Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-18637 · Landing gear
Airbus Airplanes
This AD applies to the airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD, certificated in any category, all manufacturer serial numbers (MSN), except those on which Airbus modification 58896 has been embodied in production.
(1) Airbus Model A330-223F, -243F, -201, -202, -203, -223, -243, -301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes.
(2) Airbus Model A340-211, -212, -213, -311, -312, and -313 airplanes.
We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2009-15-17 for certain Airbus Model A330-200 and -300 series airplanes; and Model A340-200 and -300 series airplanes. AD 2009-15-17 required an inspection for damage to the protective treatments or any corrosion of all main landing gear (MLG) bogie beams, and application of protective treatments if no damage or corrosion was found. If any damage or corrosion was found, corrective action followed by the application of protective treatments was required. This new AD continues to require inspections for damage to the protective treatments or any corrosion of all MLG bogie beams, application of protective treatments, and corrective action if necessary. This new AD also requires modification of the MLG bogie beams, which terminates the repetitive inspections for any modified bogie beam. This new AD allows optional methods of compliance for certain actions, and adds Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes to the applicability. This new AD revises the compliance times and adds a one-time inspection for airplanes that were inspected too early. This AD was prompted by reports of thin paint coats and paint degradation on enhanced main landing gear (MLG) bogie beams, as well as reports that some airplanes have been inspected too early and not re-inspected as needed. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct damage or corrosion of the MLG bogie beams, which could cause a runway excursion event, bogie beam detachment from the airplane, or MLG collapse, and could result in damage to the airplane and injury to the occupants.
For airplanes equipped with basic MLG (201252 series), or growth MLG (201490 series): After 54 months at the earliest, but no later than 72 months since the left-hand (LH) or right-hand (RH) MLG bogie beam's first flight on an airplane, or since its first flight on an airplane after overhaul, as applicable, clean the internal bore and accomplish a detailed inspection of internal surfaces of the LH and RH MLG bogie beams to detect any damage to the protective treatments and any corrosion, and measure the paint thickness on the internal bore, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A330-32-3225, Revision 02, including Appendix 1, dated October 26, 2012; or Airbus Service Bulletin A340-32-4268, Revision 03, including Appendix 1, dated January 14, 2013; as applicable. Repeat the inspections thereafter at intervals not less than 54 months, but not exceeding 72 months, after the most recent inspection. During overhaul of a MLG bogie beam, any corrosion will be removed, which means that the first inspection after overhaul of that MLG bogie beam, as required by this paragraph, is between 54 months and 72 months since its first flight on an airplane after overhaul.
For airplanes equipped with basic MLG (201252 series), or growth MLG (201490 series) having a LH or RH MLG bogie beam that has already exceeded 72 months since its first flight on an airplane, or since its first flight on an airplane after overhaul, as applicable, as of the effective date of this AD; and that has been inspected as specified in Airbus Service Bulletin A330-32-3225 or Airbus Service Bulletin A340-32-4268, as applicable, earlier than 54 months since first flight of the affected MLG bogie beam on an airplane, or since its first flight on an airplane after its most recent overhaul, as applicable: Within the applicable compliance time indicated in paragraphs (h)(1) through (h)(4) of this AD, clean the internal bore and accomplish a detailed inspection of the internal surfaces of the LH and RH MLG bogie beams to detect any damage to the protective treatments and any corrosion, and measure the paint thickness on the internal bore, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A330-32-3225, Revision 02, including Appendix 1, dated October 26, 2012; or Airbus Service Bulletin A340-32-4268, Revision 03, including Appendix 1, dated January 14, 2013; as applicable.
(1) For MLG bogie beams having the configurations specified in both paragraphs (h)(1)(i) and (h)(1)(ii) of this AD: Do the detailed inspection specified in the introductory text of paragraph (h) of this AD within 9 months after the effective date of this AD.
(i) MLG bogie beams having between 72 and 120 months since first flight on an airplane, or since the MLG bogie beam's first flight on an airplane after the MLG bogie beam's most recent overhaul, as applicable.
(ii) MLG bogie beams on which the first inspection was done after 51 months and before 54 months since first flight of the MLG bogie beam on an airplane, or since the MLG bogie beam's first flight on an airplane after the MLG bogie beam's most recent overhaul, as applicable.
(2) For MLG bogie beams having the configurations specified in both paragraphs (h)(2)(i) and (h)(2)(ii) of this AD: Do the detailed inspection specified in the introductory text of paragraph (h) of this AD within 3 months after the effective date of this AD.
(i) MLG bogie beams having between 72 and 120 months since first flight on an airplane, or since the MLG bogie beam's first flight on an airplane after the MLG bogie beam's most recent overhaul, as applicable.
(ii) MLG bogie beams on which the first inspection was done after 45 months and before 51 months since first flight of the MLG bogie beam on an airplane, or since the MLG bogie beam's first flight on an airplane after the MLG bogie beam's most recent overhaul, as applicable.
(3) For MLG bogie beams having the configurations specified in both paragraphs (h)(3)(i) and (h)(3)(ii) of this AD: Do the detailed inspection specified in the introductory text of paragraph (h) of this AD within 3 months after the effective date of this AD.
(i) MLG bogie beams having between 72 and 96 months since first flight on an airplane, or since the MLG bogie beam's first flight on an airplane after the MLG bogie beam's most recent overhaul, as applicable.
(ii) MLG bogie beams which have accumulated, at the effective date of this AD, less than 96 months and on which the first inspection was done before 51 months since first flight of the MLG bogie beam on an airplane, or since the MLG bogie beam's first flight on an airplane after the after the MLG bogie beam's most recent overhaul, as applicable.
(4) For MLG bogie beams having the configurations specified in both paragraphs (h)(4)(i) and (h)(4)(ii) of this AD: Do the detailed inspection specified in the introductory text of paragraph (h) of this AD within 1 month after the effective date of this AD.
(i) MLG bogie beams having between 96 and 120 months since first flight on an airplane, or since the MLG bogie beam's first flight on an airplane after the MLG bogie beam's most recent overhaul, as applicable.
(ii) MLG bogie beams which has accumulated, at the effective date of this AD, 96 months or more and on which the first inspection was done before 45 months since first flight of the MLG bogie beam on an airplane, or since the MLG bogie beam's first flight on an airplane after the MLG bogie beam's most recent overhaul, as applicable.
If, during any inspection required by paragraph (g) or (h) of this AD, no damage or corrosion is found: Before further flight, apply the protective treatments to the MLG bogie beam, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin A33/34-32-272, Revision 1, including Appendixes A, B, C, and D, dated September 22, 2008.
If, during any inspection required by paragraph (g) or (h) of this AD, any damage or corrosion is found: Before further flight, repair and apply the protective treatments to the MLG bogie beam, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin A33/34-32-272, Revision 1, including Appendixes A, B, C, and D, dated September 22, 2008.
For airplanes equipped with basic MLG (201252 series), growth MLG (201490 series), or enhanced MLG (10-210 series): Before the accumulation of 252 total months on an MLG bogie beam, or within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, do the actions specified in paragraphs (k)(1) and (k)(2) of this AD concurrently and in sequence.
(1) Except as provided by paragraph (k)(3) of this AD: Do a detailed inspection for damage and corrosion of the internal bores of the LH and RH MLG bogie beam, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A330-32-3237 or A340-32-4279, both Revision 01, both including Reporting Sheet, both dated October 14, 2011, as applicable. If any damage or corrosion is found, before further flight, repair in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A330-32-3237 or A340-32-4279, both Revision 01, both including Reporting Sheet, both dated October 14, 2011, as applicable.
(2) Except as provided by paragraph (k)(3) of this AD: Modify and re-identify, as applicable, the LH and RH MLG bogie beams, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A330-32-3237 or A340-32-4279, both Revision 01, both including Reporting Sheet, both dated October 14, 2011, as applicable.
(3) The inspection requirements of paragraph (k)(1) of this AD, and the modification requirements only of paragraph (k)(2) of this AD, do not apply to any MLG bogie beam with a serial number listed in Appendix A of Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin A33/34-32-283 or A33/34-32-284, both Revision 1, both dated July 10, 2012, as applicable.
Inspections and corrective actions on both MLG bogie beams done in accordance with the instructions of Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin A33/34-32-271, Revision 1, including Appendixes A and B, dated November 16, 2007; or Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin A33/34-32-272, Revision 1, including Appendixes A, B, C, and D, dated September 22, 2008; as applicable; are acceptable methods of compliance for the requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD, provided each inspection is accomplished between 54 months and 72 months since the first flight of the affected MLG bogie beam on an airplane, or since the MLG bogie beam's first flight after the MLG bogie beam's most recent overhaul, as applicable.
(1) Submit a report of the findings (both positive and negative) of each inspection required by paragraph (k) of this AD, as applicable, to Airbus, Customer Service Directorate, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France, using the applicable Reporting Sheet in Airbus Service Bulletin A330-32-3237, Revision 01, including Reporting Sheet, dated October 14, 2011; or Airbus Service Bulletin A340-32-4279, Revision 01, including Reporting Sheet, dated October 14, 2011; at the applicable time specified in paragraph (m)(1)(i) or (m)(1)(ii) of this AD.
(i) If the inspection was done on or after the effective date of this AD: Submit the report within 90 days after the inspection.
(ii) If the inspection was done before the effective date of this AD: Submit the report within 90 days after the effective date of this AD.
(2) Submit a report of the findings (both positive and negative) of the inspection required by paragraph (h) of this AD to Airbus, Customer Service Directorate, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France, using the applicable Reporting Sheet in Airbus Service Bulletin A330-32-3225, Revision 02, including Appendix 1, dated October 26, 2012; or Airbus Service Bulletin A340-32-4268, Revision 03, including Appendix 1, dated January 14, 2013; at the applicable time specified in paragraph (m)(2)(i) or (m)(2)(ii) of this AD.
(i) If the inspection was done on or after the effective date of this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the inspection.
(ii) If the inspection was done before the effective date of this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the effective date of this AD.
(1) Inspections for damage and corrosion to the protective treatment of the internal bores of the LH and RH MLG bogie beam, and repairs, done in accordance with Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin A33/34-32-278, Revision 1, including Appendixes A and B, dated August 24, 2011, are acceptable methods of compliance with the corresponding requirements of paragraph (k)(1) of this AD.
(2) Modification of the LH and RH MLG bogie beams, done in accordance with Messier-Dowty Service Bulletins A33/34-32-283 or A33/34-32-284, both Revision 1, both including Appendix A, both dated July 10, 2012, as applicable, is an acceptable method of compliance with the corresponding requirements of paragraph (k)(2) of this AD.
Modification of both LH and RH MLG bogie beams on an airplane, done in accordance with paragraph (k) of this AD, or as specified in paragraphs (n)(1) and (n)(2) of this AD, terminates the repetitive inspections required by paragraph (g) of this AD for this airplane.
