Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 Series Airplanes, 13094-13095 [05-5140]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 52 (Friday, March 18, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13094-13095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5140]



[[Page 13094]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19264; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-90-AD; 
Amendment 39-14014; AD 2005-06-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 
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, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This AD 
requires modification of certain auxiliary power unit (APU) alternating 
current (AC) generators. This AD is prompted by a report of an 
explosion in the APU compartment, which blew open the compartment 
doors. We are issuing this AD to prevent oil vapor leakage from the APU 
AC generator, which, when combined with an electric arc at the 
electrical receptacle, could result in a fire or explosion in the APU 
compartment during flight.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 22, 2005.
    The incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in 
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of April 
22, 2005.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France.
    Docket: The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any 
final disposition. You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at 
https://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-2004-19264; the directorate 
identifier for this docket is 2004-NM-90-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: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with an AD for certain Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 series 
airplanes. That action, published in the Federal Register on October 7, 
2004 (69 FR 60098), proposed to require modification of certain 
auxiliary power unit (APU) alternating current (AC) generators.

Explanation of New Relevant Service Information

    The proposed AD refers to Airbus Service Bulletin A320-24-1106, 
dated May 26, 2003, as the appropriate source of service information 
for the modification of affected APU AC generators. Since the issuance 
of that service bulletin, Airbus has issued Revision 01, dated May 13, 
2004. Revision 01 of the service bulletin provides additional 
information regarding on-airplane modification of the APU AC 
generators. Revision 01 also removes the concurrent action--
accomplishment of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-24-1082, Revision 01, 
dated March 15, 1996, which was specified in the original issue of the 
service bulletin. We have revised paragraph (f) of this final rule to 
refer to Revision 01 of the service bulletin as the appropriate source 
of service information. We have also not included paragraph (g) of the 
proposed AD, which contained the requirement to accomplish Airbus 
Service Bulletin A320-24-1082, and we have made other editorial changes 
throughout the AD related to the omission of this requirement. We have 
added a new paragraph (g) to this final rule to specify that 
modification of the APU AC generators accomplished before the effective 
date of this AD in accordance with the original issue of the service 
bulletin is acceptable for compliance with this AD.

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.

Support for the Proposed AD

    One commenter supports the proposed AD.

Request To Remove Parts Installation Paragraph

    One commenter requests that we do not include paragraph (h) of the 
proposed AD, ``Part Installation,'' in the final rule. The commenter 
states that prohibiting the installation of an APU AC generator having 
an old part number is too restrictive at the beginning of the proposed 
20-month compliance time because modified generators or the parts to 
modify the generators may not be readily available. Also, the commenter 
notes that the restrictions of paragraph (h) of the proposed AD would 
not allow for removing and reinstalling an unmodified generator during 
the course of troubleshooting. The commenter states that installing an 
unmodified APU AC generator would not pose any additional safety risk 
as long as all affected units are modified within the proposed 20-month 
compliance time.
    We agree with the commenter's request and the rationale for that 
request. We have determined that modifying an APU AC generator within 
the 20-month compliance time specified by paragraph (f) of this AD is 
adequate to ensure an acceptable level of safety. Accordingly, we have 
not included paragraph (h) of the proposed AD in this final rule, and 
we have re-identified subsequent paragraphs in this final rule.

Request To Refer to Alternative Parts

    One commenter notes that Hamilton Sundstrand Service Bulletin 
90EGS01AG-24-18, dated February 13, 2003, which is referenced in the 
Airbus service bulletin as a source of additional information on the 
modification, refers to a type of lockwire and aerospace marker that 
are not readily available in the U.S. The commenter recommends the use 
of an alternate lockwire and marker that are readily available in the 
U.S. The commenter states that Airbus and Hamilton Sundstrand have 
concurred that these are acceptable alternatives.
    We acknowledge the commenter's request but do not agree to revise 
the AD. It would not be possible for us to consider every alternate 
part that might be used in accomplishing the requirements of an AD. Any 
operator who would like to use an alternate type of lockwire and 
aerospace marker may submit a request for approval of an alternative 
method of compliance (AMOC), as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD. 
The request must include data substantiating that an acceptable level 
of safety would be maintained by use of the alternate type of lockwire 
and marker. No change to the AD is needed in this regard.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comments that have been submitted, and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD with the changes described 
previously. We have determined that these changes

[[Page 13095]]

will neither increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase 
the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD will affect about 537 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The modification will take about 5 work hours per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts would be free 
of charge. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the 
modification for U.S. operators is $174,525, or $325 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 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. 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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2005-06-06 Airbus: Amendment 39-14014. Docket No. FAA-2004-19264; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-90-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 22, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 series 
airplanes; certificated in any category; equipped with any Hamilton 
Sundstrand Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) alternating current (AC) 
generator having part number 5906732, 5909006, or 5910047; with up 
to amendment 17 included; on which Airbus Modification 32614 has not 
been done.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report of an explosion in the APU 
compartment which blew open the compartment doors. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent oil vapor leakage from the APU AC generator, 
which, when combined with an electric arc at the electrical 
receptacle, could result in a fire or explosion in the APU 
compartment during flight.

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.

Modification

    (f) Within 20 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the APU AC generator by doing all the actions in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-24-1106, 
Revision 01, dated May 13, 2004.

    Note 1: Airbus Service Bulletin A320-24-1106, Revision 01, 
refers to Hamilton Sundstrand Service Bulletin 90EGS01AG-24-18, 
dated February 13, 2003, as an additional source of service 
information for accomplishment of the modification required by 
paragraph (f) of this AD.

Previously Accomplished Actions

    (g) Modification of the APU AC generator accomplished before the 
effective date of this AD in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-24-1106, dated May 26, 
2003, is acceptable for compliance with the modification required by 
paragraph (f) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) 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

    (i) French airworthiness directive F-2004-019, dated February 4, 
2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A320-24-1106, Revision 
01, dated May 13, 2004, to perform the actions that are required by 
this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves the incorporation by reference of this 
document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For 
copies of the service information, contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point 
Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. For information on 
the availability of this material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA), call (202) 741-6030, or go to https://
www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/
ibr_locations.html. You may view the AD docket at the Docket 
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 8, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-5140 Filed 3-17-05; 8:45 am]
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