EASA AD No.: 2009-0255 

EASA Form 110 Page 1/3 

EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2009-0255 

Date: 01 December 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) : 

A330 and A340-200/-300 aeroplanes 

TCDS Number : EASA.A.004, EASA.A.015 

Foreign AD : Not applicable 

Supersedure : This AD supersedes DGAC France AD F-2004-118 R1 dated 13 October 

2004 approved under EASA reference N. 2004-10125. 

ATA 55 Stabilizers – Elevators – Inspection 

Manufacturer(s): Airbus (formerly Airbus Industrie) 

Applicability: Airbus A330-201, A330-202, A330-203, A330-223, A330-243, A330-301, 

A330-302, A330-303, A330-321, A330-322, A330-323, A330-341, 

A330-342, A330-343, A340-211, A340-212, A340-213, A340-311, 

A340-312, A340-313, all manufacturer serial numbers (MSN) if equipped 

with the following elevators part numbers (P/N) : 

- LH Elevator : P/N F55280000000ZZ, or 

 P/N F55280000002ZZ, or 

 P/N F55280000004ZZ, or 

 P/N F55280000006ZZ, or 

 P/N F55280000008ZZ, or 

 P/N F55280000012ZZ, or 

 P/N F55280002000ZZ, or 

 P/N F55280005000ZZ, or 

 P/N F55280005002ZZ, or 

 P/N F55280005004ZZ, 

with ZZ varying from 00 up to 99 inclusive. 
EASA AD No.: 2009-0255 

EASA Form 110 Page 2/3 

- RH Elevator : P/N F55280000001ZZ, or 

 P/N F55280000003ZZ, or 

 P/N F55280000005ZZ, or 

 P/N F55280000007ZZ, or 

 P/N F55280000009ZZ, or 

 P/N F55280000013ZZ, or 

 P/N F55280002001ZZ, or 

 P/N F55280005001ZZ, or 

 P/N F55280005003ZZ, or 

 P/N F55280005005ZZ 

with ZZ varying from 00 up to 99 inclusive. 

Reason: A debonding area was detected on the RH elevator of an A340 in-service 

aeroplane during a scheduled maintenance task inspection. 

Investigation has revealed that this debonding may have been caused by 

water ingress and, if not detected and corrected, might compromise the 

structural integrity of the elevators. 

DGAC France AD F-2004-118 R1 (EASA approval N. 2004-10125) required a 

one-time inspection of elevators skin panels installed on MSN up to 091, to 

detect potential liquid ingress and repair as necessary, in accordance with 

Airbus inspection service bulletins (ISB) A330-55-3032 and A340-55-4029. 

Following the AD issuance, further in-service experience has shown that in 

order to ensure the structural integrity of all A330 / A340 elevators skin panels 

with sandwich construction (excluding A340-500 / -600), it is necessary to 

perform the same elevators panels inspection and to repair as necessary, but 

in a repetitive manner. 

The aim of this AD, which supersedes DGAC France AD F-2004-118 R1, is to 

require this additional inspection program in order to maintain the structural 

integrity of the elevators. 

Effective Date: 15 December 2009 

Required action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s): 

Required as indicated : 

(1) Unless accomplished previously, perform a special detailed inspection 

of elevator upper and lower skin panels , in accordance with the 

instructions given in Airbus Service Bulletin (SB) A330-55-3039 or SB 

A340-55-4035, as applicable : 

a) For elevators that have not been inspected in accordance with Airbus 

SB A330-55-3032 or A340-55-4029 : 

 Within 12 years (144 months) since the date of the elevator first flight 

on an aeroplane, or within 24 months after the effective date of this 

AD, whichever occurs later. 

b) For elevators that have been inspected in accordance with Airbus SB 

A330-55-3032 or A340-55-4029 : 

 Within 6 years (72 months) since the date of the elevator first flight 

after the accomplishment of Airbus SB A330-55-3032 or 

A340-55-4029, or within 24 months after the effective date of this 

AD, whichever occurs later. 

(2) Thereafter, repeat the inspection required by paragraph (1) of this AD 

at intervals not to exceed 6 years (72 months) from the date of the 

elevator first flight after the last inspection. 
EASA AD No.: 2009-0255 

EASA Form 110 Page 3/3 

(3) In case of discrepancies found during the inspections required by 

paragraphs (1) and (2) of this AD and in accordance with the 

instructions of SB A330-55-3039 or A340-55-4035, before the next 

elevator flight : 

- Contact Airbus for instructions and follow their corrective actions, or 

- Repair according to the SRM 

(4) After the accomplishment of the actions required by paragraph (1), (2) 

or (3) of this AD and before next elevator flight, perform a re-protection 

in accordance with the instructions of Airbus SB A330-55-3039 or SB 

A340-55-4035. 

(5) Within 30 days after the accomplishment of the actions required by 

paragraph (1), (2) or (3) of this AD, report the results of the inspections, 

whatever they are, to Airbus in accordance with the instructions of SB 

A330-55-3039 or A340-55-4035. 

(6) After the effective date of this AD, no person shall install any elevator 

identified in the applicability section of this AD on an aeroplane unless 

it is in compliance with the requirements of this AD. 

Ref. Publications: Airbus Service Bulletin A330-55-3039 at original issue, 

Airbus Service Bulletin A340-55-4035 at original issue. 

 The use of later approved revisions of these documents is acceptable for 

compliance with the requirements of the AD. 

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

Alternative Methods of Compliance for this AD. 

2. This AD was posted on 24 September 2009 as PAD 09-113 for 

consultation until 22 October 2009. 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.