Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-14363 · Airbus Model A319-100, A320-200, and A321-100 and -200 Series Airplanes
Airbus Model A319-100, A320-200, and A321-100 and -200 Series Airplanes
This AD applies to Airbus Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133; A320-211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233; and A321-111, -112, -131, -211, and -231 airplanes; certificated in any category; equipped with telescopic girt bars of the escape slide/raft assembly installed per Airbus Modification 20234, or Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1055 or A320-25-1218 in service; except those airplanes with Airbus Modification 31708.
The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Airbus Model A319-100, A320-200, and A321-100 and -200 series airplanes. That AD currently requires modification of the telescopic girt bar of the escape slide/raft assembly, and follow-on actions. This new AD requires a new modification of the telescopic girt bar and the installation of placards on the modified girt bars, which terminates the repetitive functional tests required by the existing AD. This AD results from development of a new, improved modification. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the escape slide/raft to deploy correctly, which could result in the slide being unusable during an emergency evacuation and consequent injury to passengers or airplane crewmembers.
You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done.
For airplanes listed in Airbus Industrie All Operators Telex (AOT) A320-52A1111, Revision 01, dated July 23, 2001: Within 1,500 flight hours after August 31, 2001 (the effective date of AD 2001-16-14); except as provided by paragraph (h) of this AD, modify the telescopic girt bar of the escape slide/raft assembly installed on all passenger and crew doors and do a functional test to ensure the girt bar does not retract, per Airbus Industrie AOT A320-52A1111, Revision 01, dated July 23, 2001.
(1) If the girt bar retracts, before further flight, replace any discrepant parts and do another functional test to ensure the girt bar does not retract, per the AOT. Repeat the functional test thereafter at intervals not to exceed 18 months until paragraph (g) of this AD is accomplished.
(2) If the girt bar does not retract, repeat the functional test thereafter at intervals not to exceed 18 months.
Note 1: Modification and follow-on actions accomplished prior to the effective date of this AD per Airbus Industrie AOT A320-52A1111, dated July 5, 2001, are considered acceptable for compliance with the applicable actions specified in this amendment.
Within 20 months after the effective date of this AD: Accomplish the actions specified in paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD by doing all the applicable actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-52-1112, Revision 05, dated June 25, 2004. Accomplishing these actions terminates the repetitive functional tests required by paragraph (f) of this AD.
(1) Modify the telescopic girt bar of the escape slide/raft assembly.
(2) Install a placard on each modified girt bar.
(h) For airplanes on which the modification of the telescopic girt bar required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD is accomplished within the compliance time specified in paragraph (f) of this AD, accomplishing the modification required by paragraph (f) is not required.
(i) Modification of the telescopic girt bar accomplished before the effective date of this AD in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-52-1112, dated January 16, 2002; Revision 01, dated April 3, 2002; Revision 02, dated September 6, 2002; Revision 03, dated June 27, 2003; or Revision 04, dated November 12, 2003; is considered acceptable for compliance with the modification of the telescopic girt bar required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD.
As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install on any airplane a telescopic girt bar of the escape slide/raft assembly unless it has been modified as required by paragraph (g) of this AD.
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
