Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
0 2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
2012-22-12 Airbus: Amendment 39-17248. Docket No. FAA-2012-0428; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-078-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective December 14, 2012.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Airbus Model A330-243, -243F, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes, certificated in any category, all serial numbers.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 71, Powerplant.
(e) Reason
This AD was prompted by reports of cracking of air intake cowls on Rolls-Royce Trent engines, worn and detached attachment links, and fractured thermal anti-ice (TAI) piccolo tubes. We are issuing this AD to prevent degraded structural integrity of the engine nose cowl in case of forward bulkhead damage in conjunction with a broken piccolo tube, and damage to the engine due to operation in icing conditions with reduced TAI performance.
(f) Compliance
You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done.
(g) Piccolo Tube Inspection
At the applicable time specified in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD, do a boroscope inspection of each air intake cowl assembly of each engine to detect cracked or fractured piccolo tubes, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-71-3025, excluding Appendices 01 and 02, dated January 10, 2011. If any cracked or fractured piccolo tube is found: Before further flight, replace the affected engine air intake cowl with a new or serviceable engine air intake cowl, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-71-3025, excluding Appendices 01 and 02, dated January 10, 2011.
(1) For any engine air intake cowl that has accumulated fewer than 5,000 flight cycles since its first installation on an airplane as of the effective date of this AD: Inspect within 24 months after the engine air intake cowl has accumulated 5,000 total flight cycles.
(2) For any engine air intake cowl that has accumulated 5,000 or more flight cycles since its first installation on an airplane as of the effective date of this AD: Inspect within 24 months after the effective date of this AD.
(h) Piccolo Link Inspection
If the inspection findings of paragraph (g) of this AD indicate no cracked or fractured piccolo tube: Before further flight, do a boroscope inspection of the piccolo tube links to detect brokenlinks, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-71-3025, excluding Appendices 01 and 02, dated January 10, 2011. If no broken links are found: Before further flight, do the actions required by paragraph (i) of this AD.
(1) If four or more broken piccolo tube links are found: Before further flight, replace the affected engine air intake cowl with a new or serviceable engine air intake cowl, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-71-3025, excluding Appendices 01 and 02, dated January 10, 2011.
(2) If three or fewer broken piccolo tube links are found, and the opposite engine air intake cowl of the same airplane has accumulated 5,000 flight cycles or less since the engine air intake cowl was first installed on an airplane: Before further flight, do the actions in Figure A-FBBAA-Sheet 03, Flow Chart, of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-71-3025, excluding Appendices 01 and 02, dated January 10, 2011, as required by paragraph (i) of this AD.
(3) If three or fewer broken piccolo tube links are found, and the opposite engine air intake cowl of the same airplane has accumulated more than 5,000 flight cycles since the engine air intake cowl was first installed on an airplane: Before further flight, do a boroscope inspection of the piccolo tube links of the opposite engine air intake cowl side to detect broken links, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-71-3025, excluding Appendices 01 and 02, dated January 10, 2011.
(i) If the inspection findings of the piccolo tube links of the opposite engine air intake cowl side indicate no broken piccolo tube links: Before further flight, do the actions required by paragraph (i) of this AD.
(ii) If the inspection findings of the piccolo tube links of the opposite engine air intake cowl side indicate one or more broken piccolo tube links: Before further flight, do the actions specified in Note 01 of Figure A-FBBAA-Sheet 02, Flow Chart, of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-71-3025, excluding Appendices 01 and 02, dated January 10, 2011, at the time specified in Note 01 of Figure A-FBBAA-Sheet 02, Flow Chart, of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-71-3025, excluding Appendices 01 and 02, dated January 10, 2011, except for the instructions to ``See Sheet 03.'' Where Note 01 of Figure A-FBBAA-Sheet 02, Flow Chart, of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-71-3025, excluding Appendices 01 and 02, dated January 10, 2011, specifies to ``See Sheet 03'' to do a detailed inspection of the OBA and bulkhead, as specified in Rolls-Royce Service Bulletin RB.211-71-AG416, excluding Appendix 1, dated September 3, 2010: This AD requires the detailed inspection specified in Figure A-FBBAA-Sheet 03, Flow Chart, of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-71-3025, excluding Appendices 01 and 02, dated January 10, 2011, to be done in accordance with paragraph (i) of this AD.
(i) Repetitive Outer Boundary Angle and Forward Bulkhead Inspection
If the results of the inspection required by paragraph (h) of this AD indicate no broken piccolo tube links, or if the requirements in paragraph (h)(2) or (h)(3)(ii) of this AD specify to do the actions in Figure A-FBBAA-Sheet 03, Flow Chart, of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-71-3025, excluding Appendices 01 and 02, dated January 10, 2011: Before further flight, do a boroscope inspection of the OBA and forward bulkhead to detect cracks or fractures, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus
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Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-71-3025, excluding Appendices 01 and 02, dated January 10, 2011; and the Accomplishment Instructions of Rolls-Royce Service Bulletin RB.211-71-AG416, excluding Appendix 1, dated September 3, 2010.
(1) If the findings of the inspection are within the allowable damage limits, as specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Rolls-Royce Service Bulletin RB.211-71-AG416, excluding Appendix 1, dated September 3, 2010: Do the actions in paragraphs (i)(1)(i) and (i)(1)(ii) of this AD.
(i) Repeat the inspection of the OBA and forward bulkhead thereafter at the repeat interval specified in Part 3.B. of the Accomplishment Instructions of Rolls-Royce Service Bulletin RB.211- 71-AG416, excluding Appendix 1, dated September 3, 2010.
(ii) Repeat the inspections specified in paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD thereafter at intervals not to exceed 2,500 flight cycles.
(2) If the findings of the inspection are not within the allowable damage limits, as specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Rolls-Royce Service Bulletin RB.211-71-AG416, excluding Appendix 1, dated September 3, 2010: Do the actions in paragraphs (i)(2)(i) or (i)(2)(ii) of this AD, as applicable.
(i) If any OBA crack is 22 inches or greater, or any forward bulkhead crack is 13 inches or greater: Before further flight, replace theaffected engine air intake cowl with a new or serviceable engine air intake cowl, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-71-3025, excluding Appendices 01 and 02, dated January 10, 2011.
(ii) If any OBA crack is 15 inches or greater, but less than 22 inches, or any forward bulkhead crack is 9 inches or greater, but less than 13 inches: Within 100 flight cycles, replace the affected engine air intake cowl with a new or serviceable engine air intake cowl, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-71-3025, excluding Appendices 01 and 02, dated January 10, 2011.
(j) Repetitive Inspections for Replaced Engine Air Intake Cowls
If any engine air intake cowl is replaced in accordance with the requirements of this AD with an engine air intake cowl that has less than 5,000 flight cycles since the engine air intake cowl was first installed on an airplane: Repeat the inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD thereafter at the compliance time specified in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD.
(1) If any engine air intake cowl is replaced in accordance with the requirements of this AD with an engine air intake cowl with 5,000 flight cycles or more since the engine air intake cowl was first installed on an airplane: Repeat the inspections required by paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD thereafter at intervals not to exceed 2,500 flight cycles.
(2) If any engine air intake cowl is replaced in accordance with the requirements of this AD with an engine air intake cowl with 5,000 flight cycles or more since the engine air intake cowl was first installed on an airplane: Repeat the inspections required by paragraph (i) of this AD thereafter at the intervals specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Rolls-Royce Service Bulletin RB.211-71-AG416, excluding Appendix 1, dated September 3, 2010.
(k) Other FAA AD Provisions
The following provisions also applyto this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, 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 local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the International Branch, send it to ATTN: Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-1138; fax (425) 227-1149. Information may be emailed to: 9-ANM-116-AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office. The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
(2)Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service.
(l) Related Information
Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness Directive 2011-0062, dated April 4, 2011, and the service information specified in paragraphs (l)(1) and (l)(2) of this AD, for related information.
(1) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-71-3025, excluding Appendices 01 and 02, dated January 10, 2011.
(2) Rolls-Royce Service Bulletin RB.211-71-AG416, excluding Appendix 1, dated September 3, 2010.
(m) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-71-3025, excluding Appendices 01 and 02, dated January 10, 2011.
(ii) Rolls-Royce Service Bulletin RB.211-71-AG416, excluding Appendix 1, dated September 3, 2010.
(3) For Airbus service information identified in this AD, contact Airbus SAS--Airworthiness Office--EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; email airworthiness.A330-A340@airbus.com; Internet http://www.airbus.com.
(4) For Rolls-Royce service information identified in this AD, contact Rolls-Royce Plc, Technical Publications, P.O. Box 31, Derby, DE24 8BJ, United Kingdom; telephone 44 (0) 1332 245882; fax 44 (0) 1332 249936; Internet http://www.Rolls-Royce.com.
(5) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
(6) You may view this service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.