AD 2006-06-14 Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A318-100 and A319-100 Series Airplanes, A320-111 Airplanes, A320-200 Series Airplanes, and A321-100 and A321-200 Series Airplanes

Models named: A318-111, -112, A319-111, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, A320-211. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

This AD applies to Airbus Model A318-111 and -112 airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; A320-111 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; Model A321-111, -112, and -131 airplanes; and Model A321-211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes; certificated in any category; except airplanes on which Airbus Modification 27496 has been installed 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. Review Airplane Maintenance Records/Investigative and Corrective Actions (f) Within 65 months or 6,500 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, whichever is first: Review the airplane's maintenance records to determine the part number (P/N) of each MFLI of the wing fuel tanks in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1138, dated March 18, 2005. If the P/N cannot be identified, or the P/N is identified in the “old P/N” column of the table in paragraph 1.L., “Interchangeability/Mixability,” of the service bulletin, before further flight, do the applicable related investigative and corrective actions by accomplishing all of the actions in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin. Parts Installation (g) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install on any airplane any MFLI of the wing fuel tanks with a P/N identified in the “old P/N” column of the table in paragraph 1.L., “Interchangeability/Mixability,” of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1138, dated March 18, 2005. Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (h)(1) 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. (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with § 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 (i) French airworthiness directive F-2005-108, dated July 6, 2005, also addresses the subject of this AD. Material Incorporated by Reference (j) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A320-28-1138, dated March 18, 2005, to perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 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 March 10, 2006. Kalene C. Yanamura, Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 06-2850 Filed 3-24-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD results from several in-service incidents of wear and detachment of the top-stops from the magnetic fuel level indicators (MFLI). Such detachment allows the top-stop to move around the wing fuel tank, and the top-stop could come into contact or in close proximity with a gauging probe, resulting in compromise of the air gap between the probe and the structure and creating a potential ignition source. We are issuing this AD to prevent an ignition source in the wing fuel tank in the event of a lightning strike, which could result in a fire or explosion.