EASA AD No.: 2011-0018 

EASA Form 110 Page 1/3 

 

EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2011-0018 

Date: 03 February 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) : 

A330 aeroplanes 

TCDS Number : EASA.A.004 

Foreign AD : Not applicable 

Supersedure : DGAC AD F-2001-528 (B) R2 dated 23 June 2004 approved by EASA 

Approval No. 2004-6375. 

ATA 78 Exhaust – Thrust Reverser – C-Ducts – Life Limits 

Manufacturer(s): Airbus (formerly Airbus Industrie) 

Applicability: Airbus A330 aeroplanes, -243, -243F, -341, -342 and -343 models, all 

manufacturer serial numbers. 

Reason: The life limits of the thrust reversers C-Ducts are not addressed by the 

definition of the structural life limits of Safe Life items as defined in the 

A330 Airworthiness Limitations Section - ALS Part 1. As a result, these 

life limits are covered by an Airworthiness Directive (AD). 

These life limits are due to unexpected high fatigue loads (measured 

during certification tests) on the hinges integrated into the 12 o’clock 

beam, which forms the upper extreme edge of the thrust reverser 

C-Duct of Rolls Royce Trent 700 engines.

The aim of the DGAC France AD F-2001-528 was to mandate the life 

limits, depending of the modifications applied to the C-Duct.

Revision 1 of the DGAC France AD F-2001-528 deferred the 

accomplishment threshold of the modification to be applied in-service 

from 6 000 flight cycles (FC) to 6 500 FC. 

Revision 2 of DGAC France AD F-2001-528 was issued to update 

again the accomplishment threshold from 6 500 FC to 7 200 FC. 

This AD retains the requirements of DGAC France AD F-2001-528 R2, 

which is superseded, and adds the following life limits: 
EASA AD No.: 2011-0018 

EASA Form 110 Page 2/3 

 

- Part Numbers (P/N) of the thrust reversers C-Ducts: HDTR3416L, 

HDTR3417L, HDTR3419R, HDTR3420R life limit is 25 000 FC; 

- P/N HDTR3415L and HDTR3418R life limit is 40 000 FC. 

Effective Date: 17 February 2011 

Required action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s): 

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously: 

(1) Before the accumulation of 10 000 total FC since their first installation 

on an aeroplane, remove from service the following thrust reversers 

C-Ducts: 

P/N HDTR3410L, 

P/N HDTR3410R, 

P/N HDTR3411L, 

P/N HDTR3411R, 

P/N HDTR3412R, 

P/N HDTR3413R. 

(2) Before the accumulation of 10 000 total FC since their first installation 

on an aeroplane, remove from service the following thrust reversers 

C-Ducts: 

P/N HDTR3414L, 

P/N HDTR3416R, 

P/N HDTR3417R, 

that have been modified in service in accordance with Airbus Service 

Bulletin (SB) A330-78-3010 (or ROLLS-ROYCE SB RB211-78-

C899) at or after accumulation of 7 200 FC since their first 

installation on an aeroplane. 

(3) Before the accumulation of 25 000 total FC since their first 

installation on an aeroplane, remove from service the following thrust 

reversers 

C-Ducts: 

P/N HDTR3414L, 

P/N HDTR3416R, 

P/N HDTR3417R, 

that have received in production Airbus modification 47316, or that 

have been modified in service in accordance with Airbus SB 

A330-78-3010 (or ROLLS-ROYCE SB RB211-78-C899) before the 

accumulation of 7 200 FC since their first installation on an 

aeroplane. 

(4) Before the accumulation of 25 000 total FC since their first 

installation on an aeroplane, remove from service the following thrust 

reversers C-Ducts: 

P/N HDTR3412L, 

P/N HDTR3416L, 

P/N HDTR3417L, 

P/N HDTR3414R, 

P/N HDTR3419R, 

P/N HDTR3420R. 
EASA AD No.: 2011-0018 

EASA Form 110 Page 3/3 

 

(5) Before they have accumulated the current demonstrated life limits, 

remove from service the thrust reversers C-Ducts shown in Table 1. 

of this AD. It is also required to monitor the FC accumulation for the 

C-Ducts shown in Table 1. of this AD. 

 Table 1. 

 C-Ducts P/N Demonstrated life limits 

HDTR3413L 40 000 FC 

HDTR3415R 40 000 FC 

HDTR3415L 40 000 FC 

HDTR3418R 40 000 FC 

 

Ref. Publications: Airbus Service Bulletin A330-78-3010 Original issue. 

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 30 November 2010 as PAD 10-119 for 

consultation until 28 December 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 – EAL; E-mail: airworthiness.A330-A340@airbus.com.