2025-17-06: 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) 2022-18-01, Amendment 39-22152 (87 FR 54355, September 6, 2022); and b. Adding the following new AD: 2025-17-06 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-23116; Docket No. FAA-2025-0925; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00671-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective October 1, 2025. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces AD 2022-18-01, Amendment 39-22152 (87 FR 54355, September 6, 2022) (AD 2022-18-01). (c) Applicability This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model airplanes, identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this AD, certificated in any category, with an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before October 1, 2024. (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, or corrosion in principal structural elements, and possible failure of certain life-limited parts. 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 a New Terminating Action This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (l) of AD 2022-18-01, with a new terminating action. For airplanes with an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before July 1, 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 2021-0246, dated November 17, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0246). 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 2021-0246, With No Changes This paragraph restates the exceptions specified in paragraph (m) of AD 2022-18-01, with no changes. (1) Where EASA AD 2021-0246 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using October 11, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-18-01). (2) The requirements specified in paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2021-0246 do not apply to this AD. (3) Paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2021-0246 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 11, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-18-01). (4) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in paragraph (2) of EASA 2021-0246 is at the applicable "limitations" as incorporated by the requirements of paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2021-0246, or within 90 days after October 11, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-18-01), whichever occurs later. (5) The provisions specified in paragraphs (3) and (4) of EASA AD 2021-0246 do not apply to this AD. (6) The "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2021-0246 does not apply to this AD. (i) Retained Restrictions on Alternative Actions, Intervals, With a New Exception This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (n) of AD 2022-18-01, 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 2021-0246. (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 2024-0213, dated November 14, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0213). 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 2024-0213 (1) This AD does not adopt the requirements specified in paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2024-0213. (2) Paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2024-0213 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 the effective date of this AD. (3) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2024-0213 is at the applicable "limitations" as incorporated by the requirements of paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2024-0213, 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 (3) and (4) of EASA AD 2024-0213. (5) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2024-0213. (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 2024-0213. (m) 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 (n) of this AD and email 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, 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. (n) Additional Information For more information about this AD, contact Emma Copeland, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 847-294-8068; email: [email protected]. (o) Material Incorporated by Reference (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) 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. (3) The following material was approved for IBR on October 1, 2025. (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0213, dated November 14, 2024. (ii) [Reserved] (4) The following material was approved for IBR on October 11, 2022 (87 FR 54355, September 6, 2022). (i) EASA AD 2021-0246, dated November 17, 2021. (ii) [Reserved] (5) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email [email protected]. You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. Note 1 to paragraph (o)(5) : EASA AD 2021-0246 can be accessed in the zipped file at the bottom of the web page for EASA AD 2021-0246R1, dated October 12, 2022. When EASA posts a revised AD on their website, they watermark the previous AD as "Revised," alter the file name by adding "_revised" to the end, and move it into a zipped file attached at the bottom of the AD web page. (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. (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 August 19, 2025. Lona C. Saccomando, Acting Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2025-16402 Filed 8-26-25; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P