Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Industrie Model A300 Series Airplanes Equipped With BFGoodrich Evacuation Door Slides

SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Airbus Model A300 series

airplanes. This proposal would require modification of certain

evacuation door slides. This proposal is prompted by a report that,

during flight crew training, the toe end of the slide lane tore. The

actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent damage to

the slide, which could render the slide unusable, contribute to injury

of passengers on the slide, and delay or impede the evacuation of

passengers during an emergency.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 5, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation

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

Attention: Rules Docket No. 93-NM-226-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be

obtained from BFGoodrich Company, Aircraft Evacuation Systems,

Sustaining Engineering, Department 7916, Phoenix, AZ 85040. This

information may be examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the FAA, Transport

Airplane Directorate, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3229

East Spring Street, Long Beach, California 90806-2425.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Gfrerer, Aerospace Engineer,

Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-131L, FAA, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3229 East

Spring Street, Long Beach, California 90806-2425; telephone (310) 988-

5338; fax (310) 988-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the

proposed 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 above. All

communications received on or before the closing date for comments,

specified above, will be considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in

light of the comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,

economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 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 summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with

the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments

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

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

to Docket Number 93-NM-226-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request

to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 93-NM-226-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington

98055-4056.

Discussion

The FAA has recieved a report that on three occasions, during

flight crew training, the toe end of the slide lane tore on certain

BFGoodrich evacuation door slides installed on Airbus Model A300 series

airplanes. Subsequent testing, conducted by BFGoodrich (the

manufacturer of the evacuation door slides), repeated such a failure

mode. Investigation of the testing results has revealed that

installation of an additional splice panel on the back side of the

slide surfaces will eliminate tearing at the toe end. Tearing at the

toe end of the slide lane, if not corrected, could render the slide

unusable, which could contribute to injury of passengers on the slide,

and could delay or impede the evacuation of passengers during an

emergency.

The FAA has reviewed and approved BFGoodrich Alert Service Bulletin

7A1299-25A274, dated December 15, 1993, that describes procedures for

modification of BFGoodrich evacuation door slides having part numbers

(P/N) 7A1299-001 and 7A1299-002. This modification involves applying a

splice panel to the back side of the main and toe end sliding surface.

Accomplishment of this modification will prevent tearing at the toe end

of the slide lane. -

This airplane model is manufactured in France and is type

certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of

Sec. 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations and the applicable

bilateral airworthiness agreement.

Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to

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

with the subject BFGoodrich evacuation door slides, the proposed AD

would require modification those slides by applying a splice panel to

the back side of the main and toe end sliding surface. The actions

would be required to be accomplished in accordance with the service

bulletin described previously.

Currently, there are no Airbus Model A300 series airplanes equipped

with BFGoodrich evacuation door slides on the U.S. Register that would

be affected by this proposed AD. However, should an affected airplane

be imported and placed on the U.S. Register in the future, it would

take approximately 6.2 work hours per slide to accomplish the proposed

actions, at an average labor rate of $55 per work hour. Required parts

would be provided by BFGoodrich at no cost to the operators. Based on

these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD is estimated to

be $341 per slide.

The regulations proposed herein would 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

proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant

the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this 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) if promulgated, 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 copy of the draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the

Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting 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.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 14

CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 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:

Airbus Industrie: Docket 93-NM-226-AD.

-Applicability: All Model A300 series airplanes, equipped with

BFGoodrich evacuation slides having part numbers (P/N) 7A1299-001

and 7A1299-002, certificated in any category.

-Note 1: The requirements of this AD are not applicable to

Airbus Model A310, A300-600, and A320 series airplanes.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished

previously. -

To prevent tearing of the toe end of the slide, which could

render the slide unusable, contribute to injury of passengers on the

slide, and could delay or impede the evacuation of passengers during

an emergency, accomplish the following:

(a) Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, modify

the evacuation door slides having P/N's 7A1299-001 and 7A1299-002,

in accordance with BFGoodrich Alert Service Bulletin 7A1299-25A274,

dated December 15, 1993.

(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, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification

Office (ACO), ANM-100S, 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, Los Angeles ACO.

Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved

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

obtained from the Los Angeles ACO.

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

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

requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 3, 1994.

N.B. Martenson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service.

[FR Doc. 94-2915 Filed 2-8-94; 8:45 am]

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