AD/EMY/34 Amdt 1 Emergency Evacuation Slide/Raft Pressure Relief Valves (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/EMY/34 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.

Emergency Equipment

AD/EMY/34 Amdt 1 Emergency Evacuation Slide/Raft - Pressure Relief Valves 1/2008

Applicability:

All Goodrich Evacuation Systems approved under Technical Standard Order,
TSO-C69b as installed on Airbus Types A330 and A340 series aircraft.

Requirement:

1.    If not already carried out, perform an inspection to determine the part number (P/N) of the pressure relief valve on the Goodrich evacuation systems in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Goodrich Service Bulletin 25-355, dated 25 July 2005 or Goodrich Service Bulletin 25-355 Revision 1, dated 24 July 2006.  After the effective date of this Airworthiness Directive, only Goodrich Service Bulletin 25-355 Revision 1, dated 24 July 2006 may be used.

2.    If any pressure relief valve having P/N 4A3791-3 is installed, replace the valve with a new or serviceable valve having P/N 4A3641-1 and mark the girt adjacent to the placard, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Goodrich Service Bulletin 25-355.

3.    If any pressure release valve having P/N 4A3641-1 is installed, mark the girt adjacent to the placard in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Goodrich Service Bulletin 25-355.

4.    No person may install a pressure relief valve having P/N 4A3791-3, on any aeroplane equipped with Goodrich evacuation systems identified in Goodrich Service Bulletin 25-355, dated July 25, 2005.

5.    For aircraft model A340-541:  Perform an inspection to determine the part number (P/N) of the pressure relief valve on the Goodrich evacuation systems in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Goodrich Service Bulletin 25-355 Revision 1, dated 24 July 2006.

6.    For aircraft model A340-541:  If any pressure relief valve having P/N 4A3791-6 is installed, replace the valve with a new or serviceable valve having P/N 4A3641-26 and mark the girt adjacent to the placard, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Goodrich Service Bulletin 25-355 Revision 1, dated 24 July 2006.

7.    For aircraft model A340-541:  If any pressure release valve having P/N
4A3641-26 is installed, mark the girt adjacent to the placard in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Goodrich Service Bulletin 25-355 Revision 1, dated 24 July 2006.

8.    No person may install a pressure relief valve having P/N 4A3791-3, on any aeroplane equipped with Goodrich evacuation systems identified in Goodrich Service Bulletin 25-355 Revision 1, dated 24 July 2006.

9.    No person may install a pressure relief valve having P/N 4A3791-6, on any aeroplane equipped with Goodrich evacuation systems identified in Goodrich Service Bulletin 25-355 Revision 1, dated 24 July 2006.

Note:  FAA AD2007-23-01 refers.

Compliance:

1.    For Requirement 1, if not already carried out, within 36 months after
31 August 2006.

2.    For Requirement 2, subsequent to the inspection required by Requirement 1, before further flight.

3.    For Requirement 3, subsequent to the inspection required by Requirement 1, before further flight.

4.    For Requirement 4, from the 31 August 2006.

5.    For Requirement 5, within 36 months after the effective date of this AD.

6.    For Requirement 6, subsequent to the inspection if required by Requirement 5, before further flight.

7.    For Requirement 7, subsequent to the inspection if required by Requirement 5, before further flight.

8.    For Requirement 8, from the effective date of this AD.

9.    For Requirement 9, from the effective date of this AD.

Note:  Compliance with requirement 1, 2, or 3 of the original issue of this AD constitutes compliance with this amendment.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 17 January 2008.

Background:

This AD results from a report indicating that, during maintenance testing, the pressure relief valves on the affected Goodrich evacuation systems did not seal when activated, which caused the pressure in the escape slide/raft to drop below the minimum allowable raft mode pressure.  We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of pressure in the escape slides/rafts after an emergency evacuation, which could result in inadequate buoyancy to support the raft's passenger capacity during ditching, and increase the chance for injury to raft passengers.

Amendment 1 retains the existing requirements but allows for the use of Revision 1 of the referenced service bulletin and requires Revision 1 use after the effective date of this amendment.  It also adds additional requirements for A340-541 aircraft.

This amendment was raised to apply FAA AD 2007-23-01, which superseded AD 2006-12-08.

The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on
31 August 2006.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

29 November 2007