AD 2006-07-03 Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A321-100 and -200 Series Airplanes

Models named: A321-111, -112, -131, A321-211, -231. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

This AD applies to Airbus Model A321-111, -112, and -131 airplanes; and Model A321-211 and -231 airplanes; certificated in any category; including airplanes modified in production by Airbus Modification 24982, but excluding airplanes modified in production by Airbus Modification 30046.

You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done. Pin Replacement (f) Within 27 months after the effective date of this AD, replace any crashworthiness pin having part number 201525620 with part number 201525621, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1229, dated August 9, 2001. Note 1: Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1229 refers to Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin 201-32-26, dated July 20, 2001, as an additional source of service information for replacing the crashworthiness pins. Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (g)(1) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with 14 CFR 39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards Certificate Holding District Office. Related Information (h) French airworthiness directive 2002-074(B) R1, dated March 20, 2002, also addresses the subject of this AD. Material Incorporated by Reference (i) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1229, dated August 9, 2001, to perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France, for a copy of this service information. You may review copies at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC; on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at the NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 17, 2006. Ali Bahrami, Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 06-2959 Filed 3-29-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD results from testing on the side-stay crashworthiness pins on the main landing gear (MLG), which revealed that, in the case of an emergency landing, the crashworthiness pins installed will not ensure a correct MLG collapse. We are issuing this AD to prevent a punctured fuel tank, which could cause damage to the airplane or injury to passengers.