Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 28, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22457-22460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-09515]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-2718; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00319-T; 
Amendment 39-23046; AD 2025-10-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Airbus SAS Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 
airplanes; Model A320 series airplanes; Model A321-211, -212, -213, -
231, -232, -251N, -251NX, -252N, -252NX, -253N, -253NX, -253NY, -271N, 
-271NX, -272N, and -272NX airplanes; Airbus SAS Model A330-200 series 
airplanes; Model A330-300 series airplanes; Model A330-800 series 
airplanes; Model A330-900 series airplanes; Model A350-941 and -1041 
airplanes; and Model A380-800 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by 
a report of corrosion and cracks on the broadband antenna adapter plate 
during an inspection. This AD requires repetitive general visual 
inspections of the broadband antenna adapter plate, skirt, vents, and 
attachment fittings, and applicable corrective actions, and limits the 
installation of affected parts under certain conditions. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective July 2, 2025.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 2, 
2025.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-2718; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 
docket contains this final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), any comments received, and

[[Page 22458]]

other information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department 
of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
    <bullet> For European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) material 
identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 
Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email [email protected]; 
website easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the EASA website 
at ad.easa.europa.eu.
    <bullet> You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 
Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-2718.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thusa Dinh, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 562-627-5839; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    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 
A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; Model 
A320 series airplanes; Model A321-211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -
251NX, -252N, -252NX, -253N, -253NX, -253NY, -271N, -271NX, -272N, and 
-272NX airplanes; Airbus SAS Model A330-200 series airplanes; Model 
A330-300 series airplanes; Model A330-800 series airplanes; Model A330-
900 series airplanes; Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes; and Model 
A380-800 series airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register 
on December 31, 2024 (89 FR 107063). The NPRM was prompted by AD 2024-
0199, dated October 18, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0199) (also referred to as 
the MCAI), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member 
States of the European Union. The MCAI states that corrosion and cracks 
were found on the broadband antenna adapter plate during an inspection. 
Further investigation determined that the broadband antenna adapter 
plate and skirt assembly-adapter are made of material susceptible to 
corrosion cracking, and that the recommended maintenance programs do 
not ensure timely detection of cracks and damage in this area.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require repetitive general visual 
inspections of the broadband antenna adapter plate, skirt, vents, and 
attachment fittings and applicable corrective actions, and limit the 
installation of affected parts under certain conditions, as specified 
in EASA AD 2024-0199. The NPRM also proposed to require reporting of 
the inspection results after each inspection, as specified in EASA AD 
2024-0199. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the corrosion and 
cracks on the broadband antenna adapter plate and skirt assembly-
adapter. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could lead to in-
flight detachment of the radome, antenna, and affected parts (e.g., the 
broadband antenna adapter plate, skirt, vents and attachment fittings), 
which could impact the tail section of the airplane, possibly resulting 
in damage and reduced control of the airplane.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-2718.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received a comment from an individual who supported the 
NPRM without change.

Clarification of Paragraph (h)(4) of the Proposed AD

    The FAA revised paragraph (h)(4) of this AD to clarify the 
conditions that require corrective actions.

Conclusion

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to 
the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it 
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI 
referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the 
comment received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this 
AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on this product. Except for minor editorial changes, 
and any other changes described previously, this AD is adopted as 
proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic 
burden on any operator.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    EASA AD 2024-0199 specifies procedures for repetitive general 
visual inspections for cracks and corrosion of the broadband antenna 
adapter plate, skirt, vents, and attachment fittings, and, depending on 
findings, corrective actions including repair or replacement of the 
affected parts. EASA AD 2024-0199 also limits the installation of 
affected parts under certain conditions and requires reporting of both 
positive and negative inspection results after the initial inspection 
and thereafter reporting the positive inspection results after each 
subsequent inspection. This material is reasonably available because 
the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

Interim Action

    The FAA considers that this AD is an interim action. The FAA 
anticipates that further AD action will follow.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 4 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Labor cost                Parts cost         Cost per product             Cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to 61 work-hours x $85 per hour =           $0  Up to $5,185..................  Up to $20,740.
 $5,185.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any on-condition action 
that would be required based on the results of any required actions. 
The FAA has no way of determining the number of aircraft that might 
need this on-condition action:

[[Page 22459]]



                 Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
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           Labor cost                 Parts cost       Cost per product
------------------------------------------------------------------------
50 work-hours x $85 per hour =              $10,000             $14,250
 $4,250.........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the cost 
estimates for the repairs specified in this AD.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for 
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of 
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 
Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public 
reporting for this collection of information is estimated to take 
approximately 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing 
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Send comments regarding this burden estimate 
or any other aspect of this collection of information, including 
suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood 
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177-1524.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements. 
Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight 
of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for 
practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary 
for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that 
authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to 
exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, 
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2025-10-12 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-23046; Docket No. FAA-2024-2718; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00319-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective July 2, 2025.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Airbus SAS airplanes specified in 
paragraphs (c)(1) through (6) of this AD, certificated in any 
category.
    (1) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 
airplanes.
    (2) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -
252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes.
    (3) Model A321-211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -251NX, -
252N, -252NX, -253N, -253NX, -253NY, -271N, -271NX, -272N, and -
272NX airplanes.
    (4) Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, -243, -301, -302, -303, -
321, -322, -323, -341, -342, -343, -841, and -941 airplanes.
    (5) Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes.
    (6) Model A380-841, -842, and -861 airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that found corrosion and cracks 
on the broadband antenna adapter plate during an inspection. The FAA 
is issuing this AD to address the corrosion and cracks on the 
broadband antenna adapter plate and skirt assembly-adapter. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could lead to in-flight 
detachment of the radome, antenna, and affected parts, which could 
impact the tail section of the airplane, possibly resulting in 
damage and reduced control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Requirements

    Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all 
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2024-0199, dated October 18, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0199).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0199

    (1) Where Appendix A in ``the applicable SB'' identified in EASA 
AD 2024-0199 specifies a compliance time ``from SB publication 
date,'' this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where EASA AD 2024-0199 specifies ``14 June 2024 [the 
effective date of EASA AD 2024-0106],'' this AD requires using the 
effective date of this AD.
    (3) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2024-0199.
    (4) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2024-0199 specifies ``any 
crack and/or corrosion are detected on an affected part'', this AD 
requires replacing that text with ``any crack or corrosion is 
detected on an affected part''.
    (5) Paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2024-0199 specifies to report 
inspection results to Airbus within a certain compliance time. For 
this AD, report inspection results at the applicable time specified 
in paragraph (h)(5)(i) or (ii) of this AD.

[[Page 22460]]

    (i) If the inspection was done on or after the effective date of 
this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the inspection.
    (ii) If the inspection was done before the effective date of 
this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the effective date 
of this AD.

(i) Additional AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, AIR-
520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found 
in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request 
to your principal inspector or responsible Flight Standards Office, 
as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of 
AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in paragraph (j) of this AD and 
email to: [email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your 
appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, AIR-520, 
Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus SAS's 
EASA DOA. If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-
authorized signature.
    (3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except as required by 
paragraph (i)(2) of this AD, if any material contains procedures or 
tests that are identified as RC, those procedures and tests must be 
done to comply with this AD; any procedures or tests that are not 
identified as RC are recommended. Those procedures and tests that 
are not identified as RC may be deviated from using accepted methods 
in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection program 
without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the procedures and 
tests identified as RC can be done and the airplane can be put back 
in an airworthy condition. Any substitutions or changes to 
procedures or tests identified as RC require approval of an AMOC.

(j) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Thusa Dinh, Aviation 
Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 
phone: 562-627-5839; email: [email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph 
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0199, 
dated October 18, 2024.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, 
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 
8999 000; email [email protected]; website easa.europa.eu. You may 
find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
    (4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., 
Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
    (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on May 15, 2025.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-09515 Filed 5-27-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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