2025-03-08: Flight Controls

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: 2025-03-08 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-22956; Docket No. FAA-2025-0198; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00762-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective February 26, 2025. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD applies to all Airbus SAS Model airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (6) of this AD. (1) Airbus SAS Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes. (2) Airbus SAS Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -151N, -153N, -171N, and -173N airplanes. (3) Airbus SAS Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes. (4) Airbus SAS Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -253NY, -271NX, and -272NX airplanes. (5) Airbus SAS Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, -243, -223F, -243F, -301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, -343, -841, and -941 airplanes. (6) Airbus SAS Model A340-211, -212, -213, -311, -312, -313, -541, and -642 airplanes. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27, Flight Controls. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by reports of trimmable horizontal stabilizer actuators (THSAs) being delivered to operators having erroneous information (accumulated life) in the authorized release certificate. The FAA is issuing this AD to address erroneous accumulated life information in the THSA release certificate, which could lead to operation of the THSA beyond the certificated life limit; operation of the THSA beyond the certificated life limit could result in failure of the THSA and consequent reduced controllability 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 2024-0247, dated December 18, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0247). (h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0247 (1) Where EASA AD 2024-0247 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (2) Where EASA AD 2024-0247 defines a serviceable part as "A THSA eligible for installation in accordance with Airbus instructions," this AD requires replacing that text with "A THSA eligible for installation." (3) Where EASA AD 2024-0247 defines "the VSIL," for this AD, operators must use Collins Aerospace Vendor Service Information Letter FA3T1-27-04, dated August 6, 2024. (4) This AD requires replacing Note 1 of EASA AD 2024-0247 with "If no approved instructions are provided within the compliance time of paragraph (1) of this AD, paragraph (2) of this AD must be accomplished before further flight. The affected part is eligible to be considered a serviceable part based on the content of the Collins Aerospace approved instructions, once received and accomplished, as required in paragraph (1) of this AD." (5) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2024-0247. (i) Additional AD Provisions The following provisions also apply to this AD: (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety 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 Continued Operational Safety Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (j) of this AD and email to: AMOC@faa.gov. 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, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety 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. (j) Additional Information For more information about this AD, contact Timothy Dowling, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone 206-231-3667; email timothy.p.dowling@faa.gov. (k) Material Incorporated by Reference (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise. (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0247, dated December 18, 2024. (ii) Collins Aerospace Vendor Service Information Letter FA3T1-27-04, dated August 6, 2024. (3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; website easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. (4) For Collins Aerospace material identified in this AD, contact Collins Aerospace, Customer Support Center, 2730 West Tyvola Road, Charlotte, NC 28217; telephone 860-654-2500; email publications@collins.com; website customers.collinsaerospace.com. (5) 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. (6) 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 fr.inspection@nara.gov. Issued on February 4, 2025. Peter A. White, Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2025-02494 Filed 2-7-25; 11:15 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P