2023-21-02: 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) 2022-18-14, Amendment 39-22165 (87 FR 56566, September 15, 2022); and b. Adding the following new AD: 2023-21-02 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-22574; Docket No. FAA-2023-1642; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00183-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective December 11, 2023. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces AD 2022-18-14, Amendment 39-22165 (87 FR 56566, September 15, 2022) (AD 2022-18-14). (c) Applicability This AD applies to Airbus SAS airplanes, identified 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 18, 2022. (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. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, 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 (i) of AD 2022-18-14, with no changes. For airplanes with an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before November 2, 2021, 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 2021-0261, dated November 22, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0261). Accomplishing the revision of the existing maintenance or inspection program required by paragraph (j) of this AD terminates the requirements of this paragraph. (h) Retained Exceptions to EASA AD 2021-0261, With No Changes This paragraph restates the exceptions specified in paragraph (j) of AD 2022-18-14, with no changes. (1) Where EASA AD 2021-0261 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using October 20, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-18-14). (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 October 20, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-18-14). (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 October 20, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-18-14), 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. (i) Retained Restrictions on Alternative Actions and Intervals, With a New Exception This paragraph restates the requirements of AD 2022-18-14, with a new exception. Except as required by paragraph (j) 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) and intervals are allowed unless they are approved as specified in the provisions of the "Ref. Publications" section of EASA AD 2021-0261. (j) New Revision of the Existing Maintenance or Inspection Program Except as specified in paragraph (k) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, EASA AD 2022-0187, dated September 13, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0187); and EASA AD 2023-0015, dated January 19, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0015); as applicable. Where EASA AD 2023-0015 affects the same airworthiness limitations as those in EASA AD 2022-0187, the airworthiness limitations referenced in EASA AD 2023-0015 prevail. (k) New Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0187 and to EASA AD 2023-0015 (1) This AD does not adopt the requirements specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of EASA AD 2022-0187 and of EASA AD 2023-0015. (2) Paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0187 and of EASA AD 2023-0015 specifies revising "the AMP" within 12 months after the respective EASA AD's 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 2022-0187 and of EASA AD 2023-0015 is at the applicable "associated thresholds" as incorporated by the requirements of paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0187 and of EASA AD 2023-0015, or within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. (4) This AD does not adopt the provisions specified in paragraphs (4) and (5) of EASA AD 2022-0187. (5) Where EASA AD 2022-0187 defines "The ALS," replace the text "Airbus A330 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) Part 2 Revision 05," with "Airbus A330 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) Part 2 Revision 05 Issue 02." (6) This AD does not adopt the provisions specified in paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2023-0015. (7) This AD does not require incorporating Section 4, "Damage Tolerant-Airworthiness Limitations Items-Tasks Beyond MPPT," of "the ALS" specified in EASA AD 2022-0187 and in EASA AD 2023-0015. (8) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2022-0187 and of EASA AD 2023-0015. (l) New Provisions for Alternative Actions and Intervals After the existing maintenance or inspection program has been revised as required by paragraph (j) 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 2022-0187 or of EASA AD 2023-0015. (m) 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 (n) 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, Amendment 39-19508 (83 FR 60756, November 27, 2018), is approved as an AMOC for the corresponding provisions of EASA AD 2022-0187 and EASA AD 2023-0015 that are required by paragraph (j) 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, Amendment 39-19795 (84 FR 64725, November 25, 2019), is approved as an AMOC for the corresponding provisions of EASA AD 2022-0187 and of EASA AD 2023-0015 that are required by paragraph (j) 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. (n) Additional Information For more information about this AD, contact Tim Dowling, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone: 206-231-3667; email: [email protected]. (o) 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 December 11, 2023. (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022-0187, dated September 13, 2022. (ii) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2023-0015, dated January 19, 2023. (4) The following service information was approved for IBR on October 20, 2022 (87 FR 56566, September 15, 2022). (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2021-0261, dated November 22, 2021. (ii) [Reserved] (5) For EASA AD 2021-0261, EASA AD 2022-0187, and EASA AD 2023-0015, 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. (6) 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. (7) You may view this material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected]. Issued on October 11, 2023. Victor Wicklund, Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2023-24406 Filed 11-3-23; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P