2025-20-15: 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: a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-08-08, Amendment 39-22011 (87 FR 23755, April 21, 2022); and b. Adding the following new AD: 2025-20-15 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-23168; Docket No. FAA-2024-1895; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-01240-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective January 2, 2026. (b) Affected ADs (1) This AD replaces AD 2022-08-08, Amendment 39-22011 (87 FR 23755, April 21, 2022) (AD 2022-08-08). (2) This AD affects AD 2025-03-06, Amendment 39-22954 (90 FR 9595, February 14, 2025) (AD 2025-03-06). (c) Applicability This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model airplanes specified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this AD, certificated in any category, as identified in European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0217, dated November 18, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0217). (1) Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes. (2) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -151N, -153N, and -171N airplanes. (3) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes. (4) Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -251NX, -252N, -252NX, -253N, -253NX, -271N, -271NX, -272N, and -272NX airplanes. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by reports that, during inspections accomplished as specified in certain airworthiness limitation items (ALIs), cracks were detected in the double joggle areas at frame (FR) 16 and FR20 in the nose forward fuselage. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced structural integrity of the fuselage. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Requirements Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, EASA AD 2024-0217. (h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0217 (1) Replace paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2024-0217 with "For an airplane that has been repaired before the effective date of this AD in an affected area using Airbus-approved instructions unrelated to (not a result of a finding during an ALI inspection or the inspection SB) ALI task 531153-02-1, 531153-02-2, 531155-02-1, 531155-02-2, 531153-03-1, 531155-03-1 or the inspection SB, as applicable: Before exceeding the thresholds as specified in Table 1 (for CEO airplanes) or Table 2 (for NEO airplanes) of this AD, as applicable, contact the Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus SAS's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA)s for approved instructions and accomplish those instructions accordingly. If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature." (2) Where paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2024-0217 specifies to "contact Airbus for approved repair instructions and, within the compliance time specified therein, accomplish those instructions accordingly" if any cracks are detected, for this AD if any cracking is detected, the cracking must be repaired before further flight 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. (3) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2024-0217. (4) Where EASA AD 2024-0217 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (i) No Reporting Requirement Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2024-0217 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement. (j) Terminating Action for Certain Requirements in AD 2025-03-06 Accomplishing the actions required by this AD terminates ALI tasks 531153-02-1, and 531155-02-1 as required by paragraph (n) of AD 2025-03-06 only for the airplanes identified in paragraph (c) of this AD. (k) 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, mail it to the address identified in paragraph (l) 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) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2022-08-08 are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of EASA AD 2024-0217 that are required by paragraph (g) of this AD. (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 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 (k)(2) of this AD, if any material 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. (l) 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: [email protected]. (m) 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 2024-0217, dated November 18, 2024. (ii) [Reserved]. (3) 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 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 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 3, 2025. Lona C. Saccomando, Acting Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2025-21475 Filed 11-26-25; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P