Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-22489 · Fuel
Airbus SAS Airplanes
This AD applies to all Airbus SAS Airplanes, certificated in any category, and identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (9) of this AD.
(1) Model A330-223F and -243F airplanes.
(2) Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, and -243 airplanes.
(3) Model A330-301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes.
(4) Model A330-841 airplanes.
(5) Model A330-941 airplanes.
(6) Model A340-211, -212, and -213 airplanes.
(7) Model A340-311, -312, and -313 airplanes.
(8) Model A340-541 airplanes.
(9) Model A340-642 airplanes.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-16- 18, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A330-200 Freighter, A330-200, A330-300, A330-800, A330-900, A340-200, A340-300, A340-500, and A340- 600 series airplanes. AD 2021-16-18 required repetitive inspections of certain fuel pumps for cavitation erosion, replacement if necessary, revision of the operator's existing minimum equipment list (MEL), and accomplishment of certain maintenance actions related to defueling and ground fuel transfer operations. This AD was prompted by reports of a fuel pump showing cavitation erosion that exposed the fuel pump power supply wires, and a determination that affected fuel pumps must be replaced with new, more erosion resistant pumps. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2021-16-18, and also requires replacement of affected parts, which would terminate the repetitive inspections, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD also prohibits the installation of certain affected parts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022-0197, dated September 22, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0197).
(1) Where EASA AD 2022-0197 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where EASA AD 2022-0197 refers to “31 December 2020 [the effective date of EASA AD 2020-0283],” this AD requires using “December 8, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-16-18).”
(3) Where EASA AD 2022-0197 refers to “13 December 2019 [the effective date of EASA AD 2019-0291 at original issue],” this AD requires using “November 18, 2020 (the effective date of AD 2020-21-05, Amendment 39-21278 (85 FR 64963, October 14, 2020)).”
(4) Where EASA AD 2022-0197 refers to “17 November 2017 [the effective date of EASA AD 2017-0224],” this AD requires using “December 29, 2017 (the effective date of AD 2017-25-16, Amendment 39-19130 (82 FR 58718, December 14, 2017)).”
(5) Where EASA AD 2022-0197 refers to the master minimum equipment list (MMEL), this AD refers to the operator's existing minimum equipment list (MEL).
(6) Where paragraphs (15), (16), and (17) of EASA AD 2022-0197 specify to “inform all flight crews, and, thereafter, operate the aeroplane accordingly,” this AD does not require those actions as those actions are already required by existing FAA operating regulations (see 14 CFR 121.628(a)(2) and 121.628(a)(5)).
(7) Where the Definitions section of EASA AD 2022-0197 specifies “erosion cases and breakthrough” and refers to “Eaton Aerospace Ltd SB 8810-28-06 Revision 2 (or later revisions),” for this AD, use only Eaton Service Bulletin 8810-28-06, Revision 2, dated March 1, 2019.
(8) Where Note 4 of EASA AD 2022-0197 specifies additional information, replace the text “EASA AD 2015-0194” with “EASA AD 2015-0194 (corresponding FAA AD 2016-20-10, Amendment 39-18676 (81 FR 71593, October 18, 2016) (AD 2016-20-10)).”
(9) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2022-0197.
(10) Where paragraphs (5) and (6) of EASA AD 2022-0197 specify a compliance time to replace part number (P/N) 568-1-28300-101, for airplanes identified in AD 2016-20-10, the required compliance time for replacing fuel pumps having P/N 568-1-28300-101, or a combination of P/N 568-1-28300-101 and certain other part numbers, is specified in paragraphs (h)(1) and (2) of AD 2016-20-10, as applicable.
Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-0197 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, International Validation 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 International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (k) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov. 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, International Validation 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 (j)(2) of this AD, if any service information 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.
For more information about this AD, contact Vladimir Ulyanov, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 206-231-3229; email Vladimir.Ulyanov@faa.gov.
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
