AD 2005-23-05 Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319-100, A320-200, and A321-100 and -200 Series Airplanes

This AD applies to Airbus Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133; A320-211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233; and A321-111, -112, -131, -211, and -231 airplanes; certificated in any category; equipped with telescopic girt bars of the escape slide/raft assembly installed per Airbus Modification 20234, or Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1055 or A320-25-1218 in service; except those airplanes with Airbus Modification 31708.

You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done. Restatement of Requirements of AD 2001-16-14 Modification/Follow-On Actions (f) For airplanes listed in Airbus Industrie All Operators Telex (AOT) A320-52A1111, Revision 01, dated July 23, 2001: Within 1,500 flight hours after August 31, 2001 (the effective date of AD 2001-16-14); except as provided by paragraph (h) of this AD, modify the telescopic girt bar of the escape slide/raft assembly installed on all passenger and crew doors and do a functional test to ensure the girt bar does not retract, per Airbus Industrie AOT A320-52A1111, Revision 01, dated July 23, 2001. (1) If the girt bar retracts, before further flight, replace any discrepant parts and do another functional test to ensure the girt bar does not retract, per the AOT. Repeat the functional test thereafter at intervals not to exceed 18 months until paragraph (g) of this AD is accomplished. (2) If the girt bar does not retract, repeat the functional test thereafter at intervals not to exceed 18 months. Note 1: Modification and follow-on actions accomplished prior to the effective date of this AD per Airbus Industrie AOT A320-52A1111, dated July 5, 2001, are considered acceptable for compliance with the applicable actions specified in this amendment. New Requirements of This AD Modification (g) Within 20 months after the effective date of this AD: Accomplish the actions specified in paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD by doing all the applicable actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-52-1112, Revision 05, dated June 25, 2004. Accomplishing these actions terminates the repetitive functional tests required by paragraph (f) of this AD. (1) Modify the telescopic girt bar of the escape slide/raft assembly. (2) Install a placard on each modified girt bar. (h) For airplanes on which the modification of the telescopic girt bar required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD is accomplished within the compliance time specified in paragraph (f) of this AD, accomplishing the modification required by paragraph (f) is not required. Modifications Accomplished According to Previous Issues of Service Bulletin (i) Modification of the telescopic girt bar accomplished before the effective date of this AD in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-52-1112, dated January 16, 2002; Revision 01, dated April 3, 2002; Revision 02, dated September 6, 2002; Revision 03, dated June 27, 2003; or Revision 04, dated November 12, 2003; is considered acceptable for compliance with the modification of the telescopic girt bar required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD. Parts Installation (j) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install on any airplane a telescopic girt bar of the escape slide/raft assembly unless it has been modified as required by paragraph (g) of this AD. Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (k)(1) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve alternative methods of compliance (AMOCs) for this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. (2) AMOCs approved previously in accordance with AD 2001-16-14 are approved as AMOCs with paragraph (f) of this AD. (3) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with 14 CFR 39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards Certificate Holding District Office. Related Information (l) French airworthiness directives 2002-637(B) R1, dated April 16, 2003, and F-2005-057, dated April 13, 2005, also address the subject of this AD. Material Incorporated by Reference (m) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A320-52-1112, Revision 05, dated June 25, 2004; and Airbus Industrie All Operators Telex A320-52A1111, Revision 01, dated July 23, 2001, including Airbus Industrie Technical Disposition 959.1492/01, Issue C, dated July 17, 2001; as applicable; to perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-52-1112, Revision 05, dated June 25, 2004; in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) On August 31, 2001 (66 FR 42939, August 16, 2001), the Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of Airbus Industrie All Operators Telex A320-52A1111, Revision 01, dated July 23, 2001, including Airbus Industrie Technical Disposition 959.1492/01, Issue C, dated July 17, 2001. (3) Contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France, for a copy of this service information. You may review copies at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC; on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at the NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 25, 2005. Kalene C. Yanamura, Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 05-22217 Filed 11-10-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD was prompted by development of a new, improved modification of the telescopic girt bar of the escape slide/raft assembly. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the escape slide/raft to deploy correctly, which could result in the slide being unusable during an emergency evacuation and consequent injury to passengers or airplane crewmembers.