AD/A330/69 Amdt 1 Fuel Tanks Modifications (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

On the effective date specified below, and for the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A330/69 and issues the following 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/A330/69 Amdt 1 Fuel Tanks Modifications 6/2009

Applicability:	A330 aircraft, all certified models, all serial numbers.
Note 1:  Applicability for each of the actions mandated by this Directive is defined in the Requirement Statements.
Requirement:	1.    All models, without Airbus Modification 47634 embodied during production - If not previously accomplished in accordance with AD/A330/69 Requirement 1, perform a detailed visual inspection of the P-clips in the wings and centre fuel tanks and, if necessary, apply the corrective actions, in accordance with the instructions of Service Bulletin (SB) A330-28-3092 Revision 01 dated 14 December 2005.
2.    All models, without Airbus Modification 49135 and 49630 and 51825 and 55118 embodied during production or modified whilst in service in accordance with both SB A330-28-3082 Revision 04 and SB A330-28-3101 Revision 01 except as detailed in Requirement 3 - Modify the electrical bonding of equipment installed in fuel tanks in accordance with the instructions of SB A330-28-3082 Revision 04 and SB A330-28-3101 Revision 01.
3.    For aircraft that have already been modified in accordance with SB A330-28-3082 dated 14 June 2004 - Perform the additional work required by SB A330-28-3082 Revision 04.
Accomplishment of SB A330-28-3101 instructions at original issue or Revision 01 or SB A330-28-3082 at Revision 01 or Revision 02 or Revision 03, prior to the effective date of this Directive, is acceptable for compliance with Requirements 2 and 3 of this Directive.
4.    A330-301, -321, -322, -341 and -342 models, without Airbus Modification 44252 embodied during production or modified whilst in service in accordance with SB A330-55-3016 - If not previously accomplished in accordance with AD/A330/69 Requirement 3, increase the distance between metallic parts on the trimmable horizontal stabiliser (THS) trim tank in accordance with the instructions of SB A330-55-3016 dated 20 August 1996.

For all aircraft where the improvement of the THS lighting strike protection has already been performed in accordance with All Operator Telex (AOT) 55-03 dated 22 August 1996 ("solution A"), mandated by French Direction Générale d’le Aviation Civile (DGAC) AD F-1996-178-049(B) R1 and DGAC AD F-1996-177-038(B), compliance with Requirement 4 of this Amendment may be delayed as follows:
The next time the THS is removed from the aircraft for any reason (fuselage stress jacking, repair etc.) and placed on the ground on the Support Tool (Lifting and Resting Points Fittings must be installed), or
At the first aircraft maintenance task requiring the use of the THS Lifting and Resting Points Fittings.
Later revisions of SB A330-28-3092 Revision 01, SB A330-28-3082 Revision 04, SB A330-28-3101 Revision 01 or SB A330-55-3016 approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are acceptable for compliance with relevant requirements of this Directive.
Note 2:  EASA AD 2007-0278 corrected 8 November 2007 refers.
Compliance:	For Requirement 1 and 2 - No later than 31 December 2009.
For Requirement 3 - No later than 31 December 2011.
For Requirement 4 - No later than 31 December 2009.
This Amendment becomes effective on 4 June 2009.
Background:	Following the in-flight accident which occurred to a Boeing 747-131 (flight TWA800), the United States Federal Aviation Administration published Special Federal Aviation Regulation 88 (SFAR 88).  Subsequent to the issue of SFAR 88 the European Joint Aviation Authority required all holders of type certificates for passenger transport aircraft certified after 1 January 1958 with a capacity of 30 passengers or more, or a payload of 3,402 kg or more, to carry out a definition review against explosion hazards.
As a result of this review, the European Aviation Safety Agency has identified several deficiencies that require modification to decrease the likelihood of fuel tank explosions.  Consequently the original issue of this Directive required the following actions:

• Replacement of the white P-clips by blue P-clips which are more fuel resistant to remove the risks of fuel quantity indicator (FQI) and fuel level sensor system (FLSS) harnesses chafing against the metallic part of the P-clip.
• Modification of electrical bonding of equipment installed in fuel tanks in order to re-establish the conformity with the design definition by introducing additional bonding leads, electrical bonding points and electrical bonding of a support bracket for a diffuser assembly installed between Rib 1 and Rib 2 on the stringers of the No.1 bottom skin panel.
• Modification to increase the distance between metallic parts on the THS Trim Tank.

This Amendment continues the requirements of the original issue but also:

• Mandates SB A330-28-3082 Revision 04 which introduces an additional work for some bonding points which were omitted from the centre tank at original issue.

• Introduces an extension of the required compliance time to perform Requirement 4 for those aircraft already compliant with AOT 55-03.

• Refers to the latest revision of certain SBs.

The original issue of this Directive became effective on 21 December 2006.

James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

17 April 2009