Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-21762 · Electrical power
Airbus SAS Airplanes
Superseded. A later AD replaced this one: AD 2024-11-01. Comply with the one in force.
This AD applies to Airbus SAS airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (7) of this AD, certificated in any category, equipped with any parts manufacturer approval (PMA) part approved for the type design nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries identified in Figure 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD.
(1) Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes.
(2) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -151N, -153N, and -171N airplanes.
(3) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -215, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes.
(4) Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -251NX, -252N, -252NX, -253N, -253NX, -271N, -271NX, -272N, and -272NX airplanes.
(5) Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, -223F, -243, -243F, -301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, -343, -743L, -841, and -941 airplanes.
(6) Model A340-211, -212, -213, -311, -312, -313, -541, -542, -642, and -643 airplanes.
(7) Model A380-841, -842, and -861 airplanes.
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, A321, A330-200, A330-200 Freighter, A330-300, A330-800, A330-900, A340-200, A340-300, A340-500, A340-600, and A380-800 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that repetitive disconnection and reconnection of certain parts manufacturer approval (PMA) nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries during airplane parking or storage could lead to a reduction in capacity of those batteries. This AD requires replacing certain PMA Ni- Cd batteries with serviceable Ni-Cd batteries, or maintaining the electrical storage capacity of those PMA Ni-Cd batteries during airplane storage or parking. This AD corresponds to a previously proposed AD on type design Ni-Cd batteries with the same unsafe condition on the same model airplanes. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
(1) For the purposes of this AD, a serviceable PMA Ni-Cd battery is defined as a PMA battery approved for a Ni-Cd battery identified in Figure 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD, all serial numbers, which was, prior to installation, fully (re)charged in an approved battery shop at constant current and after (re)charging, was never installed and (re)connected to an airplane which was parked or stored for more than 2 days, except when the disconnection and subsequent connection of the battery has been accomplished using the preservation procedures as defined in the applicable service information specified in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through (iii) of this AD. Where the applicable service information refers to Ni-Cd battery part numbers, use those procedures, as applicable, for the PMA batteries that are approved for that part number.
(i) For A318, A319, A320, and A321 airplanes: Airbus Alert Operators Transmission—AOT A24N006-20, Rev 01, dated October 12, 2020.
(ii) For A330 and A340 airplanes: Airbus Alert Operators Transmission—AOT A24L007-20, Rev 00, dated September 23, 2020.
(iii) For A380 airplanes: Airbus Alert Operators Transmission—AOT A24R009-20, Rev 00, dated September 23, 2020.
(2) For the purposes of this AD, a serviceable non-PMA Ni-Cd battery is defined as a type design Ni-Cd battery having a part number identified in Figure 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD, all serial numbers, which was, prior to installation, fully (re)charged in an approved battery shop at constant current and after (re)charging, was never installed and (re)connected to an airplane which was parked or stored for more than 2 days, except when the disconnection and subsequent connection of the battery has been accomplished using the preservation procedures as defined in the applicable service information specified in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through (iii) of this AD.
(3) For the purposes of this AD, a reconnection cycle is defined as one instance of disconnection and connection of a battery, installed on an airplane, to the airplane electrical system during parking or storage periods (for A330 and A340 airplanes) or parking periods (for A318, A319, A320, A321 and A380 airplanes) since the last battery charge at constant current in an approved battery shop, as defined in the applicable service information specified in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through (iii) of this AD, except when the conditions specified in paragraph (g)(3)(i) or (ii) have been met. Where the applicable service information refers to Ni-Cd battery part numbers, use those procedures, as applicable, for the PMA batteries that are approved for that part number.
(i) The on-wing battery preservation procedures as defined in the applicable service information specified in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through (iii) of this AD have been applied.
(ii) The battery has been disconnected, physically removed from the airplane and then subsequently installed and connected following a shop visit as defined in the applicable service information specified in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through (iii) of this AD.
(4) For the purposes of this AD: Group 1 airplanes are those which have a PMA part approved for Ni-Cd batteries identified in Figure 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD installed, which has more than 4 reconnection cycles. Group 2 airplanes are those which have a PMA part approved for Ni-Cd batteries identified in Figure 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD installed, which has 4 or less reconnection cycles, or have a serviceable PMA Ni-Cd battery.
(1) For Group 1 airplanes: Within the applicable compliance time specified in paragraphs (h)(1)(i) and (ii) of this AD and thereafter before each release to service of an airplane after parking or storage, as applicable, replace each PMA part approved for a Ni-Cd battery identified in Figure 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD with a serviceable PMA Ni-Cd battery or serviceable non-PMA Ni-Cd battery, in accordance with the instructions of the applicable service information specified in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through (iii) of this AD. Where the applicable service information refers to Ni-Cd battery part numbers, use those procedures, as applicable, for the PMA batteries that are approved for that part number. After replacement of a battery with a serviceable PMA Ni-Cd battery, the airplane becomes a Group 2 airplane.
Note 1 to paragraph (h)(1): Airplanes on which a battery is replaced with a serviceable non-PMA Ni-Cd battery are no longer affected by this AD. AD 2021-20-08, Amendment 39-21746 (86 FR 57025, October 14, 2021), provides requirements for serviceable non-PMA Ni-Cd batteries.
Note 2 to paragraph (h)(1): For Group 1 and Group 2 airplanes, guidance on preventing further reduction of the capacity of Ni-Cd batteries can be found in the off-wing or on-wing battery preservation procedures (including battery shop visits, as applicable) detailed in the applicable service information specified in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through (iii) of this AD.
(i) For A318, A319, A320 and A321 airplanes: Within 4 months after the effective date of this AD.
(ii) For A330, A340, and A380 airplanes: Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD.
(2) For Group 2 airplanes: A Group 2 airplane on which the preservation procedures, as detailed in the applicable service information specified in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through (iii) of this AD, are not accomplished becomes a Group 1 airplane after application of more than 4 reconnection cycles and must comply with paragraph (h)(1) of this AD. A Group 2 airplane on which preservation procedures, as detailed in the applicable service information specified in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through (iii) of this AD, continue to be accomplished, remains a Group 2 airplane. Where the applicable service information refers to Ni-Cd battery part numbers, those procedures, as applicable, must be used for the PMA batteries that are approved for that part number.
For Group 2 airplanes: As of the effective date of this AD, provided that the preservation procedures (off-wing or on-wing, as applicable) are accomplished on an airplane in accordance with the instructions of the applicable service information specified in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through (iii) of this AD, no replacements of affected parts in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (h)(1) of this AD are required (anymore) for that airplane. Where the applicable service information refers to Ni-Cd battery part numbers, those procedures, as applicable, must be used for the PMA batteries that are approved for that part number.
Although the service information specified in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through (iii) of this AD specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.
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.
