Commonwealth legislation

AD/A320/137 Amdt 1 - Fuel Probes and Fuel Tank Level Sensors

In ForceCTH

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Collection

legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

6/10 complexity

This Airworthiness Directive requires operators of Airbus A319/A320 series aeroplanes to modify fuel‑tank probe electrical connectors and, for certain A319s, replace fuel tank level sensors (per Airbus SB A320‑28‑1087 and A320‑28‑1086). CASA put the requirement in place after DGAC/Airbus found a possible 28 V DC short that could overheat probes and risk igniting fuel vapour, and that some additional centre tanks lack the mandated expansion space. Aircraft operators pay the compliance cost and must schedule work by the stated hours or date.

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Direct links to the current provisions in AD/A320/137 Amdt 1 - Fuel Probes and Fuel Tank Level Sensors.

AD/A320/137 Amdt 1 - Fuel Probes and Fuel Tank Level Sensors

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AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

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For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/137 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

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Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes

AD/A320/137

Amdt 1

Fuel Probes and Fuel Tank Level Sensors 12/2003

Applicability: A319 and A320 series aeroplanes, all manufacturers serial numbers (MSN) except those with Airbus modification 28904 embodied during production or Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin (SB) A320-28-1087 incorporated.

A319 and A320 series aeroplanes, all MSN, with a first Additional Centre Tank (ACT) installed in accordance with Airbus modification 25714 embodied during production or Airbus Industrie SB A320-28-1081, except aeroplanes that had both Airbus modifications 28904 and 30196 embodied during production or have incorporated SB A320-28-1087.

A319 and A320 series aeroplanes, all MSN, with a second ACT installed in accordance with Airbus modification 26131 embodied during production or Airbus Industrie SB A320-28-1081, except aeroplanes that had both Airbus modifications 28904 and 30492 embodied during production or have incorporated SB A320-28- 1087.

A319 series aeroplanes, all MSN, with Airbus modifications 28238, 28162 and 28342 embodied during production, except aeroplanes that had Airbus modifications 28720, 28904 and 30227 embodied during production or have incorporated both SB’s A320- 28-1086 and A320-28-1087.

Requirement: 1. Unless already accomplished modify the fuel tank probe electrical connectors in accordance with SB A320-28-1087.

For A319 series aeroplanes with Airbus modifications 28238, 28162 and 28342 embodied during production, in addition to SB A320-28-1087, replace the fuel tank level sensors in accordance with SB A320-28-1086.

Note: DGAC AD 2002-220(B) R1 refers.

Compliance: For Requirements 1 and 2 - Remains unchanged as ‘Either before 31 December 2004 or within 4,000 hours’ time in service after the effective date of the original issue of this Directive, whichever occurs first’.

This Amendment becomes effective on 27 November 2003.

Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes

AD/A320/137 Amdt 1 (continued)

Background: The French Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC) has advised that investigations performed by Airbus Industrie have revealed a potential risk of a 28VDC short circuit, external to the fuel tank, to the fuel quantity indication wiring that enters the fuel tank may lead to overheating of the probes. This condition could result in ignition of fuel vapours within the fuel tank.

Additionally, the DGAC has advised that Airbus Industrie found, during their investigations, that the additional centre tanks do not meet the Joint Aviation Requirements (JAR) 25.969 for an expansion space of not less than 2% of tank capacity.

The original issue of this Directive required modification of the fuel probe electrical connectors and the lowering of the high-level fuel tank sensors in certain aeroplanes.

This amendment does not change the original requirements or compliance, it extends the applicability to aeroplanes not originally covered and incorporates minor editorial changes.

The original issue of this Directive became effective on 13 June 2002.

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Jim Coyne

Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 14 October 2003

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The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 5 November 2003.

Source text

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

1 AD/A320/137 Amdt 1 - Fuel Probes and Fuel Tank Level Sensors

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes

AD/A320/137

Amdt 1

Fuel Probes and Fuel Tank Level Sensors 12/2003

Requirement: 1. Unless already accomplished modify the fuel tank probe electrical connectors in accordance with SB A320-28-1087.

For A319 series aeroplanes with Airbus modifications 28238, 28162 and 28342 embodied during production, in addition to SB A320-28-1087, replace the fuel tank level sensors in accordance with SB A320-28-1086.

Note: DGAC AD 2002-220(B) R1 refers.