2022-18-14: Time Limits/Maintenance Checks

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by: a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-19-13, Amendment 39-19043 (82 FR 43837, September 20, 2017); AD 2018-24-04, Amendment 39-19508 (83 FR 60756, November 27, 2018); and AD 2019-23-02, Amendment 39-19795 (84 FR 64725, November 25, 2019); and b. Adding the following new AD: 2022-18-14 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-22165; Docket No. FAA-2022-0591; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01302-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective October 20, 2022. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces the ADs specified in paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) of this AD. (1) AD 2017-19-13, Amendment 39-19043 (82 FR 43837, September 20, 2017) (AD 2017-19-13). (2) AD 2018-24-04, Amendment 39-19508 (83 FR 60756, November 27, 2018) (AD 2018-24-04). (3) AD 2019-23-02, Amendment 39-19795 (84 FR 64725, November 25, 2019) (AD 2019-23-02). (c) Applicability This AD applies to the Airbus SAS airplanes specified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (5) of this AD, certificated in any category, with an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before November 2, 2021. (1) Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, and -243 airplanes. (2) Model A330-223F and -243F airplanes. (3) Model A330-301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes. (4) Model A330-841 airplanes. (5) Model A330-941 airplanes. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 05, Time Limits/Maintenance Checks. (e) Unsafe Condition 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, and corrosion in principal structural elements; such fatigue cracking, accidental damage, and corrosion 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 Revision of the Existing Maintenance or Inspection Program, With No Changes This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD 2019-23-02, with no changes. For Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, and -243; A330-223F and -243F; and A330-301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes with an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before January 18, 2019: Within 90 days after December 30, 2019 (the effective date AD 2019-23-02), revise the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the information specified in Airbus A330 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) Part 2, Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT-ALI), Revision 03, dated October 15, 2018 (Airbus A330 ALS Part 2, DT-ALI, Revision 03), as supplemented by Airbus A330 ALS Part 2, DT-ALI, Variation 3.1, dated January 18, 2019. The initial compliance time for doing the tasks is at the time specified in Airbus A330 ALS Part 2, DT-ALI, Revision 03, including Airbus A330 ALS Part 2, DT-ALI, Variation 3.1, dated January 18, 2019; or within 90 days after December 30, 2019; whichever occurs later. This AD does not require Section 4, "Damage Tolerant-Airworthiness Limitations Items-Tasks Beyond MPPT," of Airbus A330 ALS Part 2, DT-ALI, Revision 03. Accomplishing the revision of the existing maintenance or inspection program required by paragraph (i) of this AD terminates the requirements of this paragraph. (h) Retained Restrictions on Alternative Actions or Intervals, With a New Exception This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (h) of AD 2019-23-02, with a new exception. Except as required by paragraph (i) of this AD, after the existing 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 and intervals are approved as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (l)(1) of this AD. (i) New Revision of the Existing Maintenance or Inspection Program 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 2021-0261, dated November 22, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0261). Accomplishing the revision of the existing maintenance or inspection program required by this paragraph terminates the requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD. (j) Exceptions to EASA AD 2021-0261 (1) Where EASA AD 2021-0261 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (2) The requirements specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of EASA AD 2021-0261 do not apply to this AD. (3) Paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2021-0261 specifies revising "the AMP" within 12 months after its effective date, but this AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, within 90 days after the effective date of this AD. (4) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in paragraph (3) of EASA 2021-0261 is at the applicable "associated thresholds" as incorporated by the requirements of paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2021-0261, or within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. (5) This AD does not require incorporating Section 4, "Damage Tolerant-Airworthiness Limitations Items-Tasks Beyond MPPT," of "the ALS" specified in EASA AD 2021-0261. (6) The provisions specified in paragraphs (4) and (5) of EASA AD 2021-0261 do not apply to this AD. (7) The "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2021-0261 does not apply to this AD. (k) New Provisions for Alternative Actions and 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) and intervals are allowed unless they are approved as specified in the provisions of the "Ref. Publications" section of EASA AD 2021-0261. (l) Additional AD Provisions The following provisions also apply to this AD: (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 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 responsible Flight Standards Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (m) 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 responsible Flight Standards Office. (ii) The AMOC specified in letter AIR-676-19-120, dated March 5, 2019, approved previously for AD 2018-24-04, is approved as an AMOC for the corresponding provisions of EASA AD 2021-0261 that are required by paragraph (i) of this AD for Model A330-200 and A330-300 series airplanes modified from a passenger to freighter configuration under the provisions of FAA Supplemental Type Certificate ST04038NY. (iii) The AMOC specified in letter AIR-731A-20-179, dated May 11, 2020, approved previously for AD 2019-23-02 is approved as an AMOC for the corresponding provisions of EASA AD 2021-0261 that are required by paragraph (i) of this AD for Model A330-200 and A330-300 series airplanes modified from a passenger to freighter configuration under the provisions of FAA Supplemental Type Certificate ST04038NY. (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, 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. (m) Related Information For more information about this AD, contact Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, FAA, International Validation Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206 231 3229; email [email protected]. (n) Material Incorporated by Reference (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference 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 October 20, 2022. (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2021-0261, dated November 22, 2021. (ii) [Reserved] (4) The following service information was approved for IBR on December 30, 2019 (84 FR 64725, November 25, 2019). (i) Airbus A330 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) Part 2, Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT-ALI), Revision 03, dated October 15, 2018. (ii) Airbus A330 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) Part 2, Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT-ALI), Variation 3.1, dated January 18, 2019. (5) For EASA AD 2021-0261, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email [email protected]; internet easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA AD on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. (6) For Airbus service information identified in this AD, contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office-EAL, Rond-Point Emile Dewoitine No: 2, 31700 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; email [email protected]; internet 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. (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: archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. Issued on August 25, 2022. Christina Underwood, Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2022-19809 Filed 9-14-22; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P