Airplanes' Painted Lightning Strips? FAA Says Rip Them Off Now
Published Date: 3/5/2025
Rule
Summary
The FAA is making a new rule for certain Airbus Canada airplanes because some nose radome lightning strips were painted, which can mess up lightning protection. Owners must check for paint and replace the nose radome if needed to keep flights safe. This rule starts April 9, 2025, so affected operators should act soon to avoid safety risks and potential costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Inspect and Replace Painted Nose Radomes
If your airplane is an Airbus Canada Model BD-500-1A10 or BD-500-1A11 with nose radome P/N C01204101-007 or C01204101-009 and S/N S456997, S570556, S626945, S866894, T099675, T471773, or T595935, you must inspect the nose radome lightning diverter strips for paint and replace the nose radome if the diverter strips are painted. The AD requires following Transport Canada AD CF-2022-04 as incorporated by reference, and the rule is effective April 9, 2025.
Ban on Installing Certain Radome Serial Numbers
As of April 9, 2025, no one may install a nose radome with P/N C01204101-007 or P/N C01204101-009 and S/N S456997, S570556, S626945, S866894, T099675, T471773, or T595935 on any airplane unless the inspection/repair actions required by the AD have been accomplished on that nose radome.
Repair Option: Replace Diverter Strips
The AD permits repairing affected nose radomes by replacing painted lightning diverter strips with new, unpainted diverter strips using Airbus Canada A220 ASRP Task BD500-A-J53-81-80-01AAA-664A-A, Issue 004, dated January 17, 2024, and allows certain allowances when using Service Bulletin BD500-538009, Issue 002, dated June 2, 2022. These repair options are explicitly allowed by paragraphs (h)(3) and (h)(4) of the AD.
FAA Cost Estimate: 7 U.S. Airplanes Affected
The FAA estimates this AD affects 7 airplanes on the U.S. registry. Estimated labor to perform the required action is 6 work-hours × $85/hour = $510 per airplane, for a total estimated cost on U.S. operators of $3,570; the FAA states it has no definitive data for nose radome parts cost and notes some costs may be covered under warranty.
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