AD 2020-26-15 Requires Modifying (Replacing) The Clips, Shear Webs, And Angles At A Certain Rear Fuselage Area

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-07-14, which applied to certain Airbus Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes.

AD 2016-07-14 required replacing the clips, shear webs, and angles, related investigative actions, and repair if necessary. This AD retains the actions of AD 2016-07-14, and requires modifying (replacing) the clips, shear webs, and angles at a certain rear fuselage area with new parts, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA has also determined that additional airplanes are subject to the unsafe condition. This AD was prompted by fatigue testing that determined that fatigue damage could appear on clips, shear webs, and angles at certain rear fuselage sections and certain frames. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Supplementary Information: The EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2020-0153, dated July 10, 2020 (EASA AD 2020-0153) (also referred to as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Airbus Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -215 -216, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. EASA AD 2020-0153 superseded EASA AD 2014-0177, dated July 25, 2014 (which corresponds to FAA AD 2016-07-14, 39-18459 (81 FR 21244, April 11, 2016) (AD 2016-07-14)). Model A320-215 airplanes are not certificated by the FAA and are not included on the U.S. type certificate data sheet; this AD therefore does not include those airplanes in the applicability.

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2016-07-14. AD 2016-07-14 applied to certain Airbus Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 1, 2020 (85 FR 61892). The NPRM was prompted by fatigue testing that determined that fatigue damage could appear on clips, shear webs, and angles at certain rear fuselage sections and certain frames. The NPRM proposed to retain the actions of AD 2016-07-14, and require modifying (replacing) the clips, shear webs, and angles at a certain rear fuselage area with new parts, as specified in EASA AD 2020-0153. The NPRM also proposed to apply to additional airplanes subject to the unsafe condition.

The FAA is issuing this AD to address fatigue damage on the clips, shear webs, and angles, which could affect the structural integrity of the airplane. See the MCAI for additional background information.

FMI: www.regulations.gov