AD 2022-27-01 Requires Replacing Affected Fasteners And Applying Additional Head Nut Cap Protection...

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. 

This AD is prompted by a report that during flight and fatigue testing it was detected that some fasteners installed in the center wing box (CWB) rotated inside their fastener holes. This AD requires replacing affected fasteners and applying additional head nut cap protection at the front and rear spars in the CWB, 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 February 2, 2023.

Supplementary Information: 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 A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 20, 2022 (87 FR 63709). The NPRM was prompted by AD 2022-0080, dated May 9, 2022, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union (EASA AD 2022-0080) (referred to after this as the MCAI). The MCAI states that during flight and fatigue testing it was detected that some fasteners installed in the CWB rotated inside their fastener holes. Investigation revealed there was insufficient friction for the application.

In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require replacing affected fasteners and applying additional head nut cap protection at the front and rear spars in the CWB, as specified in EASA AD 2022-0080. The FAA is issuing this AD to address fasteners installed in the CWB rotating inside their fastener holes, which if not corrected, could lead to loss of a fastener clamping and cracking of the nut sealant cover, possibly resulting, in case of lightning strike, in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2022-1248.

FMI: www.regulations.gov