{"id":"F2007L02686","name":"AD/A320/172 Amdt 2 - Main Landing Gear Support Rib 5","slug":"ad-a320-172-amdt-2-main-landing-gear-support-rib-5","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":68582,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2007L02686-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Ser","sectionType":"division","heading":"Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/A320/172 Amdt 2 | Main Landing Gear Support Rib 5 | 10/2007 |\n| ------------------ | ------------------------------- | ------- |\n\n| Applicability: | All Model A319, A320, and A321 aircraft; except aircraft with Airbus Modification 32025 incorporated in production, or Airbus Service Bulletin A320-57-1118 incorporated in service.The requirements of this Directive do not apply to a MLG Support Rib 5 Fitting that has been repaired in accordance with A319 SRM 57-26-13 paragraph 5.C or in accordance with A320/A321 SRM 57-26-13 paragraph 5.D.                                                                                                                                                     |\n| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| Requirement:   | Action in accordance with the requirements of EASA AD 2007-0213.Note: Airbus Service Bulletin A320-57-1138 Revision 01, or later EASA approved revision, refers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |\n| Compliance:    | As specified in the Requirement document, with a revised effective date of27 September 2007.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |\n|                | This Amendment becomes effective on 27 September 2007.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |\n| Background:    | A report was received of a crack in the forward lug of the right hand main landing gear support rib 5. Such cracking could affect the structural integrity of the main landing gear.Amendment 1 introduced a repetitive detailed visual inspection to be performed on a weekly basis. A new crack was discovered in the same affected area on another aircraft. Further investigation highlighted the need to reduce the interval of the repetitive inspection of the forward lug of the main landing gear support rib 5, on both left and right hand sides. |\n\n|     | Amendment 2 is issued in response to a new EASA AD, which mandates a repetitive inspection program of the MLG Rib 5 Fitting forward lugs and requires a modification that is terminating action for the repetitive inspection requirements of this Directive. |\n| --- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Villiers  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n15 August 2007","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/A320/172 Amdt 2","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/A320/172 Amdt 2","content":"## AD/A320/172 Amdt 2","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Main Landing Gear Support Rib 5","sectionType":"part","heading":"Main Landing Gear Support Rib 5","content":"## Main Landing Gear Support Rib 5","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"10/2007","sectionType":"part","heading":"10/2007","content":"## 10/2007","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard amendment to an existing Airworthiness Directive. Amendment 2 maintains the original safety purpose (addressing cracking in MLG Support Rib 5) while refining the technical requirements based on new operational data. The scope remains tightly focused on the specific structural component and aircraft models originally identified. The addition of a terminating modification does not expand scope but rather provides closure to the repetitive inspection regime."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose directive (approximately 300 words of substantive content)","Only 4 defined exemptions/modifications referenced (Airbus Modification 32025, Service Bulletin A320-57-1118, and two SRM repair paragraphs)","Single cross-reference to EASA AD 2007-0213 (the European source regulation)","Simple conditional logic: applies to all models except those meeting specific exemption criteria","Clear terminating action (the modification ends inspection requirements)","No nested exceptions or recursive definitions"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires Australian operators of Airbus A319/A320/A321 aircraft to perform repetitive inspections of the Main Landing Gear Support Rib 5 forward lugs for cracking, and to carry out a permanent modification that ends those repetitive checks. It applies unless specific factory modifications or approved repairs are already installed. It matters because discovered cracks could lead to MLG failure during takeoff or landing, so the amendment tightens intervals and mandates a fix."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. Compared with the earlier issue, Amendment 2 tightens and expands the instrument's operational scope: it reduces the interval for the repetitive inspections (i.e. increases inspection frequency) and makes a structural modification mandatory as a terminating action for the inspection programme. Amendment 1 required weekly detailed visual inspections; Amendment 2 shortens that interval and adds the required modification, aligning the directive with the newer EASA AD. The change moves the instrument from purely repeated inspection monitoring toward mandating a design/structural change as the ultimate remedy."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument but relies heavily on external documents (EASA AD 2007-0213 and multiple Airbus service bulletins and SRM paragraphs) for the technical detail","Applicability contains multiple exceptions (production modification 32025, SB A320-57-1118 in service, SRM repairs in specific paragraphs) that must be checked for each aircraft","Conditional structure: repetitive inspections required unless terminating modification or specified repair/SB/mod already incorporated","Amendment history changes inspection frequency (reduced interval compared with Amendment 1) and adds a mandatory modification as terminating action — requires track of prior amendments","Compliance depends on reading cross-referenced documents for exact inspection intervals, inspection methods, and modification/repair procedures"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically):**\n\n- It requires operators of certain Airbus A319, A320 and A321 aeroplanes to carry out a repetitive inspection programme of the forward lug on Main Landing Gear (MLG) Support Rib 5 and, in due course, to carry out a modification that, if done, stops the need for those repetitive inspections (the modification is \"terminating action\").  The actions to be taken are those set out in the referenced EASA Airworthiness Directive (EASA AD 2007-0213) and the related Airbus service information.  (Requirement)\n\n- The instrument replaces an earlier amendment that already required weekly detailed visual inspections; this Amendment 2 shortens the inspection interval (i.e. inspections must be done more often) and imposes the mandatory modification as the ultimate corrective measure. (Background)\n\n- It applies to all Airbus A319, A320 and A321 aircraft except: those built with Airbus Modification 32025; those that have had Airbus Service Bulletin A320-57-1118 incorporated in service; or those where the MLG Rib 5 fitting has previously been repaired in accordance with the specified Structural Repair Manual (SRM) paragraphs. (Applicability)\n\n- The instrument takes effect on 27 September 2007. (Compliance)\n\n\n**Who this affects:**\n\n- Aircraft operators and maintenance organisations that operate or maintain Airbus A319, A320 and A321 aeroplanes falling within the applicability clause.  Maintenance planners must schedule the more frequent inspections and the terminating modification where required.  Aircraft that already have the listed modification, service bulletin, or SRM repair are exempt from these specific requirements.\n\n\n**Why it matters (safety and operational mechanics):**\n\n- The measure responds to reports of cracking in the forward lug of the MLG Support Rib 5. A crack in that location can affect the structural integrity of the main landing gear, so the directive imposes inspections to detect cracks early and a modification to remove the need for repetitive inspections once the structure has been altered according to the approved design.\n\n\n**Practical effects, incentives and trade-offs (mechanics, not judgement):**\n\n- Who pays: aircraft operators bear the direct costs (labour, downtime, parts) of performing the repeated inspections and of performing the terminating modification if they do not already have the modification or required SB incorporated.\n\n- Operational impact: more frequent inspections increase short-term maintenance workload and potential aircraft downtime. If cracking is detected, operators must remove the aircraft from service for repair according to the SRM or approved procedures, which increases disruption and cost.\n\n- Incentives: the modification is described as a terminating action for the inspection programme. That creates a trade-off: a one-off cost to modify the structure in exchange for eliminating ongoing recurring inspection costs and operational burden.\n\n- Compliance routing and complexity: the AD delegates the exact inspection intervals, inspection method and modification instructions to the referenced EASA AD and Airbus service bulletins/SRMs. Operators must consult those documents for the precise tasks, intervals and acceptable repairs; the AD here does not reproduce all technical detail.\n\n\n**Implementation risks and administrative points:**\n\n- Scheduling and supply: operators may face scheduling challenges and part/shops availability when implementing the terminating modification.\n\n- Detection and rectification: finding cracks will require SRM-compliant repair or replacement; the AD exempts certain SRM repairs but any repair must follow the referenced SRM paragraphs.\n\n- Record-keeping and oversight: maintenance organisations must retain evidence of inspections, findings and of the modification or SB incorporation to show exemption from further inspections.\n\n\n(References in text: Applicability, Requirement, Compliance and Background sections of the instrument; it instructs operators to follow EASA AD 2007-0213 and refers to Airbus Service Bulletin A320-57-1138 Revision 01.)"},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-a320-172-amdt-2-main-landing-gear-support-rib-5","history":"/api/acts/ad-a320-172-amdt-2-main-landing-gear-support-rib-5/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-a320-172-amdt-2-main-landing-gear-support-rib-5/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-a320-172-amdt-2-main-landing-gear-support-rib-5/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-a320-172-amdt-2-main-landing-gear-support-rib-5/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-a320-172-amdt-2-main-landing-gear-support-rib-5/documents"}}