[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 88 (Friday, May 6, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 27305-27308]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10159]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-8427; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-212-AD;
Amendment 39-18508; AD 2016-09-10]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2007-10-10 R1
for all Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series
airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively
called Model A300-600 series airplanes). AD 2007-10-10 R1 required
revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate new limitations
for fuel tank systems. This new AD requires revising the maintenance
program or inspection program to incorporate revised fuel maintenance
and inspection tasks. This AD was prompted by issuance of more
restrictive maintenance requirements and/or airworthiness limitations
by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential of
ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with
flammable fuel vapors caused by latent failures, alterations, repairs,
or maintenance actions, could result in fuel tank explosions and
consequent loss of the airplane.

DATES:  This AD becomes effective June 10, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 10,
2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of
December 28, 2009 (74 FR 65398, December 10, 2009).
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain other publications listed in this AD as of June
27, 2007 (72 FR 28827, May 23, 2007).

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office--EAW, 1 Rond Point Maurice
Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax
+33 5 61 93 44 51; email account.airworth-eas@

airbus.com; Internet http://www.airbus.com. You may view this
referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call<PHONE_NUMBER>. It is also
available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-8427.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
8427; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket
contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and
other information. The address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-
647-5527) is Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>;
fax<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to supersede AD 2007-10-10 R1, Amendment 39-16134 (74 FR 65398,
December 10, 2009) (``AD 2007-10-10 R1''). AD 2007-10-10 R1 applied to
all Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes,
and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model
A300-600 series airplanes). The NPRM published in the Federal Register
on January 13, 2016 (81 FR 1573) (``the NPRM'').
    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2014-0194, dated October 15, 2014 (referred to
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition on all Airbus Model A300
B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R
Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series
airplanes). The MCAI states:

    Prompted by an accident * * *, the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) published Special Federal Aviation Regulation
(SFAR) 88, [http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFAR.nsf/0/EEFB3F94451DC06286256C93004F5E07?OpenDocument&Highlight=sfar 88],
and the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) published Interim Policy
INT/POL/25/12. In response to these regulations, Airbus conducted a
design review to develop Fuel Airworthiness Limitations (FAL) for
Airbus on A300-600 and A300-600ST aeroplanes.
    The FAL were specified in Airbus A300-600 FAL document ref.
95A.1929/05 at issue 02 and in the A300-600 [Airworthiness
Limitation Section] ALS variation to FAL document issue 02 ref.
0CVLG110007/C0S issue 01, for A300-600 and A300-600ST aeroplanes.
    EASA issued [EASA] AD 2006-0201 to require compliance with the
FAL documents (comprising maintenance/inspection tasks and Critical
Design Configuration Control Limitations (CDCCL)).
    EASA AD 2006-0201 was superseded by EASA AD 2007-0095 (later
revised) [which corresponds to FAA AD 2007-10-10 R1, Amendment 39-
16134 (74 FR 65398, December 10, 2009)], which retained the original
requirements and corrected and updated the compliance paragraphs
concerning task ref. 28-18-00-03-1 and CDCCLs.
    Since EASA AD 2007-0095R1 was published, Airbus issued A300-600
ALS Part 5, prompted by EASA policy statement (EASA D2005/CPRO)
which requests design approval holders to integrate Fuel Tank Safety
items into an ALS document. The A300-600 ALS Part 5 is approved by
EASA.
    Failure to comply with the items as identified in Airbus A300-
600 ALS Part 5 could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent
loss of the aeroplane.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD retains the
requirements of EASA AD 2007-0095R1, which is superseded, and
requires implementation of the new and more restrictive maintenance
instructions and/or airworthiness limitations as specified in Airbus
A300-600 ALS Part 5.

    The unsafe condition is the potential of ignition sources inside
fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors caused by
latent failures, alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions, could
result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane. You
may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
8427.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the cost to the public.

Explanation of Changes Made in This AD

    We have corrected certain paragraph references in paragraph (g) and
Note 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD.
    We have revised certain document citations in paragraph (h) of this
AD. This change is necessary to meet the Office of the Federal
Register's requirements for documents that are incorporated by
reference in this AD.
    We have also determined that the compliance time for revising the
ALS to incorporate certain CDCCLs specified in paragraph (i) of this AD
should be within 12 months after June 27, 2007 (the effective date of
AD 2007-10-10, Amendment 39-15051 (72 FR 28827, May 23, 2007) (``AD
2007-10-10'')). The compliance time stated in the proposed AD was
``Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD.'' We have
revised paragraph (i) of this AD accordingly. The proposed AD clearly
indicated that we intended to restate the requirements of that
paragraph from the previous AD, with no changes.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting this AD with the changes described
previously, except for minor editorial changes. We have determined that
these minor changes:
     Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
     Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Airbus has issued A300-600 Airworthiness Limitations Section Part
5--Fuel Airworthiness Limitations, Revision 00, dated May 27, 2014. The
airworthiness limitations introduce mandatory instructions and more
restrictive maintenance requirements. This service information is
reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it
through their normal course of business or by the means identified in
the ADDRESSES section.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 122 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The actions required by AD 2007-10-10 R1, and retained in this AD
take about 2 work-hours per product, at an average labor rate of $85
per work-hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the
actions that were required by AD 2007-10-10 R1 is $170 per product.

    We also estimate that it takes about 1 work-hour per product to
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate
is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost $0 per product. Based on
these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be
$10,370, or $85 per product.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. ``Subtitle VII: Aviation
Programs,'' describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's
authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
``Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this AD will not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct
effect 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    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);
    3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and
    4. 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2007-10-10 R1, Amendment 39-16134 (74 FR 65398, December 10, 2009), and
adding the following new AD:

2016-09-10 Airbus: Amendment 39-18508. Docket No. FAA-2015-8427;
Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-212-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective June 10, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2007-10-10 R1, Amendment 39-16134 (74 FR
65398, December 10, 2009) (``AD 2007-10-10 R1'').

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-
600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes
(collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes), certificated
in any category, all manufacturer serial numbers.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 05, Time Limits/
Maintenance Checks.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by Airbus issuing more restrictive
instructions and/or fuel airworthiness limitations. We are issuing
this AD to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside fuel
tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors caused by
latent failures, alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions, could
result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.

(g) Retained Revision of the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) To
Incorporate Fuel Maintenance and Inspection Tasks, With Corrected
Paragraph References

    This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (f) of AD
2007-10-10 R1, with corrected paragraph references. Within 3 months
after June 27, 2007 (the effective date of AD 2007-10-10, Amendment
39-15051 (72 FR 28827, May 23, 2007) (``AD 2007-10-10'')), revise
the ALS of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to
incorporate Airbus A300-600 ALS Part 5--Fuel Airworthiness
Limitations, dated May 31, 2006, as defined in Section 1,
``Maintenance/Inspection Tasks,'' of Airbus A300-600 Fuel
Airworthiness Limitations, Document 95A.1929/05, Issue 1, dated
December 19, 2005; or Airbus A300-600 Fuel Airworthiness
Limitations, Document 95A.1929/05, Issue 2, dated May 16, 2007. For
all tasks identified in Section 1 of these documents, the initial
compliance times start from the later of the times specified in
paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD, and the repetitive
inspections must be accomplished thereafter at the intervals
specified in Section 1 of these documents, except as provided by
paragraph (h) of this AD.
    (1) June 27, 2007 (the effective date of AD 2007-10-10).
    (2) The date of issuance of the original French standard
airworthiness certificate or the date of issuance of the original
French export certificate of airworthiness.

    Note 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD:  Airbus Operator Information
Telex (OIT) SE 999.0076/06, dated June 20, 2006, identifies the
applicable sections of the Airbus A300-600 Airplane Maintenance
Manual for accomplishing the tasks specified in Section 1 of
Document 95A.1929/05.

(h) Retained Revision of Initial Compliance Time for Task 28-18-00-03-
1, With Revised Document Citations

    This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD
2007-10-10 R1, with revised document citations. For Task 28-18-00-
03-1, ``Operational check of low-level/underfull/calibration
sensors,'' identified in Section 1, ``Maintenance/Inspection Tasks''
of Airbus A300-600 Fuel Airworthiness Limitations, Document
95A.1929/05, Issue 1, dated December 19, 2005; or Airbus A300-600
Fuel Airworthiness Limitations, Document 95A.1929/05, Issue 2, dated
May 16, 2007: The initial compliance time is the later of the times
specified in paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(2) of this AD. Thereafter,
Task 28-18-00-03-1 must be accomplished at the repetitive interval
specified in Section 1 of these documents.
    (1) Prior to the accumulation of 40,000 total flight hours.
    (2) Within 72 months or 20,000 flight hours after June 27, 2007
(the effective date of AD 2007-10-10), whichever occurs first.

(i) Retained Revision of the ALS To Incorporate CDCCLs, With Revised
Compliance Time

    This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (h) of AD
2007-10-10 R1, with a revised compliance time. Within 12 months
after June 27, 2007 (the effective date of AD 2007-10-10), revise
the ALS of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to
incorporate Airbus A300-600 ALS Part 5--Fuel Airworthiness
Limitations, dated May 31, 2006, as defined in Section 2, ``Critical
Design Configuration Control Limitations,'' of Airbus A300-600 Fuel
Airworthiness Limitations, Document 95A.1929/05, Issue 1, dated
December 19, 2005; or Airbus A300-600 Fuel Airworthiness
Limitations, Document 95A.1929/05, Issue 2, dated May 16, 2007.

(j) New Requirement of This AD: Revise the Maintenance or Inspection
Program

    Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, revise the
maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, by incorporating
the airworthiness limitations as specified in

Airbus A300-600 Airworthiness Limitations Section Part 5--Fuel
Airworthiness Limitations, Revision 00, dated May 27, 2014. The
initial compliance times for the actions specified in Airbus A300-
600 Airworthiness Limitations Section Part 5--Fuel Airworthiness
Limitations, Revision 00, dated May 27, 2014, are at the later of
the times specified in Airbus A300-600 Airworthiness Limitations
Section Part 5--Fuel Airworthiness Limitations, Revision 00, dated
May 27, 2014, or within 3 months after the effective date of this
AD, whichever occurs later. Accomplishing the revision required by
this paragraph terminates the actions required by paragraphs (g)
through (i) of this AD.

(k) New Requirement of This AD: No Alternative Actions, Intervals, and/
or CDCCLs

    After the maintenance or inspection program has been revised as
required by paragraph (j) of this AD, no alternative actions (e.g.,
inspections), intervals, and/or CDCCLs may be used unless the
actions, intervals, and/or CDCCLs are approved as an alternative
method of compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the procedures
specified in paragraph (l)(1) of this AD.

(l) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
International Branch, ANM-114, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using
the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR
39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information
directly to the International Branch, send it to ATTN: Dan Rodina,
Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport
Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-
3356; telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax<PHONE_NUMBER>. Information may be
emailed to<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Before using any
approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or
lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight
standards district office/certificate holding district office. The
AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: As of the effective date of
this AD, for any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions
from a manufacturer, the action must be accomplished using a method
approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport
Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the European Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA); or Airbus's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If
approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized
signature.

(m) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information
(MCAI) EASA Airworthiness Directive 2014-0194, dated October 15,
2014, for related information. This MCAI may be found in the AD
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-8427.
    (2) Service information identified in this AD that is not
incorporated by reference is available at the addresses specified in
paragraphs (n)(6) and (n)(7) of this AD.

(n) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
    (3) The following service information was approved for IBR on
June 10, 2016.
    (i) Airbus A300-600 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS),
Part 5--Fuel Airworthiness Limitations, Revision 00, dated May 27,
2014. The issue date of this document is not identified on the title
page.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (4) The following service information was approved for IBR on
December 28, 2009 (74 FR 65398, December 10, 2009).
    (i) Airbus A300-600 Fuel Airworthiness Limitations, Document
95A.1929/05, Issue 2, dated May 16, 2007.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (5) The following service information was approved for IBR on
June 27, 2007 (72 FR 28827, May 23, 2007).
    (i) Airbus A300-600 ALS Part 5--Fuel Airworthiness Limitations,
dated May 31, 2006.
    (ii) Airbus A300-600 Fuel Airworthiness Limitations, Issue 1,
dated December 19, 2005.
    (6) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office--EAW, 1 Rond Point Maurice
Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96;
fax +33 5 61 93 44 51; email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
Internet http://www.airbus.com.
    (7) You may view this service information at the FAA, Transport
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call
425-227-1221.
    (8) You may view this service information that is incorporated
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at
NARA, call<PHONE_NUMBER>, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 21, 2016.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-10159 Filed 5-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P