Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, includes the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which was enacted to ensure the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products in Australian airspace. This legislation aims to address safety concerns and rectify unsafe conditions that may arise in the aviation industry. The Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 Series Aeroplanes was issued in 2002 to address the unsafe condition related to relay 11QG testing after relocation. This directive was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate, James Coyne, and requires additional tests to be performed to reduce the risk of simultaneous cut-off of the fuel low pressure supply to both engines caused by water ingress in relay box 103VU. The policy objective is to maintain a high standard of airworthiness and ensure the safety of passengers, crew, and the general public.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, provides the framework for issuing Airworthiness Directives (ADs) that are essential for ensuring the safety of civil aviation. This particular Airworthiness Directive (AD/A320/140) applies to Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes, excluding those that have incorporated Airbus Industrie modification 26065 during production or have already implemented Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-24-1092, Revision 4 dated 20 June 2002. The directive mandates additional tests to be performed as specified in the aforementioned service bulletin to address a safety concern related to the relocation of relay 11QG. The requirement to conduct these tests must be fulfilled within 600 hours of the AD's effective date, which is 3 October 2002. This AD is part of a series aimed at mitigating risks associated with electrical component interactions in these aircraft models, and it becomes effective upon its publication in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 11 September 2002.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 Series Aeroplanes, identified as AD/A320/140, focuses on relay 11QG testing after relocation. The directive is applicable to A319, A320, and A321 aeroplanes that do not have Airbus Industrie modification 26065 incorporated during production or Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin (SB) A320-24-1092, Revision 4, dated 20 June 2002 embodied. The AD mandates the performance of additional tests as specified in SB A320-24-1092 Revision 4 to mitigate the risk of simultaneous cut-off of the fuel low pressure supply to both engines caused by water ingress in relay box 103VU. It is important to note that compliance with the earlier AD/A320/102 does not fulfill the requirements of this directive. The obligations imposed on the parties governed by this AD include ensuring that the specified additional tests are performed within 600 hours of time in service following the effective date of the directive, which is 3 October 2002. Operators and maintainers of A319, A320, and A321 aeroplanes must adhere to the instructions provided in SB A320-24-1092 Revision 4 to comply with the directive. These instructions are essential to carry out the required tests effectively and must be followed meticulously to ensure airworthiness. Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive could result in significant safety risks, given the potential for simultaneous cut-off of the fuel low pressure supply to both engines. Although specific penalties for non-compliance are not stated in the text, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions might include fines, operational restrictions, or even grounding of the affected aircraft until the required tests are conducted and compliance is achieved. The severity of the consequences underscores the importance of adhering to the AD to maintain the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft.