{"id":"F2007L03992","name":"AD/A330/78 - Refuel Isolation Valve","slug":"ad-a330-78-refuel-isolation-valve","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":160786,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2007L03992-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-04","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes","sectionType":"division","heading":"Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/A330/78 | Refuel Isolation Valve | 11/2007 |\n| ---------- | ---------------------- | ------- |\n\n| Applicability: | AIRBUS A330 aircraft, except those on which AIRBUS modification 55664 has been embodied in production or AIRBUS Service Bulletin (SB) A330-28-3103 has been embodied in service; andAIRBUS aircraft A330-300 series aircraft, on which AIRBUS modification 40176 (optional LH coupling) has been embodied in production or SB A330-28-3018 (optional LH coupling) has been embodied in service, except those on which AIRBUS modification 56148 has been embodied in production or SB A330-28-3103 has been embodied in service. |\n| -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | 1. Replace the refuel isolation valve(s); and re-identify the refuel/defuel coupling, installed on aircraft in accordance with SB A330-28-3103 or later approved revision.2. Do not install neither affected refuel isolation valve unit nor affected refuel/defuel coupling unit, as a replacement part on an aircraft, unless it has been modified in accordance with SB A330-28-3103 or later approved revision.Note: EASA AD 2007-0239 dated 3 September 2007 refers.                                                        |\n| Compliance:    | 1. Within 18,000 Flight Hours from the effective date of this AD.2. From the effective date of this AD.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |\n|                | This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 25 October 2007.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |\n\n| Background: | Two A330 operators have reported that the guide shaft of the Refuel Isolation Valve has been broken away from the main casting and entered the fuel tank. The Supplier investigation revealed that water builds-up in the cavity of the Refuel Isolation Valve and freezes during flight. When refuel pressure is applied to the piston, the ice restricts the piston travel on one side leading to an asymmetric movement of the piston resulting in breakage of the guide shaft. A non-bonded metallic object within the fuel tank can result to a potential ignition source, which in combination with a lightning strike constitutes an unsafe condition. This AD requires replacement of the affected Refuel Isolation Valve with a more robust valve similar to that designed for the A380. |\n| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nCharles Lenarcic  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n6 September 2007","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/A330/78","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/A330/78","content":"## AD/A330/78","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Refuel Isolation Valve","sectionType":"part","heading":"Refuel Isolation Valve","content":"## Refuel Isolation Valve","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"11/2007","sectionType":"part","heading":"11/2007","content":"## 11/2007","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD confines its scope to Airbus A330 aircraft that have not incorporated the specified production modifications or service‑embodied SBs and limits remedies to replacing valves, re‑identifying couplings, and prohibiting installation of unmodified units (Applicability; Requirement). The instrument addresses the specific unsafe condition described in the Background and does not extend beyond that safety remedy."},"complexity_factors":["Applicability contains multiple carve-outs tied to specific Airbus production modifications and service bulletin embodiments (Applicability).","Mandates actions referenced to an external Service Bulletin (*SB A330-28-3103*) and allows later approved revisions, creating dependency on external documents (Requirement).","Dual operational requirements: mandatory replacement/re-identification plus a continuing prohibition on installing unmodified parts (Requirement).","Compliance timeframe expressed in flight hours (18,000 FH), which requires operator tracking and scheduling of maintenance windows (Compliance).","Technical safety rationale involves a specific failure mode (ice-induced piston restriction, guide‑shaft breakage) described in Background, requiring parts with a different design robustness.","Cross-reference to EASA AD 2007-0239 introduces interjurisdictional regulatory alignment (Requirement note).","Distinction between production embodiment and post‑delivery service embodiment of modifications increases record‑checking and parts-traceability burden (Applicability).","Potential ambiguity in identifying ‘affected’ valve/coupling units without close reference to the Service Bulletin increases inspection and parts-identification workload (Requirement/Applicability)."],"plain_english_summary":"Mandates replacement of refuel isolation valves and re‑identification of refuel/defuel couplings on applicable Airbus A330 aircraft per *SB A330-28-3103*, and prohibits installing affected parts unless modified. Applies to A330s that have not incorporated specified production or service‑bulletin modifications. Compliance is required within 18,000 flight hours. The AD addresses ice‑induced valve guide‑shaft breakage that could release metallic debris into fuel tanks and create an ignition risk when combined with lightning; operators must pay for and schedule the work."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard, targeted airworthiness directive addressing a specific mechanical defect. The scope remains precisely focused on the refuel isolation valve safety issue as originally identified. No scope creep is evident."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple nested exceptions in applicability (four separate modification/service bulletin combinations to track)","Cross-reference to European aviation safety regulation (EASA AD 2007-0239)","Technical aviation terminology requiring specialised knowledge (Service Bulletins, modification numbers, flight hours)","Dual compliance deadlines (immediate prohibition on installation vs. 18,000 flight hour replacement window)","Specific aircraft configuration dependencies (optional LH coupling, production vs. in-service modifications)"],"plain_english_summary":"This mandatory CASA Airworthiness Directive requires most Airbus A330 operators to replace faulty refuel isolation valves (and relabel the refuel/defuel coupling) because frozen water in the valve has caused guide shafts to break off and fall into fuel tanks — creating a metal debris and ignition risk. \n\nAffected aircraft must install the stronger replacement valves within 18,000 flight hours and stop fitting the old spare valves immediately; non‑compliance renders the aircraft unairworthy."},"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-a330-78-refuel-isolation-valve","history":"/api/acts/ad-a330-78-refuel-isolation-valve/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-a330-78-refuel-isolation-valve/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-a330-78-refuel-isolation-valve/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-a330-78-refuel-isolation-valve/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-a330-78-refuel-isolation-valve/documents"}}