Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 Series Airplanes

ice 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: Norman B. Martenson, Manager,

International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)

227-2110; fax (425) 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 98-NM-234-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-114, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 98-NM-234-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington

98055-4056.

Discussion

h the following statement is made: ``Comments

to Docket Number 98-NM-234-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-114, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 98-NM-234-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, notified the FAA that an unsafe

condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A300 series airplanes. The

DGAC advises that during an evacuation test of certain airplanes

equipped with Air Cruisers emergency evacuation slide/rafts, the

evacuation slide/rafts failed to deploy correctly. These failures were

attributed to detachment of the slide/raft of the container release

cable from the girt of the slide/raft due to excessive forces applied

to the cable when it became jammed in a gap between adjoining

components of the slide/raft system. Investigation revealed that the

existing slide/raft system design may allow a gap to develop between

the packboard and pinblock assembly in which the container release

cable can become jammed. Such jamming of the container release cable

can result in the inability to open the emergency exit doors or to

correctly deploy the emergency evacuation slide/rafts. These

conditions, if not corrected, could impede or delay passengers from

exiting the airplane during an emergency.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

ock assembly in which the container release

cable can become jammed. Such jamming of the container release cable

can result in the inability to open the emergency exit doors or to

correctly deploy the emergency evacuation slide/rafts. These

conditions, if not corrected, could impede or delay passengers from

exiting the airplane during an emergency.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A300-25-0465, dated October 31,

1997, which describes procedures for modification of the emergency

evacuation slide/raft system. The modification includes the

installation of reinforcement discs at both ends of the container

release cable assembly, and the installation of retaining screws to

secure the packboard skin to the pin block assembly. (Air Cruisers, the

manufacturer of the emergency evacuation slide/raft system, has issued

Service Bulletin S.B. 25-88, Revision 3, dated May 4, 1983, as an

additional source of service information for accomplishment of the

modification.) Accomplishment of the actions specified in the Airbus

service bulletin is intended to adequately address the identified

unsafe condition.

The DGAC classified the Airbus service bulletin as mandatory and

issued French airworthiness directive 98-121-243(B), dated March 11,

1998, 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.

9) 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 accomplishment of

the actions specified in the Airbus service bulletin described

previously.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 24 airplanes of U.S. registry would be

affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 6 work

hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed modification, and that

the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts would cost

approximately $1,200 per airplane. Based on these figures, the cost

impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $37,440,

or $1,560 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

ased on these figures, the cost

impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $37,440,

or $1,560 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 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]

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 98-NM-234-AD.

Applicability: Model A300 series airplanes equipped with Air

Cruisers emergency evacuation slide/rafts having part numbers (P/N)

D30457-Series, serial numbers (S/N) 1001 through 2268 inclusive, or

P/N D30477-Series, S/N 4001 through 4211 inclusive, on which the

actions described in Air Cruisers Service Bulletin S.B. 25-88,

Revision 3, dated May 4, 1983, have been not accomplished;

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.

d, 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 prevent the container release cable of the emergency

evacuation slide/raft system from jamming, which could result in the

inability to open the emergency exit doors or to correctly deploy

the emergency evacuation slide/rafts, and consequent delay or

impedance passengers exiting the airplane during an emergency,

accomplish the following:

(a) Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, modify

the emergency evacuation slide/raft system, in accordance with

Airbus Service Bulletin A300-35-0465, dated October 31, 1997.

Note 2: The Airbus service bulletin references Air Cruisers

Service Bulletin S.B. 25-88, Revision 3, dated May 4, 1983, as an

additional source of service information for modifying the emergency

evacuation slide/raft system.

(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install

an evacuation slide/raft system having Air Cruisers P/N D30457-

Series, S/N 1001 through 2268 inclusive, or P/N D30477-Series, S/N

4001 through 4211 inclusive, on any airplane, unless the slide/raft

system has been modified in accordance with this AD.

service information for modifying the emergency

evacuation slide/raft system.

(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install

an evacuation slide/raft system having Air Cruisers P/N D30457-

Series, S/N 1001 through 2268 inclusive, or P/N D30477-Series, S/N

4001 through 4211 inclusive, on any airplane, unless the slide/raft

system has been modified in accordance with 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, International Branch, ANM-116, 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, International

Branch, ANM-116.

Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved

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

obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116.

(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.

Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in French

airworthiness directive 98-121-243(B), dated March 11, 1998.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 10, 1998.

Dorenda D. Baker,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service.

[FR Doc. 98-24873 Filed 9-16-98; 8:45 am]

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