AD/A330/17 Amdt 2 - Type A Passenger/Crew Door Slide Rafts and Type 1 Emergency Door Slides

Overview

The Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A330/17 Amdt 2, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) on 13 July 2004, addresses safety concerns related to the non-deployment of Type A passenger/crew door slide rafts during maintenance tests on Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 series aircraft equipped with Goodrich slides and slide rafts. This directive became effective on 2 September 2004, revoking the previous AD/A330/17 Amdt 1 and issuing corrective measures to ensure the safe operation of the aircraft. The directive was issued in response to reports of regulator valve malfunctions that prevented the release of gas, leading to non-deployment of the slide rafts in both automatic and manual modes. The policy objective of this directive is to maintain the highest standards of airworthiness and ensure the safety of passengers and crew by correcting the unsafe condition identified.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A330/17 Amdt 2 applies specifically to Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes, namely Model A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft equipped with Goodrich slides and slide rafts that match the part numbers listed in Goodrich VSB 25-347 dated 4 June 2004. This AD mandates certain actions to address an identified unsafe condition, specifically related to the non-deployment of Type A door slide rafts during maintenance tests, which was traced to a malfunctioning regulator valve preventing gas release. The requirement to take action is based on the directives set out in DGAC AD 2004-094. However, it is important to note that A330 aircraft with specific production modifications (MOD.52708 and MOD.52811) incorporated and on which no slide or slide raft has been removed since delivery are exempt from this directive. The AD requires compliance with the instructions detailed in the requirement document and became effective on 2 September 2004, as per the compliance section. This AD is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and its delegate, reflecting the Commonwealth's commitment to aviation safety.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD) are the applicability, requirement, and compliance sections. Section 1, the applicability section, specifies that the directive applies to all Model A330-200 and A330-300 series aircraft equipped with Goodrich slides and slide rafts with certain part numbers. Section 2, the requirement section, outlines the action that must be taken in accordance with DGAC AD 2004-094. Section 3, the compliance section, specifies that compliance must be achieved as detailed in the requirement document. The AD imposes specific obligations and requirements on the parties it governs. Aircraft operators and owners must ensure that the action set out in the requirement section is taken for the applicable aircraft. This includes adhering to the instructions outlined in the requirement section and completing the action within the specified timeframe. Operators must also ensure that only qualified personnel perform the required maintenance or modifications. Failure to comply with the AD may result in civil and criminal consequences. The AD is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and non-compliance may be considered a violation of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988. Potential penalties may include fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the breach and the discretion of the court. The maximum penalty for contravening a direction under the AD may be a fine of up to $22,200 for individuals and $111,000 for corporations, as well as potential imprisonment for up to two years for individuals and five years for corporations. The AD also provides for potential civil consequences, including the possibility of grounding the affected aircraft until the required action is taken. This may result in significant financial losses for operators due to delayed or cancelled flights, as well as reputational damage. Furthermore, failure to comply with the AD may also result in liability for any damage or injury caused by the unsafe condition that the AD seeks to address. In summary, this Airworthiness Directive imposes specific obligations and requirements on aircraft operators and owners to ensure the safe operation of Model A330-200 and A330-300 series aircraft equipped with Goodrich slides and slide rafts. Non-compliance may result in significant civil and criminal consequences, including fines, imprisonment, and potential liability for any damage or injury caused by the unsafe condition.