Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-23185 · Wings
Airbus SAS Airplanes
This AD applies to all Airbus SAS Model A300 B4-603, B4-605R, B4-622, B4-622R, C4-605R Variant F, F4-605R, and F4-622R airplanes, certificated in any category.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-23- 04, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A300 B4-600R series airplanes; all Model A300-B4 603, B4-620, and B4-622 airplanes; all Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes; and certain Model A300 F4-605R airplanes. AD 2017-23-04 required an inspection of the upper wing skin and top stringer joints, and modification of the stringer joint couplings if necessary. Since the FAA issued AD 2017-23-04, it has been determined that additional airplanes may be subject to the identified unsafe condition. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2017- 23-04 and adds airplanes. This AD also removes certain airplanes from the applicability. 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 2024-0170, dated August 26, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0170).
(1) Where EASA AD 2024-0170 refers to “24 February 2017 [the effective date of EASA AD 2017-0023]”, this AD requires using “December 20, 2017 (the effective date of AD 2017-23-04)”.
(2) Where EASA AD 2024-0170 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(3) Where EASA AD 2024-0170 does not define “average flight time” for determining the short range (SR) and long range (LR) airplanes, this AD defines “average flight time” as the total accumulated flight hours, counted from takeoff to touchdown, divided by the total accumulated flight cycles as of December 20, 2017 (the effective date of AD 2017-23-04).
(4) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2024-0170 specifies to accomplish all applicable corrective actions and modify the stringer joint couplings, this AD requires accomplishing the applicable corrective actions and modification before further flight after the inspection.
(5) Where the referenced material in EASA AD 2024-0170 specifies inspecting for damage, this AD defines damage as cracking.
(6) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2024-0170.
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.
(ii) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2017-23-04 are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of EASA AD 2024-0170 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, 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 Aaron Nguyen, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 817-222-5134; email: Aaron.T.Nguyen@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.
