Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300-600 and Model A310 Series Airplanes

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96-NM-46-AD]

RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300-600 and Model A310

Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to Airbus Model A300-600 and Model

A310 series airplanes. This proposal would require testing to verify if

the smoke detection system can detect smoke within 60 seconds, and

cleaning the installation and duct, if necessary. This proposal is

prompted by a report that, during testing of the smoke detection system

on in-service airplanes, the system failed to detect smoke within 60

seconds due to dust accumulation in the extraction ducts. The actions

specified by the proposed AD are intended to ensure that dust

accumulation does not reduce the

[[Page 39605]]

effectiveness of the smoke detection system and, consequently, lead to

undetected smoke or fire in the lavatory of the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 10, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation

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

Attention: Rules Docket No. 96-NM-46-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this location

between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal

holidays.

The service information referenced in the proposed rule 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Huber, Aerospace Engineer,

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

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

227-2589; fax (206) 227-1149.

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 96-NM-46-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. 96-NM-46-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington

98055-4056.

Discussion

The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the

airworthiness authority for France, recently notified the FAA that an

unsafe condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A300-600 and Model

A310 series airplanes. The DGAC advises that it has received a report

indicating that, during functional testing of the smoke detection

system on in-service airplanes, the system failed to detect smoke

within 60 seconds. As a design goal, the detector is to provide a

warning within 60 seconds after a fire has started, as indicated in the

Airplane Maintenance Manual. In one of the tests, the airplane had only

accumulated 46 days, 167 hours, and 50 landings since the ducts of the

lavatory air extraction system had been cleaned. Investigation revealed

that dust accumulation in these ducts can reduce the effectiveness of

the smoke detection system to detect smoke. This condition, if not

corrected, could result in undetected smoke or fire in the lavatory of

the airplane.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

Airbus has issued All Operators Telex AOT 26-16, dated September

12, 1995. This AOT describes procedures for performing an operational

and functional test to verify if the smoke detection system can detect

smoke with 60 seconds, and cleaning the installation and duct, if

necessary. This AOT also describes procedures for submitting a report

of the inspection results to Airbus. The DGAC classified this service

bulletin as mandatory and issued French airworthiness directive 95-243-

190(B), dated December 6, 1995, in order to assure the continued

airworthiness of these airplanes in France.

FAA's Conclusions

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 DGAC has kept the FAA informed

of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of

the DGAC, 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.

Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule

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, the proposed AD would require performing an

operational and functional test to verify if the smoke detection system

can detect smoke within 60 seconds, and cleaning the installation and

duct, if necessary. The proposed rule also would require submitting a

report of the inspection results to Airbus. The actions would be

required to be accomplished in accordance with the AOT described

previously.

Interim Action

This is considered interim action. The intent of the proposed

inspection reports is to enable Airbus to develop an appropriate

repetitive inspection interval based on findings in the in-service

fleet. The FAA may consider further rulemaking once that inspection

interval is determined.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 67 Airbus Model A300-600 and Model A310

series airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected by this proposed

AD, that it would take approximately 1 work hour per airplane to

accomplish the proposed actions, and that the average labor rate is $60

per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the proposed

AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $4,020, or $60 per airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that

no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of

this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in

the future if this AD were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

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

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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

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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new

airworthiness directive:

Airbus Industrie: Docket 96-NM-46-AD.

Applicability: Model A300-600 and Model A310 series airplanes,

on which Airbus Modification 10156 has not been installed;

certificated in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the

preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been

otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the

requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified,

altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of

this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an

alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of

this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of

the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition

addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been

eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to

address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished

previously.

To ensure that dust accumulation in the ducts does not reduce

the effectiveness of the smoke detection system to detect smoke and,

consequently, lead to undetected smoke or fire in the lavatory of

the airplane; accomplish the following:

(a) Within 500 flight hours after the effective date of this AD,

perform an operational and functional test to verify if the smoke

detection system can detect smoke within 60 seconds, in accordance

with Airbus All Operators Telex AOT 26-16, dated September 12, 1995.

(1) If smoke is detected within 60 seconds, no further action is

required by this AD.

(2) If smoke is not detected within 60 seconds, prior to further

flight, clean the installation/duct in accordance with the AOT.

Prior to further flight after accomplishment of the cleaning, repeat

the operational and functional test required by paragraph (a) of

this AD.

(b) Within 10 days after accomplishing the inspection required

by paragraph (a) of this AD, submit a report of the inspection

results (both positive and negative findings) to Airbus Industrie

Customer Services, Attention Engineering Support, AI/SE-E23, 1 Rond

Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. Information

collection requirements contained in this regulation have been

approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et

seq.) and have been assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056.

(c) 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 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.

(d) 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.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 24, 1996.

S.R. Miller,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service.

[FR Doc. 96-19316 Filed 7-29-96; 8:45 am]

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