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 opera te an aircraft to which an AD applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that AD, unless otherwise specified by the Agenc y [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 manufacture r 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 nu mbers, 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. Investigat ions revealed that the axles have been machined with a radius as small as 0.4 mm. This condition, if not corrected, has a de trimental effect on the fatigue lives of these parts, possibly affecting the stru ctural integrity of the aeroplane. Fatigue analyses were performed, the results of whic h indicated that the life limit of the affected MLG wheel axles must be redu ced 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 ne w reduced demonstrated life limit.

Effective Date: 21 September 2011EASA 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 Operat or Telex (AOT) A330-32A-3256, or of Airbus AOT A340-32A-4292, as appl icable 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 defi ned 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 Appen dix 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, whichev er 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 FHEASA 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-325 6 original issue, dated 24 August 2011. Airbus AOT A340-32A-4292 origin al 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 a llowance 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 tec hnical 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

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