Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-22638 · Fuselage
Airbus Defense and Space S.A. (Formerly Known as Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.) Airplanes
This AD applies all Airbus Defense and Space S.A. Model CN-235, CN-235-100, CN-235-200, and CN-235-300 airplanes and Model C-295 airplanes, certificated in any category.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-02- 18, which applied to all Airbus Defense and Space S.A. Model CN-235, CN-235-100, CN-235-200, and CN-235-300 airplanes and Model C-295 airplanes. AD 2021-02-18 required repetitive inspections for cracking or broken rivets of certain left- and right-hand stringers and surrounding structure, and repair if necessary. This AD was prompted by a modification that was developed to reinforce the structure in the affected area, providing terminating action for the repetitive inspections required by AD 2021-02-18. This AD continues to require certain actions in AD 2021-02-18 and requires the new terminating action for the repetitive inspections, 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.
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, EASA AD 2023-0103, dated May 23, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0103).
(1) Where EASA AD 2023-0103 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2023-0103.
(3) Where EASA AD 2023-0103 specifies “The SB: Airbus DS Service Bulletin (SB) SB235-53-0070C (for CN-235, CN-235-200 and CN-235-300 aeroplanes) and SB295-53-0025C (for C-295 aeroplanes), as applicable,” for this AD replace those words with “The SB: Airbus DS Service Bulletin (SB) SB235-53-0070C (for CN-235, CN-235-200 and CN-235-300 aeroplanes), SB235-53-0070M (for CN-235-100 aeroplanes), and SB295-53-0025C (for C-295 aeroplanes), as applicable.”
(4) Where EASA AD 2023-0103 specifies “Groups: Group 1 aeroplanes are CN-235, CN-235-200 aeroplanes. Group 2 aeroplanes are CN-235-300 and C-295 aeroplanes,” for this AD replace those words with “Groups: Group 1 aeroplanes are CN-235, CN-235-100, and CN-235-200 aeroplanes. Group 2 aeroplanes are CN-235-300 and C-295 aeroplanes.”
(5) Where the column header of Table 1 of EASA AD 2023-0103 is titled “Accumulated Flight Hours (FH) and Flight Cycles (FC)”, for this AD replace those words with “Accumulated Flight Hours (FH) and Flight Cycles (FC), as of March 30, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-02-18).”
(6) Where EASA AD 2023-0103 specifies a compliance time of “During the next A-check, or within 300 FH after 30 July 2020 [the effective date of EASA AD 2020-0159], whichever occurs later,” for this AD replace those words with “Within 300 FH after March 30, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-02-18).”
(7) Where EASA AD 2023-0103 specifies a compliance time of “Within 50 FH or 50 FC, whichever occurs first after 30 July 2020 [the effective date of EASA AD 2020-0159],” for this AD replace those words with “Within 50 FH or 50 FC, whichever occurs first after March 30, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-02-18).”
(8) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2023-0103 specifies to “contact Airbus DS for approved instructions and accomplish those instructions accordingly” if discrepancies are detected, for this AD if any cracking is detected, the cracking must be repaired before further flight using a method approved by the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus Defense and Space S.A.'s EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.
Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2023-0103 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.
(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 Defense and Space S.A.'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 (j)(2) of this AD, if any service information referenced in EASA AD 2023-0103 contains paragraphs that are labeled as RC, the instructions in RC paragraphs, including subparagraphs under an RC paragraph, must be done to comply with this AD; any paragraphs, including subparagraphs under those paragraphs, that are not identified as RC are recommended. The instructions in paragraphs, including subparagraphs under those paragraphs, 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 instructions identified as RC can be done and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy condition. Any substitutions or changes to instructions identified as RC require approval of an AMOC.
For more information about this AD, contact Shahram Daneshmandi, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516-228-7300; email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@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.
