2023-06-07: Airborne Auxiliary Power

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 adding the following new airworthiness directive: 2023-06-07 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-22393; Docket No. FAA-2023-0019; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01155-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective May 18, 2023. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD applies to all Airbus SAS airplanes specified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (5) of this AD, certificated in any category. (1) Model A330-202, -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 A340-211, -212, and -213 airplanes. (5) Model A340-311, -312, and -313 airplanes. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 49, Airborne Auxiliary Power. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by a report that damage was found to the firewall and fuselage skin in the auxiliary power unit (APU) compartment area on Model A330 airplanes. Subsequent investigation determined that cracks started because of high cycle fatigue in the tee duct, which led to a hot air leak. The FAA is issuing this AD to address cracks in the tee duct. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to a hot air leak from the tee duct and damage to the APU compartment firewall, possibly jeopardizing its capability to contain a fire. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Requirements Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022-0175, dated August 23, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0175). (h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0175 (1) Where EASA AD 2022-0175 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (2) The "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2022-0175 does not apply to this AD. (i) 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 International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (j) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: [email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office. (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. (3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except as required by paragraph (i)(2) 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. (j) Additional 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]. (k) 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. (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022-0175, dated August 23, 2022. (ii) [Reserved] (3) For EASA AD 2022-0175, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email [email protected]; website easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA AD on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. (4) 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. (5) 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: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. Issued on March 16, 2023. Christina Underwood, Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2023-07746 Filed 4-12-23; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P