76104 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 213 / Monday, November 6, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 

existing approved engine maintenance or 

inspection program, as applicable, within 90 

days after the effective date of this AD. 

(6) This AD does not require compliance 

with paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2022–0232. 

(7) This AD does not require compliance 

with paragraph (5) of EASA AD 2022–0232. 

(8) This AD does not adopt the Remarks 

paragraph of EASA AD 2022–0232. 

(i) Provisions for Alternative Actions and 

Intervals 

After performing the actions required by 

paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative 

actions and associated thresholds and 

intervals, including life limits, are allowed 

unless they are approved as specified in the 

provisions of the ‘‘Ref. Publications’’ section 

of EASA AD 2022–0232. 

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) 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 AIR–520 Continued 

Operational Safety Branch, send it to the 

attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (k) of this AD and email to: ANEAD-AMOC@faa.gov. 

(2) 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. 

(k) Additional Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Sungmo Cho, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des 

Moines, WA 98198; phone: (781) 238–7241; 

email: sungmo.d.cho@faa.gov. 

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 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) European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2022–0232, dated November 28, 

2022. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For EASA AD 2022–0232, contact 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; 

email: ADs@easa.europa.eu; website: 

easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA AD 

on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District 

Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call (817) 222–5110. 

(5) 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, 

email: fr.inspection@nara.gov, or go to: 

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued on October 18, 2023. 

Ross Landes, 

Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–24383 Filed 11–3–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2023–1412; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2022–01588–E; Amendment 

39–22562; AD 2023–20–03] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Austro 

Engine GmbH Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Austro Engine GmbH Model E4 and E4P 

engines. This AD is prompted by reports 

of piston failures and the determination 

that certain batches of pistons were 

manufactured with a dimensional 

deviation in the piston pin bore and 

piston diameter. This AD requires 

repetitive engine oil analysis for 

aluminum content outside the 

acceptable limits and, if necessary, 

replacement of the pistons, piston rings, 

con-rods assembly, and crankcase or, as 

an alternative, replacement of the 

engine core. The FAA is issuing this AD 

to address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: This AD is effective December 

11, 2023. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of December 11, 2023. 

ADDRESSES: 

AD Docket: You may examine the AD 

docket at regulations.gov under Docket 

No.FAA–2023–1412; 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 service information identified 

in this final rule, contact Austro Engine 

GmbH, Rudolf-Diesel-Strasse 11, A– 

2700 Weiner Neustadt, Austria; phone: 

+43 2622 23000; website: 

austroengine.at. 

• You may view this service 

information at the FAA, Airworthiness 

Products Section, Operational Safety 

Branch, 1200 District Avenue, 

Burlington, MA 01803. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call (817) 222–5110. It is also 

available at regulations.gov under 

Docket No. FAA–2023–1412. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, 

Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 

(781) 238–7146; email: 

barbara.caufield@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 certain Austro Engine GmbH 

Model E4 and E4P engines. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

July 14, 2023 (88 FR 45118). The NPRM 

was prompted by European Union 

Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 

2022–0240R1, dated December 15, 2022 

(referred to after this as the MCAI), 

issued by EASA, which is the Technical 

Agent for the Member States of the 

European Union. The MCAI states that 

a manufacturer investigation into 

reports of piston failures determined 

that certain batches of pistons were 

manufactured with a dimensional 

deviation in the piston pin bore and in 

the piston diameter, which could cause 

piston failure, with consequent loss of 

oil, loss of engine power, and reduced 

control of the airplane. To address the 

unsafe condition, EASA issued EASA 

AD 2022–0240, dated December 6, 2022 

(EASA AD 2022–0240), to specify 

repetitive oil analyses and replacement 

of the pistons, piston rings, con-rods 

assembly, and crankcase, or as an 

alternative, replacement of the engine 

core. EASA AD 2022–0240 also 

prohibited release to service of an 

airplane until receipt of the results for 

each oil analysis. 

Since EASA AD 2022–0240 was 

issued, the manufacturer determined 

that aluminum levels outside of the 

acceptable limits would be found during 

the first oil analysis, and are unlikely to 

be found during subsequent oil 

analyses. As a result, EASA revised 


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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 213 / Monday, November 6, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 76105 

EASA AD 2022–0240 and issued the 

MCAI to allow release to service of 

airplanes for a limited number of flight 

hours immediately after the second and 

subsequent oil samples are taken for 

analyses. 

In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to 

require initial and repetitive engine oil 

analysis for aluminum content outside 

the acceptable limits and, if necessary, 

replacement of the pistons, piston rings, 

con-rods assembly, and crankcase, or as 

an alternative, replacement of the 

engine core. 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–2023–1412. 

Discussion of Final Airworthiness 

Directive 

Comments 

The FAA received no comments on 

the NPRM or on the determination of 

the costs. 

Conclusion 

These products have been approved 

by the aviation authority of another 

country and are 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 and determined that air safety 

requires adopting this AD as proposed. 

Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD 

to address the unsafe condition on these 

products. Except for minor editorial 

changes, this AD is adopted as proposed 

in the NPRM. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed Austro Engine 

GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 

MSB–E4–039/1, Revision 1, dated April 

24, 2023, which specifies procedures for 

oil analysis and replacement of the 

pistons, piston rings, con-rods assembly, 

crankcase, and engine core. 

This service information is reasonably 

available because the interested parties 

have access to it through their normal 

course of business or by the means 

identified in ADDRESSES. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 357 engines installed on 

airplanes of U.S. registry. 

The FAA estimates the following 

costs to comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Oil Analysis ..................................................... .25 work-hours × $85 per hour = $21.25 ....... $0 $21.25 $7,586.25 

The FAA estimates the following 

costs to do any necessary replacements 

that would be required based on the 

results of the inspection. The agency has 

no way of determining the number of 

aircraft that might need these 

replacements: 

ON-CONDITION COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Replace engine core .................................................... 50 work-hours × $85 per hour = $4,250 ...................... $15,524 $19,774 

Replace pistons, piston rings, and con-rods assembly 60 work-hours × 85 per hour = 5,100 .......................... 2,216 7,316 

Replace pistons, piston rings, con-rods assembly, and 

crankcase.

70 work-hours × 85 per hour = 5,950 .......................... 4,141 10,091 

The FAA has included all known 

costs in its cost estimate. According to 

the manufacturer, however, some of the 

costs of this AD may be covered under 

warranty, thereby reducing the cost 

impact on affected operators. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, 

section 106, describes the authority of 

the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: 

Aviation Programs, describes in more 

detail the scope of the Agency’s 

authority. 

The FAA is issuing this rulemaking 

under the authority described in 

Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 

44701: General requirements. Under 

that section, Congress charges the FAA 

with promoting safe flight of civil 

aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 

regulations for practices, methods, and 

procedures the Administrator finds 

necessary for safety in air commerce. 

This regulation is within the scope of 

that authority because it addresses an 

unsafe condition that is likely to exist or 

develop on products identified in this 

rulemaking action. 

Regulatory Findings 

This AD will not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This AD will not have a 

substantial direct effect on the States, on 

the relationship between the national 

government and the States, or on the 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify that this AD: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, and 

(3) Will not have a significant 

economic impact, positive or negative, 

on a substantial number of small entities 

under the criteria of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as 

follows: 


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76106 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 213 / Monday, November 6, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS 

DIRECTIVES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive: 

2023–20–03 Austro Engine GmbH: 

Amendment 39–22562; Docket No. 

FAA–2023–1412; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2022–01588–E. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective December 11, 2023. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Austro Engine GmbH 

Model E4 and E4P engines with a serial 

number listed in Tables 1, 2, 3, and 4 of 

Austro Engine GmbH Mandatory Service 

Bulletin No. MSB–E4–039/1, Revision 1, 

dated April 24, 2023 (MSB–E4–039/1). 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Codes 8530, Reciprocating Engine Cylinder 

Section; 8550, Reciprocating Engine Oil 

System. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports of piston 

failures and the determination that certain 

batches of pistons were manufactured with a 

dimensional deviation in the piston pin bore 

and piston diameter. The FAA is issuing this 

AD to prevent piston failure. The unsafe 

condition, if not addressed, could result in 

loss of oil, loss of engine power, and reduced 

control of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

(1) For all affected engines, within the 

applicable compliance times specified in 

Table 1 to paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, 

perform an oil analysis in accordance with 

paragraph 2., Technical Details, Engine Oil 

Analysis of MSB–E4–039/1, and do not 

return the engine to service until the results 

of the oil analysis have been determined. 

TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (g)(1)—OIL ANALYSIS FOR ALL AFFECTED ENGINES

Engine group Compliance time Interval 

Group 1 and Group 3 ......................................... Within 15 flight hours (FHs) from the effective 

date of this AD.

Before exceeding 50 FHs since last oil analysis. 

Group 2 and Group 4 ......................................... Within 25 FHs from the effective date of this 

AD.

Before exceeding 100 FHs since last oil analysis. 

(2) Thereafter, repeat the oil analysis 

required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD before 

exceeding the applicable interval specified in 

Table 1 to paragraph (g)(1) of this AD. 

(3) Following each repetitive oil analysis, 

the engine may be returned to service for no 

more than the applicable interval specified in 

Table 1 to paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, until 

receipt of the oil analysis result. 

(4) If the result of any oil analysis required 

by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD indicates the 

aluminum content of the oil is greater than 

the limit specified in paragraph 2., Technical 

Details, Engine Oil Analysis, Table 5—Oil 

check analysis—Aluminum PPM allowable 

of MSB–E4–039/1, before further flight, 

replace the pistons, piston rings, con-rods 

assembly, and crankcase, or replace the 

engine core in accordance with paragraph 2., 

Technical Details, Engine core replacement; 

or Pistons, piston rings, crankcase and conrod assy replacement; as applicable, of MSB– 

E4–039/1. 

(5) For Group 3 and Group 4 engines, 

within the applicable compliance times 

specified in Table 2 to paragraph (g)(5) of this 

AD, replace the pistons, piston rings, and 

con-rods assembly, or replace the engine core 

in accordance with paragraph 2., Technical 

Details, Engine core replacement; or Pistons, 

piston rings and con-rod assy replacement, as 

applicable, of MSB–E4–039/1. 

TABLE 2 TO PARAGRAPH (g)(5)—REPLACEMENT FOR GROUPS 3 AND 4 ENGINES

Engine group Compliance time 

Group 3 ............ Before exceeding 900 FHs since new, or within 15 FHs after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. 

Group 4 ............ Before exceeding 1,000 FHs since new, or within 25 FHs after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. 

Note 1 to paragraph (g)(5): FHs since new 

indicated in Table 2 to paragraph (g)(5) of 

this AD are FHs accumulated by the engine 

since first installation on an airplane or since 

last overhaul as of the effective date of this 

AD. 

(h) Terminating Action 

(1) Replacement of the pistons, piston 

rings, con-rods assembly, and crankcase, or 

replacement of the engine core, as specified 

in paragraph (g)(4) of this AD, constitutes 

terminating action for the repetitive oil 

analysis required by paragraph (g)(2) of this 

AD. 

(2) Replacement of the pistons, piston 

rings, and con-rods assembly, or replacement 

of the engine core, as specified in paragraph 

(g)(5) of this AD, constitutes terminating 

action for the repetitive oil analysis required 

by paragraph (g)(2) of this AD. 

(i) Definitions 

(1) For the purpose of this AD, Group 1 

engines are engines having a serial number 

(S/N) listed in Table 1 of MSB–E4–039/1. 

(2) For the purpose of this AD, Group 2 

engines are engines having an S/N listed in 

Table 2 of MSB–E4–039/1. 

(3) For the purpose of this AD, Group 3 

engines are engines having an S/N listed in 

Table 3 of MSB–E4–039/1. 

(4) For the purpose of this AD, Group 4 

engines are engines having an S/N listed in 

Table 4 of MSB–E4–039/1. 

(j) Credit for Previous Actions 

You may take credit for the actions 

required by paragraph (g)(1), (4), or (5) of this 

AD, if you performed those actions before the 

effective date of this AD using Austro Engine 

Mandatory Service Bulletin MSB–E4–039/0, 

dated October 24, 2022. 

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) 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 local 

Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the International Validation 

Branch, send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (l)(2) of this AD and 

email to: ANE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov. 

(2) 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. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 213 / Monday, November 6, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 76107 

(l) Additional Information 

(1) Refer to European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022–0240R1, 

dated December 15, 2022, for related 

information. This EASA AD may be found in 

the AD docket at regulations.gov under 

Docket No. FAA–2023–1412. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 

410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (781) 238– 

7146; email: barbara.caufield@faa.gov. 

(m) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 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) Austro Engine GmbH Mandatory Service 

Bulletin No. MSB–E4–039/1, Revision 1, 

dated April 24, 2023. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Austro Engine GmbH, 

Rudolf-Diesel-Strasse 11, A–2700 Weiner 

Neustadt, Austria; phone: +43 2622 23000; 

website: austroengine.at. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District 

Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call (817) 222–5110. 

(5) You may view this material at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on 

the availability of this material at NARA, 

visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ 

ibr-locationsoremailfr.inspection@nara.gov. 

Issued on October 20, 2023. 

Ross Landes, 

Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–24385 Filed 11–3–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2023–1642; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2023–00183–T; Amendment 

39–22574; AD 2023–21–02] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding 

Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022–18– 

14, which applied to certain Airbus SAS 

Model A330–200 series, A330–200 

Freighter series, A330–300 series, 

A330–800 series, and A330–900 series 

airplanes. AD 2022–18–14 required 

revising the existing maintenance or 

inspection program, as applicable, to 

incorporate new or more restrictive 

airworthiness limitations. This AD was 

prompted by a determination that new 

or more restrictive airworthiness 

limitations are necessary. This AD 

continues to require the actions in AD 

2022–18–14, and also requires revising 

the existing maintenance or inspection 

program, as applicable to incorporate 

additional new or more restrictive 

airworthiness limitations; as specified 

in two European Union Aviation Safety 

Agency (EASA) ADs, which are 

incorporated by reference. The FAA is 

issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective December 

11, 2023. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of December 11, 2023. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain other publication listed in this 

AD as of October 20, 2022 (87 FR 56566, 

September 15, 2022). 

ADDRESSES: 

AD Docket: You may examine the AD 

docket at regulations.gov under Docket 

No. FAA–2023–1642; 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 material incorporated by 

reference in this AD, contact EASA, 

Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 

8999 000; email ADs@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 at 

regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA– 

2023–1642. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim 

Dowling, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 

Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 206– 

231–3667; email timothy.p.dowling@

faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to supersede AD 2022–18–14, 

Amendment 39–22165 (87 FR 56566, 

September 15, 2022) (AD 2022–18–14). 

AD 2022–18–14 applied to certain 

Airbus SAS Model A330–201, –202, 

–203, –223, and –243 airplanes; Model 

A330–223F and –243F airplanes; Model 

A330–301, –302, –303, –321, –322, 

–323, –341, –342, and –343 airplanes; 

Model A330–841 airplanes; and Model 

A330–941 airplanes. AD 2022–18–14 

required revising the existing 

maintenance or inspection program, as 

applicable, to incorporate additional 

new or more restrictive airworthiness 

limitations. The FAA issued AD 2022– 

18–14 to address fatigue cracking, 

accidental damage, and corrosion in 

principal structural elements; such 

fatigue cracking, accidental damage, and 

corrosion could result in reduced 

structural integrity of the airplane. 

The NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on July 28, 2023 (88 FR 48760). 

The NPRM was prompted by AD 2022– 

0187, dated September 13, 2022, issued 

by EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union (EASA AD 2022–0187). EASA 

AD 2022–0187 states that new or more 

restrictive airworthiness limitations 

have been developed. 

The NPRM was also prompted by 

EASA AD 2023–0015, dated January 19, 

2023 (EASA AD 2023–0015). EASA AD 

2023–0015 states that new or more 

restrictive airworthiness limitations 

have been developed. EASA AD 2023– 

0015 also states that it requires certain 

tasks also required by EASA AD 2022– 

0187, and invalidates (terminates) the 

tasks that are also required by EASA AD 

2022–0187. Therefore, for this AD, 

where EASA AD 2023–0015 affects the 

same airworthiness limitations as those 

in EASA AD 2022–0187, the 

airworthiness limitations referenced in 

EASA AD 2023–0015 prevail. 

In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to 

continue to require the actions in AD 

2022–18–14, and to require revising the 

existing maintenance or inspection 

program, as applicable, to incorporate 

additional new or more restrictive 

airworthiness limitations, as specified 

in EASA ADs 2022–0187 and 2023– 

0015. The FAA is issuing this AD to 


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