Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A320 Series Airplanes

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 93-NM-63-AD; Amendment 39-8965; AD 94-14-17]

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A320 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to certain Airbus Model A320 series airplanes, that requires

either the removal of the girt bar visual indicator brackets on

passenger exit doors, or modification of the lanyard connecting the

survival kit to the slide/raft. This amendment is prompted by a report

that, during an emergency evacuation demonstration, the lanyard became

entangled on the girt bar indicator mechanism, and subsequently

prevented an exit door from opening fully to a locked position. The

actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the lanyard from

becoming entangled and interfering with proper opening of the exit

door, a situation which could impede the successful evacuation of

passengers through the door during an overwater operation where

ditching is required.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 8, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Information related to this rulemaking action may be

examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,

Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Slotte, Aerospace Engineer,

Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206)

227-2797; fax (206) 227-1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Airbus Model A320 series

airplanes was published as a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM) in the Federal Register on April 25, 1994 (59 FR 19681). That

action proposed to require either the removal of the girt bar visual

indicator brackets on passenger exit doors, or modification of the

lanyard that connects the survival kit to the slide/raft.

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate

in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to

the comments received.

Two commenters support the proposal.

One commenters requests that airplanes on which Airbus Industrie

Modification 23605 has been accomplished be excluded from the

applicability of the rule. That modification is described in Airbus

Service Bulletin A320-25-1109, dated April 20, 1993, and entails

removing the girt bar visual indicator brackets (plates) and replacing

them with a red arrow placard that is used to indicate positive girt

bar engagement. (The commenter also states that all Model A320 series

airplanes up to serial number 413 have been delivered with this

modification.) The FAA concurs with the commenter's request. The FAA

addressed Modification 23605 in the preamble to the supplemental NPRM,

and found that, although removal of the brackets will prevent possible

interference between the overwater survival kit lanyard and the slide/

raft decorative cover, the red arrow placard did not provide for an

acceptable means of girt bar position indication. However, since one of

the options for complying with this AD [as provided by paragraph

(a)(1)] is to remove the girt bar visual indicator brackets, the FAA

now considers that airplanes on which Modification 23605 has been

accomplished are in compliance with that paragraph of the rule because

the brackets have been removed on those airplanes. (Whether or not the

red arrow placard, installed as part of Modification 23605, is used to

determine the engagement of the girt bar is of no consequence, since

the girt bar position/arming indicator in the cockpit remains as a

source to obtain positive indication of the position of the girt bar.)

Accordingly, the applicability of the final rule has been revised to

exclude airplanes on which Modification 23605 has been installed.

After careful review of the available data, including the comments

noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public

interest require the adoption of the rule with the change previously

described. The FAA has determined that this change will neither

increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of

the AD.

This is considered interim action. Airbus Industrie has advised the

FAA that it is developing an alternative method of girt bar position

indication for all Model A320 series airplanes that will not entail a

design feature that would contribute to the addressed problem of

lanyard entanglement. Once this modification is developed, approved,

and available, the FAA may consider further rulemaking.

The FAA estimates that 59 Model A320 airplanes of U.S. registry

will be affected by this AD.

Accomplishment of the removal of the girt bar visual indicator

brackets will take approximately 1 work hour per airplane, at an

average labor rate of $55 per work hour. Based on these figures, the

total cost impact of this removal action on U.S. operators who elect to

accomplish it is estimated to be $55 per airplane.

The time necessary to accomplish the modification of the lanyard

may vary from operator to operator, depending upon the design submitted

for approval by the FAA. However, the FAA estimates that a typical

modification will require an average of 2 work hours to accomplish, at

an average labor rate of $55 per work hour. Based on these figures, the

total cost impact of this modification action on U.S. operators who

elect to accomplish it is estimated to be $110 per airplane.

Based on the figures discussed above, the total cost impact of this

AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be between $3,245 and $6,490. This

total cost impact figure is based on assumptions that no operator has

yet accomplished any of the requirements of this AD action, and that no

operator would accomplish those actions in the future if this AD were

not adopted.

The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct

effects 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. Therefore, in

accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final

rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action

and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained

from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption

ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of

the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.

106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new

airworthiness directive:

94-14-17 Airbus Industrie: Amendment 39-8965. Docket 93-NM-63-AD.

Applicability: Model A320 series airplanes equipped with slide/

raft evacuation systems; on which Airbus Industrie Modification

23605 (specified in Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1109, dated

April 20, 1993) has not been accomplished; certificated in any

category.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished

previously.

To prevent the lanyard from becoming entangled on the girt bar

indicator mechanism and preventing the exit door from opening

properly if passengers are required to use the exit door during

overwater operations where ditching may be required, accomplish the

following:

(a) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD,

accomplish the requirements of either paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of

this AD:

(1) Remove the girt bar visual indicator brackets (plates) from

all passenger exit doors that are so equipped. Or

(2) Modify the lanyard that attaches the survival kit to the

slide/raft so that it does not become entangled on the girt bar

indicator mechanism, in accordance with a method approved by the

Manager, Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane

Directorate.

(b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the

compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager, Standardization Branch, ANM-113,

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their

requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector,

who may add comments and then send it to the Manager,

Standardization Branch, ANM-113.

Note: Information concerning the existence of approved

alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with

sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14

CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where

the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

(d) This amendment becomes effective on August 8, 1994.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 29, 1994.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service.

[FR Doc. 94-16304 Filed 7-6-94; 8:45 am]

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