Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A320 Series Airplanes

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-NM-121-AD; Amendment 39-9030; AD 94-20-02]

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A320 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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

is applicable to all Airbus Model A320 series airplanes. This action

requires revising the Limitations Section of the FAA-approved Airplane

Flight Manual (AFM) to instruct the flight crew to maintain a flap

setting of configuration full (CONF FULL) during landing. This

amendment is prompted by a report of severe control difficulties which

occurred on approach with the flaps locked in CONF FULL and the landing

gear down. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent

severely reduced controllability of the airplane during approach.

DATES: Effective October 7, 1994.

The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in

the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as

of October 7, 1994.

Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or

before November 21, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-NM-121-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055-4056.

The Airplane Flight Manual information referenced in this AD may be

obtained from Airbus Industrie, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707

Blagnac Cedex, France. This information may be examined at the FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

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: Recently, the FAA received a report that a

Model A320 series airplane experienced severe control difficulties on

approach with the flaps locked in configuration full (CONF FULL) and

the landing gear down. In this incident, the Electronic Centralized

Aircraft Monitor (ECAM) system directed the flight crew to select

configuration (CONF) 3 for landing. When the flight crew placed the

slats/flaps lever in CONF 3, the slats retracted from 27 degrees to 22

degrees, but the flaps remained locked in the full position (40

degrees). Consequently, the flight crew engaged the autopilot, which

resulted in the lateral control laws responding to the corresponding

CONF 3. In turbulent conditions, this configuration may lead to serious

lateral oscillation with the autopilot engaged or to an increase of the

lateral sensitivity in manual control. This condition, if not

corrected, could result in severely reduced controllability of the

airplane during approach.

Airbus has issued A320/A321 Flight Manual Temporary Revision

9.99.99/20, dated June 14, 1994, which provides the flight crew with

modified procedures for flaps fault/locked condition. These modified

procedures instruct the flight crew to maintain CONF FULL during

landing approaches.

This airplane model is manufactured in France 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 Direction Generale de l'Aviation

Civile (DGAC), which is the airworthiness authority for France, has

kept the FAA informed of the situation described above. The FAA has

examined the findings, reviewed all available information, and

determined that AD action is necessary for products of this type design

that are certificated for operation in the United States.

Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to

exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design registered

in the United States, this AD is being issued to prevent severely

reduced controllability of the airplane during approach. The FAA has

determined that this unsafe condition may be temporarily addressed by

revising the Limitations Section of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to

advise the flight crew to maintain CONF FULL during landing approaches.

This AFM revision is to be accomplished in accordance with the

information specified in the Airbus document described previously.

This is considered to be interim action. The manufacturer has

advised that it currently is developing a modification that will

positively address the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. Once this

modification is developed, approved, and available, the FAA may

consider further rulemaking.

Since a situation exists that requires the immediate adoption of

this regulation, it is found that notice and opportunity for prior

public comment hereon are impracticable, and that good cause exists for

making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves

requirements affecting flight safety and, thus, was not preceded by

notice and an opportunity for public comment, comments are invited on

this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by

submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire.

Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted

in triplicate to the address specified under the caption ``ADDRESSES.''

All communications received on or before the closing date for comments

will be considered, and this rule may be amended in light of the

comments received. Factual information that supports the commenter's

ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the

effectiveness of the AD action and determining whether additional

rulemaking action would be needed.

Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,

economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might

suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be

available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the

Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that

summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this

AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed,

stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments

to Docket Number 94-NM-121-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

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.

The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency

regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe

condition in aircraft, and that it is not a ``significant regulatory

action'' under Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further

that this action involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory

Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is

determined that this emergency regulation otherwise would be

significant under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final

regulatory evaluation will be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket.

A copy of it, if filed, 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, Incorporation by

reference, 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:

94-20-02 Airbus Industrie: Amendment 39-9030. Docket 94-NM-121-AD.

Applicability: All Model A320 series airplanes, certificated in

any category.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished

previously.

To prevent severely reduced controllability of the airplane

during approach under certain conditions, accomplish the following:

(a) Within 10 days after the effective date of this AD, revise

the Limitations Section of the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual

(AFM) to include the information specified in Airbus A320/A321

Flight Manual Temporary Revision 9.99.99/20, dated June 14, 1994.

Note 1: This may be accomplished by inserting a copy of Airbus

A320/A321 Flight Manual Temporary Revision 9.99.99/20, dated June

14, 1994, in the AFM. When this temporary revision has been

incorporated in the general revisions of the AFM, the general

revisions may be inserted in the AFM, provided the information

contained in the general revisions is identical to that specified in

Temporary Revision 9.99.99/20.

(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 Operations Inspector,

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

Standardization Branch, ANM-113.

Note 2: 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) The revision to the AFM shall be done in accordance with

Airbus A320/A321 Flight Manual Temporary Revision 9.99.99/20, dated

June 14, 1994. This incorporation by reference was approved by the

Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a)

and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from Airbus Industrie, 1

Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. Copies may

be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal

Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

(e) This amendment becomes effective on October 7, 1994.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 15, 1994.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service.

[FR Doc. 94-23325 Filed 9-21-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-U