EASA AD No : 2011-0015

EASA Form 110 Page 1/2 

## EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AD No.: 2011-0015

Date: 31 January 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 th e 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 opera te an aircraft to which an AD applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that AD unless otherwise specified by the Age ncy [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) exemptio n]. 

### Type Approval Holder’s Name :

AIRBUS Type/Model designation(s) :
A318, A319 and A320 aeroplanes

TCDS Number : EASA.A.064

Foreign AD : Not applicable

Supersedure : None



### ATA 53 Fuselage – Emergency Off-Wing Exit Escape Slide Release Cables – Replacement

Manufacturer(s): Airbus (formerly Airbus Industrie)

Applicability: Airbus A318-111, A318-112, A318-1 21, A318-122, A319-111, A319-112, A319-113, A319-114, A319-115, A319 -131, A319-132, A319-133, A320-111, A320-211, A320-212, A320-214, A320 -215, A320-216, A320-231, A320-232, and A320-233 aeroplanes, all serial numbers.

Reason: Several operators reported unsuccessfu l slide deployments during scheduled deployment tests and/or failed functional te sts of the release travel of the slide release mechanism. Investigations revealed deformation of t he PTFE (Teflon) ball guide strip of the release cable, Part Number (P/N) L32A319-160-001. In such a situation the travel of the cable could be insufficient to open the valve when opening the exit, thereby reducing the gas flow from the reservoir to the off-wing slide in automatic or manual mode. As a result, the aspirator will not ingest sufficient ambient air for slide inflation. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to the non-availability of LH and/or RH off-wing exit slides for evacuation that would impair emergency evacuation of the aeroplane occupants, possibly resulting in personal injuries. For the reasons described above, this AD requires the identification and replacement of both Left hand (LH) and Right Hand (RH) off-wing slide release cables P/N L32A319-160-001 with P/N L32A320-180, which have precise stainless steel ball bearing stri pes instead of stamped PTFE stripes.

Effective Date: 14 February 2011EASA AD No : 2011-0015

EASA Form 110 Page 2/2 Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s): Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously: (1) Within the next 36 months after the effective date of this AD, identify and replace all off-wing slide release cables P/N L32A319-160-001 with new cables, P/N L32A320-180, in accordance with the instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin (SB) A320-53-1227 Revision 01. (2) Aeroplanes on which all off-wing slide release cables P/N L32A319-160- 001 have been replaced, prior to the effective date of this AD, with new P/N L32A320-180 cables, in accordance with the instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1227 at orig inal issue, and aeroplanes on which Airbus modification 150811, or 26138, or 37856, or 39673 has been embodied in production, are compliant with the requirements of paragraph (1) of this AD. (3) Modification of an aeroplane in accordance with the instructions of either Airbus SB A320-28-1118 at original issue, or SB A320-28-1132 at original issue, or SB A320-28-1145 at origi nal issue, or SB A320-28-1154 at original issue, that installs a shor ter off-wing slide release cable, P/N L32A319-160-002, with inflation bottle relocation due to Additional Centre Tank (ACT) provision, constitutes an acceptable method to comply with the requirements of paragraph (1) of this AD. (4) After modification of an aeroplane as required by paragraph (1) of this AD, or after modification of an aeroplane in accordance with the optional modification as specified in paragraph (3) of this AD, as applicable, do not install any off-wing slide release cable P/N L32A319-160-001 on that aeroplane. (5) For aeroplanes that do not have off-wing slide release cables P/N L32A319-160-001 installed, from the effective date of this AD, do not install any off-wing slide release cable P/N L32A319-160-001 on those aeroplanes.

Ref. Publications: Airbus Service Bulletin A 320-53-1227 at original issue or Revision 01. Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1118 at original issue. Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1132 at original issue. Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1145 at original issue. Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1154 at original issue. The use of later approved revisions of these documents 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 October 2010 as PAD 10-110 for consultation until 10 November 2010. 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 & Re search Section, Certification Directorate, EASA. E-mail ADs@easa.europa.eu

. 4. For any question concerning the tec hnical content of the requirements in this AD, please contact: AIRBUS – Airworthiness Office – EAS Fax +33 5 61 93 44 51, E-mail: account.airworth-eas@airbus.com

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