Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-13859 · Airbus Model A319 and A320 Series Airplanes
Airbus Model A319 and A320 Series Airplanes
Model A319 and A320 series airplanes, certificated in any category; as listed in Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1087, Revision 02, dated June 10, 2003; and Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1086, Revision 01, dated October 23, 2002.
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Airbus Model A319 and A320 series airplanes, that requires a modification and replacement affecting all fuel tanks. All affected airplanes require the installation of fuses in the wiring of the fuel quantity indicating probes of all fuel tanks. Some affected airplanes also require replacement of the high-level sensors of the additional center tanks (ACTs) with new sensors. For all affected airplanes, these actions are necessary to prevent overheating of the fuel probes due to a short circuit. For some affected airplanes, these actions are necessary to prevent fuel leakage due to inadequate space for thermal expansion within the ACTs. Such conditions could result in fuel vapors or fuel contacting an ignition source and/or consequent fire/explosion in the center fuel tanks. These actions are intended to address the identified unsafe condition.
To prevent overheating of the fuel probes due to a short circuit, and fuel leakage due to inadequate space for thermal expansion within the additional center tanks, which could result in fuel vapors or fuel contacting an ignition source, accomplish the following:
(a) Within 4,000 flight hours or 30 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever is first: Do the applicable actions specified in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this AD. Accomplishment of the modification before the effective date of this AD per Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1087, dated July 17, 2001; or Revision 01, dated March 3, 2003; or accomplishment of the replacement before the effective date of this AD per Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1086, dated November 30, 1999; as applicable; is considered acceptable for compliance with the corresponding action specified in paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this AD.
(1) For airplanes defined in Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1087, Revision 02, dated June 10, 2003: Modify the wiring of the fuel quantity indicating probes of all the fuel tanks by doing all the actions specified in paragraphs 3.A. through 3.D. (including operational testing and any applicable repair) of the Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin. Do the actions per the service bulletin. Any applicable repair must be done before further flight.
(2) For airplanes defined in Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1086, Revision 01, dated October 23, 2002: Prior to or concurrent with accomplishment of paragraph (a)(1) of this AD, replace the high-level sensors of the additional center fuel tanks by doing all the actions specified in paragraphs 3.A through 3.D. (including operational testing and any applicable repair) of the Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin. Do the actions per the service bulletin. Any applicable repair must be done before further flight.
(b) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, is authorized to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD.
(c) Unless otherwise specified in this AD, the actions shall be done in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1086, Revision 01, dated October 23, 2002; or Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1087, Revision 02, dated June 10, 2003; as applicable. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For copies, contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. Inspect copies 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 1: The subject of this AD is addressed in French airworthiness directive 2002-220(B) R1, dated October 15, 2003.
