AL ERT OPERATOR TRANSMI SSI ON - ALERT OPERATOR TRANSMI SSI ON

SUBJECT: A340 - ATA52 - INSPECTI ON OF AFT CARGO COMPARTMENT DOOR AT FRAME 60 AND FRAME 60A OUR REF: AOT A340 - A52L 002 - 12 dated 3 Dec 2012 1. AIRCRAFT AFFECTED All A340 - 200/300 aircraft up to MSN 164 except those that have SB 52 - 4054 incorporated. 2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTATION Ref.1: SRM 52 - 31 - 00 PB 001 Fig.3 Sheet 1 Item 100 Ref.2: SRM 52 - 31 - 00 PB 001 Fig.3 Sheet 1 Item 105 Ref.3: AOT A330 - 52A3085 - Inspection of forward cargo compartment door R ef.4: SRM 52 - 32 - 00 PB 001 Fig.3 Sheet 1 Item 100 Ref.5: SRM 52 - 32 - 00 PB 001 Fig.3 Sheet 1 Item 105 Ref.6: AOT A340 - 52A4091 - Inspection of aft cargo compartment door Ref.7: IPC 52 - 32 - 11 - COVER - ACCESS, HANDLE Zone(s): 822 - Access Panels 822DR and 822CR R ef.8: TFU 52.32.00.003 - Aft cargo door cracked frame 3. REASON 3.1 FACTS One operator has recently reported a case of A330 forward cargo door with two adjacent frame forks found cracked. Frame 20B (Ref.1) was found cracked through, frame 21 (Ref.2) w as found cracked half through. At time of findings the aircraft had accumulated around 21000 FC. This A/C has been regularly inspected as per AOT Ref.3 inspection. However, during AOT Ref.3 accomplishment, the forward cargo door handle access panels 821CR and 821DR (Ref.7) were not removed, thus cracks at these two frames location might have remained undetected. Note: A330/A340 forward cargo door Frame 20B between beam 3 and beam 4 is inspected according to ALI Task 523106 - 01 - 1 (for A/C pre - mod 50528 and A/C pre - mod 51038) with a first inspection at 10600FC and repetitive inspections every 2600 FC. 3.2 CONSEQUENCESIn case of one cracked or ruptured forward or aft cargo door frame, the loads will be

transferred to the remaining structural elements. This s econd load path is able to sustain the loads for a limited number of flight cycles. A Safet y Assessment has shown that rupture of two vertical frames represents an unsafe condition due to the loss of the structural integrit y of the cargo door. As a conse quence of the above and based on this new event on forward cargo door, it is necessary to launch an in - service action for both forward and aft cargo doors to ensure that structure behind handle access panels has been properly inspected. 3.3 AIM The aim of this AOT is to provide instructions for a repetitive time inspection of the aft cargo door frames Fr60 (Ref.4) and Fr60A (Ref.5) for cracks and for sheared, loose or missing rivets. Afterwards, inspection described in paragraph 4.3 has to be repeated ev ery 400FC. 4. ACTION REQUIRED 4.1 PLANNING Perform the inspection described in paragraph 4.3 before the accumulation of 15800 FC after the first flight or within 100 FC from AOT issue date whichever occurs later. Afterwards, inspection described in par agraph 4.3 has to be repeated every 400FC. 4.2 MANPOWER 0.5 man - hours per aircraft are estimated for the inspection accomplishment. 4.3 DESCRIPTION Before inspecting, close and lock the forward cargo door. Perform a detailed visual inspection of oute r skin rivets at frame fork end Fr60 and Fr60A for loose, sheared or missing rivets (Refer to appendix 01) Remove handle access panels 822CR and 822DR Ref. 7 (Refer to appendix 02). Perform a detailed visual inspection of the whole Fr60 and Fr60A forks f or cracks and for loose, sheared or missing rivets at frame web and flanges (Refer to appendix 03). In case of crack findings or rivets found sheared, loose or missing, the aft cargo door has to be repaired before next flight. Contact Airbus for repair i nstructions.In case of nil finding repeat this inspection every 400 FC as well as. the inspection as per AOT Ref.6 which remains applicable. 4.4 MATERIAL AIRBUS MATERIAL, LOGI STI CS AND SUPPLIERS WEG BEIM JAEGER 150 D - 22335 HAMBURG GERMANY FAX: + 49 40 5076 4012 IN TERNET: HTTP://SPARES.AIRBUS.COM 5. TERMI

NATING ACTION A repetitive inspection service bulletin for the aft cargo door is under preparation and will supersede and cancel this AOT as well as AOT Ref. 6 and ISB 52 - 4053 "AFT CARGO COMPARTMENT D OOR - INSPECT STRUCTURE FOR CRACKS". It is anticipated that this inspection service bulletin will be mandatory . TFU Ref.8 will keep operators informed about the forthcoming terminating action. 6. AOT APPROVAL The technical content of this document is ap proved under the authorit y of DOA nr. EASA.21J.031. It is anticipated that this AOT will be rendered mandatory by an EASA AD. 7. REPORTI

NG/ACKOWLEDGEMENT Operators are requested to acknowledge receipt of this AOT within 48 hours after receipt to: Cec ile BORDES, SEES E - mail: cecile.bordes@airbus.com Fax number: +33+ (0)5 61.93.36.14 Question about this AOT and inspection results with or without findings are to be sent to AIRBUS CUSTOMER SERVI CES ENGINEERING as soon as possible, after the AOT applicati on, to the attention of: Celine GALLET, SEES3 Phone number: +33+ (0)5 61.18.87.45 Fax number: +33+ (0)5 61.93.36.14 E - mail: celine.gallet@airbus.comBest Regards,

Jean - Lu c MOUYSSET Philippe GOURDON VI CE PRESIDENT E NGI NEERING SUPPORT VI CE PRESIDENT A330/A340 PROGRAMME CUSTOMER SERVI CES CUSTOMER SERVI CES