AD/A320/102 - Relay 11QG Relocation

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended in 1999, were enacted to ensure the safety and regulation of civil aviation in Australia. One such amendment, AD/A320/102, targets Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes. This Airworthiness Directive was introduced to address safety concerns regarding the Engine/Master 1 relay, particularly the risk of simultaneous cut-off of fuel low pressure supply to both engines due to water ingress in relay box 102VU. The policy objective is to enhance the physical separation of electrical components and wiring, thus reducing potential safety hazards. The directive requires that the relay be relocated from relay box 103VU to shelf 95VU and mandates inspections and replacements of electrical contacts to ensure compliance with specified safety standards. Compliance with this directive is required before 15 May 2000 and within 500 hours’ time in service after the effective date of this Directive.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, apply to the Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes, excluding those that have already implemented Airbus Industrie modification 26065 or Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin (SB) A320-24-1092 Revision 3 dated 16 September 1998. This regulation is a Commonwealth measure that affects all commercial and private aviation operators within Australia who possess the specified aircraft models. The scope of the Act ensures that the prescribed modifications are adhered to, thereby enhancing the safety and operational integrity of the aircraft. Operators must comply with the requirements to relocate the Engine/Master 1 relay and verify the electrical contacts to mitigate the risk of simultaneous cut-off of the fuel low pressure supply to both engines due to water ingress. Compliance with this Airworthiness Directive is mandatory before 15 May 2000, within 500 hours’ time in service after the effective date, and before further flight. The regulation came into effect on 9 September 1999, superseding a previous directive and aligning with a new French airworthiness directive.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, contain detailed provisions regarding airworthiness directives for aircraft. Section 39-105 focuses on the Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes, with a particular Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/102 addressing the relocation of Relay 11QG. This directive applies to all models and serial numbers of the specified aircraft types that have not yet implemented Airbus Industrie modification 26065 or Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin (SB) A320-24-1092 Revision 3 dated 16 September 1998. The primary requirement under this directive is the relocation of the Engine/Master 1 Relay (11QG) from its original position in relay box 103VU to shelf 95VU, as per SB A320-24-1092 Revision 3. Additionally, the directive mandates that for aircraft that have incorporated either SB A320-24-1092 dated 26 March 1997, Revision 1 dated 24 December 1997, or Revision 2 dated 9 March 1998, a verification inspection must be conducted to ensure the four electrical contacts installed in terminal block FIN209VT12 are of the correct Part Number (P/N) NSA937910EA2000. If any contacts are found to be of a different P/N, they must be replaced with new contacts P/N NSA937910EA2000 in accordance with SB A320-24-1092 Revision 3. Operators and maintainers of Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes must adhere to the compliance timeline set forth in the directive. Compliance is required before 15 May 2000, within 500 hours’ time in service after the effective date of this directive, and before further flight. The directive became effective on 9 September 1999 and supersedes AD/A320/92 Amendment 1. This change was prompted by the Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile issuing a new French airworthiness directive, aimed at improving the physical separation of the electrical components and wiring to reduce the risk of simultaneous cut-off of the fuel low pressure supply to both engines due to water ingress in relay box 102VU. Failure to comply with the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive could result in significant safety risks. The directive underscores the importance of precise adherence to the specified modifications and inspections to ensure the continued airworthiness of the aircraft. The regulatory framework under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 imposes stringent obligations on operators and maintainers to ensure that these directives are met. Non-compliance with these requirements may result in legal consequences, including potential enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. While the specific penalties for breach are not detailed in the directive itself, regulatory non-compliance can generally lead to substantial fines, operational restrictions, or other punitive measures as deemed appropriate by the regulatory authorities.