes, to require modification of 
the forward and aft evacuation slide systems by replacing the Velcro 
restraints for the support logs with frangible link restraints. That 
action was prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The 
requirements of that AD are intended to prevent the ingestion of sill 
support-log material into the aspirator of the evacuation slide, which 
could result in failure of the slide to inflate.

Actions Since Issuance of Previous Rule

    Since the issuance of AD 2000-04-06, there have been additional 
incidents of the evacuation slide failing to inflate, due to the 
ingestion of sill support-log material into the aspirator of the slide.

French Airworthiness Directives

    After receiving additional reports of failure of the evacuation 
slide to inflate, the Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), 
which is the airworthiness authority for France, issued Revision 1 to 
French airworthiness directive 2000-359-152(B), dated November 29, 
2000, to reduce the compliance time for accomplishment of the 
modification 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 supersede AD 2000-04-06 to 
continue

[[Page 21292]]

to require modification of the forward and aft evacuation slide systems 
by replacing the Velcro restraints for the support logs with frangible 
link restraints. The proposed AD would shorten the compliance time from 
3 years after the effective date of AD 2000-04-06 to 9 months after the 
effective date of the proposed AD. All other requirements of AD 2000-
04-06 would remain the same.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 202 airplanes of U.S. registry that would 
be affected by this proposed AD.
    The modification that is currently required by AD 2000-04-06 and 
retained in this proposed AD was previously reported to take 
approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish. That 
modification, however, is now estimated to take approximately 5 work 
hours per airplane to accomplish. The average labor rate is $60 per 
work hour. There is no charge for required parts. Based on these 
figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $60,600, or $300 per airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the current or 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.

Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing amendment 39-11588 (65 FR 
9212, February 4, 2000), and by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD), to read as follows:

Airbus Industrie: Docket 2000-NM-415-AD. Supersedes AD 2000-
04-06, Amendment 39-11588.

    Applicability: Model A319, A320, and A321 series 
airplanes; certificated in any category; equipped with any emergency 
evacuation slide having a part number (P/N) listed as:

D31516-103
D31516-105
D31516-107
D31516-109
D31517-103
D31517-105
D31517-107
D31517-109

    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 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 ingestion of sill support-log material into the 
aspirator of the escape slide which could result in failure of the 
escape slide to inflate, accomplish the following:

Modification

    (a) Within 9 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the forward and aft emergency evacuation slides by replacing the 
Velcro restraints for the support logs with frangible link 
restraints, in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1215, 
dated April 29, 1999.

    Note 2: Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1215 refers to 
Air Cruisers Service Bulletin 004-25-51, dated February 26, 1999, as 
an additional source of service information for accomplishment of 
the modification.

Spares

    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install 
on any airplane an emergency evacuation slide having P/N D31516-103, 
D31516-105, D31516-107, D31516-109, D31517-103, D31517-105, D31517-
107, or D31517-109.

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 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 2000-359-152(B) R1, dated November 29, 2000.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 23, 2001.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-10595 Filed 4-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-39-U
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