90 FR 46 pgs. 11683-11686 - Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
Type: PRORULEVolume: 90Number: 46Pages: 11683 - 11686
Pages: 11683, 11684, 11685, 11686Docket number: [Docket No. FAA-2025-0340; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00462-T]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2025-03794 Filed 3-10-25; 8:45 am]
Agency: Transportation Department
Sub Agency: Federal Aviation Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0340; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00462-T]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
AGENCY:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION:
Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
SUMMARY:
The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-14-09, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. AD 2023-14-09 requires an inspection for missing or incorrectly applied sealant in the wing tanks, applicable corrective actions, and a modification to restore two independent layers of lightning strike protection. Since the FAA issued AD 2023-14-09, Airbus provided inspection instructions for a new inspection area of the upper and lower, front and rear spar corner fittings for certain airplanes. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2023-14-09 and would require a one-time detailed inspection (DET) for missing or incorrectly applied sealant of the front and rear spars for certain airplanes and applicable on-condition actions, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES:
The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 25, 2025.
ADDRESSES:
You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to regulations.gov . Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: 202-493-2251.
• Fax: 202-493-2251.
• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0340; 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 NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
• For EASA material identified in this proposed AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu ; website easa.europa.eu . You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu . It is also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0340.
• For Airbus material identified in this proposed AD, contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office-EAL, Rond-Point Emile Dewoitine No: 2, 31700 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; email continued-airworthiness.a350@airbus.com ; website airbus.com .
• 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dan Rodina, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206-231-3225; email dan.rodina@faa.gov .
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2025-0340; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00462-T" at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposal because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
[top] CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as "PROPIN." The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Dan Rodina, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206-231-3225; email dan.rodina@faa.gov . Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.
Background
The FAA issued AD 2023-14-09, Amendment 39-22509 (88 FR 51227, August 3, 2023) (AD 2023-14-09), for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. AD 2023-14-09 was prompted by an MCAI originated by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union. EASA issued AD 2022-0250, dated December 14, 2022, to correct an unsafe condition.
AD 2023-14-09 requires restoring the two independent layers of lightning strike protection on the wing lower or upper cover. The FAA issued AD 2023-14-09 to address missing or incorrect application of the lightning strike edge glow sealant protection at specific locations on the wing tanks. This sealant provides the second layer or protection to prevent stringer edge glow in case of lightning strike.
Actions Since AD 2023-14-09 Was Issued
Since the FAA issued AD 2023-14-09, EASA superseded EASA AD 2022-0250 and issued EASA AD 2024-0155, dated August 13, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0155) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. The MCAI states Airbus published inspection instructions for a new one-time DET for missing or incorrect application of the lightning strike edge glow sealant protection of the affected upper and lower front and rear spar corner fittings between Rib 1 and Rib 2 for certain airplanes, and depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable on-condition actions. Missing or incorrectly applied sealant, combined with a pre-existing undetected incorrect installation of an adjacent fastener, if not detected and corrected, could create an ignition source for the fuel vapor inside the tanks, which, in case of a lightning strike of high intensity in the immediate area, could possibly result in ignition of the fuel-air mixture in the affected fuel tank and consequent loss of the airplane.
The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0340.
Explanation of Retained Requirements
Although this proposed AD does not explicitly restate the requirements of AD 2023-14-09, this proposed AD would retain all of the requirements of AD 2023-14-09. Those requirements are referenced in EASA AD 2024-0155, which, in turn, is referenced in paragraph (g) of this proposed AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
EASA AD 2024-0155 specifies procedures for an inspection for discrepancies (missing or incorrect application of the lightning strike edge glow sealant protection) at certain locations in the wing tanks, and corrective actions. EASA AD 2024-0155 also specifies procedures for sealant application to the lower and/or upper rib feet in the wings and an inspection for missing or incorrectly applied sealant on the upper and lower, front and rear spar corner fittings between Rib 1 and Rib 2 for certain airplanes, and corrective actions. Corrective actions include applying sealant in areas where sealant was found to be missing or incorrectly applied.
The FAA also reviewed Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P067, dated September 17, 2020; Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P070, Revision 01, dated March 14, 2022; Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P072, dated June 24, 2022; Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P073, dated June 24, 2022; Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P074, dated June 24, 2022; and Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P091, dated May 30, 2024; which identify affected airplanes. These documents are distinct since they apply to different airplane configurations.
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.
FAA's Determination
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 is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in EASA AD 2024-0155 described previously, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.
Explanation of Required Compliance Information
In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, the FAA proposes to incorporate EASA AD 2024-0155 by reference in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2024-0155 its entirety through that incorporation, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. Using common terms that are the same as the heading of a particular section in EASA AD 2024-0155 does not mean that operators need comply only with that section. For example, where the AD requirement refers to "all required actions and compliance times," compliance with this AD requirement is not limited to the section titled "Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)" in EASA AD 2024-0155. Material required by EASA AD 2024-0155 for compliance will be available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0340 after the FAA final rule is published.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 36 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
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| Action | Labor cost | Parts cost | Cost per product | Cost on U.S. operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retained actions from AD 2023-14-09 | Up to 225 work-hours × $85 per hour = $19,125 | Up to $500 | Up to $19,625 | Up to $706,500. |
| New proposed actions | Up to 39 work-hours × $85 per hour = $3,315 | $0 | Up to $3,315 | Up to $119,340. |
The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 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 actions:
| Labor cost | Parts cost | Cost per product |
|---|---|---|
| 10 work-hours × $85 per hour = $850 | Minimal | $850 |
According to the manufacturer, some or all of the costs of this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected operators. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for affected operators. As a result, the FAA has included all known costs in the cost estimate.
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
The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed regulation:
(1) Is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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 Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39-AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority:
49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, 44701.
§?39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends §?39.13 by:
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-14-09, Amendment 39 22509 (88 FR 51227, August 3, 2023) (AD 2023-14-09); and
b. Adding the following new AD:
Airbus SAS: Docket No. FAA-2025-0340: Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00462-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by April 25, 2025.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD replaces AD 2023-14-09, Amendment 39-22509 (88 FR 51227, August 3, 2023) (AD 2023-14-09).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes, certificated in any category, with manufacturer serial numbers (MSN) identified in any service bulletin listed in paragraphs (c)(1) through (6) of this AD.
(1) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P067, dated September 17, 2020.
(2) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P070, Revision 01, dated March 14, 2022.
(3) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P072, dated June 24, 2022.
(4) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P073, dated June 24, 2022.
(5) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P074, dated June 24, 2022.
(6) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P091, dated May 30, 2024.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57, Wings.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of missing or incorrect application of the lightning strike edge glow sealant protection at specific locations on the wing tanks. The FAA is issuing this AD to address missing or incorrectly applied sealant. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in ignition of the fuel-air mixture in the affected fuel tank and consequent loss 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 2024-0155, dated August 13, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0155).
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0155
(1) Where EASA AD 2024-0155 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
[top] (2) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2024-0155 gives a compliance time of "the next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months since aeroplane date of manufacture, whichever occurs first after 27 October 2020 [the effective date of EASA AD 2020-0220]," for this AD, the compliance
(i) The next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months since airplane date of manufacture, whichever occurs first after September 30, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-16-03, Amendment 39-21665 (86 FR 47555, August 26, 2021) (AD 2021-16-03)).
(ii) Within 12 months after September 30, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-16-03).
(3) Where paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2024-0155 gives a compliance time of "the next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months since aeroplane date of manufacture, whichever occurs first after 04 February 2022 [the effective date of EASA AD 2022-0011]," for this AD, the compliance time is the later of the times specified in paragraphs (h)(3)(i) and (ii) of this AD.
(i) The next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months since airplane date of manufacture, whichever occurs first after November 29, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-17-09, Amendment 39-22147 (87 FR 64375, October 25, 2022) (AD 2022-17-09)).
(ii) Within 12 months after November 29, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-17-09).
(4) Where paragraph (5) of EASA AD 2024-0155 gives a compliance time of "the next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months since aeroplane date of manufacture, whichever occurs first after 28 December 2022 [the effective date of EASA AD 2022-0250]," for this AD, the compliance time is the later of the times specified in paragraphs (h)(4)(i) and (ii) of this AD.
(i) The next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months since airplane date of manufacture, whichever occurs first after September 7, 2023 (the effective date of AD 2023-14-09).
(ii) Within 12 months after September 7, 2023 (the effective date of AD 2023-14-09).
(5) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2024-0155 gives a compliance time of "the next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months after the effective date of this [EASA] AD," for this AD, the compliance time is the later of the times specified in paragraphs (h)(5)(i) and (ii) of this AD.
(i) The next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first.
(ii) Within 2 months after the effective date of this AD.
(6) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2024-0155 refers to "discrepancies," for this AD, discrepancies include missing or incorrectly applied sealant.
(7) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2024-0155.
(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 the Continued Operational Safety Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (j) of this AD and email to: AMOC@faa.gov .
(i) 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 Design Organization Approval (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 Dan Rodina, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206-231-3225; email dan.rodina@faa.gov.
(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) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P067, dated September 17, 2020.
(ii) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P070, Revision 01, dated March 14, 2022.
(iii) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P072, dated June 24, 2022.
(iv) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P073, dated June 24, 2022.
(v) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P074, dated June 24, 2022.
(vi) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P091, dated May 30, 2024.
(vii) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0155, dated August 13, 2024.
(3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; website easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
(4) For Airbus material identified in this AD, contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office-EAL, Rond-Point Emile Dewoitine No: 2, 31700 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; email continued-airworthiness.a350@airbus.com; website airbus.com.
(5) 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.
(6) 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 fr.inspection@nara.gov.
Issued on March 5, 2025.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-03794 Filed 3-10-25; 8:45 am]
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