Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-22486 · Fuel
Airbus SAS Airplanes
This AD applies to all Airbus SAS airplanes specified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this AD, certificated in any category.
(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, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes.
(4) Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX, and -272NX airplanes.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-23- 01, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. AD 2008-23-01 required inspecting to determine the part number and serial number of the fuel tank boost pumps and, for airplanes with affected pumps, revising the operator's airplane flight manual (AFM) and FAA-approved maintenance program. AD 2008-23-01 also required modifying or replacing certain fuel tank boost pumps, which terminated the AFM limitations and the maintenance program revisions. Since the FAA issued AD 2008-23-01, it has been determined that airplanes fitted with a different fuel pump can be subject to cavitation erosion on the wiring conduit. This AD requires inspecting affected fuel pumps for discrepancies and replacement if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This AD also requires replacing certain other fuel pumps. This AD also limits the installation of affected fuel pumps under certain conditions. 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 2023-0106, dated May 25, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0106).
(1) Where EASA AD 2023-0106 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2023-0106 is not adopted by this AD. Instead, for airplanes equipped with “fuel pump A” as defined in EASA AD 2023-0106, before further flight, replace “fuel pump A” with a fuel pump other than “fuel pump A,” except as specified in paragraphs (7) and (8) of EASA AD 2023-0106.
Note 1 to paragraph (h)(2) of this AD: Guidance for replacing fuel pumps can be found in paragraph 2.2. of “The AOT” as defined in EASA AD 2023-0106.
(3) Where paragraphs (4) and (5) of EASA AD 2023-0106 refer to “discrepancies, as defined in the AOT,” for this AD, discrepancies include any erosion on the wiring conduit, holes in the inlet guide vanes, and erosion on the inlet guide vane that is less than 12mm (0.47 in) from the outer edge to the start of the erosion.
(4) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2023-0106.
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or responsible Flight Standards Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (j) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus SAS's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.
(3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except as required by paragraph (i)(2) of this AD, if any service information referenced in EASA AD 2023-0106 contains paragraphs that are labeled as RC, the instructions in RC paragraphs, including subparagraphs under an RC paragraph, must be done to comply with this AD; any paragraphs, including subparagraphs under those paragraphs, that are not identified as RC are recommended. The instructions in paragraphs, including subparagraphs under those paragraphs, not identified as RC may be deviated from using accepted methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the instructions identified as RC can be done and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy condition. Any substitutions or changes to instructions identified as RC require approval of an AMOC.
For more information about this AD, contact Timothy Dowling, Aviation Safety Engineer, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 206-231-3667; email: Timothy.P.Dowling@faa.gov.
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.
