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AGENCY:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION:
Final rule.
SUMMARY:
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A330-200, A330-200 freighter, A330-800, and A330-900 series airplanes; Model A330-301, -302, -303, -323, -342, and -343 airplanes; and Model A340-312 and -313 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of quality non-conformity on main landing gear (MLG) axles where the high velocity oxygen-fuel (HVOF) coating on the bearing journal runout areas had a coating that was thicker than allowable limits. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the affected parts (MLG axles) for any discrepancy, corrective actions, and eventual replacement of affected parts, and prohibits the installation of affected parts, 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.
DATES:
This AD is effective October 30, 2024.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 30, 2024.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-0223; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
- For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; emailADs@easa.europa.eu; website easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
- You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available in the AD docket atregulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-0223.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Vladimir Ulyanov, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 206-231-3229; email vladimir.ulyanov@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Airbus SAS Model A330-200, A330-200 freighter, A330-800, and A330-900 series airplanes; Model A330-301, -302, -303, -323, -342, and -343 airplanes; and Model A340-312 and -313 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on February 12, 2024 (89 FR 9795). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2023-0167, dated August 30, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0167) (also referred to as the MCAI), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union. The MCAI states there are reports of quality non-conformity on MLG axles where the HVOF coating on the bearing journal runout areas had a coating thicker than allowable limits. This over-thickness could lead to damage, cracking, or spalling of the protective coating, which could expose the base material and allow corrosion to develop. This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to a MLG axle failure, possibly resulting in a MLG collapse, with consequent damage to the airplane and injury to occupants.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require repetitive inspections of the affected parts (MLG axles) for any discrepancy, corrective actions, and eventual replacement of affected parts, and to prohibit the installation of affected parts, as specified in EASA AD 2023-0167. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-0223.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received comments from two commenters, Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), and an anonymous commenter, who supported the NPRM without change.
The FAA received additional comments from Delta Air Lines. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to each comment.
Request for an Exception To Clarify Re-Installation of an Affected Part
Delta Air Lines (Delta) requested adding an exception to paragraph (h) of the proposed AD to clarify note 2 of EASA AD 2023-0167 regarding installation versus re-installation of affected parts. Delta requested that the exception state that if an assembly, including the bogie beam assembly, containing an affected part is removed and re-installed during a single maintenance visit, that action is not considered an installation as specified in paragraph (7) of EASA AD 2023-0167. Delta stated that note 2 of EASA AD 2023-0167 allows the MLG to be removed and re-installed during the same maintenance visit but does not address sub-assemblies containing affected parts.
The FAA agrees to add an exception to paragraph (h) of this AD to address reinstallation of assemblies, including bogie beam assemblies. As defined in EASA AD 2023-0167, the affected parts are MLG axles with certain part numbers and serial numbers. The MLG axle is installed in the MLG bogie beam assembly. Bogie beam assemblies with an affected axle may be removed and reinstalled on the MLG as a separate unit. Paragraph (7) of EASA AD 2023-0167 prohibits the installation of a MLG having an affected axle. Note 2 of EASA AD 2023-0167 allows removal of MLG having an affected axle and subsequent reinstallation of that MLG on the same airplane, accomplished during a single maintenance visit, which is not considered as an installation as specified in paragraph (7) of EASA AD 2023-0167. Since the bogie beam assembly, with an affected axle, may be removed and reinstalled on the MLG as a separate unit during a single maintenance visit, such reinstallation should also not be considered an installation as specified in paragraph (7) of EASA AD 2023-0167. Paragraph (h)(5) has been added to this AD accordingly.
Request for an Exception To Address Service Information Error
Delta requested an exception be added to paragraph (h) of the proposed AD to address an error in the service information referenced in EASA AD 2023-0167. Delta stated that a “Required for Compliance” (RC) step, paragraph 3.C.(1)(b) 1a (in Task set A330-A-32-XX-3305-01000-93BA-A), specifies to “remove the cover protection of the affected axle,” but pointed out that a note advises against the removal of paint or zinc nickel to complete the inspection. Delta added that it asked Airbus for clarification and that Airbus confirmed that the paint or zinc nickel on the HVOF should not be removed, and that the step “remove the cover protection of the affected axle” should be deleted from the service information. Delta asserted that adding the exception to delete the step would eliminate the need to request an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) when the final AD is published.
The FAA agrees to add an exception to paragraph (h) of this AD to address the specified error in the procedures for a detailed inspection of the affected axle. The exception in paragraph (h)(6) of this AD has been added for the reasons described by Delta.
Conclusion
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on this product. Except for minor editorial changes, and any other changes described previously, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any operator.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
EASA AD 2023-0167 specifies, for certain airplanes, procedures for repetitive inspections of the affected parts (MLG axles) for any discrepancy (damage, cracking, or spalling of HVOF coating, or corrosion), doing corrective actions including obtaining and following repair instructions and replacement of affected parts. EASA AD 2023-0167 also prohibits the installation of affected parts, and installation of MLG having an affected part installed. This material is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 7 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
| Action | Labor cost | Parts cost | Cost per product | Cost on U.S. operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part and serial number inspection | 0.5 work-hours × $85 per hour = $42.50 per airplane | $0 | $42.50 | $298. |
| Inspection of affected axle | Up to 16 work-hours × $85 per hour = $1,360 per axle, per inspection cycle | 0 | Up to $1,360 per axle, per inspection cycle | Up to $9,520 per axle, per inspection cycle. |
Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
| Action | Labor cost | Parts cost | Cost per product |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repair | Up to 16 work-hours × $85 per hour = $1,360 | $0 | $1,360. |
| Axle replacement | Up to 88 work-hours × $85 per hour = $7,480 | 47,126 | $54,606. |
| Optional replacement of MLG | Up to 48 work-hours × $85 per hour = $4,080 | (*) | Up to $4,080. |
| * The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the cost estimates for a replacement MLG. The parts cost must be obtained through SAFRAN. |