AD 2022-14-10 Revises The Applicability By Adding Airplanes And Retains The Requirements Of AD 2018-13-08

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-13-08, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A318 series airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, 132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes.

AD 2018-13-08 required repetitive inspections for cracking of the radius of the front spar vertical stringers and the horizontal floor beam on frame (FR) 36, repetitive inspections for cracking of the fastener holes of the front spar vertical stringers on FR 36, and repair if necessary, and, for certain airplanes, a potential terminating action modification of the center wing box area. This AD was prompted by a determination that additional airplanes are subject to the unsafe condition. This AD revises the applicability by adding airplanes and retains the requirements of AD 2018-13-08; 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 August 19, 2022.

Supplementary Information: EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2021-0241, dated November 8, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0241) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Airbus SAS Model A318 series airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -215, -216, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and 232 airplanes.

Model A320-215 airplanes are not certificated by the FAA and are not included on the U.S. 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 to supersede AD 2018-13-08, Amendment 39-19320 (83 FR 33809, July 18, 2018) (AD 2018-13-08). AD 2018-13-08 applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A318 series airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, and 233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2022 (87 FR 24081).

The NPRM was prompted by a report that, during a center fuselage certification full-scale fatigue test, cracks were found on the front spar vertical stringer at a certain frame. The NPRM was also prompted by a determination that Model A321 airplanes that have incorporated modification 160021 are also subject to the unsafe condition. The NPRM proposed to revise the applicability by adding airplanes and retain the requirements of AD 2018-13-08, as specified in EASA AD 2021-0241.  

The FAA is issuing this AD to address fatigue cracking of the front spar vertical stringers on the wings, which, if not corrected, could result in the reduced structural integrity of the airplane. See the MCAI for additional background information.

FMI: www.regulations.gov