2017-23-04: Wings

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 adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD): 2017-23-04 Airbus: Amendment 39-19098; Docket No. FAA-2017-0710; Product Identifier 2017-NM-019-AD. (a) Effective Date This AD is effective December 20, 2017. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD applies to Airbus Model A300 B4-605R, B4-622R, B4-603, C4-605R Variant F, B4-620, B4-622, and F4-605R airplanes, certificated in any category, all serial numbers except Model A300 F4-605R airplanes that have embodied Airbus modification 12699 in production. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57, Wings. (e) Reason This AD was prompted by a determination that the top stringer joints at rib 18 are an area of uniform stress distribution, which indicates that cracks may develop in adjacent stringers at the same time. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct damage (including cracking) at the stringer joints, which could reduce the structural integrity of the wing. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Definitions For the purposes of this AD, the definitions in paragraphs (g)(1) through (g)(5) of this AD apply. (1) Group 1 airplanes are defined as Airbus Model A300 B4-603, B4-605R, B4-620, B4-622, and B4-622R airplanes. (2) Group 2 airplanes are defined as Airbus Model A300 C4-605R Variant F and F4-605R (if in pre-modification 12699 configuration) airplanes. (3) Short range (SR) is defined as airplanes with an average flight time of less than 1.5 flight hours per flight cycle. (4) Long range (LR) is defined as airplanes with an average flight time equal to or higher than 1.5 flight hours per flight cycle. (5) For determining the ``short range'' and ``long range'' airplanes, the average flight time is the total accumulated flight hours, counted from take-off to touch-down, divided by the total accumulated flight cycles at the effective date of this AD. (h) Inspection and Modification Not before exceeding the applicable lower thresholds as specified in table 1 to paragraph (h) of this AD, and within the compliance times specified in paragraphs (h)(1), (h)(2), (h)(3), and (h)(4) of this AD, as applicable: Accomplish a detailed visual inspection for damage (including cracking) of the upper wing skin and top stringer joints at rib 18 on both wings, do all applicable corrective actions, and do the applicable modification, including related investigative and corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of AirbusService Bulletin A300-57-6118, Revision 01, dated January 31, 2017, except as required by paragraph (i) of this AD. Do all applicable modifications, related investigative actions, and corrective actions before further flight. (1) For Group 1, LR airplanes: Inspect at the time specified in paragraph (h)(1)(i) or (h)(1)(ii) of this AD, whichever occurs later. (i) Before exceeding 32,500 flight cycles or 70,300 flight hours, whichever occurs first since first flight of the airplane. (ii) Within 700 flight cycles, 1,500 flight hours, or 12 months, whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD. (2) For Group 1, SR airplanes: Inspect at the time specified in paragraphs (h)(2)(i) or (h)(2)(ii) of this AD, whichever occurs later. (i) Before exceeding 35,100 flight cycles or 52,600 flight hours, whichever occurs first since the first flight of the airplane. (ii) Within 700 flight cycles or 1,000 flight hours, or 12 months, whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD. (3) For Group 2, LR airplanes: Inspect before exceeding 35,000 flight cycles or 75,700 flight hours, whichever occurs first since the first flight of the airplane. (4) For Group 2, SR airplanes: Inspect before exceeding 37,800 flight cycles or 56,700 flight hours, whichever occurs first since the first flight of the airplane. Table 1 to Paragraph (h) of This AD--Compliance Time Lower Thresholds ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Compliance time flight cycles (FC) or flight hours (FH), whichever Applicable airplanes occurs first since first flight of the airplane ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Group 1, LR....................... Not before exceeding 30,900 FC or 66,700 FH. Group 1, SR....................... Not before exceeding 28,700 FC or 43,000 FH. Group 2, LR....................... Not before exceeding 28,600 FC or 61,700 FH. Group 2, SR....................... Not before exceeding 34,400 FC or 51,600 FH. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (i) Service Information Exception Where Airbus Service Bulletin A300-57-6118, Revision 01, dated January 31, 2017, specifies to contact Airbus for appropriate action, and specifies that action as ``RC'' (Required for Compliance): Before further flight, accomplish corrective actions in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (k)(2) of this AD. (j) Credit for Previous Actions This paragraph provides credit for actions required by paragraph (h) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective date of this AD using Airbus Service Bulletin A300-57-6118, dated June 30, 2015. (k) Other FAA AD Provisions The following provisions also apply to this AD: (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, International [[Page 52835]] Section, Transport Standards Branch, 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 Section, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (l)(2) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-ANM-116-AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. 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. (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: 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 Section, Transport Standards Branch, 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. (3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except as required by paragraph (i) of this AD, if any service information contains procedures or tests that are identified as RC, those procedures and tests must be done to comply with this AD; any procedures or tests that are not identified as RC are recommended. Those procedures and tests that are not identified as RC may be deviated from using accepted methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the procedures and tests identified as RC can be done and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy condition. Any substitutions or changes to procedures or tests identified as RC require approval of an AMOC. (l) Related Information (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information (MCAI) EASA AD 2017-0023, dated February 10, 2017, 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-2017-0710. (2) For more information about this AD, contact Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-2125; fax 425-227-1149. (3) Service information identified in this AD that is not incorporated by reference is available at the addresses specified in paragraphs (m)(3) and (m)(4) of this AD. (m) 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. (i) Airbus Service Bulletin A300-57-6118, Revision 01, dated January 31, 2017. (ii) Reserved. (3) 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 account.airworth-eas@airbus.com; Internet http://www.airbus.com. (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221. (5) 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 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.