EASA AD No.: 2013-0256

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EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AD No.: 2013-0256

Date: 21 October 2013

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 EU 748/2012, Part 21.A.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].

Design Approval Holder’s Name:

AIRBUS

Type/Model designation(s):

A330 and A340 aeroplanes

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

Foreign AD: Not applicable

Supersedure: This AD supersedes EASA AD 2011-0242 dated 19 December 2011 and corrected 

15 February 2012.

ATA 56 Windows – Fixed Windows / Windshield Heating Connectors –

Inspection / Replacement

Manufacturer(s): Airbus (Formerly Airbus Industrie)

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

A330-243F, A330-301, A330-302, A330-303, A330-321, A330-322, A330-323,

A330-341, A330-342 and A330-343 aeroplanes, all manufacturer serial 

numbers (MSN).

Airbus A340-211, A340-212, A340-213, A340-311, A340-312, A340-313, A340-

541, A340-542, A340-642 and A340-643 aeroplanes, all MSN.

Reason: Several operators reported cases of burning smell and/or smoke in the cockpit 

during cruise phase leading in some cases to diversion. Findings showed that 

the cause of these events is the burning of the Saint-Gobain Sully (SGS) 

windshield connector terminal block.

This condition, if not corrected, could significantly increase the flight crew

workload which would, under some flight phases and/or circumstances

constitute an unsafe condition.

To address this unsafe condition, Airbus published 3 different Service Bulletins 

(SB) and EASA issued AD 2011-0242 (later corrected) which required the 

identification of the installed windshields and replacement of the affected part.

Since issuance of that AD, a new occurrence in service led Airbus to identify a 

new batch of affected parts.

For the reasons described above, this AD retains the requirements of EASA AD 

2011-0242, which is superseded, and requires identification and replacement of 

the additionally identified windshields.
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Effective Date: 04 November 2013

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance

Time(s):

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously:

Re-statement of requirements of EASA AD 2011-0242:

(1) Within 1 200 Flight Hours after 02 January 2012 [the effective date of 

EASA AD 2011-0242], inspect to identify the manufacturer, Part Number 

(P/N) and Serial Number (S/N) of the Left Hand (LH) and Right Hand (RH) 

windshields installed on the aeroplane in accordance with the instructions 

of Airbus Service Bulletin (SB) A330-56-3009 Revision 01, or SB A340-56-

4008, or SB A340-56-5002, as applicable to aeroplane type and model. A 

review of aeroplane delivery or maintenance records is acceptable to 

determine the Manufacturer, P/N and S/N of the installed windshields, 

provided the Manufacturer, P/N and S/N of the installed windshields can be 

conclusively determined from that review. 

(2) If the installed LH and/or RH windshield(s) is/are manufactured by SGS 

and the identified P/N and S/N is/are listed in Airbus SB A330-56-3009 

Revision 01, or SB A340-56-4008, or SB A340-56-5002, as applicable to 

aeroplane type and model, within 9 months after 02 January 2012 [the 

effective date of EASA AD 2011-0242], replace the affected LH and/or RH 

windshield(s) in accordance with the instructions of Airbus SB A330-56-

3009 Revision 01, or SB A340-56-4008, or SB A340-56- 5002, as 

applicable to aeroplane type and model.

New requirements of this AD:

(3) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, inspect to identify the 

manufacturer, P/N and S/N of the LH and RH windshields installed on the 

aeroplane in accordance with the instructions of Airbus SB A330-56-3009 

Revision 03, or Airbus SB A340-56-4008 Revision 02, or Airbus SB A340-

56-5002 Revision 02, as applicable to aeroplane type and model. A review 

of aeroplane delivery or maintenance records is acceptable to determine 

the Manufacturer, P/N and S/N of the installed windshields, provided the 

Manufacturer, P/N and S/N of the installed windshields can be conclusively 

determined from that review.

(4) If the installed LH and/or RH windshield(s) is/are manufactured by SGS 

and the identified P/N and S/N is/are listed in Appendix 2 of Airbus SB 

A330-56-3009 Revision 03, or Airbus SB A340-56-4008 Revision 02, or 

Airbus SB A340-56-5002 Revision 02, as applicable to aeroplane type and 

model, or if the Manufacturer, or P/N or S/N is not identifiable, within 6 

months after the effective date of this AD, replace the affected LH and/or 

RH windshield(s) with a serviceable part in accordance with the 

instructions of Airbus SB A330-56-3009 Revision 03, or SB A340-56-4008 

Revision 02, or SB A340-56- 5002 Revision 02, as applicable to aeroplane 

type and model.

Note: A serviceable windshield is a windshield not listed in Appendix 1 of Airbus 

SB A330-56-3009 Revision 03, or SB A340-56-4008 Revision 02, or SB A340-

56-5002 Revision 02, or included in the list but having a suffix “U” added to the 

S/N on the identification plate.

(5) An aeroplane which, before the effective date of this AD, has been 

inspected and, depending on findings, corrected as required by paragraphs 

(1) and (2) of this AD, is not affected by the requirement of paragraphs (3) 

and (4) of this AD, provided that, since those actions were accomplished

on that aeroplane, no replacement windshield has been installed with a 

P/N and S/N as listed in Appendix 2 of Airbus SB A330-56-3009 Revision 

03, or Airbus SB A340-56-4008 Revision 02, or Airbus SB A340-56-5002 

Revision 02, as applicable to aeroplane type and model.

(6) From the effective date of this AD, do not install on an aeroplane any 

affected windshield from SGS having a P/N and S/N as listed in Appendix 
EASA AD No.: 2013-0256

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1 of Airbus SB A330-56-3009 Revision 03, or Airbus SB A340-56-4008

Revision 02, or Airbus SB A340-56-5002 Revision 02, as applicable to 

aeroplane type and model, unless a suffix “U” has been added on the S/N

identification plate.

Ref. Publications: Airbus SB A330-56-3009 original issue dated 04 May 2010 or revision 01 dated 

27 January 2011, or revision 02 dated 08 February 2012, or Revision 03 dated

01 August 2013.

Airbus SB A340-56-4008 original issue dated 04 May 2010, or revision 01 dated 

08 February 2012, or Revision 02 dated 01 August 2013.

Airbus SB A340-56-5002 original issue dated 04 May 2010, or revision 01 dated 

08 February 2012, or Revision 02 dated 01 August 2013.

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 18 September 2013 as PAD 13-142 for consultation 

until 15 October 2013. No comments were received during the consultation 

period.

3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the Safety Information 

Section, Executive 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 – EIAL;

E-mail: airworthiness.A330-A340@airbus.com.