AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/106 Amdt 2 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.
Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes
AD/A320/106
Amdt 3
Fuel Tank Electrical Bonding 7/2002
Applicability: Model A319, A320 and A321 series aeroplanes, all serial numbers, which do not have Airbus Modification 27150 and 27955 incorporated during production or Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin (SB) A320-28-1077 Revision 4 embodied.
Model A321-211 and A321-231 series aeroplanes, serial numbers (MSN) 633, 663, 666, 668, 677, 680, 687, 715, 725, 775, 781, 808, 815, 823, 841 and 852 without
Airbus Modification 27472 incorporated during production or Airbus Industrie SB A320-28-1079 embodied.
Requirement: 1. Model A319, A320 and A321 series aeroplanes - Improve the electrical bonding by reworking the bonding bolts and installing additional electrical bonding leads within the fuel tanks in accordance with SB A320-28-1077 Revision 4.
Accomplishment of SB A320-28-1077 Revisions 1, 2 or 3 is considered an acceptable means of compliance provided that the additionally works required by SB A320-28-1077 Revision 4 at rib 15 is completed.
2. Model A321-211 and A321-231 series aeroplanes - Modify the bonding in the additional centre fuel tank (ACT) in accordance with SB A320-28-1079.
Note: DGAC France AD 2002-202(B) refers.
Compliance: Remains unchanged as ‘Before 31 December 2004’. This Amendment becomes effective on 11 July 2002.
Background: During a scheduled inspection of an Airbus Industrie A300 fuel tank, evidence of a possible electrical discharge was found. Whilst it has not been possible to confirm that an electrical discharge occurred, the cause may have been the degradation of the electrical bonding leads within the fuel tanks. The degradation included corrosion, rupture and bad electrical contact. The fuel tanks on Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 aeroplanes are of the same design as the fuel tanks on the A300 and are therefore subject to the same risk of an internal electrical discharge occurring.
Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes
AD/A320/106 Amdt 3 (Continued)
The original issue of this Directive required the introduction of modified electrical bonding within the fuel tanks, to alleviate the risk of electrical discharges occurring.
Amendment 1 clarified the requirement by ensuring the rework of the bonding bolts was also addressed.
Amendment 2 required the completion of additional work for those aircraft incorporating SB A320-28-1077 at the original issue.
This Amendment clarified the extra work required by Amendment 2 and introduced additional requirements (modification of bonding in ACT fuel tanks) for certain A321-211 and A321-231 aeroplanes.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 23 March 2000.
Amendment 1 became effective on 19 April 2001.
Amendment 2 became effective on 21 March 2002.
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 31 May 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 19 June 2002.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, addressing the potential safety risk associated with the electrical bonding within the fuel tanks of Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes. This AD, titled AD/A320/106 Amendment 3, was enacted to correct the unsafe condition identified during a scheduled inspection of an Airbus Industrie A300 fuel tank, which revealed possible electrical discharge due to degradation of the electrical bonding leads. The directive aims to ensure the integrity of the electrical bonding within the fuel tanks to prevent the occurrence of internal electrical discharges. CASA has revoked previous amendments and introduced additional requirements for specific A321-211 and A321-231 aeroplanes to enhance the safety of these aircraft. Compliance with the directive is required before 31 December 2004.
Scope and Application
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies specifically to the Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes that lack certain modifications and service bulletins related to their fuel tank electrical bonding. More precisely, the AD targets A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes without Airbus Modification 27150 and 27955 incorporated during production or Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin (SB) A320-28-1077 Revision 4 embodied. Additionally, the directive applies to A321-211 and A321-231 series aeroplanes with specific serial numbers that do not have Airbus Modification 27472 incorporated during production or Airbus Industrie SB A320-28-1079 embodied. The AD mandates that specific actions be taken to improve the electrical bonding within the fuel tanks to mitigate the risk of internal electrical discharges. These actions include reworking the bonding bolts, installing additional electrical bonding leads, and modifying the bonding in the additional centre fuel tank for certain A321 variants, all in accordance with the specified service bulletins. The AD is effective as of 11 July 2002, and compliance is required before 31 December 2004. This AD is issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 and is applicable nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD) revolve around the requirements for improving the electrical bonding in certain Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes. Specifically, section 2 under the 'Requirement' heading mandates that for the A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes, the electrical bonding should be enhanced by reworking the bonding bolts and installing additional electrical bonding leads within the fuel tanks, as per Service Bulletin (SB) A320-28-1077 Revision 4. This requirement is conditional on the aircraft not having Airbus Modification 27150 and 27955 incorporated during production or SB A320-28-1077 Revision 4 embodied. Additionally, for A321-211 and A321-231 series aeroplanes, the bonding in the additional centre fuel tank (ACT) must be modified in accordance with SB A320-28-1079. This is pertinent for specific serial numbers of these aircraft that lack Airbus Modification 27472 incorporated during production or SB A320-28-1079 embodied.
The obligations imposed by this AD on the relevant parties, primarily aircraft operators and maintenance organisations, include ensuring that the specified modifications are carried out on the affected aircraft before a certain compliance deadline. The directive stipulates that any aircraft not meeting these requirements may be considered non-airworthy. Operators must verify that their aircraft fall within the scope of this AD and ensure that any necessary modifications are completed by skilled technicians in accordance with the instructions provided in the referenced service bulletins.
Failure to comply with this AD may result in serious safety risks, as it directly addresses the potential for electrical discharges within the fuel tanks, which could lead to catastrophic consequences. While the specific civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the AD itself, non-compliance with airworthiness directives in Australia can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), including the issuance of a Notice of Proposed Civil Penalty (NPCP). The maximum penalties for contravening airworthiness requirements can include substantial fines and, in severe cases, prosecution under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which could result in imprisonment for serious breaches.