Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330-200, A330-300, A340-200, and A340-300 Series Airplanes

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-200, A330-300, A340-200, and A340-300 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive detailed inspections for cracking in the aft web of support rib 6 between certain bottom skin stringers on both wings; high frequency eddy current inspections for cracking of the attachment holes of the fuel pipes, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD would also provide for an optional modification, which would extend a certain inspection threshold. This proposed AD results from a report of significant cracking found in the aft web of support rib 6 on both wings. We are proposing this AD to prevent cracking in the aft web of support rib 6, which could result in overloading of adjacent ribs and the surrounding wing structure and consequent reduced structural integrity of the wing.

DATES:

We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 28, 2005.

ADDRESSES:

Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on this proposed AD.

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
• Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590.
• Fax: (202) 493-2251.
• Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France, for the service information identified in this proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tim Backman, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2797; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or arguments regarding this proposed AD. Include the docket number “FAA-2005-22812; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-134-AD” at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov,, including any personal information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of that Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov,, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after the Docket Management System receives them.

Discussion

The Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the airworthiness authority for France, notified us that an unsafe condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A330-200, A330-300, A340-200, and A340-300 series airplanes. The DGAC advises that a report was received indicating significant cracking in the aft web of support rib 6 on the left and right wings on a Model A330 series airplane. When the cracking was found, during an 8C-check, the airplane had accumulated 10,441 total flight cycles and 40,153 total flight hours. The cracking was located in the lower part of the rib 6 aft hole between bottom skin stringers 18 and 20. The cracking extended from the fuel pipe fastener holes to the lower edge of the rib 6 hole and into the refuel pipe hole where the cracking had gone through the full thickness of the rib. Subsequent inspections on several Model A330 and A340 series airplanes revealed similar cracking in the same area. These conditions, if not corrected, could result in overloading of adjacent ribs and the surrounding wing structure and consequent reduced structural integrity of the wing.

Relevant Service Information

Airbus has issued Service Bulletins A330-57-3085 (for Model A330 series airplanes) and A340-57-4093 (for Model A340 series airplanes), both Revision 01, both dated March 25, 2005. The service bulletins describe procedures for detailed inspections for cracking in the aft web of support rib 6 between bottom skin stringers 18 and 20 on both wings, and high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections for cracking of the attachment holes of the fuel pipe (including a rototest inspection of the attachment holes of the fuel pipe mounting). The service bulletins also recommend contacting the manufacturer for repair instructions if any cracking is found, and reporting inspection information to the manufacturer. If no cracking is found, the service bulletins specify accomplishing the optional modification specified in Service Bulletin A330-57-3087 or A340-57-4095, as applicable.

The compliance thresholds for the initial inspections specified in Service Bulletin A330-57-3085 range from between 8,000 and 19,200 flight cycles or between 25,000 and 57,800 flight hours. The compliance thresholds for the initial inspections specified in Service Bulletin A340-57-4093 range from between 8,000 and 12,200 flight cycles or between 30,200 and 53,500 flight hours.

Airbus has also issued Service Bulletins A330-57-3087 (for Model A330 series airplanes) and A340-57-4095 (for Model A340 series airplanes), both dated February 15, 2005. The service bulletins describe procedures for modifying the fuel pipe connector and the fastener holes of support rib 6. The modification includes, among other things, enlarging and cold expanding certain attachment holes of the fuel pipe connector, installing interference bolts, and a HFEC inspection (rotating probe test) of the fastener holes for cracking. If no cracking is found during the inspections specified in Service Bulletin A330-57-3085 or A340-57-4093, this optional modification may be done.

The DGAC mandated the service information and issued French airworthiness directives F-2005-071 and F-2005-072, both dated April 27, 2005, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

These airplane models are manufactured in France and are 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. We have examined the DGAC's findings, evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that we need to issue an AD for airplanes of this type design that are certificated for operation in the United States.

Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service information described previously, except as discussed under Differences Among the Proposed AD, Service Information, and French Airworthiness Directives.

Differences Among the Proposed AD, Service Information, and French Airworthiness Directives

Service Bulletins A330-57-3085 and A340-57-4093 and the French airworthiness directives specify to contact the manufacturer for repair instructions and an inspection schedule if any crack or damage is found; this proposed AD requires you to repair any cracking (and obtain a schedule for subsequent inspections) by using a method that we or the DGAC (or its delegated agent) approve. In light of the type of repair required to address the unsafe condition, and consistent with existing bilateral airworthiness agreements, we have determined that, for this proposed AD, a repair and inspection schedule we or the DGAC approve is acceptable for compliance with this proposed AD.

Figure 4, Sheet 1, “Inspection Flow Chart,” of Service Bulletins A330-57-3085 and A340-57-4093 specifies initial inspection thresholds for airplanes on which the actions in those service bulletins have been accomplished, or Airbus Modification 53882 was done during production. This proposed AD would require you to perform the initial inspection at the earliest of those thresholds or within 6 months after the effective date of the AD, whichever is later. We have included a 6-month grace period to ensure that any airplane that is close to or has passed the initial inspection threshold is not grounded as of the effective date of the AD.

Clarification of Procedures for Certain Inspections

The French airworthiness directives require certain follow-on inspections prior to next flight for airplanes above 8,000 flight cycles or 30,200 flight hours with at least one wing rib 6 not repaired or modified after a hard or overweight landing of the airplane; however, there are no procedures specified in Service Bulletins A330-57-3085 and A340-57-4093 for accomplishing those inspections. Therefore, we have determined that, for this proposed AD, inspections we or the DGAC approve are acceptable for compliance with the inspections required by the French airworthiness directives. We have provided other methods to comply, as specified in the French airworthiness directives.

Interim Action

We consider this proposed AD interim action. The manufacturer is currently developing a modification that will address the unsafe condition identified in this proposed AD. Once this modification is developed, approved, and available, we may consider additional rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

This proposed AD would affect about 25 airplanes of U.S. registry.

The proposed inspections would take about 4 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the proposed inspections for U.S. operators is $6,500, or $260 per airplane, per inspection cycle.

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 have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 the 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. 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.

We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Safety

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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.