AD 2021-26-20 Requires Revising The Existing Maintenance Or Inspection Program

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes). 

This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD 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 May 3, 2022. 

Supplementary Information: EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2021-0093, dated March 30, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0093) (also referred to as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for all Airbus SAS Model A300-600 series airplanes.  EASA AD 2021-0093 specifies that it requires tasks (limitations) already required by EASA AD 2019-0090 (which corresponds to FAA AD 2019-21-01, Amendment 39-19767 (84 FR 56935, October 24, 2019) (AD 2019-21-01)) and EASA AD 2020-0111R2 (which corresponds to FAA AD 2020-23-11, Amendment 39-21327 (85 FR 75838, November 27, 2020) (AD 2020-23-11)) and invalidates prior instructions for those tasks. For AD 2019-21-01 and AD 2020-23-11, this AD terminates the limitation for the tasks identified in the service information referred to in EASA AD 2021-0093 only.  

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 A300-600 series airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on August 9, 2021 (86 FR 43440). The NPRM was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The NPRM 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 2021-0093.  

The FAA is issuing this AD to address fatigue cracking, damage, and corrosion in principal structural elements, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the fuselage. See the MCAI for additional background information.  

FMI: www.regulations.gov