Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-14484 · Airbus Model A330-200 and -300 Series Airplanes, Model A340-200 and -300 Series Airplanes, and Model 340-541 and -642 Airplanes
Airbus Model A330-200 and -300 Series Airplanes, Model A340-200 and -300 Series Airplanes, and Model 340-541 and -642 Airplanes
Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, and -243 airplanes; Model A330-301, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes; Model A340-211, -212, and -213 airplanes; Model A340-311, -312, and -313 airplanes; Model A340-541 airplanes; and Model 340-642 airplanes; certificated in any category; except Model A330-200 and -300 and A340-200 and -300 series airplanes on which both Airbus Modifications 52708 and 52811 were done during production, or only Airbus Modification 52708 was done during production, and Model A340-541 and -642 airplanes on which Airbus Modification 52708 was done during production, and on which no slide or slide raft has been removed since delivery from the manufacturer.
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all Airbus Model A330-200 and -300 series airplanes, Model A340-200 and -300 series airplanes, and Model 340-541 and -642 airplanes. This AD requires identifying the part number of the emergency evacuation slides or slide rafts installed on Type "A" exit doors, and modifying the regulator valves of the slide and slide raft assemblies if necessary. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of an emergency evacuation slide raft to deploy and inflate during an emergency situation, which could impede an evacuation and result in injury to passengers or crewmembers. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.
To prevent failure of an emergency evacuation slide raft to deploy and inflate during an emergency situation, which could impede an evacuation and result in injury to passengers or crewmembers, accomplish the following:
(a) The following information pertains to the service information referenced in this AD:
(1) The term “service bulletin” as used in this AD, means the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletins A330-25-3225, Revision 01 (for Model A330-200 and -300 series airplanes), and A340-25-4228, Revision 01 (for Model A340-200 and -300 series airplanes), both dated September 30, 2004; and A340-25-5054 (for Model A340-541 and -642 airplanes), dated August 2, 2004.
(2) The service bulletins refer to Goodrich Alert Service Bulletin 25A341, Revision 1, dated May 21, 2003; and Goodrich Service Bulletin 25-347, Revision 1, dated August 30, 2004; as additional sources of service information for accomplishment of the modification specified in the service bulletins.
(3) Accomplishing the modification before the effective date of this AD in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A330-25-3225 or A340-25-4228, both dated August 2, 2004; is considered acceptable for compliance with the modification required by this AD.
(b) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD: Determine the part number of the emergency slides or slide rafts fitted on the door types and locations listed in Table 1 of this AD. If no affected slides or slide rafts are found installed on the airplane, then no further action is required by this paragraph. If any affected slides or slide rafts are found installed on the airplane: Modify the regulator valves of the slide and slide raft assemblies at the applicable time specified in paragraph (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this AD, in accordance with the applicable service bulletin.
(1) For airplanes on which the regulator valves have not been modified as of the effective date of this AD per Goodrich Alert Service Bulletin 25A341, Revision 1, dated May 21, 2003: Before further flight.
(2) For airplanes on which the regulator valves have been modified as of the effective date of this AD per Goodrich Alert Service Bulletin 25A341, Revision 1, dated May 21, 2003: Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD.
| Door type | Door location | Goodrich slide/slide raft part number |
|---|---|---|
| A | 1 and 4, left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) | 7A1508-001, -003, -005, -007, -013, -015, -017, -101, -103, -105, -107, -109, -113, -115, or -117. |
| A | 2, LH | 7A1539-001, -003, -005, -007, -013, -015, -017, -101, -103, -105, -107, -109, -113, -115, or -117. |
| A | 2, RH | 7A1539-002, -004, -006, -008, -014, -016, -018, -102, -104, -106, -108, -110, -114, -116, or -118. |
| A | 3, LH | 7A1510-001, -003, -005, -007, -013, -015, -017, -101, -103, -105, -107, -109, -113, -115, or -117; or 4A3934-1 or -3. |
| A | 3, RH | 7A1510-002, -004, -006, -008, -014, -016, -018, -102, -104, -106, -108, -110, -114, -116, or -118; or 4A3934-2 or -4. |
| 1 | 3, LH and RH | 7A1509-001, -003, -005, -101, -103, -105, -107, -109, -111, -115, or -117. |
| 1 | 3, LH | 4A3928-1. |
| 1 | 3, RH | 4A3928-2. |
(c) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a regulator valve having a part number listed in the old part number column specified in Paragraph 1.L. of the applicable service bulletin on any airplane, unless that regulator valve has been modified in accordance with paragraph (b) of this AD.
(d) 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.
Note 1: The subject of this AD is addressed in French airworthiness directive F-2004-094 R1, dated February 16, 2004.
(e) Unless otherwise specified in this AD, the actions must be done in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A330-25-3225, Revision 01, dated September 30, 2004; Airbus Service Bulletin A340-25-4228, Revision 01, dated September 30, 2004; or Airbus Service Bulletin A340-25-5054, dated August 2, 2004; 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. To get copies of this service information, contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. To inspect copies of this service information, go to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at the NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
