AD/A330/6 - Emergency Door 3 Type I - Escape Slide Parachute Pin

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) were enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for civil aviation safety. Part 39 of the CAR 1998 focuses on the airworthiness of aircraft and aeronautical products, and it was introduced to address the need for ensuring that civil aviation operations are conducted safely and efficiently. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the relevant body that issues Airworthiness Directives (AD) under this regulation. These directives are critical in addressing specific safety concerns that may arise with particular aircraft models or components. The policy objective is to mitigate any unsafe conditions that could compromise the safety of aircraft operations and passenger egress during emergencies. In response to a reported issue with the deployment of an escape slide during a test, the CASA issued Airworthiness Directive AD/A330/6 for Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes. This directive mandates corrective action to address the incorrect installation of the slide parachute pin and the adjustment of the slide soft cover speed lacing. The directive was designed to ensure that such issues do not lead to non-deployment of the escape slides during emergency evacuations, thereby safeguarding passengers. This Airworthiness Directive became effective on 26 December 2002, following its notification in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 4 December 2002.

Scope and Application

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 pertains to specific Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes, specifically models A330-201 through -343, equipped with escape slide part number 7A1509-101 through -117 and serial numbers AD001 through AD0855 at the door 3 Type I exit. The AD is mandated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate, David Alan Villiers, and becomes effective on 26 December 2002. The directive aims to address an unsafe condition identified during an escape slide deployment test, where an incorrectly installed slide parachute pin was discovered. Failure to correct this condition could impede the egress of passengers from the affected left and right doors during emergency evacuations. The required action aligns with the DGAC AD 2001-359(B) R3 and includes the adjustment of the slide soft cover speed lacing. This AD applies to aircraft operators and entities within the Commonwealth of Australia, and the directive was gazetted on 4 December 2002.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Airworthiness Directive (AD) for the Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes, specifically AD/A330/6, concern the requirements and compliance for ensuring the safety of emergency door 3 Type I - escape slide parachute pins. This AD applies to specific models of A330 aircraft equipped with a particular escape slide part number and serial numbers, as detailed in the applicability section (AD/A330/6). The directive mandates that corrective action be taken in accordance with the DGAC AD 2001-359(B) R3, as referenced in the requirement section (AD/A330/6). This involves rectifying the incorrect installation of the slide parachute pin to prevent non-deployment during an emergency evacuation, which could impede passenger egress from the affected doors. The AD imposes specific obligations on the parties involved, primarily the operators of the affected aircraft. These obligations include ensuring that the corrective actions are performed precisely as outlined in the requirement section and within the specified timeframe mentioned in the compliance section. Operators must adhere to the instructions provided in the requirement document and complete the corrective action by the revised effective date of 26 December 2002, as stated in the compliance section (AD/A330/6). Failure to comply with these obligations could result in safety risks, particularly during emergency evacuations. In terms of consequences for non-compliance, while the AD itself does not explicitly outline offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences, the overarching Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) under which this AD is issued, provide a framework for potential enforcement actions. Non-compliance with an AD may lead to enforcement actions under CAR 1998, including fines and other penalties as stipulated in the regulations. These could potentially extend to civil or criminal liability for operators who fail to adhere to the mandated safety directives, thus risking the safety and lives of passengers.