Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-13707 · Airbus Model A330, A340-200, and A340-300 Series Airplanes
Airbus Model A330, A340-200, and A340-300 Series Airplanes
Superseded. A later AD replaced this one: AD 2015-16-02. Comply with the one in force.
Model A330 and A340-200 and -300 series airplanes equipped with any “SAMM” elevator servo-control having any part number (P/N) SC4800-2, SC4800-3, SC4800-4, SC4800-5, SC4800-6, SC4800-7, or SC4800-8; certificated in any category; except those with Airbus Modification 47674 installed in production.
This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Airbus Model A330, A340-200, and A340-300 series airplanes, that currently requires repetitive inspections to check the play of the eye-end of the piston rod of the elevator servo- controls, and follow-on corrective actions if necessary. This amendment requires the replacement of certain elevator servo-controls with new, improved servo-controls. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct excessive play of the eye-end of the piston rod of the elevator servo-controls, which could result in failure of the elevator servo-control. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.
To detect and correct excessive play of the eye-end of the piston rod of the elevator servo-controls, which could result in failure of the elevator servo-control, accomplish the following:
(a) Within 30 months since date of manufacture of the airplane, or within 500 flight hours after July 20, 2000 (the effective date of AD 2000-12-06), whichever occurs later, perform an inspection to check the play of the piston rod eye-ends of the elevator servo-controls, in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A330-27-3062 (for Model A330 series airplanes), Revision 01, dated July 21, 1999, or Revision 02, dated February 11, 2000, or Revision 03, dated August 9, 2000, or Revision 04, dated January 30, 2001; or Airbus Service Bulletin A340-27-4072 (for Model A340 series airplanes), Revision 01, dated July 21, 1999, or Revision 02, dated February 11, 2000, or Revision 03, dated August 9, 2000, or Revision 04, dated January 30, 2001; as applicable. Thereafter, repeat the inspection at intervals not to exceed 15 months, until accomplishment of paragraph (b) of this AD.
(1) If any play that is 0.0059 inch (0.15 mm) or greater and less than 0.0118 inch (0.30 mm) is detected: Prior to further flight, replace the rod eye-end with a new SARMA or NMB rod eye-end, in accordance with the applicable service bulletin.
(2) If any play that is 0.0118 inch (0.30 mm) or greater is detected: Prior to further flight, perform a dye penetrant inspection to detect cracking of the servo-control, in accordance with the applicable service bulletin.
(i) If no crack is detected: Prior to further flight, replace the rod eye-end with a new SARMA or NMB rod eye-end, in accordance with the applicable service bulletin.
(ii) If any crack is detected: Prior to further flight, replace the servo-control with a new servo-control, in accordance with the applicable service bulletin.
Note 1: Accomplishment of an inspection in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A330-27-3062 (for Model A330 series airplanes) or A340-27-4072 (for Model A340 series airplanes), both dated February 5, 1999; is considered acceptable for compliance with the initial inspection requirements of paragraph (a) of this AD.
Note 2: The Airbus service bulletins reference SAMM Service Bulletin SC4800-27-34-06, dated January 2, 1999, as an additional source of service information for accomplishment of the dye penetrant inspection specified by paragraph (a)(2) of this AD.
(b) Within 34 months after the effective date of this AD, replace any elevator servo-control having any P/N SC4800-2, SC4800- 3, SC4800-4, SC4800-5, SC4800-6, SC4800-7, or SC4800-8, with an elevator servo-control having P/N SC4800-7A or SC4800-9; in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A330-27-3076 (for Model A330 series airplanes) or A340-27-4083 (for Model A340 series airplanes), both Revision 02, both dated July 11, 2002; as applicable. Accomplishment of this replacement terminates the repetitive inspections required by paragraph (a) of this AD.
Note 3: The Airbus service bulletins reference TRW Service Bulletin SC4800-27-34-09, Revision 1, dated November 9, 2001, as an additional source of service information for accomplishment of the part replacement.
(c) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, is authorized to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD.
(d) Unless otherwise specified in this AD, the actions shall be done in accordance with the Airbus service bulletins listed in Table 1 of this AD, as applicable.
| Service bulletin— | Revision— | Date— |
|---|---|---|
| A330-27-3062 | 01 | July 21, 1999 |
| A330-27-3062 | 02 | February 11, 2000 |
| A330-27-3062 | 03 | August 9, 2000 |
| A330-27-3062 | 04 | January 30, 2001 |
| A330-27-3076 | 02 | July 11, 2002 |
| A340-27-4072 | 01 | July 21, 1999 |
| A340-27-4072 | 02 | February 11, 2000 |
| A340-27-4072 | 03 | August 9, 2000 |
| A340-27-4072 | 04 | January 30, 2001 |
| A340-27-4083 | 02 | July 11, 2002 |
(1) The incorporation by reference of the Airbus Service Bulletins in Table 2 of this AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51:
| Service bulletin— | Revision— | Date— |
|---|---|---|
| A330-27-3062 | 02 | February 11, 2000. |
| A330-27-3062 | 03 | August 9, 2000. |
| A330-27-3062 | 04 | January 30, 2001. |
| A330-27-3076 | 02 | July 11, 2002. |
| A340-27-4072 | 02 | February 11, 2000. |
| A340-27-4072 | 03 | August 9, 2000. |
| A340-27-4072 | 04 | January 30, 2001. |
| A340-27-4083 | 02 | July 11, 2002. |
(2) The incorporation by reference of Airbus Service Bulletin A330-27-3062, Revision 01, dated July 21, 1999; and Airbus Service Bulletin A340-27-4072, Revision 01, dated July 21, 1999; was approved previously by the Director of the Federal Register as of July 20, 2000 (65 FR 37476, June 15, 2000).
(3) Copies may be obtained from Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in French airworthiness directives 2001-518(B) and 2001-519(B), both dated October 31, 2001.
