Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-22495 · Time limits/maintenance checks
Airbus SAS Airplanes
Superseded. A later AD replaced this one: AD 2025-03-06. Comply with the one in force.
This AD applies to Airbus SAS airplanes specified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this AD, certificated in any category, with an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before November 10, 2022.
(1) Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes.
(2) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -151N, -153N, and -171N airplanes.
(3) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes.
(4) Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -251NX, -252N, -252NX, -253N, -253NX, -271N, -271NX, -272N, and -272NX airplanes.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-20-05 and AD 2022-09-16, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A318 series; A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -151N, and -153N; A320 series; and A321 series airplanes. AD 2020-20-05 and AD 2022-09-16 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2022-09-16, and also requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate additional 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 paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (i) of AD 2020-20-05, with no changes. For airplanes with an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before October 11, 2019: 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 2020-0036R1, dated June 24, 2020 (EASA AD 2020-0036R1). Accomplishing the maintenance or inspection program revision required by paragraph (o) of this AD terminates the requirements of this paragraph.
This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (j) of AD 2020-20-05, with no changes.
(1) The requirements specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of EASA AD 2020-0036R1 do not apply to this AD.
(2) Paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2020-0036R1 specifies revising “the AMP” within 12 months after its effective date, but this AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the “tasks and associated thresholds and intervals” specified in paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2020-0036R1 within 90 days after November 19, 2020 (the effective date of AD 2020-20-05).
(3) The initial compliance times for doing the tasks specified in paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2020-0036R1 are at the applicable “associated thresholds” specified in paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2020-0036R1, or within 90 days after November 19, 2020 (the effective date of AD 2020-20-05), whichever occurs later.
(4) The provisions specified in paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) of EASA AD 2020-0036R1 do not apply to this AD.
(5) The “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2020-0036R1 does not apply to this AD.
This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (k) of AD 2020-20-05, with new exception. Except as required by paragraphs (k) and (o) of this AD, after the existing maintenance or inspection program has been revised as required by paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., inspections) or intervals are allowed unless they are approved as specified in the provisions of the “Ref. Publications” section of EASA AD 2020-0036R1.
This paragraph restates the credit provided in paragraph (l) of AD 2020-20-05, with no changes. This paragraph provides credit for actions required by paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before November 19, 2020 (the effective date of AD 2020-20-05) using EASA AD 2020-0036, dated February 26, 2020.
This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD 2022-09-16, with no changes. For airplanes with an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before November 10, 2020: Except as specified in paragraph (l) of this AD, comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, EASA AD 2021-0140, dated June 14, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0140). Accomplishing the revision of the existing maintenance or inspection program required by paragraph (o) of this AD terminates the requirements of this paragraph.
This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (h) of AD 2022-09-16, with no changes.
(1) Where EASA AD 2021-0140 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using June 30, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-09-16).
(2) The requirements specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of EASA AD 2021-0140 do not apply to this AD.
(3) Paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2021-0140 specifies revising “the approved [aircraft maintenance program] AMP” within 12 months after its effective date, but this AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, within 90 days after June 30, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-09-16).
(4) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2021-0140 is at the applicable “thresholds” as incorporated by the requirements of paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2021-0140, or within 90 days after June 30, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-09-16), whichever occurs later.
(5) The provisions specified in paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2021-0140 do not apply to this AD.
(6) The “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2021-0140 does not apply to this AD.
This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (i) of AD 2022-09-16, with new exception. Except as required by paragraph (o) of this AD, after the existing maintenance or inspection program has been revised as required by paragraph (k) of this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., inspections) or intervals are allowed unless they are approved as specified in the provisions of the “Ref. Publications” section of EASA AD 2021-0140.
This paragraph restates the terminating action specified in paragraph (i) of AD 2022-09-16, with revised references. Accomplishing the actions required by paragraph (k) of this AD, including incorporating Task 531135-03-1 as required by EASA AD 2021-0140, terminates Task 531135-01-2, as required by EASA AD 2020-0036R1 by the requirements in paragraph (g) of this AD.
Except as specified in paragraph (p) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, EASA AD 2022-0085, dated May 12, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0085) and EASA AD 2023-0008, dated January 16, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0008). Where EASA AD 2023-0008 affects the same airworthiness limitations as those in EASA AD 2022-0085, the airworthiness limitations referenced in EASA AD 2023-0008 prevail. Accomplishing the revision of the existing maintenance or inspection program required by this paragraph terminates the requirements of paragraphs (g) and (i) of this AD.
(1) The requirements specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of EASA AD 2022-0085 and of EASA AD 2023-0008 do not apply to this AD.
(2) Paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0085 and of EASA AD 2023-0008 specifies revising “the approved AMP” within 12 months after its effective date, but this AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, within 90 days after the effective date of this AD.
(3) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0085 and of EASA AD 2023-0008 is at the applicable “thresholds” as incorporated by the requirements of paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0085 and of EASA AD 2023-0008, respectively, or within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. Where EASA AD 2023-0008 affects the same airworthiness limitations as those in EASA AD 2022-0085, the airworthiness limitations referenced in EASA AD 2023-0008 prevail.
(4) The provisions specified in paragraphs (4) and (5) of EASA AD 2022-0085 and of EASA AD 2023-0008 do not apply to this AD.
(5) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2022-0085 and of EASA AD 2023-0008.
After the existing maintenance or inspection program has been revised as required by paragraph (o) of this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., inspections) and intervals are allowed unless they are approved as specified in the provisions of the “Ref. Publications” section of EASA AD 2022-0085 or EASA AD 2023-0008, as applicable.
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 (s) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR-730-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.
(ii) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2022-09-16 are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of EASA AD 2021-0140 that are required by paragraph (i) of this AD.
(iii) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2020-20-05 are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of EASA AD 2020-0036R1 that are required by paragraph (g) of this AD.
(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.
For more information about this AD, contact Dan Rodina, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 206-231-3225; email dan.rodina@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.
