Rule2022-18114
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 23, 2022
Effective
September 27, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-26-05 and AD 2019-21-02, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A330-200, A330-200 Freighter, and A330-300 series airplanes. AD 2016-26-05 and AD 2019-21-02 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary, and that new airplanes have been added to the applicability. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2019-21-02, and also requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate additional new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 162 (Tuesday, August 23, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 23, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51585-51587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18114]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0586; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01262-T;
Amendment 39-22136; AD 2022-16-07]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-26-05
and AD 2019-21-02, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A330-200,
A330-200 Freighter, and A330-300 series airplanes. AD 2016-26-05 and AD
2019-21-02 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection
program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive
airworthiness limitations. This AD was prompted by a determination that
new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary, and
that new airplanes have been added to the applicability. This AD
continues to require the actions in AD 2019-21-02, and also requires
revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable,
to incorporate additional new or more restrictive airworthiness
limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA) The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products.
DATES: This AD is effective September 27, 2022.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of September
27, 2022.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain other publications listed in this AD as of
November 29, 2019 (84 FR 57313, October 25, 2019).
ADDRESSES: For EASA material incorporated by reference (IBR) in this
AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany;
telephone +49 221 8999 000; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f2b3b681b297938193dc9787809d8293dc9787"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e4a5a097a481859785ca8191968b9485ca8191">[email protected]</span></a>; internet
www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this IBR material on the EASA website
at ad.easa.europa.eu. For Airbus service information identified in this
final rule, contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office-EAL, Rond-Point
Emile Dewoitine No: 2, 31700 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61
93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ddbcb4afaab2afa9b5b4b3b8aeaef39ceeeeedf09ceee9ed9dbcb4afbfa8aef3beb2b0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b2d3dbc0c5ddc0c6dadbdcd7c1c19cf38181829ff3818682f2d3dbc0d0c7c19cd1dddf">[email protected]</span></a>; internet <a href="http://www.airbus.com">www.airbus.com</a>. 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. It is also
available in the AD docket at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0586.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> by searching
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0586; or in person at Docket
Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this final rule, the mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments received, and
other information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department
of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer,
Large Aircraft Section, FAA, International Validation Branch, 2200
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206-231-3229; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c7b1aba6a3aeaaaeb5e9b2abbea6a9a8b187a1a6a6e9a0a8b1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="46302a27222f2b2f3468332a3f272829300620272768212930">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2021-0248, dated November 15, 2021
(EASA AD 2021-0248) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an
unsafe condition for all Airbus SAS Model Airbus A330-201, A330-202,
A330-203, A330-223, A330-223F, A330-243, A330-243F, A330-301, A330-302,
A330-303, A330-321, A330-322, A330-323, A330-341, A330-342, A330-343,
A330-841, and A330-941 airplanes.
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2016-26-05, Amendment 39 18763 (82 FR 1170,
January 5, 2017) (AD 2019-21-02) and AD 2019-21-02, Amendment 39-19768
(84 FR 57313, October 25, 2019) (AD 2019-21-02). AD 2019-21-02 applied
to certain Airbus SAS Model A330-200, A330-200 Freighter, and A330-300
series airplanes, and specifies that accomplishing the revision
required by that AD terminates all requirements of AD 2016-26-05. The
NPRM published
[[Page 51586]]
in the Federal Register on May 20, 2022 (87 FR 30840). The NPRM was
prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness
limitations are necessary, and that new airplanes have been added to
the applicability. The NPRM proposed to continue to require the actions
in AD 2019-21-02 and require revising the existing maintenance or
inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate additional new or
more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in EASA AD
2021-0248.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address a safety-significant latent
failure (that is not annunciated) that, in combination with one or more
other specific failures or events, could result in a hazardous or
catastrophic failure condition. See the MCAI for additional background
information.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the cost to the public.
Conclusion
The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety
requires adopting this AD as proposed. Except for minor editorial
changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. None of the
changes will increase the economic burden on any operator. Accordingly,
the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
EASA AD 2021-0248 describes new or more restrictive airworthiness
limitations for airplane structures and safe life limits, and adds new
models to the applicability.
This AD also requires Airbus A330 Airworthiness Limitations Section
(ALS) Part 3-Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMR), Revision 06,
dated October 15, 2018; and Airbus A330 ALS Part 3-Certification
Maintenance Requirements (CMR), Variation 6.1, dated June 28, 2019;
which the Director of the Federal Register approved for incorporation
by reference as of November 29, 2019 (84 FR 57313, October 25, 2019).
This material is reasonably available because the interested
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by
the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 138 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
The FAA estimates the total cost per operator for the retained
actions from AD 2019-21-02 to be $7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per work-
hour).
The FAA has determined that revising the existing maintenance or
inspection program takes an average of 90 work-hours per operator,
although the agency recognizes that this number may vary from operator
to operator. Since operators incorporate maintenance or inspection
program changes for their affected fleet(s), the FAA has determined
that a per-operator estimate is more accurate than a per-airplane
estimate.
The FAA estimates the total cost per operator for the new actions
to be $7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per work-hour).
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs,
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements.
Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight
of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for
practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary
for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that
authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to
exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order
13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States,
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various
levels of government.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
The Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2016-26-05, Amendment 39-18763 (82
FR 1170, January 5, 2017); and Airworthiness Directive 2019-21-02,
Amendment 39-19768 (84 FR 57313, October 25, 2019); and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:
2022-16-07 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-22136; Docket No. FAA-2022-0586;
Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01262-T.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective September 27,
2022.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD replaces AD 2016-26-05, Amendment 39-18763 (82 FR 1170,
January 5, 2017) (AD 2016-26-05); and AD 2019-21-02, Amendment 39-
19768 (84 FR 57313, October 25, 2019) (AD 2019-21-02).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223,
-223F, -243, -243F, -301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342,
-343, -841, and -941 airplanes, certificated in any category, with
an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate
of airworthiness issued on or before July 1, 2021.
(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, and that new
airplanes have been added to the applicability. The FAA is issuing
this AD to address a safety-significant latent failure (that is not
annunciated) that, in combination with one or more other specific
failures or events, could result in a hazardous or catastrophic
failure condition.
[[Page 51587]]
(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
2019-21-02, with no changes. For Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, -
223F, -243, -243F, -301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342,
and -343 airplanes with an original airworthiness certificate or
original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before
October 15, 2018: Within 90 days after November 29, 2019 (the
effective date of AD 2019-21-02), revise the existing maintenance or
inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the information
specified in Airbus A330 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS)
Part 3--Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMR), Revision 06,
dated October 15, 2018, as supplemented by Airbus A330 ALS Part 3--
Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMR), Variation 6.1, dated
June 28, 2019. The initial compliance times for doing the tasks is
at the time specified in Airbus A330 Airworthiness Limitations
Section (ALS) Part 3--Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMR),
Revision 06, dated October 15, 2018, as supplemented by Airbus A330
ALS Part 3--Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMR), Variation
6.1, dated June 28, 2019, or within 90 days after November 29, 2019,
whichever occurs later. Accomplishing the revision of the existing
maintenance or inspection program required by paragraph (i) of this
AD terminates the requirements of this paragraph.
(h) Retained No Alternative Actions or Intervals, With a New Exception
This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (h) of AD
2019-21-02, with a new exception. Except as required by paragraph
(i) of this AD, after the maintenance or inspection program has been
revised as required by paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative
actions (e.g., inspections) or intervals may be used unless the
actions or intervals are approved as an alternative method of
compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the procedures specified in
paragraph (l)(1) of this AD.
(i) New Revision of the Existing Maintenance or Inspection Program
Except as specified in paragraph (j) of this AD: Comply with all
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD
2021-0248, dated November 15, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0248).
Accomplishing the revision of the existing maintenance or inspection
program required by this paragraph terminates the requirements of
paragraph (g) of this AD.
(j) Exceptions to EASA AD 2021-0248
(1) Where EASA AD 2021-0248 refers to its effective date, this
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) The requirements specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of EASA
AD 2021-0248 do not apply to this AD.
(3) Paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2021-0248 specifies revising ``the
approved AMP [aircraft maintenance program]'' 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.
(4) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in
paragraph (3) of EASA 2021-0248 is at the applicable ``associated
thresholds,'' as incorporated by the requirements of paragraph (3)
of EASA AD 2021-0248, or within 90 days after the effective date of
this AD, whichever occurs later.
(5) The provisions specified in paragraphs (4) and (5) of EASA
AD 2021-0248 do not apply to this AD.
(6) The ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 2021-0248 does not apply
to this AD.
(k) New Provisions for Alternative Actions and Intervals
After the existing maintenance or inspection program has been
revised as required by paragraph (i) 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 2021-0248.
(l) Additional AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
Large Aircraft Section, 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 Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, send it
to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (m) of this
AD. Information may be emailed to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#89b0a4c8dfdaa4c8c0dba4bebab9a4c8c4c6cac9efe8e8a7eee6ff"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="221b0f6374710f636b700f1511120f636f6d61624443430c454d54">[email protected]</span></a>.
(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 2019-21-02 are approved as
AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of EASA AD 2021-0248 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, Large Aircraft
Section, 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.
(m) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Vladimir Ulyanov,
Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, FAA, International
Validation Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198;
telephone 206-231-3229; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#582e34393c3135312a762d34213936372e183e3939763f372e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b5c3d9d4d1dcd8dcc79bc0d9ccd4dbdac3f5d3d4d49bd2dac3">[email protected]</span></a>.
(n) 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
September 27, 2022.
(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2021-0248,
dated November 15, 2021.
(ii) [Reserved]
(4) The following service information was approved for IBR on
November 29, 2019 (84 FR 57313, October 25, 2019).
(i) Airbus A330 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) Part 3--
Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMR), Revision 06, dated
October 15, 2018.
(ii) Airbus A330 ALS Part 3--Certification Maintenance
Requirements (CMR), Variation 6.1, dated June 28, 2019.
(5) For EASA AD 2021-0248, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3,
50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#eeafaa9dae8b8f9d8fc08b9b9c819e8fc08b9b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3273764172575341531c5747405d42531c5747">[email protected]</span></a>; internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this
EASA AD on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
(6) For Airbus service information identified in this AD,
contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office-EAL, Rond-Point Emile
Dewoitine No: 2, 31700 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93
36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9afbf3e8edf5e8eef2f3f4ffe9e9b4dba9a9aab7dba9aeaadafbf3e8f8efe9b4f9f5f7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8aebe3f8fde5f8fee2e3e4eff9f9a4cbb9b9baa7cbb9bebacaebe3f8e8fff9a4e9e5e7">[email protected]</span></a>; internet <a href="http://www.airbus.com">www.airbus.com</a>.
(7) You may view this service information 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.
(8) You may view this material that is incorporated by reference
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For
information on the availability of this material at NARA, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3f594d1156514c4f5a5c4b5650517f515e4d5e11585049"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0f697d2166617c7f6a6c7b6660614f616e7d6e21686079">[email protected]</span></a>, or go to: <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html</a>.
Issued on July 29, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-18114 Filed 8-22-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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