Dear Madam/Sir,
Please find attached hereto an EASA Safety Information Bulletin (SIB) which has already been posted on
our web site and can be viewed at https://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/2017-16 .
EASA ADs and other Safety Publications are available online at http://ad.easa.europa.eu
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EASA SIB No.: 2017-16
Safety Information Bulletin
Airworthiness
SIB No.: 2017-16
Issued: 09 October 2017
Subject: Maintenance of Emergency Evacuation Systems
Ref. Publications:
UTAS/Goodrich Service Newsletter (SNL) 25-248, dated 18 September 2015, Aspirator Damage
and Pack Compression Considerations for Part Number (P/N) 7A1509 Series Escape Slides.
UTAS/Goodrich Component Maintenance Manuals (CMM) and Packing Instructions (PI), applicable
to Airbus A330/A340 Emergency Evacuation Systems.
UTAS/Goodrich SNL 25-259, dated 20 April 2017, Third-Party and UTAS MRO Information and
UTAS Contact Information for Requests.
Airbus A330/A340 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Section 25-62, Installation and Test
Procedures and Reporting of deployments.
Airbus Operator Information Telex (OIT) SE 999.0087/11, dated 14 November 2011.
Airbus World In-Service Experience (WISE) In Service Information (ISI) article ref. 25.60.00001, First
Issue dated 16 February 1989, Escape Slide/Raft Operational Test and Reporting of Deployments.
Airbus WISE ISI article ref. 25.60.00010, First Issue dated 08 October 2013, Slide & Slide Raft -
Operational test (deployment) - Best practices.
Applicability:
Airbus A330 and A340 aeroplanes.
Description:
Reports were received of damaged aspirators in certain Goodrich (UTAS) emergency evacuation
slides, P/N 7A1509-(series), installed on Airbus A330/A340 aeroplanes, doors 3 type 1. The cause
of the damage is an improper folding procedure applied by various maintenance organisations,
which deforms the aspirator. The deformation leads to either cracks or leaks of the shutoff valves.
As consequence of a damaged aspirator the slide may not perform as required in an emergency
evacuation scenario.
The slide manufacturer, UTAS/Goodrich Interiors, issued SNL 25-248 to provide recommendations
regarding the packing of P/N 7A1509 series escape slides.
The SNL highlights that aspirators will not be damaged if the slides are packed strictly in
accordance with the applicable folding procedure.
This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.
TE.CAP.00117-006 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. ISO9001 Certified. Page 1 of 2
Proprietary document. Copies are not controlled. Confirm revision status through the EASA-Internet/Intranet.
An agency of the European Union
EASA SIB No.: 2017-16
At this time, the safety concern described in this SIB is not considered to be an unsafe condition
that would warrant Airworthiness Directive (AD) action under Regulation (EU) 748/2012, Part
21.A.3B.
The purpose of this SIB is to remind operators and their maintenance organisations of
maintenance instructions for A330/A340 aeroplane Emergency Evacuation Systems.
Recommendation(s):
Emergency evacuation systems are complex in design and are safety-critical items.
The operation of emergency evacuation systems relies on appropriate maintenance practice, in
particular:
correct slide overhaul as per applicable CMMs (latest issue)
correct slide packing as per applicable PI (latest issue)
and correct system installation on aircraft as per applicable AMMs (latest issue)
Therefore, operators and their maintenance organisations should ensure that:
all maintenance actions on evacuation systems are performed by authorized stations only
each person performing maintenance actions on evacuation systems is properly trained and
qualified
the required training is repeated on a regular basis
the latest versions of applicable CMMs and PI are used for evacuation system overhaul and
packing
approved tools and fixtures are used per applicable CMMs and PI
data retrieved during maintenance actions must be recorded
the evacuation systems are installed on aircraft in accordance with the latest version of
applicable AMM section
With regards to operational slide and slide/raft deployment tests or emergency evacuation
incidents, operators and their maintenance organisations are reminded, that failures of the
emergency system or equipment must be reported to Airbus and EASA. Accurate reporting is
fundamental to identify potential improvements in systems design and maintenance procedures.
Contact(s):
For further information contact the EASA Safety Information Section, Certification Directorate.
E-mail:
[email protected].
For copies of the referenced service publications, contact:
Airbus – Airworthiness Office – EIAL, Fax +33 5 61 93 44 51,
E-mail:
[email protected]
UTC Aerospace Systems, Interiors – Evacuation Systems, 3414 South 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ
85040-1169, Telephone: +1 (602) 243-2200.
This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.
TE.CAP.00117-006 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. ISO9001 Certified. Page 2 of 2
Proprietary document. Copies are not controlled. Confirm revision status through the EASA-Internet/Intranet.
An agency of the European Union