2020-20-05: Time Limits/Maintenance Checks

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: 0 a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-25-02, Amendment 39-19513 (83 FR 62690, December 6, 2018), and AD 2019-23-01, Amendment 39-19794 (84 FR 66579, December 5, 2019); and 0 b. Adding the following new AD: 2020-20-05 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-21261; Docket No. FAA-2020-0457; Product Identifier 2020-NM-039-AD. (a) Effective Date This AD is effective November 19, 2020. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces AD 2018-25-02, Amendment 39-19513 (83 FR 62690, December 6, 2018) (''AD 2018-25-02''), and AD 2019-23-01, Amendment 39-19794 (84 FR 66579, December 5, 2019) (''AD 2019-23-01'').(c) Applicability This AD applies to Airbus SAS airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this AD, certificated in any category, with an original certificate of airworthiness or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before October 11, 2019. (1) Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes. (2) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, - 151N, and -153N airplanes. (3) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, - 252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes. (4) Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, - 251N, -251NX, -252N, -252NX, -253N, -253NX, -271N, -271NX, -272N, and -272NX airplanes. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 05, Time Limits/ Maintenance Checks. (e) Reason This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address fatigue cracking,accidental damage, or corrosion in principal structural elements, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Retained Maintenance or Inspection Program Revision, With No Changes This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD 2019-23-01, with no changes. Accomplishing the maintenance or inspection program revision required by paragraph (i) of this AD terminates the requirements of this paragraph. (1) For airplanes with an original certificate of airworthiness or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before June 13, 2018, except for Model A319-151N and -153N airplanes and Model A320-253N, -272N, and -273N airplanes: Within 90 days after January 9, 2020 (the effective date of AD 2019-23-01), revise the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the information specified in Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) Part 2--Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT-ALI), Revision 07, dated June 13, 2018. (2) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks is at the time specified in Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) Part 2--Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT-ALI), Revision 07, dated June 13, 2018, or within 90 days after January 9, 2020, whichever occurs later. (h) Retained Restriction on Alternative Actions and Intervals With a New Exception This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (h) of AD 2019-23-01, with a new exception. Except as required by paragraph (i) of this AD, after the maintenance or inspection program has been revised as required by paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., inspections) or intervals may be used unless the actions or intervals are approved as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (m)(1) of this AD. (i) New Maintenance or Inspection Program Revision Except as specified in paragraph (j) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020-0036R1, dated June 24, 2020 (''EASA AD 2020-0036R1''). Accomplishing the maintenance or inspection program revision required by this paragraph terminates the requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD. (j) Exceptions to EASA AD 2020-0036R1 (1) The requirements specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of EASA AD 2020-0036R1 do not apply to this AD. (2) Paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2020-0036R1 specifies revising ''the AMP'' within 12 months after its effective date, but this AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the ''tasks and associated thresholds and intervals'' specified in paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2020-0036R1 within 90 days after the effective date of this AD. (3) The initial compliance times for doing the tasks specified in paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2020-0036R1 are at the applicable ''associated thresholds'' specified in paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2020-0036R1, or within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. (4) The provisions specified in paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) of EASA AD 2020-0036R1 do not apply to this AD. (5) The ''Remarks'' section of EASA AD 2020-0036R1 does not apply to this AD. (k) New Provisions for Alternative Actions or Intervals After the existing maintenance or inspection program has been revised as required by paragraph (i) of this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., inspections) or intervals are allowed unless they are approved as specified in the provisions of the ''Ref. Publications'' section of EASA AD 2020-0036R1. (l) Credit for Original EASA AD This paragraph provides credit for actions required by paragraph (i) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective date of this AD using EASA AD 2020-0036, dated February 26, 2020. (m) Other FAA AD Provisions The following provisions also apply to this AD: (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation 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 (n) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: [email protected]. (i) 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.(ii) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2019-23-01 are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of EASA AD 2020-0036R1 that are required by paragraph (g) of this AD. (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD to obtain instructions ((Page 65200)) from a manufacturer, the instructions must be accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus SAS's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature. (n) Related Information For more information about this AD, contact Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3223; email [email protected]. (o) 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 November 19, 2020. (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020-0036R1, dated June 24, 2020. (ii) (Reserved) (4) The following service information was approved for IBR on January 9, 2020 (84 FR 66579, December 5, 2019). (i) Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) Part 2--Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT- ALI), Revision 07, dated June 13, 2018. (ii) (Reserved) (5) For information about EASA AD 2020-0036R1, contact the EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email [email protected]; internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA AD on the EASA website at https://ad.easa.europa.eu. (6) For information about the Airbus material that is incorporated by reference, contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office--EIAS, Rond-Point Emile Dewoitine No: 2, 31700 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 44 51; email [email protected]; internet http://www.airbus.com. (7) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. This material may be found in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0457. (8) You may view this material that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, email [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.Issued on September 18, 2020. Lance T. Gant, Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. (FR Doc. 2020-22760 Filed 10-14-20; 8:45 am) BILLING CODE 4910-13-P