{"id":"F2006B01936","name":"AD/A320/46 Amdt 4 - Inboard Flap Trunnion","slug":"ad-a320-46-amdt-4-inboard-flap-trunnion","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":41158,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B01936-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/A320/46 Amdt 4 - Inboard Flap Trunnion","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nAirbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/A320/46\n\nAmdt 4\n\n  \nInboard Flap Trunnion 11/99\n\nApplicability: A319, A320, and A321 aircraft, all models and serial numbers; without Airbus Industrie modification 26495 installed at production or Service Bulletin\n\nA320-27-1117 incorporated.\n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of DGAC AD 1996-271-092 (B) R3.\n\nNote: Airbus Industrie Service Bulletins A320-27-1066 Revision 5, \\-1050, \\-1097 Revision 2, -1108 Revision 3, and -1117 refer.\n\nCompliance: As specified in the Requirement document for the initial and repetitive inspection requirements.\n\nThis Amendment becomes effective on 4 November 1999.\n\nBackground: An operator reported wear marks 0.118 inches deep in the inboard flap attachment trunnion caused by chafing of the sliding panel drive chain. This could lead to rupture of the trunnion primary load path and subsequently adversely influence the fatigue life of the secondary load path. Inspection of the trunnion will ensure that the critical depth is not reached.\n\nAmendment 1 amended the applicability, and included inspections for all mod. states across the various aircraft. Amendment 2 reflected a revision of the DGAC AD which introduced revised requirement documents. Amendment 3 clarified applicability.\n\nAmendment 4 is issued in response to a new DGAC AD which introduces revisions of the related service bulletins and clarifies compliance requirements.\n\nAmendment 3 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 17 June 1999. Amendment 2 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 1 January 1998. The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 27 April 1995.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Originally issued in 1995, this directive has expanded significantly through four amendments. Amendment 1 broadened applicability to cover all modification states across the aircraft range. Amendment 2 incorporated revised French regulatory requirements. Amendment 3 clarified applicability again. Amendment 4 (current version) updates service bulletin references and compliance requirements. The directive has evolved from a simple inspection order to a complex framework managing multiple aircraft configurations, repetitive inspection regimes, and evolving technical standards."},"complexity_factors":["Heavy reliance on external documents (DGAC AD 1996-271-092 and multiple Airbus Service Bulletins) without reproducing their content","Multiple amendment history (4 versions since 1995) creating layered applicability rules","Technical aviation terminology requiring specialized knowledge (trunnion, load path, mod states)","Cross-referencing between manufacturer modifications, service bulletins, and regulatory requirements"],"plain_english_summary":"This safety order requires operators of Airbus A319/A320/A321 aircraft in Australia (unless mod 26495 or the relevant service bulletin has been embodied) to inspect the inboard flap trunnion for deep wear found caused by a rubbing drive chain. It mandates following the French DGAC inspection procedures to detect wear that could lead to trunnion failure and compromise flap/flight safety."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Directive's scope has been adjusted through successive amendments: Amendment 1 broadened applicability across modification states, later amendments revised the referenced DGAC AD and service bulletin references and clarified compliance requirements. Amendment 4 updates SB references and clarifies how to comply with the DGAC requirement (Amendment 1–4; Requirement; Note)."},"complexity_factors":["Relies on an external DGAC AD as the mandatory technical requirement rather than containing full procedures itself (Requirement).","Cross-references multiple Airbus service bulletins and their revisions, requiring operators to track SB versions (Note).","Exemption by modification state (mod 26495 or SB A320-27-1117 incorporation) creates per-aircraft applicability checks (Applicability).","Requires initial and repetitive inspections with timing and criteria set in the referenced documents, not in the AD text (Compliance; Requirement).","Safety consequence tied to a measured wear depth (0.118 inches) requiring precise measurement and possible repair decisions (Background).","History of amendments changing applicability and compliance text increases interpretive and administrative burden for operators and regulators (Amendments 1–4)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive mandates initial and repetitive inspections of the inboard flap trunnion on Airbus A319/A320/A321 aeroplanes (except aircraft produced with Airbus mod 26495 or with SB A320-27-1117 incorporated) to detect chafing wear (reported at 0.118 inches) that could compromise the trunnion primary load path. Operators must carry out the inspections and any corrective work in accordance with the technical requirements of the referenced DGAC AD and Airbus service bulletins (Applicability; Requirement; Background).\n\nOperators pay inspection and repair costs, face aircraft downtime risks, and must follow external DGAC/SB documents, creating administrative and technical compliance burden (Requirement; Note; Background)."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-a320-46-amdt-4-inboard-flap-trunnion","history":"/api/acts/ad-a320-46-amdt-4-inboard-flap-trunnion/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-a320-46-amdt-4-inboard-flap-trunnion/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-a320-46-amdt-4-inboard-flap-trunnion/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-a320-46-amdt-4-inboard-flap-trunnion/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-a320-46-amdt-4-inboard-flap-trunnion/documents"}}