AD/A320/89 Amdt 1 - Fuselage Frames 38 to 41

Overview

The Airworthiness Directive issued under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in 2002 addresses safety concerns identified in Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes. Specifically, the Airworthiness Directive AD/A320/89 Amendment 1, effective from 11 July 2002, revokes the previous directive AD/A320/89 and introduces new safety requirements in response to fatigue test results that revealed cracks on the outboard flange of fuselage frames originating from fastener holes. This amendment mandates a detailed visual inspection of the areas around the fastener holes and subsequent repairs if necessary, in accordance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-53-1032 Revision 2.2, with specific compliance timelines and intervals to ensure the safety of the aircraft within the operational parameters. The directive aims to mitigate the identified unsafe condition and maintain the airworthiness of affected aircraft models.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/89 Amendment 1 applies specifically to Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series aeroplanes, excluding those that have incorporated Modification 21346 at production or have Service Bulletin A320-53-1031 in-service. This AD mandates that detailed visual inspections of the areas around the fastener holes on fuselage frames 38 to 41 of certain models must be performed in accordance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-53-1032 Revision 2.2. The inspections are required before the aircraft accumulates 24,800 flight cycles or within 3,500 flight cycles from 11 July 2002, whichever occurs later, without exceeding 30,000 total flight cycles. The AD applies nationally across Australia as it is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. This Amendment, effective from 11 July 2002, revises the inspection thresholds and intervals following a review of the in-service aircraft fleet mission parameters.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/89 Amendment 1 pertains to the Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes, specifically Model A320-111, -211, -212, and 231 aircraft that do not have Modification 21346 incorporated at production or Service Bulletin A320-53-1031 incorporated in-service (Applicability section). The directive requires that a detailed visual inspection of the areas around the fastener holes in fuselage frames 38 to 41 be performed, and any necessary repairs made in accordance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-53-1032 Revision 2.2 (Requirement section). Depending on the outcome of this inspection, it may be necessary to repeat the inspection. The compliance section dictates that the inspection must occur before the accumulation of 24,800 flight cycles or within 3,500 flight cycles from 11 July 2002, whichever is later, and not exceeding a total of 30,000 flight cycles. Furthermore, the inspection must be performed at intervals specified in the Requirement document. The AD imposes several obligations on the parties and entities it governs. Primarily, it requires aircraft operators to ensure that the specified inspections and repairs are conducted in accordance with the detailed instructions provided in Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-53-1032 Revision 2.2. This includes performing a detailed visual inspection of the areas around the fastener holes in fuselage frames 38 to 41 and repairing any detected issues. These obligations must be met before the aircraft accumulates 24,800 flight cycles or within 3,500 flight cycles from 11 July 2002, whichever occurs later, and without exceeding a total of 30,000 flight cycles. Additionally, the inspections must be repeated at intervals specified in the Requirement document to ensure ongoing compliance with airworthiness standards. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Airworthiness Directive may result in civil and criminal consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with an AD can lead to the issuance of a Notice of Unauthorized Modification (NUM) or a Notice of Unauthorized Operation (NUO). For civil penalties, the maximum fine for each offence can be up to $21,000 for a body corporate, and up to $4,200 for an individual. In more serious cases, criminal charges may be brought against individuals or corporate entities responsible for the non-compliance, leading to potential imprisonment. The exact penalties depend on the specific circumstances of the breach, but the potential for both financial and custodial penalties underscores the importance of adhering to the AD's requirements.