AD/A320/169 Fuel Tank Electrical Bonding (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.001(1) of CASR 1998.  The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes

AD/A320/169 Fuel Tank Electrical Bonding 4/2005

Applicability:	Airbus A318, A319, A320 and A321 series aeroplanes, all serial numbers, except aeroplanes that had Airbus modification 31892 incorporated during production or Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1104 dated 2 December 2003 or later revision approved by the French Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC) embodied whilst in service.
Requirement:	Modify the electrical bonding of all structure and systems installed inside the fuel centre tank in accordance with SB A320-28-1104 or later revision approved by the DGAC.
Note:  DGAC AD F-2005-028 (EASA Approval 2005-1373) refers.
Compliance:	Before 31 December 2009.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 14 April 2005.
Background:	Following the TWA800 in flight incident the United States Federal Aviation Administration issued Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 88.  The European Joint Aviation Authorities adopted similar regulations to SFAR 88 requiring a design review against fuel tank explosion risks.
This Directive renders mandatory the improvement of electrical bonding in the centre fuel tank and is a consequence of this design review.

James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

3 March 2005