EASA AD No : 2010-0255 

EASA Form 110 Page 1/2 

 

EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2010-0255 

Date: 06 December 2010 

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) : 

A340-600 aeroplanes 

TCDS Number : EASA.A.015 

Foreign AD : Not applicable 

Supersedure : None 

ATA 26 Fire Protection – Fire Extinguishing System – Modification 

Manufacturer(s): Airbus (formerly Airbus Industrie) 

Applicability: Airbus A340 aeroplanes, models -642 and -643, all manufacturer serial 

numbers, on which Airbus modification (mod.) 47090 has been embodied 

in production, and except those on which Airbus mod. 51065 has been 

embodied in production. 

Reason: During the qualification test campaign of the prototype Flow Metering 

Compact Unit (FMCU) Part Number (P/N) QA07907-03, partial blockage 

of the water absorbing filter element P/N QA06123 was observed several 

times. The blockage was created by carbon debris from the cartridge and 

from the burst disc of the Halon bottle. 

This water absorbing filter element is part of the FMCU, which are part of 

the Lower Deck Cargo Compartment (LDCC) fire extinguisher system

used in some A340-600 aeroplanes. 

Blockage of the water absorbing filter element could lead to reduction of 

the Halon outflow, leading to incapacity to maintain fire extinguishing 

agent concentration. Combined with fire, this condition could result in an 

uncontrolled fire in the affected compartment, which would constitute an 

unsafe condition. 

To avoid water absorbing filter element blockage, this AD requires to 

convert the fire extinguishing system from the three-bottles-system with 4 

FMCU into a two-bottles-system with 2 Flow Metering Systems (FMS) 

equipped with upgraded water absorbing filter elements. 
EASA AD No : 2010-0255 

EASA Form 110 Page 2/2 

 

Effective Date: 20 December 2010 

Required action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s): 

Required as indicated, unless already accomplished: 

Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, modify the fire 

extinguishing system, from a three bottles solution with 4 FMCU into a two 

bottles solution with 2 FMS equipped with upgraded water absorbing filter 

elements, in accordance with the instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin 

(SB) A340-26-5020. 

Ref. Publications: Airbus Service Bulletin A340-26-5020 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 11 October 2010 as PAD 10-109 for 

consultation until 08 November 2010. No comments were received 

during the consultation period. 

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. 

Fax: +33 5 61 93 45 80 or + 33 5 61 93 44 51. 

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