AD NUMBER: 2017-14-11

PRODUCT: Certain Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes.

ACTION: Final Rule.

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2007-13-08, for  the aircraft listed above.

AD 2007-13-08 required repetitive inspections of the auxiliary power unit (APU) starter motor, APU inlet plenum, and APU air intake for discrepancies; repetitive cleaning of the APU air intake; and applicable corrective actions.

This AD expands the applicability of AD 2007-13-08, and includes an optional terminating installation for the repetitive actions. This AD was prompted by a determination that the unsafe condition could occur on additional airplanes.

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 1,182 airplanes of U.S. registry. The actions required by AD 2007-13-08, and retained in this AD, take about 4 work-hours per product, at an average labor rate of $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the actions that are required by AD 2007-13-08 is $340 per product.

The FAA also estimates that it will take about 4 work-hours per product to comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be $401,880, or $340 per product.

The FAA has received no definitive data that will enable us to provide cost estimates for the actions specified in this AD.

DATES: This AD is effective August 21, 2017.

FMI: AD