AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/124 Amdt 1 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (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.
Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes
AD/A320/124
Amdt 2
Overwing Emergency Exit Door Frame Corners 11/2004
Applicability: Model A320-200 aircraft, serial numbers MSN 0624 through MSN 1141. Model A319 aircraft, all serial numbers up to and including MSN 1167.
Requirement: 1. Perform a detailed visual inspection of affected rivets to detect loose and/or missing rivets in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1147 original issue, Revision 01, or Revision 02.
2. Remove all the affected rivets in all specified corner areas and check the interior countersinks in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1147 Revision 02.
Note 1: Accomplishment of Requirement 2 constitutes terminating action for the Requirement 1 inspection.
Note 2: DGAC AD 2003-147(B) R1 refers.
Compliance: 1. Within 3,500 flight cycles after 4 October 2001.
Repeat inspection at intervals not to exceed 3,500 flight cycles in accordance with Revision 02 of the Requirement document; until Requirement 2 is accomplished.
2. Before the accumulation of 24,000 flight cycles. The compliance times remain unchanged by this issue.
This Amendment becomes effective on 28 October 2004.
Background: A report was received of a loose ABS213 rivet at the overwing emergency exit door frame corners of A320 and A319 aircraft. Further investigation revealed several instances where the grip length of the rivets was slightly out of tolerance. This condition could affect the structural integrity of the overwing exit frame in the long term.
Amendment 1 introduced a supplemental inspection program to verify/measure affected rivet hole interior countersinks, and clarified Requirement 1 compliance.
Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes
AD/A320/124 Amdt 2 (continued)
Amendment 2 is issued to introduce AD 2003-147(B) R1 to Requirement Note 2 as the related DGAC AD.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 4 October 2001.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 16 September 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 6 October 2004.
Overview
The Airworthiness Directive AD/A320/124 Amendment 2, issued in 2004 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), addresses the problem of loose or missing rivets at the overwing emergency exit door frame corners on Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes. This amendment revokes a previous directive and seeks to correct the unsafe condition identified, ensuring the structural integrity of the aircraft. The policy objective behind the directive is to maintain the safety and airworthiness of the specified aircraft models by mandating specific inspections and repairs on the affected rivets, thereby preventing potential long-term structural issues. The directive specifies detailed inspection and repair protocols to be followed, ensuring compliance with the CASA regulations.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/124 Amendment 2, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate, specifically applies to Airbus Industrie A319 and A320 series aeroplanes with certain serial numbers, namely A320-200 aircraft with serial numbers MSN 0624 through MSN 1141 and A319 aircraft up to MSN 1167. The directive mandates the implementation of a detailed visual inspection and subsequent corrective actions concerning the rivets at the overwing emergency exit door frame corners. This requirement is to be conducted in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1147, with the actions stipulated in Requirement 1 and Requirement 2 of the AD. The AD applies nationally within Australia, as it is issued under the regulatory framework of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The directive also references DGAC AD 2003-147(B) R1 for related compliance. Compliance with the AD is mandatory and must be achieved within specific flight cycle intervals, with a primary inspection occurring within 3,500 flight cycles after 4 October 2001 and before the aircraft accumulates 24,000 flight cycles. The AD came into effect on 28 October 2004 and is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia, reinforcing the safety standards for the specified aircraft models.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/124 Amdt 2 applies specifically to Airbus Industrie A319 and A320 series aeroplanes, particularly those within defined serial number ranges. According to the applicability section (subsection 1), the directive applies to A320-200 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from MSN 0624 to MSN 1141 and to all A319 aircraft up to and including MSN 1167. The requirement section (subsection 2) specifies that a detailed visual inspection of affected rivets must be performed to detect loose or missing rivets. This inspection is to be conducted in line with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1147 original issue, Revision 01, or Revision 02. Additionally, all affected rivets in the specified corner areas must be removed, and the interior countersinks must be checked, as outlined in Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1147 Revision 02.
The obligations imposed on the parties governed by this AD are to perform the detailed visual inspections and necessary repairs within the stipulated timeframes. Specifically, the inspections must be carried out within 3,500 flight cycles after 4 October 2001 and repeated at intervals not exceeding 3,500 flight cycles until the specified repairs are completed. Furthermore, the inspections and required actions must be completed before the aeroplanes accumulate 24,000 flight cycles. The directive references DGAC AD 2003-147(B) R1 as a related directive, which provides additional context and guidance for compliance.
Failure to comply with the AD may result in serious safety implications, as the loose rivets can potentially compromise the structural integrity of the overwing emergency exit door frame. The AD does not explicitly outline specific offences or penalties for non-compliance, but it is implied that any failure to adhere to the directive could lead to severe civil or criminal consequences, including potential grounding of the aircraft or other enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The maximum penalties for such breaches are not detailed within the AD but may be found in the broader regulatory framework under which CASA operates.