2023-13-10: 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) 2020-20-05, Amendment 39-21261 (85 FR 65197, October 15, 2020); and AD 2022-09-16, Amendment 39-22036 (87 FR 31943, May 26, 2022); and b. Adding the following new AD: 2023-13-10 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-22495; Docket No. FAA-2022-1296; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00628-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective September 5, 2023. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces AD 2020-20-05, Amendment 39-21261 (85 FR 65197, October 15, 2020) (AD 2020-20-05); and AD 2022-09-16, Amendment 39-22036 (87 FR 31943, May 26, 2022) (AD 2022-09-16). (c) Applicability This AD applies to Airbus SAS airplanes specified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this AD, certificated in any category, with an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before November 10, 2022. (1) Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes. (2) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -151N, -153N, and -171N 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) 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, 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 Revision of the Existing Maintenance or Inspection Program, With No Changes From AD 2020-20-05 This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (i) of AD 2020-20-05, with no changes. For airplanes with an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before October 11, 2019: 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 2020-0036R1, dated June 24, 2020 (EASA AD 2020-0036R1). Accomplishing the maintenance or inspection program revision required by paragraph (o) of this AD terminates the requirements of this paragraph. (h) Retained Exceptions to EASA AD 2020-0036R1, With No Changes This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (j) of AD 2020-20-05, with no changes. (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 November 19, 2020 (the effective date of AD 2020-20-05). (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 November 19, 2020 (the effective date of AD 2020-20-05), 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. (i) Retained Provisions for Alternative Actions or Intervals From AD 2020-20-05, With New Exception This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (k) of AD 2020-20-05, with new exception. Except as required by paragraphs (k) and (o) 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 are allowed unless they are approved as specified in the provisions of the "Ref. Publications" section of EASA AD 2020-0036R1. (j) Retained Credit for Original EASA AD, With No Changes This paragraph restates the credit provided in paragraph (l) of AD 2020-20-05, with no changes. This paragraph provides credit for actions required by paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before November 19, 2020 (the effective date of AD 2020-20-05) using EASA AD 2020-0036, dated February 26, 2020. (k) Retained Revision of the Existing Maintenance or Inspection Program, With No Changes From AD 2022-09-16 This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD 2022-09-16, with no changes. For airplanes with an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before November 10, 2020: Except as specified in paragraph (l) of this AD, comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, EASA AD 2021-0140, dated June 14, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0140). Accomplishing the revision of the existing maintenance or inspection program required by paragraph (o) of this AD terminates the requirements of this paragraph. (l) Retained Exceptions to EASA AD 2021-0140 This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (h) of AD 2022-09-16, with no changes. (1) Where EASA AD 2021-0140 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using June 30, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-09-16). (2) The requirements specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of EASA AD 2021-0140 do not apply to this AD. (3) Paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2021-0140 specifies revising "the approved [aircraft maintenance program] 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 June 30, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-09-16). (4) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2021-0140 is at the applicable "thresholds" as incorporated by the requirements of paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2021-0140, or within 90 days after June 30, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-09-16), whichever occurs later. (5) The provisions specified in paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2021-0140 do not apply to this AD. (6) The "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2021-0140 does not apply to this AD. (m) Retained Provisions for Alternative Actions or Intervals From AD 2022-09-16, With New Exception This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (i) of AD 2022-09-16, with new exception. Except as required by paragraph (o) of this AD, after the existing maintenance or inspection program has been revised as required by paragraph (k) 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 2021-0140. (n) Retained Terminating Action for Certain Requirements in AD 2020-20-05, With Revised References This paragraph restates the terminating action specified in paragraph (i) of AD 2022-09-16, with revised references. Accomplishing the actions required by paragraph (k) of this AD, including incorporating Task 531135-03-1 as required by EASA AD 2021-0140, terminates Task 531135-01-2, as required by EASA AD 2020-0036R1 by the requirements in paragraph (g) of this AD. (o) New Revision of the Existing Maintenance or Inspection Program Except as specified in paragraph (p) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, EASA AD 2022-0085, dated May 12, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0085) and EASA AD 2023-0008, dated January 16, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0008). Where EASA AD 2023-0008 affects the same airworthiness limitations as those in EASA AD 2022-0085, the airworthiness limitations referenced in EASA AD 2023-0008 prevail. Accomplishing the revision of the existing maintenance or inspection program required by this paragraph terminates the requirements of paragraphs (g) and (i) of this AD. (p) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0085 and to EASA AD 2023-0008 (1) The requirements specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of EASA AD 2022-0085 and of EASA AD 2023-0008 do not apply to this AD. (2) Paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0085 and of EASA AD 2023-0008 specifies revising "the approved 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. (3) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0085 and of EASA AD 2023-0008 is at the applicable "thresholds" as incorporated by the requirements of paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0085 and of EASA AD 2023-0008, respectively, or within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. Where EASA AD 2023-0008 affects the same airworthiness limitations as those in EASA AD 2022-0085, the airworthiness limitations referenced in EASA AD 2023-0008 prevail. (4) The provisions specified in paragraphs (4) and (5) of EASA AD 2022-0085 and of EASA AD 2023-0008 do not apply to this AD. (5) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2022-0085 and of EASA AD 2023-0008. (q) New Provisions for Alternative Actions and Intervals After the existing maintenance or inspection program has been revised as required by paragraph (o) 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 2022-0085 or EASA AD 2023-0008, as applicable. (r) Additional FAA 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 (s) 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) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2022-09-16 are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of EASA AD 2021-0140 that are required by paragraph (i) of this AD. (iii) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2020-20-05 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 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. (s) Additional Information For more information about this AD, contact Dan Rodina, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 206-231-3225; email [email protected]. (t) 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 September 5, 2023. (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022-0085, dated May 12, 2022. (ii) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2023-0008, dated January 16, 2023. (4) The following service information was approved for IBR on June 30, 2022 (87 FR 31943, May 26, 2022). (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2021-0140, dated June 14, 2021. (ii) [Reserved] (5) The following service information was approved for IBR on November 19, 2020 (85 FR 65197, October 15, 2020). (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020-0036R1, dated June 24, 2020. (ii) [Reserved] (6) For the EASA ADs identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email [email protected]; website easa.europa.eu. You may find these EASA ADs on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. (7) You may view this service information 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 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, email [email protected], or go to: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. Issued on July 25, 2023. Victor Wicklund, Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2023-16166 Filed 7-31-23; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P