{"id":"F2008L01492","name":"AD/A320/215 - Vertical Stabilizer Spar Box","slug":"ad-a320-215-vertical-stabilizer-spar-box","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":119839,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2008L01492-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","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/A320/215 | Vertical Stabilizer Spar Box | 6/2008 |\n| ----------- | ---------------------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | All Model A319, A320, and A321 aircraft, with Manufacturer Serial Numbers listed in the applicability section of DGAC AD 2000-520-159(B); and without AIRBUS Service Bulletin A320-55-1028 incorporated.                                                                                                                  |\n| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | Action in accordance with the requirements of DGAC AD 2000-520-159(B).Note: AIRBUS Service Bulletins A320-55A1027 Revision 1 and A320-55-1028 Revision 3, or later DGAC/EASA approved revisions, refer.                                                                                                                   |\n| Compliance:    | Unless the Requirement document Actions paragraph 2 modification is already accomplished, before 5 July 2008.                                                                                                                                                                                                             |\n|                | This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 5 June 2008.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |\n| Background:    | The DGAC received reports of localised debonding of spar, stringer, and rib to skin attachments on several Vertical Stabiliser Spar Boxes. The debonding resulted from bonding surface contamination during production process. Such debonding could affect the structural integrity of the Vertical Stabiliser Spar Box. |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Villiers  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n16 April 2008","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/A320/215","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/A320/215","content":"## AD/A320/215","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Vertical Stabilizer Spar Box","sectionType":"part","heading":"Vertical Stabilizer Spar Box","content":"## Vertical Stabilizer Spar Box","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"6/2008","sectionType":"part","heading":"6/2008","content":"## 6/2008","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Directive adopts the scope and requirements of DGAC AD 2000-520-159(B) for the listed serial numbers and for aircraft without Service Bulletin A320-55-1028 incorporated. It does not expand the affected fleet or add new obligations beyond those referenced; operators must consult the cited DGAC AD and the Airbus service bulletins for the precise affected serial numbers and technical actions."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-reference to external regulatory document: requires action “in accordance with DGAC AD 2000-520-159(B)” rather than listing technical steps directly, so users must obtain and follow that document.","Dependence on service bulletin incorporation: applicability turns on whether Airbus Service Bulletin A320-55-1028 has been incorporated, creating a compliance gate tied to maintenance history.","Applicability limited by serial numbers listed in the DGAC AD: scope is not directly enumerated in this text and requires checking the referenced AD for exact affected aircraft.","Technical nature of required work: inspections, debonding correction and possible structural modification are specialist maintenance tasks requiring certified personnel and parts.","Time-limited compliance: a firm deadline (before 5 July 2008) imposes scheduling pressure on operators and maintenance providers.","Multiple authority references: notes DGAC/EASA-approved revisions of Airbus service bulletins, introducing potential variation if later approved revisions are used."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires operators of certain Airbus A319/A320/A321 aircraft (those serial numbers listed in DGAC AD 2000-520-159(B)) that have not incorporated Airbus Service Bulletin A320-55-1028 to carry out the inspections and corrective actions set out in DGAC AD 2000-520-159(B). Compliance is required by 5 July 2008 and the Directive is effective 5 June 2008.\n\nThe measure responds to localized debonding in the vertical stabilizer spar box that can affect structural integrity. Operators pay for inspections/repairs and must follow regulator‑approved technical instructions."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard airworthiness directive implementing a foreign aviation safety order. It maintains its original narrow scope: addressing a specific manufacturing defect in a specific aircraft component. No scope creep is evident."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose instrument (approximately 250 words)","Only 2 substantive operative paragraphs (Applicability and Requirement)","Heavy reliance on external documents: references DGAC AD 2000-520-159(B) and two Airbus Service Bulletins without reproducing their content","Conditional applicability based on manufacturer serial numbers and service bulletin incorporation status","Single deadline with one exception clause","No defined terms section, no internal cross-references, no nested exceptions"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA airworthiness directive requires owners/operators of certain Airbus A319/A320/A321 airframes (specific serials per the DGAC document) to inspect and, if needed, repair the vertical stabiliser spar box because improper surface cleaning during manufacture caused adhesive debonding. Australia adopts DGAC AD 2000-520-159(B); affected aircraft must comply (or show Service Bulletin A320-55-1028 repair already done) by 5 July 2008 to prevent possible tail failure and loss of control."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-a320-215-vertical-stabilizer-spar-box","history":"/api/acts/ad-a320-215-vertical-stabilizer-spar-box/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-a320-215-vertical-stabilizer-spar-box/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-a320-215-vertical-stabilizer-spar-box/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-a320-215-vertical-stabilizer-spar-box/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-a320-215-vertical-stabilizer-spar-box/documents"}}