Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Airworthiness Directive AD/A330/28 on 5 February 2004, to address a safety issue identified in Airbus Industrie A330 series aeroplanes. The directive aims to correct an unsafe condition that could potentially lead to sudden elevator movements during landing due to a dual loss of the Yellow and Blue hydraulic systems when the PRIM 1 computer is inoperative. The directive was issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998. The policy objective of the directive is to enhance the safety of the aircraft by mandating modifications to the aircraft minimum equipment list (MEL) in accordance with specific revisions approved by the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC). The directive became effective on 11 February 2004, requiring compliance within seven days of its publication in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 applies to all Airbus Industrie A330 series aeroplanes, irrespective of their serial numbers, with specific exceptions for those that have already undergone certain modifications. The directive mandates that if not previously done, the aircraft minimum equipment list (MEL) must be amended in accordance with the specified DGAC approved temporary revisions related to the manufacturer's Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL). This requirement can be removed once new flight control primary computer (FCPC) software standards are installed, as outlined in the AD. The directive applies across the Commonwealth of Australia and becomes effective on 11 February 2004, with a compliance period of seven days from this date. The AD does not apply to A330 aeroplanes that have already been modified by specific production changes or service bulletins that install certain FCPC software standards. The application of this AD can be further detailed or extended through subordinate instruments, as necessary.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD/A330/28) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, applies to all Airbus A330 series aeroplanes except those that have already undergone specific modifications or service bulletins (section 3). The directive requires that an amendment be made to the aircraft’s Minimum Equipment List (MEL) in accordance with DGAC approved temporary revisions related to the manufacturer’s Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL) (section 4). Specifically, the MEL must be amended to reflect the requirements of TR No. 01-27/03Z issue 2 and TR No. 02-27/01Z issue 2. This amendment must be completed within seven days of the directive becoming effective, which is on 11 February 2004 (section 5). This AD imposes obligations on the operators of Airbus A330 series aeroplanes to ensure that their MELs are updated in compliance with the directive. Operators must review and amend their MELs to reflect the changes specified in the DGAC approved temporary revisions. This involves understanding and applying the technical revisions, such as TR No. 01-27/03Z issue 2 and TR No. 02-27/01Z issue 2, to their MELs. Failure to comply with this requirement can result in the aircraft being non-compliant and potentially unsafe for operation, as the directive is aimed at preventing sudden elevator movements during landing that could arise from a specific inoperative condition. Failure to comply with the AD/A330/28 can lead to serious safety issues, as it pertains to the critical operational safety of Airbus A330 series aeroplanes. The AD indicates that non-compliance with the specified MEL amendments could result in unsafe conditions during flight operations, particularly during the landing phase. While the directive does not explicitly state specific civil or criminal penalties, non-compliance with CASA directives can generally lead to enforcement actions, including fines and potential grounding of the aircraft. The severity of the consequences depends on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, and CASA has the authority to take appropriate regulatory actions to ensure compliance and maintain aviation safety standards.