Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 177 / Wednesday, September 14, 2005 / Rules and Regulations 54251 

Revision 1, dated March 11, 2003. Correct 

any discrepancies before further flight in 

accordance with the service bulletin. 

Inspections and corrective action done before 

the effective date of this AD in accordance 

with Avions de Transport Regional Service 

Bulletin ATR42–55–0010, dated July 12, 

2002, are acceptable for compliance with this 

paragraph. 

Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a 

detailed inspection is: ‘‘An intensive 

examination of a specific item, installation, 

or assembly to detect damage, failure, or 

irregularity. Available lighting is normally 

supplemented with a direct source of good 

lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. 

Inspection aids such as mirror, magnifying 

lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface 

cleaning and elaborate procedures may be 

required.’’

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(g) The Manager, International Branch, 

ANM–116, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 

for this AD, if requested in accordance with 

the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

Related Information 

(h) French airworthiness directive 2002–

431(B), dated August 21, 2002, also addresses 

the subject of this AD. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(i) You must use Avions de Transport 

Regional Service Bulletin ATR42–55–0009, 

dated July 12, 2002; and Avions de Transport 

Regional Service Bulletin ATR42–55–0010, 

Revision 1, dated March 11, 2003; as 

applicable, to perform the actions that are 

required by this AD, unless the AD specifies 

otherwise. Avions de Transport Regional 

Service Bulletin ATR42–55–0010, Revision 1, 

dated March 11, 2003, includes the following 

list of effective pages: 

LIST OF EFFECTIVE PAGES

Page 

No. 

Revision 

level shown 

on page 

Date shown on 

page 

1, 2, 4–13 .. 1 ................ March 11, 2003. 

3 ................ Original ...... July 12, 2002. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference of 

these documents in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 

552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact 

Aerospatiale, 316 Route de Bayonne, 31060 

Toulouse, Cedex 03, France, for a copy of this 

service information. You may review copies 

at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh 

Street SW., Room PL–401, Nassif Building, 

Washington, DC; on the Internet at http:// 

dms.dot.gov; or at the National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the NARA, call (202) 741–6030, 

or go to http://www.archives.gov/federalregister/cfr/ibr-locations.html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

September 6, 2005. 

Kalene C. Yanamura, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 05–18061 Filed 9–13–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2005–20405; Directorate 

Identifier 2002–NM–243–AD; Amendment 

39–14269; AD 2005–19–04] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model 

A340–200 and –300 Series Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Airbus Model A340–200 and –300 series 

airplanes. This AD requires revising the 

airplane flight manual to incorporate 

new procedures for the flightcrew to 

follow to correct miscalculation of the 

takeoff and accelerating or stopping 

distance of the airplane during a ferry 

flight under certain conditions. This AD 

results from a report that a software 

error could result in a miscalculation 

(underestimation) of the runway length 

necessary for takeoff in the case of a 

ferry flight with one engine not 

operating. We are issuing this AD to 

prevent this miscalculation, which, if 

combined with high takeoff weight, tooshort runway length, and high altitude 

and temperature of the airport, could 

result in inability of the flightcrew to 

abort the takeoff in a safe manner, 

reduced controllability of the airplane, 

and runway overrun. 

DATES: Effective September 29, 2005. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in the AD 

as of September 29, 2005. 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by November 14, 2005. 

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to submit comments on this 

AD. 

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to 

http://dms.dot.gov and follow the 

instructions for sending your comments 

electronically. 

• Government-wide rulemaking Web 

site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov 

and follow the instructions for sending 

your comments electronically. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility; 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 

room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on 

the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 

400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

Contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice 

Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France, 

for service information identified in this 

AD. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan 

Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–2125; 

fax (425) 227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

The Direction Ge ́ne ́rale de l’Aviation 

Civile (DGAC), which is the 

airworthiness authority for France, 

notified us that an unsafe condition may 

exist on certain Airbus Model A340–200 

and –300 series airplanes. The DGAC 

advises that, during certification of 

Airbus Model A340–600 series 

airplanes, an error in the Octopus 

software was discovered. The software 

error results in a miscalculation 

(underestimation) of the runway length 

necessary for takeoff in the case of a 

ferry flight with one engine not 

operating. In this situation, the takeoff 

procedure requires a progressive power 

setting of the engine symmetrical to the 

failed or non-operational engine. 

Investigation revealed that the 

calculations performed by the software 

give the same thrusts in the transient 

system for the three operational engines, 

resulting in an error in calculation of 

650 meters (2,133 feet) for the takeoff 

and accelerate/stop distance. This 

condition, if combined with high takeoff 

weight, too-short runway length, and 

high altitude and temperature of the 

airport, could result in inability of the 

flightcrew to abort the takeoff in a safe 

manner, reduced controllability of the 

airplane, and runway overrun. 

Relevant Service Information 

Airbus has issued Temporary 

Revision (TR) 6.03.02/05, dated August 

8, 2002, to the A340 Airplane Flight 

Manual (AFM). The TR describes 

procedures for revising the limitations 

section (appendices and supplements) 

of the AFM to provide procedures for 

the flightcrew to follow to correct 

54252 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 177 / Wednesday, September 14, 2005 / Rules and Regulations 

miscalculation of the takeoff and 

accelerating or stopping distance of the 

airplane during a ferry flight with one 

engine not operating. The DGAC 

mandated the TR and issued French 

airworthiness directive 2002–436(B), 

dated August 21, 2002, to ensure the 

continued airworthiness of these 

airplanes in France. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of This AD 

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. We have examined the 

DGAC’s findings, evaluated all pertinent 

information, and determined that we 

need to issue an AD for products of this 

type design that are certificated for 

operation in the United States. 

Therefore, we are issuing this AD to 

prevent miscalculation of the takeoff 

and accelerating or stopping distance of 

the airplane during ferry flight takeoff 

performance. This miscalculation, if 

combined with high takeoff weight, tooshort runway length, and high altitude 

and temperature of the airport, could 

result in inability of the flightcrew to 

abort the takeoff in a safe manner, 

reduced controllability of the airplane, 

and runway overrun. This AD requires 

revising the AFM to incorporate new 

procedures for the flightcrew to follow 

to correct miscalculation of the takeoff 

and accelerating or stopping distance of 

the airplane during a ferry flight under 

certain conditions. 

Costs of Compliance 

None of the airplanes affected by this 

action are on the U.S. Register. All 

airplanes affected by this AD are 

currently operated by non-U.S. 

operators under foreign registry; 

therefore, they are not directly affected 

by this AD action. However, we 

consider this AD necessary to ensure 

that the unsafe condition is addressed if 

any affected airplane is imported and 

placed on the U.S. Register in the future. 

If an affected airplane is imported and 

placed on the U.S. Register in the future, 

the required AFM revision would take 

about 1 work hour per airplane, at an 

average labor rate of $65 per work hour. 

Based on these figures, the estimated 

cost of the AD would be $65 per 

airplane. 

FAA’s Determination of the Effective 

Date 

No airplane affected by this AD is 

currently on the U.S. Register. 

Therefore, providing notice and 

opportunity for public comment is 

unnecessary before this AD is issued, 

and this AD may be made effective in 

less than 30 days after it is published in 

the Federal Register. 

Comments Invited 

This AD is a final rule that involves 

requirements that affect flight safety and 

was not preceded by notice and an 

opportunity for public comment; 

however, we invite you to submit any 

relevant written data, views, or 

arguments regarding this AD. Send your 

comments to the address listed under 

the ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket 

No. FAA–2005–20405; Directorate 

Identifier 2002–NM–243–AD’’ at the 

beginning of your comments. We 

specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

the AD that might suggest a need to 

modify it. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

dms.dot.gov, including any personal 

information you provide. We will also 

post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact with FAA 

personnel concerning this AD. Using the 

search function of that Web site, anyone 

can find and read the comments in any 

of our dockets, including the name of 

the individual who sent the comment 

(or signed the comment on behalf of an 

association, business, labor union, etc.). 

You may review the DOT’s complete 

Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 

Register published on April 11, 2000 

(65 FR 19477–78), or you may visit 

http://dms.dot.gov. 

Examining the Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in 

person at the Docket Management 

Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. The Docket 

Management Facility office (telephone 

(800) 647–5227) is located on the plaza 

level of the Nassif Building at the DOT 

street address stated in the ADDRESSES

section. Comments will be available in 

the AD docket shortly after the Docket 

Management System receives them. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, 

section 106, describes the authority of 

the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, 

Aviation Programs, describes in more 

detail the scope of the Agency’s 

authority. 

We are issuing this rulemaking under 

the authority described in subtitle VII, 

part A, subpart III, section 44701, 

‘‘General requirements.’’ Under that 

section, Congress charges the FAA with 

promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in 

air commerce by prescribing regulations 

for practices, methods, and procedures 

the Administrator finds necessary for 

safety in air commerce. This regulation 

is within the scope of that authority 

because it addresses an unsafe condition 

that is likely to exist or develop on 

products identified in this rulemaking 

action. 

Regulatory Findings 

We have determined that this AD will 

not have federalism implications under 

Executive Order 13132. This AD 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. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify that the 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. 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. 

We prepared a regulatory evaluation 

of the estimated costs to comply with 

this AD and placed it in the AD docket. 

See the ADDRESSES section for a location 

to examine the regulatory evaluation. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

■ Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 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. The Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA) amends § 39.13 

by adding the following new 

airworthiness directive (AD): 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 177 / Wednesday, September 14, 2005 / Rules and Regulations 54253 

2005–19–04 Airbus: Amendment 39–14269. 

Docket No. FAA–2005–20405; 

Directorate Identifier 2002–NM–243–AD. 

Effective Date 

(a) This AD becomes effective September 

29, 2005. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability: (c) This AD applies to Airbus 

Model A340–211, –212, and –213, and Model 

A340–311, –312, and –313 airplanes, 

certificated in any category; modified by 

Airbus modification 40647. 

Unsafe Condition 

(d) This AD results from a report that a 

software error could result in a 

miscalculation (underestimation) of the 

runway length necessary for takeoff in the 

case of a ferry flight with one engine not 

operating. The FAA is issuing this AD to 

prevent this miscalculation, which, if 

combined with high takeoff weight, too-short 

runway length, and high altitude and 

temperature of the airport, could result in 

inability of the flightcrew to abort the takeoff 

in a safe manner, reduced controllability of 

the airplane, and runway overrun. 

Compliance: (e) You are responsible for 

having the actions required by this AD 

performed within the compliance times 

specified, unless the actions have already 

been done. 

Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Revision 

(f) Within 10 days after the effective date 

of this AD: Revise the Limitations section of 

the Airbus A340 AFM to include the 

information in Airbus Temporary Revision 

(TR) 6.03.02/05, dated August 8, 2002, as 

specified in the TR. The TR includes 

procedures for the flightcrew to follow to 

correct miscalculation of the takeoff and 

accelerating or stopping distance of the 

airplane during a ferry flight with one engine 

not operating. 

Note 1: This may be done by inserting a 

copy of Airbus TR 6.03.02/05 in the AFM. 

When the TR has been included in the 

general revisions of the AFM, the general 

revisions may be inserted in the AFM 

provided the relevant information in the 

general revision is identical to that in Airbus 

TR 6.03.02/05. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(g) The Manager, International Branch, 

ANM–116, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 

for this AD, if requested in accordance with 

the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

Related Information 

(h) French airworthiness directive 2002–

436(B), dated August 21, 2002, also addresses 

the subject of this AD. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(i) You must use Airbus Temporary 

Revision 6.03.02/05, dated August 8, 2002, to 

the Airbus A340 Airplane Flight Manual, to 

perform the actions that are required by this 

AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 

Director of the Federal Register approved the 

incorporation by reference of this document 

in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. Contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point 

Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, 

France, for a copy of this service information. 

You may review copies at the Docket 

Management Facility, U.S. Department of 

Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 

room PL–401, Nassif Building, Washington, 

DC; on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or 

at the National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on 

the availability of this material at the NARA, 

call (202) 741–6030, or go to http:// 

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

September 6, 2005. 

Kalene C. Yanamura, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 05–18060 Filed 9–13–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2004–19750; Directorate 

Identifier 2003–NM–192–AD; Amendment 

39–14264; AD 2005–18–23] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing 

Model 737–600, –700, –700C, –800, and 

–900 Series Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an 

existing airworthiness directive (AD), 

which applies to all Boeing Model 737–

600, –700, –700C, –800, and –900 series 

airplanes. That AD currently requires 

either determining exposure to runway 

deicing fluids containing potassium 

formate, or performing repetitive 

inspections of certain electrical 

connectors in the wheel well of the 

main landing gear (MLG) for corrosion, 

and follow-on actions. This new AD 

adds a new inspection requirement and 

related corrective actions. This AD is 

prompted by additional reports 

indicating that significant corrosion of 

the electrical connectors in the wheel 

well of the MLG has also been found on 

airplanes that land on runways treated 

with deicing fluids containing 

potassium acetate. We are issuing this 

AD to prevent corrosion and subsequent 

moisture ingress into the electrical 

connectors, which could result in an 

electrical short and consequent 

incorrect functioning of critical airplane 

systems essential to safe flight and 

landing of the airplane, including fire 

warning systems. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective 

October 19, 2005. 

The incorporation by reference of 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737–

24A1148, Revision 1, dated July 10, 

2003; as listed in the AD; is approved 

by the Director of the Federal Register 

as of October 19, 2005. 

ADDRESSES: The service information 

referenced in this AD may be obtained 

from Boeing Commercial Airplanes, 

P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 

98124–2207. 

Docket: The AD docket contains the 

proposed AD, comments, and any final 

disposition. You can examine the AD 

docket on the Internet at http:// 

dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket 

Management Facility office between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. The 

Docket Management Facility office 

(telephone (800) 647–5227) is located on 

the plaza level of the Nassif Building at 

the U.S. Department of Transportation, 

400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL–401, 

Washington, DC. This docket number is 

FAA–2004–19750; the directorate 

identifier for this docket is 2003–NM–

192–AD. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Binh Tran, Aerospace Engineer, Systems 

and Equipment Branch, ANM–130S, 

FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 

Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98055–4056; telephone 

(425) 917–6485; fax (425) 917–6590. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA 

proposed to amend part 39 of the 

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 

part 39) with an AD to supersede AD 

2002–16–03, amendment 39–12842 (67 

FR 52396, August 12, 2002). The 

existing AD applies to all Boeing Model 

737–600, –700, –700C, –800, and –900 

series airplanes. The proposed AD was 

published in the Federal Register on 

December 1, 2004 (69 FR 69832), to 

require either determining exposure to 

runway deicing fluids containing 

potassium formate or performing 

repetitive inspections of certain 

electrical connectors in the wheel well 

of the main landing gear (MLG) for 

corrosion, and follow-on actions. 

Comments 

We provided the public the 

opportunity to participate in the 

development of this AD. We have 

considered the comments that have 

been submitted on the proposed AD.