Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) were enacted to regulate the safety of civil aviation in Australia, ensuring that aircraft meet certain safety standards to protect passengers, crew, and the general public. This legislation is administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which issues Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to address identified safety issues. One such AD is AD/A320/117, issued on 5 May 2001, which targets the Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes. This particular AD was introduced to address a safety concern identified through sampling inspections: water ingress in the elevator honeycomb core structure of certain A320 and A321 aircraft, which could lead to debonding of the elevator skin and subsequent degradation of the aircraft's structural integrity. The policy objective of this directive is to mandate specific corrective actions to ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft.

Scope and Application

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertains to all Model A320 and A321 aircraft that were delivered with specific elevator part numbers and serial numbers as listed in Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-55-1024, and have not incorporated Modification 23558 in production or Service Bulletin A320-55-1024 in service. The AD is issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate and applies throughout the Commonwealth of Australia. The directive requires compliance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-55-1024 to address water ingress in the elevator honeycomb core structure, which could lead to debonding of the elevator skin and affect the structural integrity of the aircraft. The action must be taken within 10 years from the aircraft's entry into service or before 3 September 2002, whichever is later. This AD is in line with the French Civil Aviation Authority's AD 2001-062(B) and became effective on 17 May 2001.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/117, applicable to Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes, are detailed in the applicability, requirement, and compliance sections. The applicability section (section 5/2001) specifies that the directive applies to all Model A320 and A321 aircraft with certain elevator part numbers and serial numbers that have not yet incorporated Modification 23558 in production or Service Bulletin A320-55-1024 in service. The requirement section mandates that the action set out in Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-55-1024 must be taken to rectify the issue of water ingress in the elevator honeycomb core structure. This action must be carried out under the circumstances and in accordance with the instructions outlined in the requirement section. The compliance section stipulates that the directive must be adhered to within 10 years from the aircraft’s entry into service or before 3 September 2002, whichever comes later. The AD imposes specific obligations and requirements on the parties or entities it governs. Aircraft operators must ensure that their Model A320 and A321 aircraft meet the criteria specified in the applicability section. This involves verifying the elevator part numbers and serial numbers against the list provided and ensuring that the necessary modifications or service bulletins have not been incorporated. Operators are required to follow the detailed instructions provided in Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-55-1024 to address the identified issue of water ingress. Compliance with these directives is essential to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft and to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. There are civil and criminal consequences for non-compliance with the AD. Under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, failure to adhere to an Airworthiness Directive can result in severe penalties. Operators found in breach of this directive may face substantial fines and potential criminal charges. The exact penalties are detailed in the regulations, but the seriousness of the matter is underscored by the need to address structural integrity issues that could compromise flight safety. This highlights the importance of timely and thorough compliance with the AD to avoid legal repercussions and to ensure the continued safe operation of the aircraft.