2023-25-04: Time Limits/Maintenance

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) 2022-08-04, Amendment 39-22007 (87 FR 29037, May 12, 2022); and b. Adding the following new AD: 2023-25-04 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-22631; Docket No. FAA-2023-2243; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00699-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective January 17, 2024. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces AD 2022-08-04, Amendment 39-22007 (87 FR 29037, May 12, 2022) (AD 2022-08-04). This AD affects AD 2018-19-17, Amendment 39-19417 (83 FR 48207, September 24, 2018) (AD 2018-19-17). (c) Applicability This AD applies to all Airbus SAS Model A300 B4-2C, B4-103, and B4-203 airplanes, certificated in any category. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 05, Time Limits/Maintenance. (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 possible 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 (g) of AD 2022-08-04, with no changes. 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 2021-0134, dated June 1, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0134). 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 2021-0134, With No Changes This paragraph restates the exceptions specified in paragraph (h) of AD 2022-08-04, with no changes. (1) Where EASA AD 2021-0134 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using June 16, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-08-04). (2) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2021-0134 specifies "This AD invalidates the LOV [limit of validity] as specified in Airbus A300 ALS Part 2 Revision 03 [EASA AD 2017-0207]," this AD replaces the LOVs specified in paragraph 1.3 of Airbus A300 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS), Part 2-Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT-ALI), Revision 03, dated August 28, 2017, as required by FAA AD 2018-19-17. (3) Paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2021-0134 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 June 16, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-08-04). (4) The "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2021-0134 does not apply to this AD. (i) Retained Restrictions on Alternative Actions and Intervals With a New Exception This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (i) of AD 2022-08-04, 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) or intervals are allowed unless they are approved as specified in the provisions of the "Ref. Publications" section of EASA AD 2021-0134. (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 2023-0104, dated May 24, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0104). Accomplishing the revision of the existing maintenance or inspection program required by this paragraph terminates the requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD. (k) Exceptions to EASA AD 2023-0104 (1) This AD does not adopt the requirements specified in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of EASA AD 2023-0104. (2) Where paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2023-0104 specifies "Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, revise the AMP," this AD requires replacing those words with "Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable." (3) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2023-0104 is at the associated thresholds as incorporated by the requirements of paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2023-0104, or within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. (4) This AD does not adopt the provisions specified in paragraph (5) of EASA AD 2023-0104. (5) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2023-0104. (l) Replacement of LOVs and Terminating Action for AD 2018-19-17 (1) Accomplishing the actions required by paragraph (j) of this AD replaces the LOVs specified in paragraph 1.3 of Airbus A300 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS), Part 2-Damage Tolerant Airworthiness Limitation Items (DT-ALI), Revision 03, dated August 28, 2017, as required by AD 2018-19-17. (2) Accomplishing the actions required by paragraph (j) of this AD terminates the corresponding requirements of AD 2018-19-17 for the tasks identified in the service information referenced in AD 2023-0104 only. (m) 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 2023-0104. (n) 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 manager of the International Validation Branch, mail it to the address identified in paragraph (o) 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 (n)(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. (o) 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]. (p) 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 January 17, 2024. (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2023-0104, dated May 24, 2023. (ii) [Reserved] (4) The following service information was approved for IBR on June 16, 2022 (87 FR 29037, May 12, 2022). (i) EASA AD 2021-0134, dated June 1, 2021. (ii) [Reserved] (5) EASA ADs 2023-0104 and 2021-0134, 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. (6) 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. This material may be found in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-2243. (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 December 8, 2023. Victor Wicklund, Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2023-28802 Filed 12-29-23; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P