COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes
AD/A320/79
Amdt 2
Fuselage Frame 68 10/98
Applicability: All model A320 aircraft without Airbus Industrie modifications 21780 and 21781 or Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-53-1090.
Requirement: 1. Inspect frame 68 between stringers 4 and 5 in accordance with instructions of Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-53-1089.
2. In the case of no crack findings, repeat the Requirement 1 inspection, or modify the frame in accordance with the instructions of Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-53-1090.
3. In the case of crack findings, repair in accordance with the instructions of Airbus Industrie A320-53-1089 Revision 1.
Note 1: Total accomplishment of Service Bulletin A320-53-1090 cancels the requirements of this Directive; and, no further inspection is required for areas repaired in accordance with the instructions of Service Bulletin A320-53-1089 Revision 1.
Note 2: DGAC AD 96-298-093(B) R2 refers.
Compliance: 1. Before the accumulation of 20,000 flight cycles.
2. Repeat at intervals not to exceed 20,000 flight cycles.
3. Before further flight after inspection.
This amendment becomes effective on 10 September 1998.
Background: This Directive was raised as a result of cracking found in the fatigue test specimen, which could occur on an in-service aircraft and adversely affect the structural integrity. Amendment 1 clarified the applicability and included modification status information.
Amendment 2 is issued in response to a new revision of the related DGAC AD which introduces additional information in the cases of crack and no crack findings and expands applicability to all aircraft.
Amendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 24 April 1997.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 27 March 1997.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, are a comprehensive set of regulations designed to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. Specifically, Part 39 of these regulations addresses airworthiness directives, which are legally enforceable rules that relate to design, production, maintenance, and operation of aircraft to ensure their airworthiness. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives is one such set of rules that provides detailed safety requirements for specific aircraft models. The Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 Series Aeroplanes Airworthiness Directive AD/A320/79 Amendment 2, issued in 1998, focuses on addressing a specific safety concern related to fuselage frame 68 on these aircraft models. This directive was introduced to address the problem of potential cracking in the fuselage frame, which could compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft and thus safety. The policy objective is to ensure that all affected aircraft are inspected and, if necessary, repaired to maintain their airworthiness.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, establish critical safety directives that apply to all Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes. This legislation mandates stringent inspection and repair protocols to address specific structural issues identified in these aircraft models. The directive targets all A320 aircraft that do not possess Airbus Industrie modifications 21780 and 21781 or Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-53-1090, ensuring that these planes meet essential safety standards. The regulations are enforced at a national level within Australia, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The Act requires inspections of fuselage frame 68 between stringers 4 and 5 in accordance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-53-1089. Depending on whether cracks are found, subsequent actions may involve either repeating the inspection, modifying the frame as per Service Bulletin A320-53-1090, or repairing the cracks as per Service Bulletin A320-53-1089 Revision 1. Notably, compliance with Service Bulletin A320-53-1090 negates the need for further inspections. These directives are designed to maintain the structural integrity of the aircraft and ensure safety across all flights, with inspections required before accumulating 20,000 flight cycles and at intervals not exceeding this limit.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the AD/A320/79 Amendment 2 (paragraph 1) outline specific requirements for the inspection and maintenance of Airbus Industrie A320 series aircraft, particularly focusing on fuselage frame 68. Section 1 requires that frame 68 between stringers 4 and 5 be inspected in accordance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-53-1089. If no cracks are found during the inspection, the requirement is either to repeat the inspection or to modify the frame following the instructions in Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-53-1090. In the event that cracks are detected, the frame must be repaired as per the instructions in Airbus Industrie A320-53-1089 Revision 1. The compliance sections (paragraph 2) specify that the initial inspection must occur before the aircraft accumulates 20,000 flight cycles, with subsequent inspections scheduled at intervals not exceeding 20,000 flight cycles, and before any further flight after inspection.
The obligations imposed by the Act on the parties it governs include ensuring that the inspections and any necessary repairs or modifications are carried out according to the specified bulletins and service instructions. Aircraft operators and maintenance providers must adhere to the outlined procedures to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. This includes conducting the initial inspection before the aircraft reaches 20,000 flight cycles and ensuring that any findings are acted upon promptly and in accordance with the regulations. Operators must also ensure that any modifications or repairs are completed following the latest available instructions and bulletins issued by Airbus Industrie.
Failure to comply with the provisions of the Airworthiness Directive can result in serious civil and criminal consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed within the text, breaches of airworthiness regulations can generally lead to significant fines, potential grounding of the aircraft, and legal action against the operators or maintenance providers. The severity of the penalties can vary depending on the extent and impact of the non-compliance, but the overarching aim is to ensure the highest standards of safety and airworthiness are maintained at all times. This includes addressing any structural issues that could potentially compromise the integrity of the aircraft during flight.