Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-21278 · Fuel
Airbus SAS Airplanes
Superseded. A later AD replaced this one: AD 2021-16-18. Comply with the one in force.
This AD applies to all Airbus SAS airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (8) of this AD.
(1) Model A330-223F and -243F airplanes.
(2) Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, and -243 airplanes.
(3) Model A330-941 airplanes.
(4) Model A330-301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes.
(5) Model A340-211, -212, and -213 airplanes.
(6) Model A340-311, -312, and -313 airplanes.
(7) Model A340-541 airplanes.
(8) Model A340-642 airplanes.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-25- 16, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A330-200 Freighter, A330-200, A330-300, A340-200, A340-300, A340-500, and A340-600 series airplanes. AD 2017-25-16 required repetitive inspections of certain fuel pumps for cavitation erosion, corrective action if necessary, and revision of the minimum equipment list (MEL). This AD continues to require those actions, and also requires expanding the inspection area, adding certain maintenance actions, and expanding the applicability, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD was prompted by reports of a fuel pump showing cavitation erosion that exposed the fuel pump power supply wires, and by new findings that suggest the need to expand the inspection area and the applicability. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2019-0291R1, dated March 4, 2020 (“EASA AD 2019-0291R1”).
(1) Where EASA AD 2019-0291R1 refers to “the effective date of the original issue of this AD,” this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) The “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2019-0291R1 does not apply to this AD.
(3) Where EASA AD 2019-0291R1 refers to the master minimum equipment list (MMEL), this AD refers to the operator's minimum equipment list (MEL).
(4) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2019-0291R1 specifies a compliance time of “Before an affected part exceeds 10,000 flight hours (FH) since first installation on an aeroplane, or since Eaton Aerospace CMM 28-21-55 repair (housing replaced),” for this AD the compliance time is “Before an affected pump exceeds 10,000 flight hours since first installation on an airplane, or the applicable time specified in paragraph (h)(4)(i) or (ii) of this AD, whichever occurs later.”
(i) For a center tank, rear center tank, or aft transfer fuel pump: Within 30 days after December 29, 2017 (the effective date of AD 2017-25-16).
(ii) For a stand-by fuel pump: Within 40 days after December 29, 2017 (the effective date of AD 2017-25-16).
(5) Where EASA AD 2019-0291R1 refers to the “effective date of EASA AD 2017-0224,” this AD requires using “December 29, 2017 (the effective date of AD 2017-25-16).”
(6) Where EASA AD 2019-0291R1 specifies a compliance time of “after 13 December 2019 [the effective date of the original issue of this AD],” this AD requires using the effective date 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.
