AD 2021-22-25 Requires Revising The Operator's Existing FAA-Approved Minimum Equipment List (MEL)

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A330-200, -200 Freighter, -300, and -900 series airplanes; and Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 series airplanes.

This AD was prompted by a report that during the frame of flight test clearance process, a detailed analysis of air data reference (ADR) failure scenarios led to the identification that compliance requirements for loads and handling qualities throughout the flight envelope could be impaired in case of dispatch with one ADR inoperative (master minimum equipment list (MMEL) item 34-10-01) during the maximum interval allowed by the current MMEL. This AD requires revising the operator's existing FAA-approved minimum equipment list (MEL) for the air data/inertial reference system, 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 January 5, 2022.

Supplementary Information: EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2021-0103, dated April 13, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0103) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for all Airbus SAS Model A330-200, -200 Freighter, -300, and -900 series airplanes; Model A340-200 and -300 series airplanes; and Model A340-541, -542, -642, and -643 airplanes. Model A340-542 and -643 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 by adding an AD that would apply to all Airbus SAS Model A330-200, -200 Freighter, -300, and -900 series airplanes; and Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 series airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on July 28, 2021 (86 FR 40373). The NPRM was prompted by a report that during the frame of flight test clearance process, a detailed analysis of ADR failure scenarios led to the identification that compliance requirements for loads and handling qualities throughout the flight envelope could be impaired in case of dispatch with one ADR inoperative (MMEL item 34-10-01) during the maximum interval allowed by the current MMEL. The NPRM proposed to require revising the operator's existing FAA-approved MEL for the air data/inertial reference system, as specified in EASA AD 2021-0103.

The FAA is issuing this AD to address the possibility of in-flight loss of a second ADR combined with erroneous low speed data provided by the remaining functional ADR, which could result in loss of control of the airplane. See the MCAI for additional background information.

FMI: www.regulations.gov