AD 2004-26-07 Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 Series Airplanes Equipped With Air Cruisers/Aerazur Forward and Aft Passenger Door Emergency Escape Slides

Models named: A318-111, -112 series, A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133 series. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

This AD applies to Airbus Model A318-111 and -112 series airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 series airplanes; Model A320-111, -211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 series airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, and -231 series airplanes; certificated in any category; equipped with Air Cruisers/Aerazur forward passenger door emergency escape slides, part number (P/N) D31516-111, -113, -115, -117, -311, or -313, and aft passenger door emergency escape slides, P/N D31517-111, -113, -115, -117, -311, or -313; except those airplanes on which Airbus Modification 33429 has been accomplished in production.

You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done. Modification (f) Within 37 months after the effective date of this AD, modify the forward and aft door slides, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1338, dated February 9, 2004. Note 1: Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1338, dated February 9, 2004, refers to Air Cruisers/Aerazur Service Bulletin A320 004-25-72, dated October 28, 2003, as an additional source of service information for modifying the forward and aft door slides. Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (g) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Related Information (h) French airworthiness directive F-2004-072, dated May 26, 2004, also addresses the subject of this AD. Material Incorporated by Reference (i) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1338, dated February 9, 2004, to perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approves the incorporation by reference of these documents in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For copies of the service information, contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. For information on the availability of this material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. You may view the AD docket at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC. Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 20, 2004. Kevin M. Mullin, Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 05-107 Filed 1-5-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD was prompted by manufacturer testing that has shown contact between the inflation hose and fabric roll, within a short period of time after inflation of the emergency escape slides, can rupture the inflation hose at its end fittings. We are issuing this AD to prevent interference between the inflation hose and slide fabric and rupture of the inflation hose, which could result in incomplete inflation of the emergency escape slides and consequent unavailability of those slides during an emergency evacuation.