AD 2022-18-01 Revises The Applicability By Adding Airplanes

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-10-24, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A330-200 series airplanes, Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes, and Model A330-300 series airplanes; AD 2018-23-14, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A330-200 series airplanes, Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes, and Model A330-300 series airplanes; and AD 2021-05-12, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes.

AD 2017-10-24, AD 2018-23-14, and AD 2021-05-12 require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD revises the applicability by adding airplanes. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2018-23-14 and AD 2021-05-12, and requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, 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 October 11, 2022.

Supplementary Information: Background EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2021-0246, dated November 17, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0246) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for all Airbus SAS Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, and -243 airplanes; Model A330-223F and -243F airplanes; Model A330-301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and-343 airplanes; Model A330-841 airplanes; and Model A330-941 airplanes.

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 2017-10-24, Amendment 39-18898 ( 82 FR 24035, May 25, 2017) (AD 2017-10-24); AD 2018-23-14, Amendment 39-19501 ( 83 FR 60754, November 27, 2018) (AD 2018-23-14); and AD 2021-05-12, Amendment 39-21455 ( 86 FR 15092, March 22, 2021) (AD 2021-05-12). AD 2017-10-24 applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A330-200 series airplanes, Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes, and Model A330-300 series airplanes; AD 2018-23-14 applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A330-200 series airplanes, Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes, and Model A330-300 series airplanes; and AD 2021-05-12 applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on June 9, 2022 ( 87 FR 35118). The NPRM was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary.

The NPRM proposed to revise the applicability by adding airplanes. The NPRM also proposed to continue to require the actions in AD 2018-23-14 and AD 2021-05-12, and proposed to require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in EASA AD 2021-0246.

The FAA is issuing this AD to address fatigue cracking, accidental damage, or corrosion in principal structural elements, and possible failure of certain life limited parts, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane. See the MCAI for additional background information.

FMI: www.regulations.gov