[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 218 (Monday, November 14, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69067-69069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22219]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22120; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-92-AD; 
Amendment 39-14360; AD 2005-23-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319-100 Series Airplanes, 
Model A320-111 Airplanes, Model A320-200 Series Airplanes, and Model 
A321-100 Series Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Airbus Model A319-100 series airplanes, Model A320-111 
airplanes, Model A320-200 series airplanes, and Model A321-100 series 
airplanes equipped with any additional center tank (ACT). This AD 
requires identifying the part number of the ACT and, for certain ACTs, 
replacing the outer ACT manhole cover and seal. This AD results from 
reports of an ACT fuel transfer failure due to air leakage around the 
seal of the outer manhole covers of the ACTs. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent this leakage, which could result in fuel or fuel vapor leaking 
into the cargo compartment, and consequent increased risk of a fire in 
the cargo compartment.

DATES: This AD becomes effective December 19, 2005.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of December 19, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the 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., Nassif Building, 
room PL-401, Washington, DC.
    Contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, 
France, for service information identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Dulin, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2141; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the airworthiness directive (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 street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain Airbus Model 
A319-100 series airplanes, Model A320-111 airplanes, Model A320-200 
series

[[Page 69068]]

airplanes, and Model A321-100 series airplanes equipped with certain 
additional center tanks (ACT). That NPRM was published in the Federal 
Register on August 17, 2005 (70 FR 48336). That NPRM proposed to 
require identifying the part number (P/N) of the ACT and, for certain 
ACTs, replacing the outer ACT manhole cover and seal.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the single comment received. 
The commenter supports the NPRM.

Additional Service Bulletin Information

    After the NPRM was issued Airbus released Revision 02 of service 
bulletin A321-28-1105, dated March 11, 2005. We have reviewed it, and 
it is substantially similar to Revision 01, which was referred to in 
the NPRM as the acceptable source of service information. We have 
revised paragraph (g) of this AD to refer to Revision 02 of the service 
bulletin as the acceptable source of service information, and to give 
credit for doing Revision 01 before the effective date of this AD.

Clarification of Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC) Paragraph

    We have revised this action to clarify the appropriate procedure 
for notifying the principal inspector before using any approved AMOC on 
any airplane to which the AMOC applies.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD with the change described previously. 
We have determined that this change will neither increase the economic 
burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
to comply with this AD.

                                                                     Estimated Costs
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                                                                              Average                                     Number of U.S.-
                         Action                             Work hours     hourly labor        Parts         Cost per       registered      Fleet cost
                                                                               rate                          airplane        airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P/N identification......................................               1             $65              $0             $65              28          $1,820
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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 this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866;
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2005-23-02 Airbus: Amendment 39-14360. Docket No. FAA-2005-22120; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-92-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective December 19, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, 
-115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-111, -211, -212, -
214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, and -
131 airplanes; certificated in any category; which are equipped with 
any additional center tank (ACT).

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by reports of an ACT fuel transfer 
failure due to air leakage around the seal of the outer manhole 
covers of the ACTs. We are requiring this AD to prevent this 
leakage, which could result in fuel or fuel vapor leaking into the 
cargo compartment, and consequent increased risk of a fire in the 
cargo compartment.

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.

Part Number Identification

    (f) Within 30 days (for Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, 
-131, -132, and -133 airplanes) or 12 months (for Model A320-111, -
211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, 
-112, and -131 airplanes) after the effective date of this AD: 
Determine whether the part number (P/N) of each ACT installed on the 
airplane is included in Table 1 of this AD. If no ACT installed on 
the airplane has a P/N included

[[Page 69069]]

in Table 1 of this AD, no further work is required by this 
paragraph.

                       Table 1.--Affected ACT P/Ns
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D2827091100000
D2827091100200
D2827091100600
D2827091300000
D2827091300200
D2827091300400
D2827105100000
D2827105100200
D2827105100400
D2827105200000
D2827105200200
D2827105200400
D2827105300000
D2827105300200
D2827105300400
D2827105400000
D2827105400200
D2827105400400
D2827105400600
D2827105400800
D2827105500000
D2827105500200
D2827105500400
D2827105600000
D2827105600200
D2827105600400
D2827107500000
D2827107500200
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Manhole Cover/Seal Replacement

    (g) Within 30 days (for Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, 
-131, -132, and -133 airplanes) or 12 months (for Model A320-111, -
211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, 
-112, and -131 airplanes) after the effective date of this AD: For 
each ACT P/N listed in Table 1 of this AD: Before further flight, 
replace the outer ACT manhole cover with a reinforced manhole cover 
and replace the outer manhole cover seal with a new seal, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service 
Bulletin A320-28-1105, Revision 02, dated March 11, 2005. 
Replacements are also acceptable if done before the effective date 
of this AD in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1105, 
Revision 01, dated March 18, 2003; and Airbus Service Bulletin A320-
28-1105, dated October 22, 2002.

Parts Installation

    (h) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install 
an ACT having any P/N listed in Table 1 of this AD, unless the 
actions required by paragraph (g) of this AD have been done for that 
ACT.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(1) 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.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

Related Information

    (j) French airworthiness directive F-2004-038, dated March 17, 
2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1105, Revision 
02, dated March 11, 2005, 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington on October 26, 2005.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-22219 Filed 11-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P