ALL OPERATORS TELEX - ALL OPERATORS TELEX

SUBJECT: A340 - ATA52 - INSPECTION OF AFT CARGO COMPARTMENT DOOR OUR REF: AOT A340-52A4091 DATED 20 DECEMBER 2010 1. AIRCRAFT AFFECTED All A340-200/300 up to MSN 163 included that do not have SB 52-4054 incorporated. 2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTATION REF.1: SB 52-4053 rev 01 REF.2: SB 52-4054 rev 01 3. REASON 3.1 FACTS The affected aircraft have been subject to a mandatory inspection program of the aft cargo door called by SB ref.1 at a threshold of 12000 Flight Cycles (FC) and a repeat interval of 4000 FC. Accomplishment of Mod SB ref.2 reinforces the cargo door structure and cancels the inspection requirement. During a routine 2A check, an operator found the aft cargo door frame 64A cracked on a length of more than 3 inches. Outer skin rivets were also found sheared. At time of finding the aircraft had accumulated 10564 FC, i.e. below the 12000 FC threshold of inspection SB ref.1. The affected aircraft did not have SB ref.2 incorporated. 3.2 CONSEQUENCES In case of one cracked or ruptured cargo door frame, the loads will be transferred to the remaining structural elements. This second load path is able to sustain the loads for a limited number of flight cycles. With the current inspection threshold and interval as per SB ref. 1, the detection of a crack cannot be guaranteed, which might lead to cracking or rupture of a second cargo door frame. A Safety Assessment has shown that rupture of two frames represents an unsafe condition due to loss of the structural integrity of the aft cargo door. 3.3 AIM The aim of this AOT is to provide instructions for an inspection of the aft cargo door outer skin for sheared, loose or missing rivets at all frame fork ends. 4. ACTION REQUIRED 4.1 PLANNING Before the accumulation of 4000 FC since the first flight or within 400 FC after the AOT reception, whichever occurs later, the inspection described in paragraph 4.3 has to be performed and has to be repeated every 400 FC. 4.2 MANPOWER 0.2 man-hours per aircraft are estimated for the inspection.4.3 DESCRIPTION Before inspecting, close and lock the aft cargo door. Perform a detailed visual inspection of outer skin rivets at the frame fork ends between FR60 and Fr64A. Refer to the area A of the appendix 01 for details of the inspection. Inspect each area for sheared, loose or missing rivets. If no sheared, loose or missing rivet is found, repeat the inspection within the next 400 FC. If rivets are found sheared, loose or missing, no further flight is permitted. Contact Airbus for corrective action.
4.4 MATERIAL AIRBUS MATERIAL, LOGISTICS AND SUPPLIERS WEG BEIM JAEGER 150 D-22335 HAMBURG GERMANY FAX: + 49 40 5076 4012 INTERNET: HTTP://SPARES.AIRBUS.COM
5. TERMINATING ACTION The existing SB Ref.1 will be revised to take into account the new threshold and new inspection interval of this AOT. SB revision 02 and subsequent will supersede and cancel this AOT. Accomplishment of Mod SB ref.2 will also cancel the repetitive inspection requirement of this AOT. 6. AOT APPROVAL The technical content of this AOT has been approved under EASA design organisation EASA.21J.031. It is anticipated that this AOT will be rendered mandatory by an EASA AD. 7. REPORTING/ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Operators are requested to acknowledge receipt of this AOT within 48 hours after receipt to:
MS. CECILE BORDES SEES E-MAIL Cecile.bordes@airbus.com FAX NUMBER +33+ (0)5 61.93.47.35 This acknowledgement can be made through the AIRBUS field service where available. Question about this AOT and inspection results with or without findings are to be sent to AIRBUS CUSTOMER SERVICES ENGINEERING as soon as possible, after the AOT application, to the attention of: MR. PIERRE BARBEAU SEES3 PHONE NUMBER +33+ (0)5 67.19.73.35 FAX NUMBER +33+ (0)5 61.93.36.14 E-MAIL PIERRE.BARBEAU@AIRBUS.COM Best Regards
PHILIPPE GOURDON VICE PRESIDENT A330/A340 PROGRAMMECUSTOMER SERVICES DIRECTORATE
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