COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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/A320/132 PPG Aerospace Windshields 2/2002
Applicability: Model A319, A320 and A321 series aeroplanes equipped with PPG Aerospace windshields with the following part numbers, having a serial number listed in Airbus Industrie All Operators Telex (AOT) A320-56A1010 Revision 1:
NP-165311-1 | NP-165311-2 | NP-165311-3 |
NP-165311-4 | NP-165311-5 | NP-165311-6 |
Requirement: Unless already accomplished, remove and scrap the potentially affected windshields and replace them in accordance with AOT A320-56A1010 Revision 1.
Note: DGAC AD 2001-606(B) refers.
Compliance: Before 30 June 2002.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 21 February 2002.
Background: Airbus Industrie has advised the French Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile that investigation of an A320 windshield breakage confirmed that the breakage resulted from abnormal overheating of the power lead located between the structural plies of the windshield. The overheating was caused by the power lead being damaged at the manufacturers facility.
This Directive requires replacement of all suspect windshields.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 14 January 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 30 January 2002.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, provide the legal framework for ensuring the safety of civil aviation within Australia. This Act includes provisions for issuing airworthiness directives to address safety concerns. One such directive, AD/A320/132, was introduced on 21 February 2002 to address a specific issue with the Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes equipped with PPG Aerospace windshields. The directive was issued following reports of windshield breakages due to overheating of the power lead within the windshield structure, caused by manufacturing defects. The objective of this Airworthiness Directive was to mandate the removal and replacement of potentially affected windshields to prevent further incidents and ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and its role in issuing Airworthiness Directives (ADs) that are vital for ensuring the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products. This legislation applies to the A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes equipped with PPG Aerospace windshields identified by specific part numbers and serial numbers listed in Airbus Industrie All Operators Telex (AOT) A320-56A1010 Revision 1. The directive mandates the removal and replacement of potentially affected windshields to address an unsafe condition caused by overheating and subsequent breakage due to damage to the power lead. This AD applies within the jurisdictional reach of the Commonwealth of Australia, overseen by CASA, ensuring compliance across all relevant aircraft operators within the country. The AD became effective on 21 February 2002 and required compliance before 30 June 2002, thereby establishing a clear timeframe for adherence to the specified safety measures.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive AD/A320/132 (2002) pertains to Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes equipped with specific PPG Aerospace windshields. These windshields are identified by particular part numbers and serial numbers detailed in Airbus Industrie All Operators Telex (AOT) A320-56A1010 Revision 1. The directive requires the removal and scrapping of the affected windshields and their replacement, as per the instructions in the referenced telex. The directive was issued following investigations into a windshield breakage on an A320 aeroplane, which was traced to abnormal overheating of the power lead between the structural plies of the windshield, caused by manufacturing damage.
The obligations imposed by this AD are specific and stringent. Operators of A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes must identify if their aircraft are within the scope of this directive and verify the serial numbers of their windshields. If the specified windshields are installed, they must be removed and scrapped. Replacement windshields must be installed in accordance with the instructions provided in AOT A320-56A1010 Revision 1. This action is mandatory and must be completed before 30 June 2002, as per the compliance timeframe set out in the directive.
Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive could lead to severe consequences. The AD does not explicitly detail penalties for non-compliance, but non-compliance with such directives is generally treated seriously under civil aviation law. It could result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, including grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. Additionally, continued operation of an aircraft with non-compliant windshields could be viewed as operating an unsafe aircraft, which could attract both civil and criminal liabilities, including substantial fines and potential imprisonment for the responsible individuals or corporations.