AD/A330/94 Engine Fire Extinguishing Bottle Connection (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/A330/94 Engine Fire Extinguishing Bottle Connection 13/2008

Applicability:

AIRBUS A330 aircraft, models -201, -202, -203, -223, -243, -301, -302, -303, -321,
-322, -323, -341, -342 and -343, serial numbers: 0845, 0850, 0851, 0852, 0853, 0854, 0855, 0857, 0858, 0859, 0860, 0861, 0862, 0863, 0865, 0866, 0867, 0868, 0869, 0871, 0873, 0875, 0876, 0877, 0879, 0881, 0882, 0883, 0884, 0885, 0887, 0888, 0889, 0890, 0892, 0893, 0895, 0896, 0898, 0899, 0900, 0901, 0903, 0904, 0905, 0906, 0907, 0908, 0909, 0911, 0913, 0914, 0915, 0916, 0918, 0919, 0920, 0922, 0923 and 0951.

Requirement:

1.    Perform a general visual inspection of the fire extinguisher bottle nut assembly of both engines and apply the associated corrective actions in accordance with AIRBUS Service Bulletin (SB) A330-26-3043.

2.    The results of this inspection, whatever they are, must be reported to AIRBUS.

Note:  EASA AD 2008-0196 dated 27 October 2008 refers.

Compliance:

For Requirement 1 - Within 900 Flight Hours after the effective date of this AD, unless previously accomplished.

For Requirement 2 - Within 30 days from the accomplishment date of the inspection.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 18 December 2008.

Background:

During receipt of spare parts at the final assembly line, it was discovered that lugs of the assembly nut, part number (P/N) A2621005000200, had been inverted (wrong orientation of the braking pin) during manufacturing process at the supplier.

The assembly nut P/N A2621005000200 is part of the engine fire-extinguishing piping assembly.  It connects the extinguisher discharge head with the piping.

The lugs function is to prevent the connection untwisting once it has been hand-tightened with the correct torque.  This lug inversion could give the illusion of correct torque whereas the affected parts are not properly connected.

Loose connection could lead to loss of the fire extinguishing system integrity and therefore inability to ensure the adequate agent concentration.  In combination with an engine fire event, it could result in a temporary uncontrolled engine fire, which constitutes an unsafe condition.

To restore connection integrity, this AD requires a one time general visual inspection of the affected nut assembly to detect and correct any wrong orientation of lugs.

James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

6 November 2008