AD NUMBER: 2020-02-20

PRODUCT: Certain Airbus SAS Model A318 series airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, - 132, and -133 airplanes; A320-211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes.

ACTION: Final rule

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-24-07, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A318 series airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, - 132, and -133 airplanes; A320-211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes.

AD 2014-24-07 required repetitive rototest inspections for cracking; corrective actions if necessary; and modification of the torsion box, which terminates the repetitive inspections.

This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2014-24-07, with certain revised compliance times, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference.

This AD was prompted by a report of a crack found in the side box beam flange of the fuselage at the frame (FR) 43 level during a fatigue test campaign.

DATES: This AD is effective March 20, 2020.

COST: The FAA estimates that this AD affects 851 airplanes of U.S. registry. Operators may incur the following costs in order to comply with this AD:

Retained actions from AD 2014-24-07

• Labor: 178 work-hours × $85 per hour = $15,130
• Parts: $31,334
• Cost per airplane: $46,464

The new requirements of this AD add no new economic burden. The FAA has received no definitive data that would enable the agency to provide cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this AD.

FMI: AD