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 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) : 

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, A318-121, 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 unsuccessful slide deployments during scheduled 

deployment tests and/or failed functional tests of the release travel of the slide 

release mechanism. 

Investigations revealed deformation of the 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 stripes instead of stamped PTFE stripes. 

Effective Date: 14 February 2011 
EASA 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 original 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 original issue, or SB A320-28-1154 at 

original issue, that installs a shorter 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 A320-53-1227 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 & 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 – EAS Fax +33 5 

61 93 44 51, E-mail: account.airworth-eas@airbus.com.