AD NUMBER: 2017-24-07

PRODUCT: All Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes.

ACTION: Final Rule.

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-08-01, which applied to the aircraft listed above.

AD 2014-08-01 required an inspection for part numbers of the interconnecting struts and, for affected interconnecting struts, identification of the part and serial numbers of the associated target and proximity sensors and replacement or reidentification of the flap interconnecting strut if necessary.

This AD continues to require an inspection to verify the interconnecting strut part number.

This AD also provides a new compliance time and an additional inspection for previously inspected airplanes.

This AD was prompted by an investigation that showed that when a certain combination of target/proximity sensor serial numbers is installed on a flap interconnecting strut, a “target FAR” signal cannot be detected when reaching the mechanical end stop of the interconnecting strut.

COST: The FAA estimates that this AD affects 1,032 airplanes of U.S. registry. Cost of compliance is estimated to be $680 per aircraft for inspection and replacement retained actions from AD 2014-08-01, and $1,275 per aircraft for inspection and replacement under the new AD.

DATES: This AD is effective January 5, 2018.

FMI: AD