EASA AD No.: 2009-0130 

EASA Form 110 Page 1/2 

 

EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2009-0130 

Date: 23 June 2009 

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) : 

A340-500/-600 aeroplanes 

TCDS Number : EASA.A.015

Foreign AD : Not applicable 

Supersedure : None 

ATA 29 Hydraulic Power – Yellow Hydraulic System – Inspection 

Manufacturer(s): AIRBUS (formerly AIRBUS INDUSTRIE) 

Applicability: AIRBUS A340 model -541, -542, -642 and -643 aeroplanes, all 

manufacturer serial numbers. 

Reason: Following successive ECAM warnings during the approach phase, just 

after the landing gear extension sequence and an uneventful landing, the 

maintenance inspection on an Airbus A340 has revealed an hydraulic leak 

that was caused by the failure of the Yellow high pressure (HP) hydraulic 

pipe supplying the back-up Nose Wheel Steering (NWS) which runs along 

the lower part of the avionic bay from frame 17 to frame 20. 

This leak resulted in the loss of the Yellow hydraulic system and 

contamination of the avionics bay with sprayed hydraulic fluid. 

This condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in an ingestion of 

hydraulic fluid in the electrical connectors, which could generate an arcing 

phenomenon and, if sufficient energy is provided by the arcing, lead to an 

ignition source, which would be an unsafe condition. 

This AD requires the repetitive inspection of the Yellow HP hydraulic line 

from frame 17 to the elbow connection near frame 20, the application of 

the associated corrective actions, as necessary, and the repetitive 

performance of a bleeding of the NWS system to verify the correct 

installation and condition of the HP hydraulic line. 
EASA AD No.: 2009-0130 

EASA Form 110 Page 2/2 

 

Effective Date: 07 July 2009 

Required action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s): 

Required as indicated: 

(1) Unless already accomplished, perform a detailed visual inspection of 

the Yellow HP hydraulic line from frame 17 to the elbow connection 

near frame 20, apply the associated corrective actions, and perform a 

bleeding of the NWS system to verify the correct installation and 

condition of the HP hydraulic line, in accordance with the instructions 

defined in AIRBUS All Operators Telex A340-29A5014: 

- within 100 Flight Cycles (FC) from the effective date of this 

AD, for aeroplanes having accumulated at the effective date 

of this AD more than or equal to 1 000 FC from the aeroplane 

first flight, 

or 

- within 250 FC from the effective date of this AD, for 

aeroplanes having accumulated at the effective date of this 

AD less than 1 000 FC from the aeroplane first flight. 

(2) Repeat the actions required in paragraph (1) of this AD at intervals not 

exceeding 500 FC. 

Ref. Publications: AIRBUS All Operators Telex A340-29A5014 dated 14 October 2008. 

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 13 May 2009 as PAD 09-067 for consultation 

until 12 June 2009. 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 934451, E-mail: airworthiness.A330-A340@airbus.com.