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/A320/133 Rear Passenger Door Frame Fitting 3/2002
Applicability: All Model A319, A320, and A321 aircraft, except aircraft which have received Airbus Industrie modification 30821 in-production or Service Bulletin A320-53-1154 in-service.
Requirement: Replace the upper rod guide fittings at both rear passenger doors in accordance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-53-1154.
Note: DGAC AD 2001-634(B).
Compliance: Before 31 October 2003, unless already accomplished.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 21 March 2002.
Background: Several cases of cracking and rupture of passenger rear door upper guide rod fittings have been reported in service. In the case of an emergency evacuation, rupture of the fitting during passenger door assisted opening may result in a door in a partially opened configuration, with the risk of impeding the evacuation of the passengers.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 8 February 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 February 2002.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, form the primary legislative framework governing civil aviation safety in Australia. As part of this comprehensive regulatory scheme, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to issue Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to ensure the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products. AD/A320/133, issued on 21 March 2002, is one such directive aimed at addressing a specific safety concern identified in Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 Series aeroplanes. This directive mandates the replacement of upper rod guide fittings at both rear passenger doors to prevent cracking and rupture, which could compromise passenger safety during emergency evacuations. The directive applies to all affected aircraft except those that have already received specific modifications or service bulletins. CASA issued this AD under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, reflecting the regulatory body's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, imposes Airworthiness Directives (AD) on certain aircraft types to ensure their safety in operation. The Airworthiness Directive AD/A320/133 pertains to Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 Series aeroplanes, except those that have already received specified modifications or service bulletins. This directive is issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and requires the replacement of upper rod guide fittings at both rear passenger doors in accordance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-53-1154 to address safety concerns related to cracking and rupture of these fittings. The directive mandates that this action be taken before 31 October 2003, unless already accomplished, to mitigate the risk of impeded passenger evacuation in emergency situations. This AD became effective from 21 March 2002 and was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 February 2002.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, include the Airworthiness Directive AD/A320/133 which addresses the safety issue related to the upper rod guide fittings of the rear passenger doors on Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 Series Aeroplanes. This AD mandates the replacement of the upper rod guide fittings on the rear passenger doors of these aircraft models, unless they have already undergone certain modifications (sections 1-3). The directive applies to all A319, A320, and A321 aircraft except those that have been modified in-production with Airbus Industrie modification 30821 or in-service with Service Bulletin A320-53-1154. The requirement section specifies that the replacement of these fittings must be carried out in accordance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-53-1154, and the compliance section stipulates that this action must be completed before 31 October 2003.
The AD imposes several obligations on the operators of A319, A320, and A321 aircraft. Primarily, it requires them to ensure that the upper rod guide fittings at both rear passenger doors are replaced in line with the instructions provided in Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-53-1154. This obligation is intended to mitigate the risk of the fittings cracking or rupturing during an emergency evacuation, which could potentially impede the safe evacuation of passengers. Operators must ensure that the necessary modifications are carried out before the specified compliance date to maintain the airworthiness of their aircraft.
Failure to comply with the Airworthiness Directive AD/A320/133 could result in serious safety implications. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state the penalties or consequences for non-compliance with such directives; however, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can generally lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions may include the issuance of compliance orders, fines, or other regulatory measures. The severity of the penalties would depend on the specific circumstances of non-compliance and the potential safety risks involved. Ultimately, the overarching aim is to ensure that all aircraft maintain the required airworthiness standards to protect the safety of passengers and crew.