[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 14, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54314-54316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18210]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22401; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-93-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Hamburger Flugzeugbau G.m.b.H. Model 
HFB 320 HANSA Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all Hamburger Flugzeugbau G.m.b.H. Model HFB 320 HANSA airplanes. 
This proposed AD would require revising the Limitations Section of the 
Airplane Flight Manual to prohibit operation of the airplane past its 
designed life limit for the primary structure, which is 15,000 flight 
hours or 15,000 fight cycles, whichever occurs first; and to require 
contacting the FAA for approval of analysis that the airplane is safe 
to continue operation beyond the designed life limit. This proposed AD 
is prompted by a report that all airplanes in operation might have met 
or exceeded the designed life limit for the primary structure. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent continued operation of an airplane beyond 
its designed life limit for the primary structure, which could result 
in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 14, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
    <bullet> DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    <bullet> Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> By fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> 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.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Airbus Deutschland G.m.b.H, Customer Service HFB 320, Postfach 95 01 
09, D-21111 Hamburg, Germany.
    You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, 
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC. This docket 
number is FAA-2005-22401; the directorate identifier for this docket is 
2004-NM-93-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:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-22401; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-93-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    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 proposed AD. Using the search function of our 
docket Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets,

[[Page 54315]]

including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed 
the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You can review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you can visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    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 DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) , which is the airworthiness 
authority for Germany, notified us that an unsafe condition may exist 
on all Hamburger Flugzeugbau G.m.b.H. Model HFB 320 HANSA airplanes. 
The LBA advises that it is now possible that these airplanes might have 
exceeded, be close to, or have reached the design goal of the primary 
structure, which is 15,000 flight cycles, or 15,000 flight hours, 
whichever occurs first. The LBA states that Chapter 5 of the airplane 
maintenance manual (AMM) should be revised to prohibit operators from 
flying the airplane after it reaches its design goal, unless the 
operator complies with further inspections and/or modifications. This 
condition, if not corrected, could result in reduced structural 
integrity of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    Hamburger Flugzeugbau has issued HFB 320 Hansa Service Bulletin 05-
01, Revision 1, dated December 11, 2002. The service bulletin describes 
procedures for inserting Temporary Revision (TR) 5-55, dated December 
11, 2002, into Chapter 5 of the AMM. TR 5-55 restricts use of the AMM 
to the design goal limit (life limit) of the airplane. TR 5-55 is 
included in the service bulletin. For airplanes that reach, or have 
exceeded, the life limit of 15,000 flight cycles, or 15,000 flight 
hours, the service bulletin states that operators should contact the 
manufacturer to determine a program of inspections and repairs for the 
airplane to extend its operation. The service bulletin also recommends 
that operators of airplanes that have reached or exceeded the life 
limit send a report to the manufacturer indicating that they have 
inserted TR 5-55 into Chapter 5 of the AMM; and giving information 
about the airplane and its owner. Accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information is intended to adequately address the unsafe 
condition. The LBA mandated the service information and issued German 
airworthiness directive 2002-158, dated October 3, 2002, to ensure the 
continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Germany.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    This airplane model is manufactured in Germany and is 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 LBA has kept the FAA informed of 
the situation described above. We have examined the LBA'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 proposing this AD, which would require revising 
the airplane flight manual to prohibit operation of the airplane past 
its designed life limit for the primary structure, which is 15,000 
flight hours or 15,000 fight cycles, whichever occurs first. This 
proposed AD would also require contacting the FAA for approval to 
continue operation beyond the designed life limit.

Differences Between the Proposed AD and the German Airworthiness 
Directive

    The German airworthiness directive also specifies that operators 
should ground airplanes that have reached the designed life limit, and 
contact the manufacturer to determine actions to take for continued 
airworthiness. This proposed AD would require that operators contact 
the FAA to determine these actions.
    Operators should note that, although the German airworthiness 
directive specifies that operators should send an accomplishment report 
to the manufacturer, this proposed AD would not require that action.

Costs of Compliance

    There are 4 airplanes of U.S. registry that would be affected by 
this proposed AD. The revision to the Airworthiness Limitations Section 
of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness that is proposed in 
this AD would take about 1 work hour per airplane at an average labor 
rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost of the 
proposed AFM revision for U.S. operators would be $260, or $65 per 
airplane. We recognize that this proposed AD may impose certain 
additional operational costs. However, we cannot calculate those costs 
because we cannot predict the extent of any necessary repairs to ensure 
the continued airworthiness of the affected airplanes.

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 proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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. 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 proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location 
to examine the regulatory evaluation.

[[Page 54316]]

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Hamburger Flugzeugbau G.m.b.H.: Docket No. FAA-2005-22401; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-93-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration must receive comments on 
this AD action by October 14, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Hamburger Flugzeugbau Model HFB 320 
HANSA airplanes, certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report that all airplanes in 
operation might have met or exceeded the designed life limit for the 
primary structure. We are issuing this AD to prevent continued 
operation of an airplane beyond its designed life limit for the 
primary structure, which could result in reduced structural 
integrity of the airplane.

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.

Airworthiness Limitations Revision

    (f) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD: Revise 
the Limitations section of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to state 
the following (or insert a copy of this AD into the limitations 
section):
    Do not operate the airplane beyond 15,000 total flight cycles, 
or 15,000 total flight hours, whichever occurs first.
    (g) This limitation may be removed from the AFM after the 
Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, approves analysis that 
would substantiate continued safe operation beyond the designed life 
limit of 15,000 total flight cycles, or within 15,000 total flight 
hours on the airplane, whichever occurs first.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance 
with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (i) German airworthiness directive 2002-158, dated October 3, 
2002, also addresses the subject of this AD.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 6, 2005.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-18210 Filed 9-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P