COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/94 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/A320/94
Amdt 1
Reinforcement of Frame 35 between Stringers 30 and 31
3/2002
Applicability: All Model A320-111, -211, and -231 aircraft, except aircraft which have received Airbus Industrie modification 20903 in-production or Service Bulletin A320-53-1137 in-service.
Requirement: Replace the affected fasteners after inspection of the fastener holes, in accordance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-53-1137, Revision 2.
Note: DGAC AD 2002-032(B) refers.
Compliance: Before the accumulation of 18,400 flight cycles or within 3,500 flight cycles after 21 March 2002, whichever occurs later, without exceeding 20,000 total flight cycles; unless already accomplished.
This amendment becomes effective on 21 March 2002.
Background: During full-scale fatigue test, cracks were found at rivet holes located at FR35, between STGR30 and STRG31, left and right hand sides. This Directive provides reinforcement of the affected area.
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a new DGAC AD which revises the threshold for accomplishment of the required modification. This action results from a survey of the A320 fleet, which highlighted some differences between the mission parameters of in-service aircraft and those originally considered.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 16 July 1998.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 8 February 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 February 2002.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, include specific regulations to ensure the safety of civil aviation operations in Australia. One such regulation is the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/94 Amendment 1, which was issued to address a safety concern identified in Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes. Specifically, the AD was enacted to address cracks found in the frame area between stringers 30 and 31 during full-scale fatigue tests. The policy objective of this directive is to mitigate the risk of structural failure by requiring the reinforcement of the affected area through the replacement of specific fasteners. This action is necessary to ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft, thereby safeguarding the safety of passengers and crew.
Scope and Application
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies specifically to all Airbus Industrie A320-111, -211, and -231 aircraft, with the exception of those which have already received Airbus Industrie modification 20903 in-production or Service Bulletin A320-53-1137 in-service. The AD mandates that the affected fasteners be replaced following an inspection of the fastener holes, in accordance with the instructions laid out in Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-53-1137, Revision 2. The directive outlines that the required action must be undertaken before the aircraft accumulates 18,400 flight cycles or within 3,500 flight cycles after 21 March 2002, whichever is later, without exceeding a total of 20,000 flight cycles, unless the action has already been completed. This amendment to the original AD, which became effective on 16 July 1998, is in response to a new French Civil Aviation Authority Airworthiness Directive and aims to address differences identified in a survey of the A320 fleet regarding mission parameters. The AD is issued by the delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, David Alan Villiers, and was notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 February 2002.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to Airworthiness Directives (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The key sections here are the applicability, requirement, and compliance sections. The AD in question (AD/A320/94 Amendment 1) applies to all Airbus A320-111, -211, and -231 aircraft, excluding those that have already received specific modifications. The requirement section mandates that the fasteners be replaced after inspection, following the instructions detailed in Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-53-1137, Revision 2. This action is to address cracks found during fatigue tests at specific rivet holes on Frame 35 between Stringers 30 and 31. The compliance section stipulates that this action must be taken before the aircraft accumulates 18,400 flight cycles or within 3,500 flight cycles after 21 March 2002, whichever comes later, without exceeding a total of 20,000 flight cycles.
The obligations imposed on the parties governed by this AD include ensuring that the specified inspection and replacement of fasteners are conducted within the prescribed timeframes. This entails a thorough inspection of the fastener holes to identify any necessary replacements, followed by the actual replacement of the affected fasteners as per the detailed instructions in the referenced Service Bulletin. Additionally, the aircraft operators must ensure that these actions are documented and recorded appropriately to demonstrate compliance with the AD.
Any failure to comply with the AD's provisions may result in civil or criminal consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with an AD could lead to enforcement actions by CASA, including the issuance of fines or other penalties. The maximum penalties for breaches of civil aviation regulations can be substantial, depending on the severity and intent of the non-compliance. Civil penalties can include fines of up to $22,200 for individuals and $111,000 for corporations, while criminal penalties can include imprisonment for up to five years. It is imperative for aircraft operators and maintenance personnel to adhere strictly to the AD to avoid these legal repercussions.