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AD 2004-20-11

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Airworthiness directive · Skin Panels of the Wing Slats · Airbus A300 B2-1A, A300 B2-1C, A300 B2-203 and 13 more

Open in Federal RegisterOpen in FAA DRSDocket on regulations.gov

Official PDF· 2 pages, 150 KB
Download from govinfo.gov
AboutSource files 4
Effective
November 17, 2004
Published
October 13, 2004 · 69 FR 60801–60802
Issued
September 29, 2004
Models
A300 B2-1A, A300 B2-1C, A300 B2-203, A300 B2K-3C, A300 B4-103, A300 B4-203 and 10 more
Data sheet
TCDSA35EU
Registered aircraft
120 matched by model
Product
Aircraft · Large airplane
Amendment
39-13816
Docket
FAA-2004-18602
Project
2003-NM-160-AD
Issued as
Final rule

Unofficial copy from the Federal Register XML, document 04-22469. Only the govinfo PDF is the legal edition. DRS record last changed May 30, 2024.

On this page

Summary

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A300 B2 and B4 series airplanes; and certain Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes; and Model C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called A300-600). This AD requires an inspection of the skin panels of the wing slats for damage and certain repairs, and applicable related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. This AD is prompted by the results of an engineering evaluation that revealed that several repairs and some allowable damage limits specified in the structural repair manuals do not provide adequate static and/or fatigue strength for repaired wing slats. We are issuing this AD to find and fix previously done repairs of the wing slats that have inadequate static and/or fatigue strength, which, if not corrected, could result in loss of the slats and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

The airworthiness directive

2004-20-11 Airbus: Amendment 39-13816. Docket No. FAA-2004-18602; Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-160-AD.

(a) Effective Date

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(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective November 17, 2004.

(b) Affected ADs

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(b) None.

(c) Applicability

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(c) This AD applies to all airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in in Table 1 of this AD.

Table 1.—Applicability
ModelSerial nos.
A300 B2 and B4 series airplanesAll.
A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called A300-600)796 and earlier.

(d) Unsafe Condition

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(d) This AD was prompted by the results of an engineering evaluation that revealed that several repairs and some allowable damage limits specified in the structural repair manuals do not provide adequate static and/or fatigue strength for repaired wing slats. We are issuing this AD to find and fix previously done repairs of the wing slats that have inadequate static and/or fatigue strength, which, if not corrected, could result in loss of the slats and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

(e) Compliance

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(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done.

(f) Service Bulletins

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(f) The term “service bulletin,” as used in this AD, means the Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable service bulletin listed in Table 2 of this AD.

Table 2.—Service Bulletins
For modelAirbus service bulletin
(1) A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called A300-600)A300-57-6092, Revision 02, dated November 21, 2002.
(2) A300 B2 and B4 series airplanesA300-57-0238, Revision 02, dated November 21, 2002.

(g) Inspection and Related Investigative/Corrective Actions

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(g) Within 18 months or 1,500 flight cycles from the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first: Do a detailed inspection of the skin panels of the wing slats for damage and certain repairs, and do all applicable related investigative/corrective actions, by accomplishing all the actions in the applicable service bulletin. Do the actions in accordance with the service bulletin, except as required by paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD. Do any related investigative/corrective action before further flight.

Note 1:

For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is “an intensive visual examination of a specific structural area, system, installation, or assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good lighting at intensity deemed appropriate by the inspector. Inspection aids such as mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be used. Surface cleaning and elaborate access procedures may be required.”

(h) Repair

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(h) If any damage is detected during the inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD, and the service bulletin recommends contacting Airbus for appropriate action: Before further flight, repair in accordance with a method approved by either the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate; or the Direction Ge ne rale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC) (or its delegated agent).

(i) If any repair that has a specific Airbus approval other than a Repair Approval Sheet signed by the DGAC (or its delegated agent) is found during the inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD, and the service bulletin specifies that the related investigative action is not necessary: Before further flight, do the applicable related investigative/corrective actions required by paragraph (g) of this AD.

(j) Where there are differences between this AD and the service bulletin, the AD prevails.

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

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(k) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

(l) Related Information

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(l) French airworthiness directive 2003-086(B), effective March 15, 2003, also addresses the subject of this AD.

(m) Material Incorporated by Reference

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(m) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A300-57-0238, Revision 02, dated November 21, 2002; or Airbus Service Bulletin A300-57-6092, Revision 02, dated November 21, 2002; as applicable; unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approves the incorporation by reference of these documents in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For copies of the service information, contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. For information on the availability of this material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. You may view the AD docket at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

Rule preamble

The FAA’s background, reasoning and cost estimate, published with the AD.

DatesPage 1

This AD becomes effective November 17, 2004.

The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of November 17, 2004.

AddressesPage 1

For service information identified in this AD, contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. You can examine this information at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL-401, on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

For further information contactPage 1

Technical information: 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.

Plain language information: Marcia Walters, marcia.walters@faa.gov.

The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any final disposition. You can 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.

Supplementary informationPage 1

The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 with an AD for all Airbus Model A300 B2 and B4 series airplanes; and certain Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, C4-605R Variant F, and F4-600R (collectively called A300-600) series airplanes. The proposed AD was published in the Federal Register on July 15, 2004 (69 FR 42368), to require an inspection of the skin panels of the wing slats for damage and certain repairs, and applicable related investigative/corrective actions if necessary.

CommentsPage 1

We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the development of this AD. No comments have been submitted on the proposed AD or on the determination of the cost to the public.

ConclusionPage 1

We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Explanation of Change to ApplicabilityPage 1

We have revised the applicability of the existing AD to identify model designations as published in the most recent type certificate data sheet for the affected models.

Costs of CompliancePage 1

This AD will affect about 120 airplanes of U.S. registry. The actions will take about 3 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators is $23,400, or $195 per airplane.

Regulatory findingsPage 1

We have 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 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 AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

Adoption of the amendmentPage 1

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

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive:

Affected TCDS · 1

The type certificate data sheets for the models this AD names, matched by model and maker.

TCDS A35EUAirbus SASNames 9 of 17 models: A300 B4-622R, A300 F4-605R, A300 B4-601 and 6 more

Registered aircraft · 120

Registered aircraft whose airframe or engine model this AD names. Matched by model only, so check each against the AD’s applicability.

By aircraft maker
  • Airbus Industrie72
  • Airbus48
By year built
19872007

2 with no year recorded

By model

Aircraft

N120UPUnited Parcel Service Co · Louisville, KYBuilt 2000 · S/N 0805N121UPUnited Parcel Service Co · Louisville, KYBuilt 2000 · S/N 0806N122UPUnited Parcel Service Co · Louisville, KYBuilt 2000 · S/N 0807
See all 120 aircraft