Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), include a range of provisions designed to maintain and enhance the safety of aviation operations within Australia. One such provision is the Airworthiness Directive (AD) for the Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes, specifically AD/A330/40, which was issued to address fuel leakage issues in the aircraft's fuel jettison system. This directive was introduced to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its passengers by mandating specific inspections and modifications to the jettison valve mountings, as recommended by the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) and reflected in the AD F-2004-127. The AD became effective on 30 September 2004, requiring immediate attention to the identified unsafe condition through corrective actions as specified in the directive.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, outlines Airworthiness Directives issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations. This particular Airworthiness Directive, AD/A330/40, pertains to Airbus Industrie A330 Series aeroplanes, focusing on the jettison valve mounting issue. The directive applies to all Model A330-200 series aircraft that have incorporated Airbus modification 45008 in production, or Airbus Service Bulletin A330-28-3084 in service, and are equipped with jettison valves part number HTE900169. It also applies to aircraft with Airbus Service Bulletin A330-57-3078 original issue in service, while excluding aircraft with Airbus modification 51414 in production, or Airbus Service Bulletin A330-57-3078 Revision 01 or later incorporated in service. The directive mandates action in accordance with DGAC AD F-2004-127, requiring inspections for cracks and modifications to the locating holes in the wing box bottom skin panel, to address fuel leakage observed in the fuel jettison system during refuelling operations or maintenance. The directive came into effect on 30 September 2004, as specified in the compliance section.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, outlines the legislative instrument F2006B02014, which concerns an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This AD, titled AD/A330/40, pertains to the Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes and specifically targets the issue of fuel leakage in the fuel jettison system on the wing (AD/A330/40, 10/2004). This directive mandates specific actions to address the unsafe condition identified in the system. The AD applies to all Model A330-200 series aircraft that have incorporated Airbus modification 45008 in production or Airbus Service Bulletin A330-28-3084 in service and are equipped with jettison valves part number HTE900169. Conversely, aircraft with Airbus modification 51414 in production or Airbus Service Bulletin A330-57-3078 Revision 01 incorporated in service are not affected by this directive (AD/A330/40, 10/2004). The AD imposes specific obligations on the parties governed by it, primarily requiring them to follow the actions stipulated in the directive to ensure airworthiness. This includes inspecting the jettison valves for cracks and modifying the locating holes in the wing box bottom skin panel, as per the requirements of DGAC AD F-2004-127. The directive specifies that compliance must be achieved according to the instructions provided in the requirement document, which refers to Airbus Service Bulletin A330-57-3078 Revision 01 or later EASA-approved revisions (AD/A330/40, 10/2004). The compliance period is set as specified in the requirement document, and the directive becomes effective from 30 September 2004. Failure to comply with the provisions of this AD may result in civil or criminal consequences. The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the AD itself but are governed by the broader regulatory framework of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998. Violations of these regulations can result in substantial penalties, which may include fines and other legal repercussions. The exact penalties depend on the nature and severity of the non-compliance, as well as any resultant safety issues or incidents. The AD serves as a critical measure to ensure the airworthiness and safety of the affected aircraft by mandating corrective actions to prevent potential fuel leakage and associated risks.