AD/A320/34 - Braking System Electrical Relays

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, specifically address airworthiness directives for various aircraft models, including the Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes. Enacted by the Australian Government, this legislation aims to ensure the safety and reliability of civil aviation by enforcing necessary modifications and updates to aircraft components to mitigate identified risks. The problem this Act was introduced to address was the reported failures of the Braking/Steering Control Unit (BSCU) due to voltage peaks on specific relays, which could potentially compromise the safety of these aircraft. The policy objective of this regulation is to mandate the replacement of the specified relays with overvoltage protected ones to prevent such failures, ensuring the continued safety and compliance of the A320 series aeroplanes within Australian airspace.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39, specifically Airworthiness Directives, applies to all Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes that have not yet implemented Airbus Industrie modification 23611. This legislation is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and pertains to a safety directive regarding the electrical relays in the braking system of these aircraft models. The directive mandates compliance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-32-1115 dated 16 June 1993, as referenced by the French civil aviation authority's AD 93-163-043(B) dated 29 September 1993. The requirement necessitates the replacement of the electrical relays 24GG and 25GG with overvoltage protected relays to mitigate the risk of Braking/Steering Control Unit (BSCU) failures due to voltage peaks. Compliance with this directive must be achieved prior to 30 September 1994, with an additional one-month extension granted by the French civil aviation authority.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105 and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes (AD/A320/34). This directive addresses braking system electrical relays, focusing on the replacement of specific components to enhance safety. The directive applies to all A320 series aeroplanes without Airbus Industrie modification 23611 (section 1). The requirement is to take action in accordance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-32-1115 dated 16 June 1993, with a reference to DGAC AD 93-163-043(B) dated 29 September 1993 (section 3). Compliance with this directive is mandatory, with the directive requiring compliance prior to 30 September 1994 (section 4). The AD imposes obligations on the operators and maintainers of A320 series aeroplanes. Specifically, they must ensure that the braking system electrical relays 24GG and 25GG are replaced with overvoltage protected relays to mitigate the risk of Braking/Steering Control Unit (BSCU) failures. This mandate is crucial to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft, as the original relays were found to be susceptible to voltage peaks, which could cause failures. Operators and maintainers must adhere to the timeline set out in the directive to ensure compliance, as failure to do so could lead to safety concerns and potential regulatory action. Failure to comply with the AD could result in severe consequences. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed within the directive, non-compliance with ADs generally can lead to civil or criminal penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Civil penalties can include fines up to $162,000 for individuals and significantly higher amounts for corporations. Criminal penalties can include imprisonment for up to five years for individuals, and even higher penalties for corporations. Furthermore, non-compliance could result in the grounding of the aircraft, which would have significant operational and financial repercussions for the operator. It is therefore imperative that operators and maintainers take prompt action to ensure compliance with this directive.