AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/61 Amdt 3 and issues the following 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/A320/61
Amdt 4
Off-Wing Escape Slide 13/2001
Applicability: All Model A319 and A320 series aircraft, equipped with off-wing escape slides part number D31865-101, -102, -103, -104, -105, -106, -107, and -108, and not
incorporating modifications 24850, 25844, or 27275 in production, or Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin (SB) A320-25-1156 Revision 1 and SB A320-25-1265 in service.
Requirement: Modify in accordance with Airbus Industrie SB A320-25-1156 Revision 2 and SB A320-25-1265.
Note 1: Airbus Industrie SB A320-25-1156 Revision 2 was issued to refer to revision 2 of Air Cruisers SB 004-25-037 and SB 004-25-038.
Note 2: DGAC AD 2001-380(B) refers.
Compliance: Before 15 September 2004.
This Amendment becomes effective on 27 December 2001.
Background: This Directive is issued to prevent the loss in flight of an off-wing emergency escape slide.
Amendment 1 corrected a mistake with regard to the repeat compliance periodicity in the English translation of the French Directive.
Amendment 2 removed the cyclic inspection option.
Amendment 3 reflected a change of French AD and revision 1 of the Airbus SB which also includes applicability to A319 aircraft.
Amendment 4 is issued in response to a new DGAC AD which requires modification of the off-wing slide and its aspirator in order to prevent incorrect off-wing slide deployment due to aspirator fabric ingestion.
Amendment 3 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 7 October 1999. Amendment 2 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 25 April 1996.
Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes
AD/A321/61 Amdt 4 (continued)
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 7 December 1995.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 7 November 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 5 December 2001.
Overview
The Airworthiness Directive issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR 1998) targets specific safety concerns related to the Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 Series Aeroplanes, particularly focusing on the off-wing escape slides part number D31865-101 through -108, excluding certain production modifications and service bulletins. This directive was enacted to address a problem identified with the off-wing emergency escape slides, specifically the risk of loss during flight and incorrect deployment due to fabric ingestion of the aspirator. The directive, effective from 27 December 2001, requires modifications to these aircraft to comply with specified service bulletins and mandates that these actions be completed by 15 September 2004. The directive is issued by the delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), with the policy objective of ensuring the safe operation of these aircraft by mitigating the risks associated with the identified unsafe condition.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/61 Amdt 4 applies specifically to all Airbus Industrie A319 and A320 series aeroplanes that are equipped with specific part numbers of off-wing escape slides and have not incorporated certain modifications or service bulletins. The AD aims to address a safety issue regarding the potential loss of an off-wing emergency escape slide during flight. The directive is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and is applicable within the Commonwealth of Australia. Compliance with the AD requires that the specified modifications, in accordance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletins A320-25-1156 Revision 2 and A320-25-1265, be completed before 15 September 2004. The AD does not extend to aircraft that have already incorporated the specified modifications or service bulletins. The directive’s applicability and compliance requirements are clearly defined, with a specific timeline for action, and the AD is effective from 27 December 2001.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/61 Amdt 4 primarily concerns the modification of off-wing escape slides in Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes. Specifically, it applies to aircraft equipped with particular off-wing escape slide part numbers (D31865-101 to D31865-108) that have not incorporated specific modifications or service bulletins (SBs) in production or service (section 13/2001). The requirement section mandates that these aircraft must be modified in accordance with Airbus Industrie SB A320-25-1156 Revision 2 and SB A320-25-1265 (section Requirement). The compliance section stipulates that these modifications must be completed before 15 September 2004 (section Compliance).
The AD imposes specific obligations on aircraft operators and maintenance providers. They must ensure that the aircraft within the scope of the AD undergo the necessary modifications as outlined in the referenced service bulletins. This includes verifying that the aircraft meet the specified part numbers and have not incorporated the excluded modifications or service bulletins. Operators and maintenance providers must also ensure that the modifications are carried out by authorised personnel and that all modifications are documented appropriately.
Failure to comply with this AD may result in significant consequences. The AD does not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance, but non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to severe civil or criminal penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. These may include fines and imprisonment, with the exact penalties varying based on the severity and circumstances of the breach. Additionally, non-compliance can result in the grounding of affected aircraft until the required modifications are completed, potentially leading to significant operational disruptions and financial losses for operators.