Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-23158 · Wings
Airbus SAS Airplanes
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.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-14- 09, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. AD 2023-14-09 required 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 AD continues to require the actions in AD 2023-14-09, and requires a one-time detailed inspection (DET) for missing or incorrectly applied sealant of the front and rear spars for certain airplanes and applicable corrective actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
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).
(1) Where EASA AD 2024-0155 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(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 time is the later of the times specified in paragraphs (h)(2)(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 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.
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.
For more information about this AD, contact Promita Dey, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 316-946-4106; email promita.dey@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.
