AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

CAA-AD-021/2001

Date of issue: March 14, 2001

AIRCRAFT - FUSELAGE - PASSENGER DOORS - EMERGENCY EXIT DOORS (ATA 53) - INSPECTION

Applicability: AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A300, A310 and A300-600 aircraft, all certified models, all serial numbers.

Effective date: April 19, 2001

Compliance: Required as indicated in DGAC AD 2001-071(B).

Remarks: The compliance of this AD must be recorded in Aircraft Logbook, where applicable the requirements of this AD must be integrated into Aircraft Technical Documentation. Address inquiries concerning this AD to: Civil Aviation Authority, Airworthiness Division, Ruzyne Airport, 160 08 Prague 6, Czech Republic, tel: 420 2 33320922, fax: 420 2 20562270.

Ing. Pavel MATOUŠEK

Director of Airworthiness Division

CAA CZ

DGAC AD No.: 2001-071(B)

AIRBUS INDUSTRIE

AIRBUS INDUSTRIE

A300, A310 and A300-600 aircraft

Fuselage - Inspection of skin lap joints at the passenger doors and emergency exit doors (ATA 53)

APPLICABILITY:

AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A300, A310 and A300-600 aircraft, all certified models, all serial numbers.

REASONS:

A 91 cm long crack was found above passenger door No. 2 during a routine check on an A300B4-203 aircraft.

If left uncorrected, this crack could result in reduced structural integrity of the fuselage pressure vessel.

An inspection programme was rendered mandatory by Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2000-001-300(B) R1 of January 26, 2000 for aircraft with an identical configuration (A300 aircraft on which AIRBUS INDUSTRIE modification No. 2611 has not been embodied in production).

Following an analysis, it appears that other areas with a similar design may also be affected by such cracks.

ACTIONS:

At the thresholds defined in the following AIRBUS INDUSTRIE Service Bulletins (SB) or before September 30, 2002, whichever occurs first, an ultrasonic inspection is rendered mandatory in accordance with the technical instructions of the associated SB:

a) For AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A300 aircraft on which AIRBUS INDUSTRIE modification No. 2611 has not been embodied in production:

SB A300-53-0356 and SB A300-53-0357

b) For AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A300 aircraft on which AIRBUS INDUSTRIE modification No. 2611 has been embodied in production:

SB A300-53-0354 at the original issue or at Revision 01 and SB A300-53-0357

c) For AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A3l0 aircraft:

SB A310-53-2112

d) For AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A300-600 aircraft:

SB A300-53-6129 at the original issue or at Revision 01

Inform the manufacturer of all inspection results, whatever they may be.

REF.: AIRBUS INDUSTRIE Service Bulletins:

SB A300-53-0354 original issue and Revision 01

SB A300-53-0356

SB A300-53-0357

SB A310-53-2112

SB A300-53-6129 original issue and Revision 01

(Any later approved revision of these SBs is acceptable).

EFFECTIVE DATE: MARCH 03, 2001