This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

54852 

Vol. 70, No. 180 

Monday, September 19, 2005 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2005–22455; Directorate 

Identifier 2005–NM–095–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model 

A300 B4–600, B4–600R, and F4–600R 

Series Airplanes, and Model C4–605R 

Variant F Airplanes (Collectively Called 

A300–600 Series Airplanes); and Model 

A310–300 Series Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for 

certain Airbus Model A300 B4–600, B4– 

600R, and F4–600R series airplanes, and 

Model C4–605R Variant F airplanes 

(collectively called A300–600 series 

airplanes); and Model A310–300 series 

airplanes. This proposed AD would 

require inspecting the pilot’s and copilot’s seats to determine if a certain 

actuator having a certain part number is 

installed, and corrective action if 

necessary. This proposed AD results 

from a production defect found in 

certain actuators during overhaul of the 

pilot’s and co-pilot’s seats. We are 

proposing this AD to prevent 

uncommanded movement of the pilot’s 

or co-pilot’s seat, which could result in 

interference with the operation of the 

airplane and consequent temporary loss 

of airplane control. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by October 19, 2005. 

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to submit comments on this 

proposed 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 

proposed AD. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim 

Backman, Aerospace Engineer, ANM– 

116, International Branch, FAA, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–2797; 

fax (425) 227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to submit any relevant 

written data, views, or arguments 

regarding this proposed AD. Include the 

docket number ‘‘FAA–2005–22455; 

Directorate Identifier 2005–NM–095– 

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 received 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 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. 

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 A300 B4– 

600, B4–600R, and F4–600R series 

airplanes, and Model C4–605R Variant F 

airplanes (collectively called A300–600 

series airplanes); and Model A310–300 

series airplanes. The DGAC advises that 

a production defect (abnormal wear of 

the gear at the end of the rotor shaft) was 

found on certain actuators during 

overhaul of the pilot’s and co-pilot’s 

seats. That defect could cause a 

deficiency in the seat control system 

and consequent uncommanded 

horizontal movement of the seats which 

is hazardous at high speeds during 

takeoff. Further investigation revealed 

that a batch of actuators were equipped 

with defective rotor shafts. These 

conditions, if not corrected, could result 

in uncommanded movement of the 

pilot’s or co-pilot’s seat, which could 

result in interference with the operation 

of the airplane and consequent 

temporary loss of airplane control. 

Relevant Service Information 

Airbus has issued Service Bulletins 

A300–25–6194 (for A300–600 series 

airplanes) and A310–25–2182 (for 

A310–300 series airplanes), both dated 

February 1, 2005. The service bulletins 

describe procedures for inspecting the 

pilot’s and co-pilot’s seats to determine 

if a certain actuator having a certain part 

number (P/N) is installed, and 

corrective action if necessary. The 

corrective action includes replacing any 

affected actuator with a new actuator. 

Accomplishing the actions specified in 

the service information is intended to 

adequately address the unsafe 

condition. The DGAC mandated the 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 180 / Monday, September 19, 2005 / Proposed Rules 54853 

service information and issued French 

airworthiness directive F–2005–038, 

dated March 2, 2005, to ensure the 

continued airworthiness of these 

airplanes in France. 

The proposed AD refers to SogermaServices Service Bulletin TAA12–25–

616, dated November 30, 2004, as an 

additional source of service information 

for accomplishing the actuator 

replacement. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of the Proposed 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 airplanes of this 

type design that are certificated for 

operation in the United States. 

Therefore, we are proposing this AD, 

which would require accomplishing the 

actions specified in the Airbus service 

information described previously, 

except as discussed under ‘‘Differences 

Between the Proposed AD and Service 

Information.’’

Differences Between the Proposed AD 

and Service Information 

The French airworthiness directive 

requires inspecting the pilot’s and copilot’s seats to determine if a certain 

seat having a certain P/N is installed, 

and if a certain actuator with a certain 

P/N is installed on the seat, but this 

proposed AD does not require an 

inspection for the P/N of the seat. The 

P/Ns for the seats are identified in the 

applicability section of this proposed 

AD; therefore, an inspection for that 

P/N is not necessary. Therefore, this AD 

requires an inspection for the actuator 

P/Ns only. 

Although the service bulletins 

referenced in this proposed AD specify 

to submit an inspection report to the 

manufacturer, this proposed AD does 

not include that requirement. 

Costs of Compliance 

This proposed AD would affect about 

169 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 

proposed inspection 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 proposed AD for U.S. operators is 

$10,985, or $65 per airplane. 

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 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, 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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

2. The Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA) amends § 39.13 

by adding the following new 

airworthiness directive (AD): 

Airbus: Docket No. FAA–2005–22455; 

Directorate Identifier 2005–NM–095–AD. 

Comments Due Date 

(a) The FAA must receive comments on 

this AD action by October 19, 2005. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A300 

B4–601, B4–603, B4–620, and B4–622 

airplanes, A300 B4–605R and B4–622R 

airplanes, A300 F4–605R and F4–622R 

airplanes, and A300 C4–605R Variant F 

airplanes; and Airbus Model A310–304, 

–322, –324, and –325 airplanes; certificated 

in any category; equipped with Sogerma 

Socea powered seats having part number 

(P/N) TAAI2–13PE00–01, –13PE01–01, 

–13CE00–01, or 13CE01–01 installed. 

Unsafe Condition 

(d) This AD results from a production 

defect found in certain actuators during 

overhaul of the pilot’s and co-pilot’s seats. 

We are issuing this AD to prevent 

uncommanded movement of the pilot’s or copilot’s seat, which could result in 

interference with the operation of the 

airplane and consequent temporary loss of 

airplane control. 

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. 

Inspection for Actuator Part Numbers and 

Corrective Action 

(f) Within 600 flight hours or 30 days after 

the effective date of this AD, whichever is 

first: Inspect to determine if a Messier Bugatti 

(Labinal) actuator with P/N 4136290004 or 

4136290005 is installed on the pilot’s or copilot’s seat by doing all the actions specified 

in the Accomplishment Instructions of 

Airbus Service Bulletin A310–25–2182 (for 

A310–300 series airplanes) or A300–25–6194 

(for A300–600 series airplanes), both dated 

February 1, 2005, as applicable. 

(1) If no actuator with the identified P/N 

is installed, no further action is required by 

this paragraph. 

(2) If any actuator with any identified 

P/N is installed: Within 6 months after the 

effective date of this AD, replace the affected 

actuator with a new actuator in accordance 

with the Accomplishment Instructions of the 

applicable service bulletin. 

Note 1: Airbus Service Bulletins A310–25–

2182 and A300–25–6194, both dated 

February 1, 2005, reference Sogerma-Services 

Service Bulletin TAA12–25–616, dated 

November 30, 2004, as an additional source 

of service information for accomplishing the 

actuator replacement. 

54854 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 180 / Monday, September 19, 2005 / Proposed Rules 

Parts Installation 

(g) After the effective date of this AD, no 

Messier Bugatti (Labinal) actuator with P/N 

4136290004 or 4136290005 may be installed 

on any airplane. 

No Reporting Required 

(h) Although the service bulletins 

referenced in this AD specify to submit an 

inspection report to the manufacturer, this 

AD does not include that requirement. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(i) The Manager, International Branch, 

ANM–116, FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, has the authority to approve 

AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 

accordance with the procedures found in 14 

CFR 39.19. 

Related Information 

(j) French airworthiness directive F–2005–

038, dated March 2, 2005, also addresses the 

subject of this AD. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

September 9, 2005. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 05–18530 Filed 9–16–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2005–22456; Directorate 

Identifier 2005–NM–128–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model 

A321–100 and –200 Series Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for 

certain Airbus Model A321–100 and 

–200 series airplanes. This proposed AD 

would require replacing the 

crashworthiness pins on the side-stay of 

the main landing gear (MLG) with new 

pins having an increased internal notch 

diameter. This proposed AD results 

from testing on the side-stay 

crashworthiness pins on the MLG, 

which revealed that, in the case of an 

emergency landing, the crashworthiness 

pins installed will not ensure a correct 

MLG collapse. We are proposing this 

AD to prevent a punctured fuel tank, 

which could cause damage to the 

airplane or injury to passengers. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by October 19, 2005. 

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to submit comments on this 

proposed 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. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Airbus, 1 

Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 

Blagnac Cedex, France. 

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 in the 

ADDRESSES section. Include the docket 

number ‘‘FAA–2005–22456; Directorate 

Identifier 2005–NM–128–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 received 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 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. 

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 A321–100 

and –200 series airplanes. The DGAC 

advises that, during the development 

qualification program of the 93T 

maximum takeoff weight (MTOW), 

complementary tests performed 

revealed that the main landing gear 

(MLG) side-stay crashworthiness pins 

installed with Airbus Modification 

24982 are not compatible. In the case of 

an emergency landing, the 

crashworthiness pins installed will not 

ensure a correct MLG collapse, and a 

risk of fuel tank puncture that could 

cause damage to the airplane or injury 

to passengers could result. 

Relevant Service Information 

Airbus has issued Service Bulletin 

A320–32–1229, dated August 9, 2001. 

The service bulletin describes 

procedures for replacing the 

crashworthiness pin on the MLG sidestay with a new pin having an increased 

internal notch diameter. Accomplishing 

the actions specified in the service 

information is intended to adequately 

address the unsafe condition. The 

DGAC mandated the service information 

and issued French airworthiness 

directive 2002–074(B) R1, dated March 

20, 2002, to ensure the continued 

airworthiness of these airplanes in 

France. 

The Airbus service bulletin refers to 

Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin 201–

32–26, dated July 20, 2001, as an 

additional source of service information 

for replacing the crashworthiness pins. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of the Proposed AD 

These airplane models are 

manufactured in France and are type