EASA AD No : 2011-0062 

EASA Form 110 Page 1/2 

 

EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2011-0062 

Date: 04 April 2011 

Note: This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued by EASA, acting in accordance with 

Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 on behalf of the European Community, its Member States 

and of the European third countries that participate in the activities of EASA under Article 

66 of that Regulation. 

This AD is issued in accordance with EC 1702/2003, Part 21A.3B. In accordance with EC 2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.301, the 

continuing airworthiness of an aircraft shall be ensured by accomplishing any applicable ADs. Consequently, no person may 

operate an aircraft to which an AD applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that AD unless otherwise specified by

the Agency [EC 2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.303] or agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry [EC 216/2008, Article 

14(4) exemption]. 

Type Approval Holder’s Name : 

AIRBUS

Type/Model designation(s) : 

A330 aeroplanes 

TCDS Number : EASA.A.004 

Foreign AD : Not applicable 

Supersedure : None 

ATA 71 Engine – Engine Air Intake Cowl Assembly – Piccolo Tube – 

Inspection 

Manufacturer(s): Airbus (formerly Airbus Industrie) 

Applicability: Airbus A330 aeroplanes, models -243, -243F, -341, -342 and -343, all 

manufacturer serial numbers. 

Reason: During shop visit, several primary assembly structures of A330 aeroplanes 

Trent 700 air intake cowl have been found with cracks in the forward 

bulkhead web, web stiffeners and outer boundary angles. Several 

attachment links have been found severely worn, and some had become 

detached. In 2 cases, the Thermal Anti Ice (TAI) Piccolo tube was found 

fractured. Investigations are still ongoing to determine the root cause(s). 

If not detected and corrected, a broken Piccolo tube in conjunction with 

forward bulkhead damage could ultimately lead to in flight detachment of 

the outer barrel, which would constitute an unsafe condition. 

For the reasons described above, this AD requires to perform inspections 

of RR Trent 700 nose cowls and, depending on findings, to do the 

applicable corrective action(s). These inspections include internal 

inspection of Piccolo tube, detailed inspection of Piccolo tube mount links, 

inspection of aft side of forward bulkhead and outer boundary angle.

Effective Date: 18 April 2011 
EASA AD No : 2011-0062 

EASA Form 110 Page 2/2 

 

Required action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s): 

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously: 

(1) Within the threshold indicated in Table 1 of this AD, as applicable, do 

a boroscope inspection of each Air Intake Cowl Assembly of each 

engine to detect cracked or fractured Piccolo tube, Piccolo tube mount 

links or damaged forward bulkhead and outer boundary angle, in 

accordance with the instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin (SB) 

A330-71-3025. 

Table 1 

Flight Cycles (FC) accumulated 

at the effective date of this AD by 

the air intake cowl since its first 

installation on an aeroplane 

Threshold 

Less than 5 000 FC Within 24 months after the air 

intake cowl has accumulated 5 000 

FC 

More than or equal to 5 000 FC Within 24 months after the effective 

date of this AD 

(2) Depending on findings and within the timeframe given in Airbus SB 

A330-71-3025, do the applicable corrective actions (further 

inspections and/or affected air intake cowl replacement followed by 

repetitive inspections) in accordance with the instructions of Airbus SB 

A330-71-3025. 

Ref. Publications: Airbus Service Bulletin A330-71-3025 at original issue. 

The use of later approved revisions of this document is acceptable for 

compliance with the requirements of this AD. 

Remarks: 1. If requested and appropriately substantiated, EASA can approve 

Alternative Methods of Compliance for this AD. 

2. This AD was posted on 03 February 2011 as PAD 11-012 for 

consultation until 03 March 2011. The Comment Response Document 

can be found at http://ad.easa.europa.eu/. 

3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the Airworthiness 

Directives, Safety Management & Research Section, Certification 

Directorate, EASA. E-mail: ADs@easa.europa.eu. 

4. For any question concerning the technical content of the requirements 

in this AD, please contact: AIRBUS – Airworthiness Office – EAL; 

E-mail: airworthiness.A330-A340@airbus.com.