Summary
The FAA is revising an earlier NPRM for an airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Airbus Model A319-100, A320-200, and A321-100 and -200 series airplanes. The original NPRM would have superseded an existing AD that currently requires modification of the telescopic girt bar of the escape slide/raft assembly, and follow-on actions. The original NPRM proposed to mandate a new modification of the telescopic girt bar, which would terminate the repetitive functional tests required by the existing AD. The original NPRM also proposed to expand the applicability of the existing AD. The original NPRM was prompted by development of a new, improved modification. This new action would revise the original NPRM by proposing to mandate the installation of placards on the modified girt bars, and reduce the compliance time. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent failure of the escape slide/raft to deploy correctly, which could result in the slide being unusable duringan emergency evacuation and consequent injury to passengers or airplane crewmembers.