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/A320/98 Nose Landing Gear (NLG) - Steering 6/99
Applicability: All Airbus Industrie model A319, A320 and 321 aircraft without Airbus Industrie modification No. 23740 (in production from 03 April 1999) or Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-32-1197 (embodied in service).
Requirement: 1. Perform corrective actions in accordance with instructions in Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-32-1197.
2. Ensure that replacement Hydraulic Control Units are not Part Number C24736000 and C24736001. All of these units are to be reworked in accordance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-32-1197 prior to re-identification and installation on any aircraft.
Note: DGAC 1999-124-129 (B) dated 24 March 1999 refers.
Compliance: 1. Before 03 April 2000.
2. Prior to fitment of a replacement Hydraulic Control Unit.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 17 June 1999.
Background: One operator experienced three events when the aircraft landed with the nose wheel turned to 90 degrees. Investigation revealed that the two O-ring seals fitted to the electro hydraulic distributor which controls the hydraulic supply to the steering control module 6GC were extruded due to ageing or the absence of a back up ring. This defect allowed permanent pressurisation of the steering actuator through the steering selector valve and the possibility of the nose wheel rotating through 90 degrees. This directive introduces new seals into hydraulic control module 6GC to prevent an occurrence of such a defect.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, addresses the safety and operational standards for civil aviation in Australia. Enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, this regulation is part of a broader legislative framework aimed at ensuring that civil aviation operations are conducted with the utmost safety and efficiency. One notable legislative instrument within this framework is the Airworthiness Directive AD/A320/98, which was introduced to address specific safety concerns related to the nose landing gear steering of Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes. The policy objective of this directive was to mitigate the risk of nose wheel misalignment during landing, which could potentially result in severe aircraft damage or accidents. This directive became effective on 17 June 1999, mandating corrective actions and compliance measures to ensure the airworthiness of affected aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates certain safety directives for maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft within the Australian jurisdiction. This legislation applies to all Airbus Industrie model A319, A320, and A321 aircraft that have not yet incorporated Airbus Industrie modification No. 23740 or Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-32-1197. The directive is a response to incidents where the nose wheel of these aircraft turned to 90 degrees upon landing, caused by the extrusion of O-ring seals in the electro hydraulic distributor. To mitigate this risk, the directive requires operators to implement corrective actions detailed in Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-32-1197 and ensure that any replacement Hydraulic Control Units do not carry the specified part numbers unless they are reworked in accordance with the bulletin. Compliance with these directives is mandatory, with a deadline of 3 April 2000 and prior to the installation of any replacement Hydraulic Control Units. This Airworthiness Directive became effective on 17 June 1999.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105, include an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 series aeroplanes, focusing on the nose landing gear (NLG) steering. This directive, identified as AD/A320/98, applies to all Airbus Industrie model A319, A320 and A321 aircraft that do not have Airbus Industrie modification No. 23740 (in production from 03 April 1999) or Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-32-1197 (embodied in service). The directive was issued on 17 June 1999 and requires specific corrective actions to address a defect identified in the hydraulic system of the nose landing gear.
The directive mandates that corrective actions be performed according to the instructions provided in Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-32-1197 (section 1). It also requires that any replacement Hydraulic Control Units must not be of the Part Number C24736000 or C24736001. Instead, these units must be reworked in accordance with the same service bulletin prior to re-identification and installation on any aircraft (section 2). Compliance with this directive must be achieved before 03 April 2000 and prior to the fitment of any replacement Hydraulic Control Unit.
The obligations imposed by this Airworthiness Directive are clear and specific. Operators of the affected Airbus models must ensure that they implement the corrective actions outlined in the Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-32-1197, which involves addressing the identified defect in the nose landing gear steering system. Additionally, operators are required to verify that any replacement Hydraulic Control Units are not of the specified part numbers unless they have been reworked in accordance with the service bulletin. Failure to comply with these requirements within the specified timeframes could lead to significant safety issues and potential grounding of the aircraft.
The consequences of non-compliance with this Airworthiness Directive can be severe. While the regulations do not explicitly state the penalties for breach, failure to comply with airworthiness directives can result in serious civil or criminal consequences under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. These can include fines and imprisonment for individuals, as well as penalties for corporations. The seriousness of the potential outcomes underscores the importance of timely and proper compliance with the directive to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft involved.