AD/A330/14 Amdt 1 - Windshield Central Retainer

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, amended in 2006, form part of the legislative framework overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft within Australian airspace. These regulations were introduced to address the need for a robust and consistent regulatory environment that protects the public and ensures the safety of all air travel. The enacting body is the Parliament of Australia, with the policy objective clearly stated as maintaining high safety standards for aviation operations. This specific legislative instrument, identified as F2006B01993, addresses a particular safety concern identified with certain Airbus A330 series aircraft. The instrument revokes an earlier Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A330/14 and issues a new AD to mandate the inspection of the windshield central retainer on specific models of the A330 series. The directive requires the inspection of the central retainer bolts to ensure they are of sufficient length to guarantee safe nut engagement, as determined by Airbus Service Bulletin A330-56-3006. This amendment responds to a revision of a related directive issued by the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC), ensuring alignment and clarity in safety directives across jurisdictions.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 pertains specifically to the Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes, namely models A330-202, -223, -243, and -343 with certain manufacturing serial numbers. This directive is issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and applies to aircraft within the specified serial numbers range. The directive requires an inspection of the windshields central retainer to ensure it meets the safety standards outlined in Airbus Service Bulletin A330-56-3006. The directive mandates that this inspection be completed within six months from 15 May 2003, with the amendment becoming effective on 7 August 2003. The directive is a response to a potential unsafe condition identified by the manufacturer, whereby the central retainer bolts may not have been of sufficient length during production. This AD is intended to ensure the safety of the specified aircraft by mandating corrective action to address the identified issue.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, have been amended to revoke Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A330/14 and issue a new AD (subregulation 39.1(1) of CASR 1998). This AD pertains specifically to Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes, particularly the A330-202, -223, -243, and -343 models, and applies to Manufacturing Serial Numbers ranging from 0396 through 0398, 0400, 0401, 0403 through 0405, 0407 through 0409, 0412, and 0418 through 0421. The AD mandates that the action outlined in the requirement section must be undertaken to address an identified unsafe condition. The requirement section of the AD specifies that an inspection of the windshields central retainer must be conducted in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A330-56-3006. This inspection is a direct response to a potential issue where the bolts installed at production may have been of insufficient length, potentially compromising the safety of the nut engagement. This requirement is also referenced in DGAC AD 2003-123(B) R1. The compliance timeline necessitates that this inspection be completed within six months following 15 May 2003, and the amendment has been effective since 7 August 2003. The AD imposes obligations on the relevant aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance providers to ensure that the specified inspections are conducted within the stipulated timeframe. This includes following the detailed instructions provided in Airbus Service Bulletin A330-56-3006 to identify and rectify any issues with the windshields central retainer bolts. Compliance with these directives is critical to maintaining the airworthiness of the affected aircraft and ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew. Failure to comply with the AD may result in serious consequences. Non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to penalties, including fines and potential grounding of the aircraft. The specific penalties and consequences for non-compliance are not detailed in the AD but are typically outlined in other sections of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998. It is essential that all parties adhere to the AD to avoid legal repercussions and to uphold the safety standards mandated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.