EASA AD No.: 2011-0170 

EASA Form 110 Page 1/3 

EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2011-0170 

Date: 07 September 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 and A340-200/-300 aeroplanes 

TCDS Numbers: EASA.A.004, EASA.A.015 

Foreign AD: Not applicable 

Supersedure: None 

ATA 32 Landing Gear – Main Landing Gear (MLG) Wheel Axle - Reduced 

Life Limit Following Repair 

Manufacturer(s): Airbus (formerly Airbus Industrie) 

Applicability: Airbus A330-201, A330-202, A330-203, A330-223, A330-243, A330-301, 

A330-302, A330-303, A330-321, A330-322, A330-323, A330-341, A330-342 

and A330-343 aeroplanes, all manufacturer serial numbers, except those on 

which Airbus modification 54500 has been embodied in production. 

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

aeroplanes, all manufacturer serial numbers, except those on which Airbus 

modification 54500 has been embodied in production. 

Reason: EASA has received a report via Airbus and Messier-Bugatti-Dowty Ltd, from a 

Maintenance repair organisation, concerning a specific repair, accomplished 

on certain MLG wheel axles. Investigations revealed that the axles have been 

machined with a radius as small as 0.4 mm. 

This condition, if not corrected, has a detrimental effect on the fatigue lives of 

these parts, possibly affecting the structural integrity of the aeroplane. Fatigue 

analyses were performed, the results of which indicated that the life limit of the 

affected MLG wheel axles must be reduced to below the one stated in the 

A330 and A340 Airbus Airworthiness Limitation Section (ALS) Part 1. 

For the reasons described above, this AD requires the replacement of the 

MLG wheel axles before reaching the new reduced demonstrated life limit. 

Effective Date: 21 September 2011 
EASA AD No.: 2011-0170 

EASA Form 110 Page 2/3 

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s): 

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously: 

For the purpose of this AD, an affected MLG wheel axle is defined as a MLG 

axle having a Part Number (P/N) and Serial Number (S/N) listed in the 

Appendix 1 Part 1 of Airbus All Operator Telex (AOT) A330-32A-3256, or of 

Airbus AOT A340-32A-4292, as applicable to the aeroplane type. 

(1) Within the compliance time specified in paragraph (1.1) or (1.2) of this 

AD, whichever occurs later, replace the affected MLG wheel axle by a 

serviceable part in accordance with the instructions of Airbus AOT A330-

32A-3256 or Airbus AOT A340-32A-4292, as applicable to the aeroplane 

type 

(1.1) Before the accumulation of the flight hours (FH) or landings (LDG), 

whichever occurs first, as defined in Table 1 of this AD, as 

applicable to aeroplane type, model and Weight Variant (WV). 

Table 1 - Post repair MLG Wheel Axle life limit 

Affected aeroplanes Post-repair MLG Wheel Axle Life 

Limit (see Note 1) 

A340-311/-312/-313 

WV00 series 4 700 LDG or 22 250 FH 

A340-211/-212/-213 

WV00 series 4 600 LDG or 29 000 FH 

A340-313 WV02 and 

WV05 series 3 950 LDG or 16 900 FH 

A330-301/-321/-322/-

341/-342 WV00 and 

WV01 series 

5 050 LDG or 15 200 FH 

A330-201/-202/-203/-

223/-243 WV02, WV05 

and WV06 series 

4 450 LDG or 17 900 FH 

A330-301/-302/-303/-

323/-342/-343 WV02 

and WV05 series 

5 150 LDG or 13 450 FH 

Note 1: The Post repair MLG Wheel Axle life limit must be counted from the 

date of installation of the MLG wheel axle on an aeroplane which occurs after 

the date of repair specified in the Appendix 1 Part 1 of Airbus AOT A330-32A3256 or Airbus AOT A340-32A-4292, as applicable to the aeroplane type. 

 or, 

(1.2) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, without 

exceeding the FH or LDG, whichever occurs first, as defined in 

Table 2 of this AD, as applicable to aeroplane type, model and 

WV. 

Table 2 

Post repair MLG Wheel Axle FH or LDG not to be exceeded 

Affected aeroplanes Post-repair MLG Wheel Axle FH or 

LDG, not to be exceeded (see Note 2) 

A340-311/-312/-313 

WV00 series 7 830 LDG or 37 080 FH 

A340-211/-212/-213 

WV00 series 7 660 LDG or 48 330 FH 

A340-313 WV02 and 6 580 LDG or 28 160 FH 
EASA AD No.: 2011-0170 

EASA Form 110 Page 3/3 

WV05 series 

A330-301/-321/-322/-

341/-342 WV00 and 

WV01 series 

8 410 LDG or 25 330 FH 

A330-201/-202/-203/-

223/-243 WV02, WV05 

and WV06 series 

7 410 LDG or 29 830 FH 

A330-301/-302/-303/-

323/-342/-343 WV02 

and WV05 series 

8 580 LDG or 22 580 FH 

Note 2 : The Post repair MLG Wheel Axle FH or LDG not to be exceeded 

must be counted from the date of installation of the MLG wheel axle on an 

aeroplane which occurs after the date of repair specified in the Appendix 1 

Part 1 of Airbus AOT A330-32A-3256 or of Airbus AOT A340-32A-4292, as 

applicable to the aeroplane type. 

(2) After the effective date of this AD, an affected MLG wheel axle can be 

installed on an aeroplane, provided the MLG wheel axle has not 

exceeded the limits defined in Table 1 of this AD and it is replaced with a 

serviceable part before reaching the life limit defined in Table 1 of this 

AD. 

Note 3: After removal from an aeroplane, an affected MLG wheel axle that has 

reached its life limit is considered an unserviceable part. 

Note 4: The term “Life limit” used in this AD has to be understood as a postrepair life limit. 

Ref. Publications: Airbus AOT A330-32A-3256 original issue, dated 24 August 2011. 

Airbus AOT A340-32A-4292 original issue, dated 24 August 2011. 

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. The required actions and the risk allowance have granted the issuance of 

a Final AD with Request for Comments, postponing the public 

consultation process after publication. 

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, 

Fax: + 33 5 61 93 45 80 or + 33 5 61 93 44 51; 

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