AD/A330/100 Fire Extinguishing System Replacement/Modification (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 A330 Series Aeroplanes

AD/A330/100 Fire Extinguishing
System - Replacement/Modification 5/2009

Applicability:

AIRBUS (formerly AIRBUS INDUSTRIE) A330 models -201, -202, -203, -223,
-243, -301, -302, -303, -321,-322, -323, -341, -342 and -343 aeroplanes, all serial numbers, except those on which AIRBUS modification 55590 has been embodied in production.

Requirement:

1.    Replace or modify the Halon dual-filter assemblies of the flow metering fire extinguishing system in the forward and bulk cargo compartments, in accordance with instructions defined in AIRBUS Service Bulletin (SB) A330-26-3040 Revision 02.

2.    Report the accomplishment to AIRBUS.

Modification of an aeroplane, prior to the effective date of this AD, in accordance with the instructions of SB A330-26-3040 at Original issue or Revision is acceptable to comply with requirement 1 of this AD.

Note 1:  EASA AD 2009-0064 dated 12 March 2009 refers.

Compliance:

For Requirement 1:

a.    For aeroplanes fitted with Halon dual-filter assembly P/N QA06753 - Within 18 months from the effective date of this AD.

b.    For aeroplanes fitted with Halon dual-filter assembly P/N QA06753-01 or P/N QA06753-02 - Within 24 months from the effective date of this AD.

Note 2:     - The Halon Dual-Filter Assembly P/N QA06753 is embodied in production through modification 40041.

                 - The Halon Dual-Filter Assembly P/N QA06753-01 is only embodied in service through SB A330-26-3030.

                 - The Halon Dual-Filter Assembly P/N QA06753-02 is embodied in production through modification 47197 or 47883 or 50108 (BCRC) and 51065 or 51329 (LDCC) or in service through SB A330-26-3030.

For Requirement 2 - Within 60 days after SB embodiment date, as defined in Requirement 1 of this AD.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 7 May 2009.

Background:

During the qualification test campaign at the supplier site of the prototype Flow Metering Compact Unit (FMCU) Part Number (P/N) QA07907-03, partial blockage of the water absorbing filter element P/N QA06123 was observed several times.  The blockage was created by carbon debris from the cartridge and from the burst disc of the Halon bottle.

This water absorbing filter element is part of Halon Dual-Filter Assembly installed also in the Flow Metering System (FMS) of the cargo compartment Fire Extinguishing System used in the A330 and A340 aeroplanes.

Blockage of the water absorbing filter element could lead to reduction of Halon outflow, leading to incapacity to maintain fire extinguishing agent concentration.  Combined with fire, this could result in an uncontrolled fire in the affected compartment, which would constitute an unsafe condition.

To avoid water absorbing filter element blockage, this AD requires replacement or modification of the Halon dual-filter assemblies of the lower deck cargo compartment fire extinguishing system:

-      in the forward cargo compartment for aeroplanes fitted with Lower Deck Cargo Compartment (LDCC) and

-      in the bulk cargo compartment for aeroplanes fitted with Bulk Cargo Rest Compartment (BCRC) fire extinguishing system.

James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

27 March 2009