AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A330/39 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/A330/39
Amdt 1
Elevator Structure 1/2005
Applicability: All Model A330-200 and A330-300 series aircraft, fitted with elevators with the following part numbers and serial numbers:
LH Elevator part numbers, F55280000000 or F55280000004, with serial numbers CG1002 through CG1091, CG1093, CG1094 and CG2001.
RH Elevator part numbers, F55280000001 or F55280000005, with serial numbers CG1002 through CG1094, and CG2001.
Requirement: Action in accordance with the requirements of DGAC AD F-2004-118 R1.
Note: Airbus Service Bulletin A330-55-3032 original issue, or later EASA approved revision, refer.
Compliance: Inspect at whichever of the following times (a. or b.) occurs later:
- Within 10 years or 12,000 flight cycles since the first flight of the aircraft, whichever occurs first; or,
b. Not later than 31 January 2006.
This Amendment becomes effective on 20 January 2005.
Background: The DGAC received a report of a disbonded area on a right elevator top skin panel adjacent to the inboard actuator attachment. This was discovered during a scheduled maintenance check. Investigation revealed the disbonding was due to water ingress into the elevator panel structure. Such disbonding, unless corrected, could compromise elevator structural integrity.
Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes
AD/A330/39 Amdt 1 (continued)
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a revision of the related DGAC AD, which clarifies the grace period for aircraft that have already exceeded the compliance thresholds.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 3 December 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 22 December 2004.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) introduced the Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 to address an identified safety issue regarding the structural integrity of certain elevator components on A330-200 and A330-300 series aircraft. This directive, published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 22 December 2004, was enacted to ensure the safety of these aircraft by mandating specific inspection and corrective actions following the discovery of disbonded areas in elevator top skin panels. This was due to water ingress into the elevator panel structure, which could compromise the elevator's structural integrity if left unaddressed. The policy objective is to prevent unsafe conditions that could lead to potential accidents, thereby maintaining the highest safety standards in Australian aviation.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A330/39 Amdt 1 applies specifically to Airbus Industrie A330-200 and A330-300 series aircraft that are equipped with particular left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) elevator parts bearing specific part numbers and serial numbers. The directive mandates that corrective action be taken in accordance with the requirements outlined in DGAC AD F-2004-118 R1, referencing Airbus Service Bulletin A330-55-3032 or its later EASA-approved revisions. Compliance with the AD is required by either inspecting the specified elevators within ten years or 12,000 flight cycles since the aircraft's first flight, whichever comes later, or by not later than 31 January 2006. This AD is a legislative instrument issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and is applicable throughout the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring that the specified aircraft meet the necessary airworthiness standards to prevent potential structural integrity issues due to water ingress in the elevator panels.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) applies specifically to Model A330-200 and A330-300 series aircraft with particular left and right elevator part numbers and serial numbers (Section 1). The directive mandates that the action required by DGAC AD F-2004-118 R1 must be taken to address an unsafe condition identified as disbonding in the elevator top skin panel adjacent to the inboard actuator attachment (Section 1). This action must be completed in accordance with the instructions specified in the requirement section of the AD and must be carried out by the later of the two compliance dates outlined: within 10 years or 12,000 flight cycles since the aircraft's first flight, or by 31 January 2006 (Section 1).
The obligations imposed by this AD on the relevant parties include conducting an inspection of the affected elevator parts as per the specified requirements. Operators and maintenance providers must ensure that the inspection is performed in a timely manner and that any identified issues are rectified in accordance with the AD's stipulations. This involves following the instructions set out in DGAC AD F-2004-118 R1 and Airbus Service Bulletin A330-55-3032, including any EASA approved revisions (Section 1). Additionally, the AD requires operators to maintain accurate records of the inspections and any corrective actions taken.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD may result in serious consequences, including the potential for the aircraft to be deemed unairworthy. This could lead to enforcement actions being taken by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) against the operators or maintenance providers. Specifically, CASA may issue notices to rectify non-compliance, impose fines, or even take legal action in more severe cases. The exact penalties for non-compliance are not specified in the AD but could include substantial financial penalties and possible grounding of the affected aircraft until compliance is achieved (Section 1).