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CUSTOMER SERVICES DIRECTORATE 2 ROND POINT EMILE DEWOITINE 31700 BLAGNAC FRANCE TELEPHONE + 33 (0)5 61 93 33 33
ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT AOT ref: A32N020-20 Rev 00 Page 1 of 8 Date: 17-JUN-2020 © AIRBUS S.A.S. 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT SUBJECT: ATA 32 – MLG sliding tube inspection at jacking dome area AIRCRAFT TYPE: A318,A319,A320,A321 OUR REF.: A32N020-20 Rev 00 dated 17-JUN-2020
1. AIRCRAFT AFFECTED All A318, A319, A320, A321 Aircraft equipped with Main Landing Gear (MLG) sliding tubes which have been overhauled or repaired in shop and which have accumulated more than 4 years or 5000 FC whichever occurs first, since the last overhaul or shop repair.
Note:
This AOT only affects aircraft equipped with overhauled or repaired MLG sliding tubes which have accumulated more than 4 years or 5000 FC, whichever occurs first, at the issuance date of this AOT.
Any MLG sliding tube which will reach the limit of 4 years or 5000 FC after the issuance date of this AOT, will NOT have to be inspected.
2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTATION
2.1 APPENDIX Appendix 1: List of MLG sliding tube Part Number Appendix 2: Inspection report sheet.
2.2 REFERENCES
- Ref.1: AMM task 12-34-24-869-002 “Aircraft Grounding (Earthing) for the Maintenance Operations”.
- Ref.2: AMM task 32-11-00-100-002 “Cleaning of the Main Landing Gear”.
- Ref.3: AMM task 32-11-13-000-004 “Removal of the Sliding Tube Sub-Assembly of the MLG Shock Absorber “.
- Ref.4: AMM task 32-11-13-400-004 “Installation of the Sliding Tube Sub-Assembly of the MLG Shock Absorber”.
- Ref.5: OIT 999.0098/17 Rev 01 dated 07 Dec 2017.
3. REASON The purpose of this AOT is to inform the operators of a crack found on two MLG sliding tubes at jacking dome area during second overhaul.
It requests the operators to perform at the earliest opportunity without exceeding 100 flight cycles (FC) from the issuance date of this AOT, an one-off General Visual Inspection (GVI) of the affected MLG sliding tubes (refer to paragraph 4.2.2).
3.1 FACTS Beginning of June 2020, two A320 MLG sliding tubes have been found with a significant crack during their second overhaul.
Both cracks extend between the jacking dome bore and the 2M harness hole as shown in Figure 1.
ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT AOT ref: A32N020-20 Rev 00 Page 2 of 8 Date: 17-JUN-2020 © AIRBUS S.A.S. 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT Figure 1: Crack found on one MLG sliding tube at jacking dome area in June 2020.
The cracked MLG sliding tubes have accumulated respectively 26652 FC and 35894 FC and had their last overhaul performed in 2010 in two different Maintenance and Repair Organization (MRO).
The two MLG sliding tubes have been sent back to the manufacturer for detailed laboratory investigation to determine the origin of the cracks.
Initial examination of the two reported cracks has shown similarities in term of crack location with a previous event in May 2017 (refer to Ref. 5.). Investigation of this 2017 case identified improper procedures during overhaul as the root cause. Based on preliminary investigation, the two recent cracks are also suspected to be linked to shop repair or overhaul.
Pending investigation results of the two MLG sliding tubes found cracked in June 2020, as a precaution, Airbus request the operators with affected aircraft (refer to paragraph 1.) to perform at the earliest opportunity without exceeding 100 FC from the issuance date of this AOT, a General Visual Inspection (GVI) of the MLG sliding tubes (refer to paragraph 4.2.2).
3.2 CONSEQUENCES An undetected crack on the MLG sliding tube at the jacking dome area could lead to the rupture of the MLG sliding tube during operations.
3.3 AIM Harness hole Jacking dome bore Crack
ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT AOT ref: A32N020-20 Rev 00 Page 3 of 8 Date: 17-JUN-2020 © AIRBUS S.A.S. 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT The aim of this AOT is to request operators to perform an one-off General Visual Inspection (GVI) of the MLG sliding tube to ensure that no crack is present in the area around the jacking dome bore (refer Figure 2).
This GVI shall be performed before the end of the compliance time defined in paragraph 4.1.1.
4. SHORT TERM ACTION NOTE: This AOT is expected to be classified mandatory by an Airworthiness Directive (AD). The accomplishment instructions marked as Required for Compliance (RC) must be done to comply with the AD. “RC” is indicating these paragraphs accordingly.
NOTE: The accomplishment instructions of this AOT include procedures given in other documents or in other sections of the AOT. When the words ’refer to’ are used and the operator has a procedure accepted by the local authority he belongs to, the accepted alternative procedure can be used. When the words ’in accordance with’ are used then the given procedure must be followed.
NOTE: The access and close-up instructions, not comprising return to service tests, in this AOT do not constitute or affect the technical intent of the AOT. Operators can therefore, as deemed necessary, omit or add access and/or close-up steps to add flexibility to their maintenance operations as long as the technical intent of the AOT is met within the set parameters.
4.1 PLANNING AND MANPOWER
4.1.1 RC- ACCOMPLISHMENT TIMESCALE At the earliest opportunity without exceeding 100 FC from the issuance date of this AOT, the MLG sliding tubes fitted on affected aircraft (refer paragraph 1.) shall be visually inspected as per procedure defined in paragraph 4.2.2.
4.1.2 MANPOWER The estimated time to perform the GVI of LH and RH MLG sliding tubes (as per paragraph 4.2.2) is 2 manhours.
4.2 DESCRIPTION
4.2.1 ACCESS As per AMM chapter “Introduction – Aircraft status for maintenance” in manual front matter section, the following items shall be considered as the basic A/C configuration, before starting a maintenance task:
-Aircraft on the ground resting on landing gear (the ground safety locks and the wheel chocks are in position on the landing gear).
-Engine shut down, thrust reversers closed and locked.
-Aircraft in clean configuration.
-Parking brake applied.
-Aircraft electrical network de-energized.
-Hydraulic systems depressurized.
-Access to the cockpit and cabin is available.
-All circuit breakers are in closed position.
-All controls in NORM, AUTO or OFF position.
This GVI does not require the removal of any component from the MLG (placard, jacking dome, wheels). Furthermore, no aircraft and no wheel jacking are necessary to perform this GVI.
ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT AOT ref: A32N020-20 Rev 00 Page 4 of 8 Date: 17-JUN-2020 © AIRBUS S.A.S. 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT
4.2.2 RC- INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS
4.2.2.1 Do a check of the Landing Gear and Aircraft maintenance records Do a check of the Landing Gear and Aircraft maintenance records to determine if the MLG sliding tubes are affected by this GVI:
Affected MLG sliding tubes: MLG sliding tubes which have been overhauled or repaired in shop and which have accumulated more than 4 years or 5000 FC whichever occurs first, since the last overhaul or shop repair.
Note:
This AOT only affects overhauled or repaired MLG sliding tubes which have accumulated more than 4 years or 5000 FC, whichever occurs first, at the issuance date of this AOT.
Any MLG sliding tube which will reach the limit of 4 years or 5000 FC after the issuance date of this AOT, will NOT have to be inspected.
The MLG sliding tubes which have never been repaired or overhauled are not affected by this AOT. No further action is required.
4.2.2.2 Do a GVI of the LH and RH MLG Sliding Tube.
PREPARATION
(a) Make sure that the aircraft is electrically grounded, as per Ref. 1.
(b) Put a warning notice on panel 400VU to tell persons not to operate the landing gear controls.
Note: This GVI does not require the removal of placard and jacking dome in the area.
PROCEDURE
(a) Clean the external surface area around the MLG jacking dome, refer to Ref. 2.
(b) Do a GVI of the area around the jacking dome for cracks, refer to Figure 2.
ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT AOT ref: A32N020-20 Rev 00 Page 5 of 8 Date: 17-JUN-2020 © AIRBUS S.A.S. 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT Figure 2: Area of Inspection.
If cracks are found:
(1) Replace the cracked MLG Sliding Tube before the next flight as per Ref.3 and Ref. 4.
(2) Contact AIRBUS immediately.
(3) Put the removed parts in quarantine pending Airbus instructions.
(c) Appendix 2 Inspection Reporting sheet shall be filled and returned to Airbus within 2 weeks counted from the inspection date even if nil findings.
CLOSE-UP
(a) Make sure that the work areas are clean and clear of tools and other items of equipment.
ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT AOT ref: A32N020-20 Rev 00 Page 6 of 8 Date: 17-JUN-2020 © AIRBUS S.A.S. 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT
(b) Remove the warning notice.
(c) Put the aircraft back to its initial configuration.
4.2.3 RC- FINDINGS In case of crack found during the GVI, the MLG sliding tube has to be replaced before next flight, refer to Ref.3 and Ref. 4.
Report findings immediately to Airbus and put the removed parts in quarantine pending Airbus instructions.
4.3 SPARES AND TOOLING No specific tooling is required to perform this GVI.
5. FURTHER INFORMATION
5.1 FOLLOW-UP PLAN It is anticipated that an Airworthiness Directive will be issued by EASA to mandate the content of this AOT.
Investigation of the two cracked MLG sliding tubes is currently on-going. Depending on the investigation results, Airbus will contact operators if further actions are deemed necessary.
5.2 IMPACTED DOCUMENTATION N/A
6. AOT APPROVAL The technical content of this document is approved under the authority of DOA nr. EASA.21J.031.
7. REPORTING Questions about this AOT are to be addressed to Airbus Customer Services through TechRequest on Airbus World, selecting Engineering Domain, Engineering Support Section and ATA 32-11.
As per latest reporting policy (Ref to OIT 999.0018/16), inspection results (with or without findings) are to be addressed to Airbus Customer Services through the generic e-mail address:
inspection.results@airbus.com. Inspection report sheet is given in appendix 2.
Best Regards, Christian FREMONT
VICE PRESIDENT ENGINEERING SUPPORT
CUSTOMER SERVICES Jean-Pierre GOMEZ VICE PRESIDENT A320 PROGRAMME
CUSTOMER SERVICES
ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT AOT ref: A32N020-20 Rev 00 Page 7 of 8 Date: 17-JUN-2020 © AIRBUS S.A.S. 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT APPENDIX 1 List of existing MLG sliding tube Part number (PN) Aircraft Main Landing Gear Leg CMM reference MLG sliding tube PN 201160302 201160324 201371300 201371302 201371301 201371304 201371 SERIES 32-11-33 201371307 201371304 201371307201540 SERIES 32-12-25 50-4505002-00 A318/A319/A320 10-450501 SERIES 10-450502 SERIES 10-450601 SERIES 10-450602 SERIES 32-12-82 50-4505002-00 201522353 201522356201587 SERIES 32-12-22 50-4549002-00 201383 SERIES 32-11-83 201383350 201522350 201522353201522 SERIES 32-12-12 201522356 10-453301 SERIES 10-453302 SERIES 10-453401 SERIES 10453402 SERIES 32-12-89 50-4533002-00 A321 10-454901 SERIES 10-454902 SERIES 10-455001 SERIES 10-455002 SERIES 32-12-93 50-4549002-00 Note :
The above table lists all the PN of MLG sliding tube fitted on A320 FAMILY aircrafts except for Aircraft fitted with MLG Bogie gears. Aircraft equipped with MLG Bogie gears are not concerned by this AOT.
The above table is given for information. To determine if the MLG sliding tube is affected by the GVI, please refer to the criteria defined in paragraph 4.2.2.1. :
Affected MLG sliding tubes: MLG sliding tubes which have been overhauled or repaired in shop and which have accumulated more than 4 years or 5000 FC whichever occurs first, since the last overhaul or shop repair.
This AOT only affects overhauled or repaired MLG sliding tubes which have accumulated more than 4 years or 5000 FC, whichever occurs first, at the issuance date of this AOT.
Any MLG sliding tube which will reach the limit of 4 years or 5000 FC after the issuance date of this AOT, will NOT have to be inspected.
The MLG sliding tubes which have never been repaired or overhauled are not affected by this AOT. No further action is required.
ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT AOT ref: A32N020-20 Rev 00 Page 8 of 8 Date: 17-JUN-2020 © AIRBUS S.A.S. 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT APPENDIX 2
INSPECTION REPORT SHEET
A/C MSN
DATE OF INSPECTION
GENERAL VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE MLG SLIDING TUBE
LOCATION QUESTION RESULT
LH SIDE
YES NO PN SN CSN CSO
RH SIDE
YES NO PN SN CSN CSO MLG ARE CRACKS
FOUND ON
SURFACE AROUND THE
JACKING DOME?
SN: Serial Number.
CSN: Cycle Since New.
CSO: Cycle Since Overhaul.