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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96-NM-46-AD; Amendment 39-9892; AD 97-02-07]

RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300-600 and Model A310

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 Airbus Model A300-600 and Model A310 series airplanes,

that requires testing to verify if the smoke detection system can

detect smoke within 60 seconds; and cleaning the installation and duct,

if necessary. It also requires operators to submit a report of the test

findings to the manufacturer. This amendment 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

this AD are intended to ensure that dust accumulation does not reduce

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

to undetected smoke or fire in the lavatory of the airplane.

DATES: Effective March 4, 1997.

The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in

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

of March 4, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The service 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 Federal

Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules

Docket, 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: 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: 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 Airbus Model A300-600 and Model

A310 series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on July 30,

1996 (61 FR 39604). That action proposed to 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. That action also proposed to require submitting a

report of the test results to Airbus.

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate

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

the comments received.

Support for the Proposal

One commenter supports the proposed rule.

Request to Revise Reporting Deadline

One commenter requests that the proposal be revised to extend the

compliance time for submitting test reports from 10 days after

accomplishing the test, as proposed, to 30 days. The commenter

considers the longer time necessary in order to prepare an adequate

report of the required data.

The FAA concurs and has revised paragraph (b) of this final rule

accordingly.

Request to Withdraw Reporting Requirement

One commenter requests that the FAA withdraw the proposed

requirement to submit a report of test results to Airbus. This

commenter previously completed the operational and functional tests on

its fleet of airplanes, but did not submit a report, since such a

provision was not part of the referenced Airbus All Operators Telex

(AOT) 26-16, dated September 12, 1995. Consequently, this commenter

does not want to be required to repeat the test simply in order to

prepare a report in accordance with the reporting requirement of the

proposed rule.

Another commenter considers that reporting requirements, in

general, should be required by AD action only in cases where the AD is

viewed as ``interim action'' and that, based upon reviewing further

data, additional

[[Page 3992]]

rulemaking may be required. Since the referenced Airbus AOT was issued

more than a year ago, the commenter considers that sufficient time has

elapsed in which Airbus could collect the data needed to determine what

further action, if any, is needed. The commenter asserts that the FAA

should not impose a reporting requirement without first determining

with Airbus whether the test data is actually necessary.

The FAA does not concur with the commenters' request to withdraw

the reporting requirement. As was explained in the preamble to the

notice, the intent of the reports is to enable Airbus to obtain enough

information to enable it to develop an appropriate repetitive testing

interval based on findings in the in-service fleet. The FAA has

contacted Airbus in order to determine if test results from U.S.

operators are still required; Airbus has responded by stating that the

data from the U.S. operators are still needed to establish the proper

testing intervals. In light of this, the FAA finds reason to retain the

reporting requirement in this final rule.

However, in consideration of operators who already have

accomplished the operational and functional test prior to the issuance

of this AD, the FAA has revised paragraph (b) of the final rule to

indicate that, for those operators, the report is to be submitted

within 30 days after the effective date of the AD. As provided by the

compliance provision of this AD, which states ``* * * Compliance

required unless accomplished previously,'' those operators do not have

to repeat the one-time operational and functional test, required by

paragraph (a) of the AD, merely in order to submit the report.

Conclusion

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 changes previously

described. The FAA has determined that these changes will neither

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

the AD.

Cost Impact

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

series airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it

will take approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the

required actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour.

Based on these figures, the cost impact of the 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 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 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, 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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new

airworthiness directive:

97-02-07 Airbus Industrie: Amendment 39-9892. 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) At the applicable time specified in either paragraph (b)(1)

or (b)(2) of this AD, submit a report of the test 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.

(1) For airplanes on which the test is accomplished after the

effective date of this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after

performing the test required by paragraph (a) of this AD.

(2) For airplanes on which the test has been accomplished prior

to the effective date of this AD: Submit the report within 30 days

after the effective date of this AD.

(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.

[[Page 3993]]

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.

(e) The operational and functional test shall be done in

accordance with Airbus All Operators Telex (AOT) 26-16, dated

September 12, 1995. This incorporation by reference was approved by

the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 15 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.

(f) This amendment becomes effective on March 4, 1997.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 14, 1997.

S.R. Miller,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service.

[FR Doc. 97-1441 Filed 1-27-97; 8:45 am]

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