COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety 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/A330/23 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 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 A330 Series Aeroplanes
AD/A330/23
Amdt 1
Elevator Servo Control Transducer Attachment lug Inspection and FCOM Amendment
3/2004
Applicability: Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 series aeroplanes.
Requirement: 1. Amend the Flight Crew Operating Manual (FCOM) per the requirements of DGAC AD F-2003-460.
2. Perform an initial and repetitive inspections of the elevator servo controls per the requirements of Airbus SB A330-27A3115 Rev 02.
Note: DGAC AD F-2003-460 refers.
Compliance: Requirements 1 and 2: As detailed in the DGAC AD F-2003-460 with a revised effective date of this Directive.
This Amendment becomes effective on 18 March 2004.
Background: Two cases have been reported of the elevator dropping to the full down position, without ECAM warning, while the flight crew were carrying out pre-flight controls check. This occurred after hydraulic power-up and prior to engine start. The cause has been identified as cracking of the elevator servo control mode selector valve position transducer body attachment lugs. This resulted in displacement of the transducer, external hydraulic fluid leakage and subsequent loss of the corresponding hydraulic circuit.
This amendment introduces repetitive inspection of the transducer attachment and simplifies the flight control check procedures.
Original issue of this Directive became effective on 1 October 2003 and was based on DGAC Emergency AD U2003-371(B).
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 5 February 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 25 February 2004.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR), specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the safety oversight and regulatory compliance necessary for civil aviation operations in Australia. Enacted by the Australian Government, these regulations were introduced to ensure the safety of aircraft and passengers by setting standards and directives that must be adhered to by all operators within the country's airspace. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), acting as the delegate of the Australian Government, is responsible for enforcing these regulations. In this context, the authority issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) to address a safety concern identified in Airbus A330 series aeroplanes. This directive was introduced following incidents where the elevator dropped unexpectedly, leading to potential safety risks. The policy objective behind this regulation is to maintain and enhance the safety of civil aviation by promptly addressing and mitigating any identified risks through specific operational and maintenance directives.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39, governs the safety standards and requirements for civil aviation activities within Australia. This particular airworthiness directive applies to Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 series aeroplanes, mandating compliance with specific inspection and manual amendment procedures to address a safety concern identified in certain operational circumstances. The directive, issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), requires the amendment of the Flight Crew Operating Manual (FCOM) as well as conducting initial and repetitive inspections of the elevator servo control transducer attachment lugs, as detailed in Airbus Service Bulletin A330-27A3115 Rev 02. The directive's applicability extends to all Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 series aeroplanes and became effective on 18 March 2004. This requirement is a response to reported incidents where the elevator dropped to the full down position without warning, attributed to cracking of the elevator servo control mode selector valve position transducer body attachment lugs, leading to hydraulic circuit loss. The directive aims to ensure ongoing airworthiness by introducing repetitive inspections and simplifying flight control check procedures.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) under Part 39, specifically in section 105, sets forth the authority for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to ensure the safe operation of aircraft. The primary requirement of this particular AD (AD/A330/23 Amendment 1) pertains to Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 series aeroplanes (section 105). The AD mandates two primary actions: first, the amendment of the Flight Crew Operating Manual (FCOM) according to the specifications of DGAC AD F-2003-460 (section 105(1)(a)), and second, the conduct of initial and repetitive inspections of the elevator servo controls as detailed in Airbus SB A330-27A3115 Rev 02 (section 105(1)(b)). The compliance date for these requirements is set forth in section 105(1)(c), indicating that these actions must be undertaken as detailed within the DGAC AD F-2003-460 with a revised effective date for this directive, which is 18 March 2004.
The obligations imposed by this AD on the relevant parties include ensuring that the FCOM is updated to reflect the new procedures and requirements as specified in DGAC AD F-2003-460. Additionally, aircraft maintenance personnel must conduct the initial and repetitive inspections of the elevator servo controls as outlined in Airbus SB A330-27A3115 Rev 02. These obligations are critical to addressing the identified safety issue and must be adhered to strictly to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this AD can result in significant legal and operational consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 include provisions for both civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance with ADs. The exact penalties are not specified in the provided text, but generally, non-compliance can lead to enforcement actions by CASA, including fines, orders for corrective action, and potential grounding of non-compliant aircraft. In severe cases, criminal charges may be pursued, leading to imprisonment for responsible individuals or entities. It is imperative that all parties governed by this AD ensure full compliance to avoid these serious repercussions.