2023-14-09: Wings

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) 2022-17-09, Amendment 39-22147 (87 FR 64375, October 25, 2022); and b. Adding the following new AD: 2023-14-09 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-22509; Docket No. FAA-2023-1038; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01584-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective September 7, 2023. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces AD 2022-17-09, Amendment 39-22147 (87 FR 64375, October 25, 2022) (AD 2022-17-09). (c) Applicability This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022-0250, dated December 14, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0250). (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57, Wings. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by reports of the incorrect application of lightning strike edge glow sealant protection at specific locations on the wing tanks, and a determination that additional airplanes need to perform a modification to restore two independent layers of lightning strike protection on the wing lower or upper cover. The FAA is issuing this AD to address missing or incorrectly applied sealant, which in combination with an undetected incorrect installation of an adjacent fastener and a lightning strike in the immediate area, could result in ignition of the fuel-air mixture inside the affected fuel tanks and loss of the airplane. (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, EASA AD 2022-0250. (h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0250 (1) Where EASA AD 2022-0250 refers to October 27, 2020 (the effective date of EASA AD 2020-0220), this AD requires using September 30, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-16-03, Amendment 39-21665 (86 FR 47555, August 26, 2021)). (2) Where EASA AD 2022-0250 refers to February 4, 2022 (the effective date of EASA AD 2022-0011), this AD requires using November 29, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-17-09). (3) Where EASA AD 2022-0250 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (4) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2022-0250 gives a compliance time of "the next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months since Airbus date of manufacture, whichever occurs first after 27 October 2020 [the effective date of EASA AD 2020-0220]," for this AD, the compliance time is the later of the times specified in paragraphs (h)(4)(i) and (ii) of this AD. (i) The next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months since Airbus date of manufacture, whichever occurs first after September 30, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-16-03). (ii) Within 12 months after September 30, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-16-03). (5) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0250 gives a compliance time of "the next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months since Airbus date of manufacture, whichever occurs first after 04 February 2022 [the effective date of EASA AD 2022-0011]," for this AD, the compliance time is the later of the times specified in paragraphs (h)(5)(i) and (ii) of this AD. (i) The next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months since Airbus date of manufacture, whichever occurs first after November 29, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-17-09). (ii) Within 12 months after November 29, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-17-09). (6) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0250 refers to "discrepancies," for this AD, discrepancies include missing or incorrectly applied sealant. (7) Where paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2022-0250 gives a compliance time of "the next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months since Airbus date of manufacture, whichever occurs first after the effective date of this [EASA] AD," for this AD, the compliance time is the later of the times specified in paragraphs (h)(7)(i) and (ii) of this AD. (i) The next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months since Airbus date of manufacture, whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD. (ii) Within 2 months after the effective date of this AD. (8) Where the applicability and group definitions in EASA AD 2022-0250 specify manufacturer serial numbers (MSN) in certain service information, replace the text "the inspection SB" with "Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P067, dated September 17, 2020." (9) Where the applicability and group definitions in EASA AD 2022-0250 specify MSN in certain service information, replace the text "the modification SB1" with "Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P070, Revision 1, dated March 14, 2022." (10) Where the applicability and group definitions in EASA AD 2022-0250 specify MSN in certain service information, replace the text "the modification SB2" with "Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P072, dated June 24, 2022; Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P073, dated June 24, 2022; or Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P074, dated June 24, 2022; as applicable." (11) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2022-0250. (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 Dat Le, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 516-228-7317; email: [email protected]. (k) 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) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022-0250, dated December 14, 2022. (ii) [Reserved] (3) For EASA AD 2022-0250, 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 July 13, 2023. Victor Wicklund, Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2023-16382 Filed 8-2-23; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P