The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
FAA orders · airworthiness directive · historical

2021-20-08: Electrical Power

FAA order 2021-20-08 is an airworthiness directive in force since November 18, 2021. The FAA's subject line: Electrical Power. It names Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Airbus A321, Airbus A330, Airbus A340: about 2,220 aircraft on the U.S. register today across them, though an order usually covers particular versions or serial numbers rather than every one. System: electrical power.

What it applies to as the FAA lists it

Kind of product
Aircraft
Makes
Airbus SAS
Models
A318-111, A318-112, A318-121, A318-122, A319-111, A319-112, A319-113, A319-114, A319-115, A319-131, A319-132, A319-133, A319-151N, A319-153N, A319-171N, A320-211, A320-212, A320-214, A320-216, A320-231, A320-232, A320-233, A320-251N, A320-252N, A320-253N, A320-271N, A320-272N, A320-273N, A321-111, A321-112, A321-131, A321-211, A321-212, A321-213, A321-231, A321-232, A321-251N, A321-251NX, A321-252N, A321-252NX, A321-253N, A321-253NX, A321-271N, A321-271NX, A321-272N, A321-272NX, A330-201, A330-202, A330-203, A330-223, A330-223F, A330-243, A330-243F, A330-301, A330-302, A330-303, A330-321,...
On this site
Airbus A319 329 registered
Airbus A320 792 registered
Airbus A321 936 registered
Airbus A330 153 registered
Airbus A340 10 registered

Dates and paperwork

In force since
November 18, 2021
Published
October 14, 2021 (signed October 6, 2021)
Docket
FAA-2021-0350
Replaced by
2024-08-08
Status
Historical
The FAA's document
Read the order on the FAA's site

The FAA's summary their words, unchanged

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, A321, A330-200, A330-200 Freighter, A330-300, A330-800, A330-900, A340-200, A340-300, A340-500, A340-600, and A380-800 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that repetitive disconnection and reconnection of certain batteries during airplane parking or storage could lead to a reduction in capacity of those batteries. This AD requires replacing certain nickel-cadmium (Ni- Cd) batteries with serviceable Ni-Cd batteries, or maintaining the electrical storage capacity of those Ni-Cd batteries during airplane storage or parking, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The order itself the regulatory text, as published

Show the full text (7,099 characters)
Adoption of the Amendment \n\n\n\tAccordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows: \n\nPART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES \n\n0 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: \n\n\n\tAuthority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. \n\n\n\nSec. 39.13 (Amended) \n\n0 2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive: \n\n2021-20-08 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-21746; Docket No. FAA-2021-0350; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01633-T. \n\n(a) Effective Date \n\n\n\tThis airworthiness directive (AD) is effective November 18, 2021. \n\n(b) Affected ADs \n\n\n\tNone. \n\n(c) Applicability \n\n\n\tThis AD applies to all Airbus SAS airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (7) of this AD, certificated in any category. \n\t(1) Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes. \n\t(2) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, - 151N, -153N, and -171N airplanes. \n\t(3) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, - 252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes. \n\t(4) Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, - 251N, -251NX, -252N, -252NX, -253N, -253NX, -271N, -271NX, -272N, and -272NX airplanes. \n\t(5) Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, -223F, -243, -243F, -301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, -343, -841, and -941 airplanes. \n\t(6) Model A340-211, -212, -213, -311, -312, -313, -541, and -642 airplanes. \n\t(7) Model A380-841, -842, and -861 airplanes. \n\n(d) Subject \n\n\n\tAir Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 24, Electrical Power. \n\n(e) Reason \n\n\n\tThis AD was prompted by a report that repetitive disconnection and reconnection of certain nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries during airplane parking or storage could lead to a reduction in capacity of those batteries. The FAA is issuing this AD to address reduced capacity of certain Ni-Cd batteries, which could lead to reduced battery endurance performance and possibly result in failure to supply the minimum essential electrical power during abnormal or emergency conditions. \n\n(f) Compliance \n\n\n\tComply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. \n\n(g) Requirements \n\n\n\tExcept as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020-0274, dated December 10, 2020 (EASA AD 2020-0274). \n\n(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2020-0274 \n\n\n\t(1) Where EASA AD 2020-0274 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. \n\t(2) Where EASA AD 2020-0274 defines a ''reconnection cycle'' as ''repeated disconnection and connection of a battery . . . ,'' this AD defines it as ''one instance of disconnection and connection of a battery. . . .'' \n\t(3) The ''Remarks'' section of EASA AD 2020-0274 does not apply to this AD. \n\n((Page 57027)) \n\n(i) No Reporting Requirement \n\n\n\tAlthough the service information referenced in EASA AD 2020-0274 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement. \n\n(j) Other FAA AD Provisions \n\n\n\tThe following provisions also apply to this AD: \n\t(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or responsible Flight Standards Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (k) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: [email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of theresponsible Flight Standards Office. \n\t(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus SAS's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature. \n\t(3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except as required by paragraph (j)(2) of this AD, if any service information referenced in EASA AD 2020-0274 that contains paragraphs that are labeled as RC, the instructions in RC paragraphs, including subparagraphs under an RC paragraph, must be done to comply with this AD; any paragraphs, including subparagraphs under those paragraphs, that are not identified as RC are recommended. The instructions in paragraphs, including subparagraphs under those paragraphs, not identified as RC may be deviated from using accepted methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the instructions identified as RC can be done and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy condition. Any substitutions or changes to instructions identified as RC require approval of an AMOC. \n\n(k) Related Information \n\n\n\tFor more information about this AD, contact Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3225; email [email protected]. \n\n(l) Material Incorporated by Reference \n\n\n\t(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. \n\t(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise. \n\t(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020-0274, dated December 10, 2020. \n\t(ii) (Reserved) \n\t(3) For EASA AD 2020-0274, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email [email protected]; Internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA AD on the EASA website at https://ad.easa.europa.eu. \n\t(4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. \n\t(5) You may view this material that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, email [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. \n\n\n\tIssued on October 6, 2021. Ross Landes, Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.(FR Doc. 2021-22225 Filed 10-13-21; 8:45 am) BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

Related safety bulletins advice on the same designs, not orders

2019-02-19NE-19-03 · Escape Slide Maintenance Tasks and Intervals - JASC 2565
2017-07-19NM-17-20 · Equipment/Furnishings
2014-11-06NM-15-02 · Cabin Equipment/Furnishings
2014-06-03NM-14-21 · Communications: Honeywell RTA 44D VHF Transceivers
2013-03-21NM-13-24 · Air Conditioning System: Air Distribution Fan

Source: FAA Dynamic Regulatory System, airworthiness directives. The FAA's document is the authority; the register counts are this site's, from the FAA register of November 6, 2026. Connections as data: /graph/directive/2021-20-08.json · aircraft systems.