AD NUMBER: 2019-12-07

PRODUCT: All Airbus SAS Model A318 and Model A319 series airplanes; Model A320- 211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321 series airplanes.

ACTION: Final Rule.

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2007-11-11 and AD 2017-01- 11, which applied to the aircraft listed above.

AD 2007-11-11 required an inspection to determine the serial number of both main landing gear (MLG) sliding tubes, repetitive inspections for cracking of the affected MLG sliding tubes and corrective actions if necessary, and eventual replacement of both MLG shock absorbers.

AD 2017-01-11 required identification of the part number and serial number of the MLG sliding tubes; inspection of affected chromium plates and sliding tube axles for damage; and replacement of the sliding tube if necessary. This AD retains certain requirements of AD 2007-11-11 and AD 2017-01-11.

This AD also requires repetitive inspections of affected MLG sliding tubes for cracking, replacement of cracked MLG sliding tubes, and eventual replacement of each affected MLG sliding tube.

This AD was prompted by cracks found in the MLG sliding tubes due to certain manufacturing defects that might not be identified using the current on-wing scheduled inspections.

DATES: This AD is effective August 1, 2019.

COST: The FAA estimates that this AD affects 1,186 airplanes of U.S. registry. Operators may incur the following costs in order to comply with this AD:

• Retained actions from AD 2007-11-11 (297 airplanes): Labor: 8 work-hours × $85 per hour = $680. Parts: Up to $45,310. Cost per airplane: Up to $46,670.
• Retained actions from AD 2017-01-11: Labor: 18 work-hours × $85 per hour = $1,530 per airplane.
• New actions: Labor: 13 work-hours × $85 per hour = $1,105. Parts: The FAA has received no definitive data for the parts costs for the replacements. Cost per airplane (less parts) $1,105 .
• On Condition Actions: 6 work-hours × $85 per hour = $510 per airplane. The FAA has received no definitive data for the parts costs for the replacements.

FMI: AD