ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMI SSI ON - ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMI SSI ON

AIRBUS CUSTOMER SERVI CES SUBJECT: ATA 32 - MAIN LANDING GEAR (ML G) - WHEEL AXLE REPAIR ISSUE. OUR REF.: AOT A340 - 32A - 4292 REVI SI ON 01 dated 18 October 2012. OUR PREV. REF.: AOT A340 - 32A - 4292 dated 23 August 2011. 0. REASON FOR REVISI ON This AOT is being revised to add wheel axle serial numbers in the APPENDIX 1 PART 1 "List of affected part and serial numbers". Airbus has been notified that an additional number of MLG wheel axles currentl y in service have been subject to repairs by REVIMA, leading to a reduced fatigue life. The affected part numbers (P/N) are:

- Basic or Growth MLG wheel axle P/N 201272649 (Post [REF 1] or [REF 2]) Also, a wheel axle S/N was incorrectly listed in the pre vious revision of the APPENDIX 1 PART 1 and has been corrected. This issue was discovered during the axle replacement program. The operator was contacted about this issue. The revised paragraphs are indicated between **BEG. REV** and **END REV**. 1. AIR CRAFT AFFECTED A340 - 200/ - 300 Aircraft fitted with Basic or Growth Main Landing Gears only . 2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTATION 2.1 APPENDI CES **BEG. REV** APPENDIX 1 PART 1 REVI SI ON 1: List of affected part and serial numbers. **END REV** APPENDIX 1 PART 2: On - wing wheel axle replacement procedure. 2.2 REFERENCES REF 1: Messier - Bugatti - Dowty (MBD) VSB A33/34 - 32 - 193 Revision01 - ML G - Introduction of a new axle with better corrosion resistance (Basic MLG). REF 2: MBD VSB A33/34 - 32 - 194 - ML G - Introduction of a ne w axle with better corrosion resistance (Growth MLG). REF 3: MBD CMM 32 - 11 - 74 - Bogie assembl y (Basic MLG). REF 4: MBD CMM 32 - 12 - 05 - Bogie assembl y (Growth MLG).REF 5: MBD VSB A33/34 - 32 - 300 Original issue - ML G - Bogie & Dressing - Axle removal

and insta llation using Enerpac equipment. REF 6: AMM 32 - 41 - 11 PB 401 - ML G WHEEL REMOVAL/ I NSTALLATION. REF 7: MBD SL A33 - 34 A16 - Disposal of scrap aircraft parts. 3. REASON The purpose of this AOT is:

- to advise A340 - 200/ - 300 operators that a number of Basic and Growth Main L anding Gear (MLG) wheel axles have been subject to repairs leading to a reduced fatigue life. All affected wheel axles are listed in APPENDIX 1 PART 1.

- to require operators to perform a one - time identification of all A340 - 200/ - 300 wheel axles.

- to require operators to replace wheel axles listed in APPENDIX 1 PART 1 with a serviceable part in compliance with life limits and timescales as defined in paragraph 4.1.1. The APPENDIX 1 PART 2 provides the procedure to follow for on - wing wheel axle replacement. 3.1. DESCRIPTION Airbus has been notified that a number of MLG wheel axles currentl y in service have been subject to repairs b y a Maintenance Repair Organisation (MRO) agency , REVIMA, leading to a reduced fatigue life. The affected part numbers (P/N) are:

- Basic or Growth MLG wheel axle P/N 201272638 or P/N 201272644 (Pre [REF 1] or [REF 2]) and P/N 201272649 (Post [REF 1] or [REF 2])

- Growth MLG wheel axle P/N 201485601 (Pre [REF 2]) and P/N 201485615 (Post [REF 2]) Between 2002 an d October 2010, affected wheel axles have been repaired to repair 2.1 & 2.3 as per [REF 3] and [REF 4] by machining with a blend radius that may have a detrimental effect on the fatigue lives of these parts. The repair blend radius issue is located on the wheel axle centre journal. Reduced fatigue life limits are defined in paragraph 4.1.1. The date at which each affected wheel axle was repaired are shown in APPENDIX 1 PART 1. 3.2 CONSEQUENCES ML G wheel axle is a Principal Structural Element (PSE) listed i n Airworthiness L imitation Section (AL S) Part 1, the failure of which constitutes an unsafe condition. As such the affected wheel axles must be removed from service before reaching the life limits and timescales as defined in paragraph 4.1.1. 3.3 AIM The aim of this AOT is to ensure continued airworthiness of the MLG wheel axles by requiring operators:

- to identify

from aeroplane maintenance records and/or by phy sical inspection, the part and serial number of all their A340 - 200/ - 300 Basic and Growth MLG wheel axles currentl y fitted on aircraft AND available as spares

- to check if an y are listed in APPENDIX 1 PART 1. If an axle is listed, it must be removed from service before reaching the life limits and timescales as defined in paragraph 4.1.1. Note: It is not possible to carry out any further repair of the affected wheel axles to improve or to restore their fatigue lives. Therefore all the listed wheel axles will have to be scrapped.4. SHORT - TERM ACTIONS

4.1 PLANNING AND MANPOWER 4.1.1 ACCOMPLI SHMENT TI MESCALES Id entification of all A340 ML G wheel axle part and serial numbers should be performed no later than 90 day s after this AOT issue date and send to Airbus. For all MLG wheel axles listed in APPENDIX 1 PART 1, Airbus requires their replacement with a serviceable part before reaching the life limits and timescales specified in (a) or (b) indicated below, whichever occurs later: a) Before the accumulation of the Landings (LDG) or Flight Hours (FH), whichever occurs first, defined in Table 1, as appl icable to the aeroplane ty pe and model, Table 1 - ML G wheel axle life limit

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Affected aeroplanes - From wheel axle post repair inst allation A340 - 2xx WV00x - 4,600 LDG or 29,000 FH A340 - 3xx WV00x - 4,700 LDG or 22,250 FH A340 - 3xx Other WV02x - 3,950 LDG or 16,900 FH

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **BEG. REV** b) No later than 20th of September 2013 without exceeding the LDG or FH, whichever occurs first, defined in Table 2, as applicable to the aeroplane type and model. **END REV** Table 2 - ML G wheel axle LDG or FH not to be exceeded

------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Affected aeroplanes - From wheel axle post repair installation A340 - 2xx WV00x - 7,660 LDG or 48,330 FH A340 - 3xx WV00x - 7,830 LDG or 37,080 FH A340 - 3x x Other WV02x - 6,580 LDG or 28,160 FH

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.1.2 MANPOWER Manpower, man hours and elapsed time are defined in [REF 5] for the on - wing wheel axle replacement. 4 .2 DESCRIPTION 4.2.1 IDENTIFICATION OF WHEEL AXLES Check the LH and RH MLG forward and aft wheel axle part and serial numbers:

- from aeroplane maintenance records and/or

- phy sically

on aircraft, the P/N and S/N are engraved on one of the wheel axle ends, on the external diameter and outboard of the wheel axle nut thread. To gain access to this area, the hub - cap and the wheel axle nut have to be removed (refer to [REF 6] AMM task for removal / installation of the wheel axle nut).If the wheel axle is list ed in the APPENDIX 1 PART 1, then it must be removed in

accordance with the procedure given in paragraph 4.2.2 before reaching the life limits and timescales defined in paragraph 4.1.1. If the wheel axle part number/serial number is not listed in APPENDIX 1 PART 1, no further action is required. 4.2.2 WHEELAXLE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE On - wing wheel axle replacement can be performed as per AOT APPENDIX 1 PART 2. Bogie Beam fitted with affected wheel axles that are not currently fitted on aircraft, i.e. on spare MLG or sub - assembly level, have to be replaced as per [REF 3] or [REF 4] or [REF 5] by a serviceable part before reaching the life limits and timescales specified in paragraph 4.1.1. All the listed wheel axles and/or out of compliance to paragraph 4.1.1 when removed from service must be disposed and scrapped in accordance with [REF 7]. Scrap certificate as per appendix A [REF 7] must be sent back to MBD. 4.3 SPARES and TOOLING Spare wheel axles have been provisioned to support this replacement p rogram. Also, on - wing wheel axle replacement tooling kits are available to support this program. Airbus recommends operators to contact REVIMA to organise the necessary wheel axle replacement including tooling at the following e - mail address: revima.onwing assistance@revima.fr 5. FURTHER RECOMMENDATION Airbus recommends operators and MRO agencies to perform all future wheel axle repairs in accordance with the latest revision of [REF 3] and [REF 4]. 6. AOT APPROVAL The technical content of this AOT has been approved under EASA Design Organisation Approval EASA.21J.031. **BEG. REV** This AOT REVI SI ON 01 will be rendered mandatory by an EASA Airworthiness Directive. **END REV** 7. REPORTI

NG/ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Operators are requested to acknowledge receipt of thi s AOT within 48 hours after receipt to: Mrs. L . BONNET, SEEL E - mail: laetitia.bonnet@airbus.com Fax: +33(0)5 67.19.12.05 Questions about the technical content of this AOT are to be addressed to: Mr. Sébastien Mathevet, SEEL 3, Phone: +33(0)5 61.93.85.7 5 Fax : +33(0)5 67.19.12.05 E - mail: sebastien.mathevet@airbus.comBest regards.

Jean - luc MOUYSSET Philippe GOURDON VI CE PRESIDENT ENGINEERING SUPPORT VI CE PRESIDENT A330/A340PROGRAMME CUSTOMER SERVI CES CUSTOMER SERVI CES