AD 2007-01-13 Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A310-300 Airplanes

Models named: A310-304, -308, -324, -325. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

This AD applies to Airbus Model A310-304, -308, -324, and -325 airplanes, certificated in any category; equipped with one or more auxiliary center tanks (ACTs); on which either Airbus (production) Modifications 6918 and 6919 or 6918, 6919, and 8339 have been installed; except those on which Airbus Modification 8928 has been done 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. Replacement (f) Within 15,000 flight hours after the effective date of this AD: Replace the existing NRV with a new, improved NRV by doing all the actions in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A310-28-2158, dated September 1, 2005. Note 1: The Airbus service bulletin refers to Lucas Air Equipment Service Bulletin C23AE01-28-01, Revision 1, dated July 20, 1994, as an additional source of service information for replacing the NRV. Parts Installation (g) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install, on any airplane, a NRV having part number C23AE0102, unless it has been modified according to paragraph (f) of this AD. 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-2005-197, dated December 7, 2005, also addresses the subject of this AD. Material Incorporated by Reference (j) You must use Airbus Service Bulletin A310-28-2158, dated September 1, 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 December 26, 2006. Ali Bahrami, Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. E7-1208 Filed 1-29-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD results from a report that it was not possible to transfer fuel from ACTs 1 and 2 during flight, and no electronic centralized aircraft monitor warnings were triggered. Investigation revealed a faulty static inverter and blown fuse, resulting in failure of certain fueling bus bars and subsequent failure of the automatic ACT fuel transfer. We are issuing this AD to prevent these failures, combined with failure of the non-return valve (NRV) to close. If the NRV is open during flight, the fuel supply to the engines may be reduced during cross-feed operation to the extent that fuel starvation could occur and result in engine flameout.