COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/101 Amdt 1 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 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.
AD/A320/101
Amdt 2
Main Landing Gear Sliding Tube 6/2000
Applicability: All Model A319, A320, and A321 aircraft, all serial numbers up to and including 0875 on which Airbus Industrie SB A320-32-1189 has not been accomplished; and which have had MLG sliding tubes:
- removed for any reason at any time, or
b. which have been inspected using NDT (NDT2), or
c. which have not had the attaching hardware and bushes removed from the sliding tube before inspection by NDT (NDT2).
Requirement: 1. Perform a detailed visual inspection of both main landing gear (MLG) sliding tubes in accordance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin (SB) A320-32-1189.
- If cracks are detected around the area between the jacking dome bush and the hole for the HP inflation valve or the hole for the lower electrical harness assembly, before further flight, replace the sliding tube.
b. If other cracks are detected, contact the manufacturer.
2. Raise the aircraft on jacks, remove the jacking dome, the jacking dome bush, and the harness supports. Perform a detailed visual inspection of the sliding tube sub- assembly in the area of the jacking dome bush in accordance with SB A320-32- 1189.
If cracks are detected, perform the actions of Requirement 1.a.
Note 1: Replacement of MLG absorber is an alternative means of compliance with this Directive.
Note 2: DGAC AD 1999-358-137(B) R1 refers.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Compliance: 1. Within 500 hours’ time in service after 12 August 1999. Thereafter, repeat at intervals not to exceed 500 hours’ time in service.
2. Before 1 August 2000.
The Compliance of the initial Directive and Amendment 1 remains unchanged by this issue.
This Amendment becomes effective on 15 June 2000.
Background: During a maintenance inspection/overhaul process on the MLG sliding tubes, a wrongly performed NDT inspection could have led to local heating, which as a consequence, could initiate cracks. Such cracking could lead to landing gear collapse.
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a new DGAC AD which introduces on-going repetitive inspections for the main landing gear sliding tubes.
Amendment 2 provides for landing gear tubes which either have:
- not had the NDT process which may have caused damage carried out, or
- had a NDT carried out using a procedure approved subsequent to the discovery that the initial procedure may be damaging.
Amendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 30 December 1999.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 12 August 1999.
Bernard Malcolm Hole
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 8 May 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 17 May 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended by the Airworthiness Directive AD/A320/101 Amdt 2, were enacted to address safety concerns identified in the Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 Series aeroplanes, specifically regarding the main landing gear sliding tubes. This Airworthiness Directive was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the authority granted by the Civil Aviation Act 1988, and aims to ensure the continuing airworthiness of these aircraft by preventing potential structural failure. The directive revokes the previous Amendment 1 and introduces stricter inspection protocols to mitigate the risk of cracking in the main landing gear sliding tubes, which could potentially lead to catastrophic failure during landing operations. The policy objective is to enhance the safety of civil aviation by ensuring that any unsafe conditions identified are promptly addressed through mandated inspections and corrective actions.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, Section 105, outlines the Airworthiness Directives that govern the maintenance and safety of Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 Series Aeroplanes. This legislation applies to all Model A319, A320, and A321 aircraft, including those up to and including serial number 0875, provided that they have had their main landing gear (MLG) sliding tubes removed for any reason, or inspected using NDT (NDT2), or had their attaching hardware and bushes removed from the sliding tube before inspection by NDT (NDT2). The directive mandates a detailed visual inspection of the MLG sliding tubes to ensure airworthiness and prevent potential structural failures. The AD requires inspections and possible replacements of the sliding tubes at specific intervals to maintain safety standards. Compliance with these directives is mandatory, and failure to adhere to them could result in serious safety hazards. The directive was updated with Amendment 2, effective from 15 June 2000, addressing previously identified issues and ensuring the ongoing safety of the affected aircraft.
Key Provisions
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) pertains to Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes. The directive applies to all such aircraft up to and including serial number 0875 that have had their main landing gear (MLG) sliding tubes removed for any reason, inspected using non-destructive testing (NDT) according to procedure NDT2, or had the attaching hardware and bushes removed from the sliding tube before inspection by NDT (AD/A320/101 (Applicability)). The AD requires a detailed visual inspection of the MLG sliding tubes as per Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin (SB) A320-32-1189. If cracks are detected in specific areas, the sliding tube must be replaced before further flight. If other cracks are detected, the manufacturer must be contacted (AD/A320/101 (Requirement)). The directive further requires that the aircraft be raised on jacks, the jacking dome, jacking dome bush, and harness supports be removed, and a detailed visual inspection of the sliding tube sub-assembly in the area of the jacking dome bush be performed (AD/A320/101 (Requirement)). If cracks are detected, the actions of Requirement 1.a must be performed. The replacement of the MLG absorber is an alternative means of compliance with this Directive. This AD revokes AD/A320/101 Amdt 1 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998.
The AD imposes obligations on the operators of the affected aircraft to ensure that the specified inspections and actions are carried out within the stipulated timeframes. Operators must perform the required inspections and actions on their aircraft in accordance with the instructions set out in the AD. The AD specifies that the inspections and actions must be performed within 500 hours’ time in service after 12 August 1999 and thereafter, repeat at intervals not to exceed 500 hours’ time in service. The AD also specifies that the inspections and actions must be performed before 1 August 2000.
Failure to comply with the AD may result in civil or criminal consequences, including fines and imprisonment. The maximum penalties for breaches of the AD are not specified in the text. However, breaches of the CAR 1998 may result in penalties of up to $22,200 for individuals and $111,000 for corporations. Additionally, operators who fail to comply with the AD may be subject to enforcement action by CASA, including the suspension or revocation of their operating certificate.