AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/90 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/A320/90
Amdt 1
Fuselage Frame 46 / Stringer 37 Intersection 7/2002
Applicability: All Model A320-111, -211, 212, and 231 aircraft without Modification 21202 incorporated at production or Service Bulletin A320-53-1033 incorporated in-service.
Requirement: 1. Perform an ultrasonic inspection of the bottom panel of the keel beam at the pressure bulkhead frame 46/stringer 37 intersection and repair if required, in accordance with Service Bulletin A320-53-1034 Revision 2.
2. Depending upon the inspection result, repeat the Requirement 1 inspection.
Note 1: Repetitive inspections are not required on the area where a repair procedure is performed in accordance with the Requirement document.
Note 2: DGAC AD 2002-260(B) refers.
Compliance: 1. Unless already accomplished, at the latest of the following thresholds:
- Before accumulating 24,200 flight cycles or 48,400 flight hours, whichever occurs first; or,
- Within 3,500 flight cycles from 11 July 2002; without exceeding 30,000 total flight cycles.
2. At the intervals specified in the Requirement document. This Amendment becomes effective on 11 July 2002.
Background: During full scale fatigue test, cracks were detected on the bottom panel of the keel beam at the bulkhead frame 46/stringer 37 intersection.
Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes
AD/A320/90 Amdt 1 (Continued)
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a revision of the Requirement document and related DGAC AD which introduce revised inspection threshold and intervals, as a result of a review of A320 in-service aircraft fleet mission parameters and those originally considered.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 29 January 1998
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 27 May 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 19 June 2002.
Overview
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/90 Amendment 1, enacted in 2002 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) as a legislative instrument under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, addresses the safety issue of cracks detected in the bottom panel of the keel beam at the pressure bulkhead frame 46/stringer 37 intersection on Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes. This AD was introduced to ensure the airworthiness of these aircraft by mandating specific inspections and repairs to prevent potential structural failures. The policy objective behind this legislation is to maintain and enhance aviation safety by addressing identified structural issues through timely and precise maintenance protocols.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/90 Amendment 1 applies to all Airbus Industrie A320-111, -211, 212, and 231 aircraft that do not have Modification 21202 incorporated at production or Service Bulletin A320-53-1033 incorporated in-service. The AD mandates specific actions to be taken to correct an identified unsafe condition relating to the fuselage frame 46/stringer 37 intersection. This requirement includes performing an ultrasonic inspection of the bottom panel of the keel beam at the mentioned intersection and repairing it if necessary, in accordance with Service Bulletin A320-53-1034 Revision 2.2. The directive also stipulates that repetitive inspections are not required in areas where a repair procedure has already been performed. The AD is applicable nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia and was issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, with the amendment becoming effective on 11 July 2002. The AD outlines specific compliance thresholds and intervals, necessitating inspections before the aircraft accumulates 24,200 flight cycles or 48,400 flight hours, whichever comes first, or within 3,500 flight cycles from 11 July 2002, not exceeding a total of 30,000 flight cycles.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive AD/A320/90 Amendment 1 issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) pertains to specific Airbus Industrie A320, A319, and A321 series aeroplanes. According to the applicability section, this AD applies to all Model A320-111, -211, -212, and -231 aircraft that do not have Modification 21202 incorporated at production or Service Bulletin A320-53-1033 incorporated in-service. The directive requires the operator or owner of the affected aircraft to perform an ultrasonic inspection of the bottom panel of the keel beam at the pressure bulkhead frame 46/stringer 37 intersection, and to repair if necessary, in accordance with Service Bulletin A320-53-1034 Revision 2.2 (section 1). The compliance section specifies that this inspection must be carried out either before the aircraft accumulates 24,200 flight cycles or 48,400 flight hours, whichever occurs first; or within 3,500 flight cycles from 11 July 2002, without exceeding 30,000 total flight cycles (section 1). Furthermore, depending on the inspection result, the requirement 1 inspection must be repeated (section 1). It is important to note that repetitive inspections are not required on areas where a repair procedure has been performed in accordance with the requirement document (Note 1).
The AD imposes specific obligations on the operators and owners of the affected aircraft. They must ensure that the required ultrasonic inspection and any necessary repairs are carried out as specified in the requirement document. The compliance intervals for these inspections and repairs must be adhered to as stipulated in the AD. Operators and owners must also be aware of and comply with the notes provided in the AD, particularly that repetitive inspections are not required on areas where a repair has already been performed. Failure to comply with the AD could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, potentially leading to grounding and significant operational disruptions.
For breaches of this Airworthiness Directive, there are no specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences outlined within the text of the AD itself. However, non-compliance with CASA directives can lead to enforcement actions by CASA, including the imposition of fines, legal proceedings, and potentially the suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness. Operators and owners are therefore strongly advised to comply with all requirements of the AD to avoid any such consequences. The seriousness of non-compliance underscores the importance of adhering to the stipulated inspection and repair requirements to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the affected aircraft.