AD 2021-05-12 Requires Revising The Existing Maintenance Or Inspection Program

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes.

This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective April 26, 2021.

Supplementary Information: The EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2020-0190, dated August 27, 2020 (also referred to as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or the MCAI) (EASA AD 2020-0190), to correct an unsafe condition for all Airbus SAS Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes, and Model A340-213 and -313 airplanes. EASA AD 2020-0190 refers to Airbus A330 Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) Part 1, Variation 10.2, dated June 29, 2020. Airplanes with an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued after June 29, 2020 must comply with the airworthiness limitations specified as part of the approved type design and referenced on the type certificate data sheet; this AD therefore does not include those airplanes in the applicability.

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Airbus SAS Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on December 10, 2020 (85 FR 79440). The NPRM was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The NPRM proposed to require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in EASA AD 2020-0190.
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, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane. See the MCAI for additional background information.

FMI: www.regulations.gov