2023-20-06: Fuselage

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: 2023-20-06 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-22565; Docket No. FAA-2023-1499; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00458-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective November 9, 2023. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model A330-202, A330-203, A330-223, A330-243, and A330-841 airplanes, certificated in any category, manufacturer serial numbers 1780, 1782, 1784, 1785, 1805, 1823, 1835, 1845, 1847, 1854, 1859, 1864, 1872, 1877, 1878, 1882, 1888, 1932, 1936, 1964, and 1969. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by a determination that the cold working process was partially performed on the circumferential joint at frame 58. The FAA is issuing this AD to address a partially completed cold working process on the circumferential joint at frame 58. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could affect the structural integrity of the airplane and result in catastrophic failure. (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 2023-0054, dated March 14, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0054). (h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2023-0054 (1) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2023-0054. (2) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2023-0054 specifies contacting Airbus before further flight for approved instructions if any discrepancy is detected during accomplishment of any inspection that is part of the modification, this AD requires repairing the discrepancy before further flight 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) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2023-0054 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (4) Where Note 2 of EASA AD 2023-0054 specifies Airbus Operators Information Telex (OIT) 999.0086/11 can be used to determine whether an airplane is operated short range (SR) or long range (LR), this AD requires using the following definitions: the term "short range" applies to an airplane with an average flight time lower than 1.5 flight hours per flight cycle, and the term "long range" applies to an airplane with an average flight time equal to or higher than 1.5 flight hours per flight cycle. For determining the SR and LR airplanes, the average flight time is the total accumulated flight hours, counted from takeoff to touchdown, divided by the total accumulated flight cycles at the effective date of 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 DOA. If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature. (3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except as required by paragraphs (h)(2) and (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 Timothy Dowling, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone 206-231-3667; 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 2023-0054, dated March 14, 2023. (ii) [Reserved] (3) For EASA AD 2023-0054, 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 September 28, 2023. Victor Wicklund, Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2023-22144 Filed 10-4-23; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P