2025-23-02: Wings

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) 2017-23-04, Amendment 39-19098 (82 FR 52832, November 15, 2017); and b. Adding the following new AD: 2025-23-02 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-23185; Docket No. FAA-2025-0754; Project Identifier MCAI-2024 00489-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective January 13, 2026. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces AD 2017-23-04, Amendment 39-19098 (82 FR 52832, November 15, 2017) (AD 2017-23-04). (c) Applicability This AD applies to all Airbus SAS Model A300 B4-603, B4-605R, B4-622, B4-622R, C4-605R Variant F, F4-605R, and F4-622R airplanes, certificated in any category. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57, Wings. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by the determination that the top stringer joints at rib 18 are an area of uniform stress distribution, which indicates that cracks may develop in adjacent stringer at the same time, and by the determination that additional airplanes are subject to the unsafe condition. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct damage (including cracking) at the stringer joints. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced structural integrity of the wing. (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, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0170, dated August 26, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0170). (h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0170 (1) Where EASA AD 2024-0170 refers to "24 February 2017 [the effective date of EASA AD 2017-0023]", this AD requires using "December 20, 2017 (the effective date of AD 2017-23-04)". (2) Where EASA AD 2024-0170 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (3) Where EASA AD 2024-0170 does not define "average flight time" for determining the short range (SR) and long range (LR) airplanes, this AD defines "average flight time" as the total accumulated flight hours, counted from takeoff to touchdown, divided by the total accumulated flight cycles as of December 20, 2017 (the effective date of AD 2017-23-04). (4) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2024-0170 specifies to accomplish all applicable corrective actions and modify the stringer joint couplings, this AD requires accomplishing the applicable corrective actions and modification before further flight after the inspection. (5) Where the referenced material in EASA AD 2024-0170 specifies inspecting for damage, this AD defines damage as cracking. (6) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2024-0170. (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 . (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 2017-23-04 are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of EASA AD 2024-0170 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 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 (i)(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. (j) Additional Information For more information about this AD, contact Aaron Nguyen, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 817-222-5134; email: Aaron.T.Nguyen@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 2024-0170, dated August 26, 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 ADs@easa.europa.eu. You may find this material 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 fr.inspection@nara.gov. Issued on November 5, 2025. Peter A. White, Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2025-22351 Filed 12-8-25; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P