EASA AD No.

: 2020-0274

Airworthiness Directive
AD No.: 2020-0274
Issued: 10 December 2020
Note: This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued by EASA, acting in accordance with Regulation
(EU) 2018/1139 on behalf of the European Union, its Member States and of the European third
countries that participate in the activities of EASA under Article 129 of that Regulation.

This AD is issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) 748/2012, Part 21.A.3B. In accordance with Regulation (EU) 1321/2014 Annex I, Part M.A.301, the
continuing airworthiness of an aircraft shall be ensured by accomplishing any applicable ADs. Consequently, no person may operate an aircraft to which
an AD applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that AD, unless otherwise specified by the Agency [Regulation (EU) 1321/2014 Annex I,
Part M.A.303] or agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry [Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, Article 71 exemption].

Design Approval Holder’s Name: Type/Model designation(s):

AIRBUS see Applicability

Effective Date: 24 December 2020

TCDS Number(s): EASA.A.064, EASA.A.004, EASA.A.015 and EASA.A.110
Foreign AD: Not applicable
Supersedure: None

ATA 24 – Electrical Power – Nickel-Cadmium Rechargeable Batteries – Replacement

Manufacturer(s):
Airbus, formerly Airbus Industrie

Applicability:
Airbus 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, A320-215, 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 and A321-272NX aeroplanes; and

Airbus A330-201, A330-202, A330-203, A330-223, A330-223F, A330-243, A330-243F, A330-301,

A330-302, A330-303, A330-321, A330-322, A330-323, A330-341, A330-342, A330-343,
A330-743L, A330-841 , A330-941, A340-211, A340-212, A340-213, A340-311, A340-312 , A340-313
and A340-541, A340-542, A340-642 and A340-643 aeroplanes; and

Airbus A380-841, A380-842 and A380-861 aeroplanes.

Definitions:
For the purpose of this AD, the following definitions apply:

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Affected part: Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery, Part Numbers (P/N) as defined in Table 1 of this AD,
all serial numbers.

Serviceable part: An affected part which was, prior to installation, fully (re)charged in an approved
battery shop at constant current and after (re)charging, was never installed and (re)connected to an
aeroplane which was parked or stored for more than 2 days, except when the disconnection and
subsequent connection of the battery has been accomplished using the preservation procedures as
defined in the applicable AOT.

The applicable AOT: Airbus Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) A24N006-20 (A318, A319, A320 and
A321 aeroplanes), A24L007-20 (A330 and A340 aeroplanes) and A24R009-20 (A380 aeroplanes), as
applicable.

Reconnection cycle: Repeated disconnection and connection of a battery, installed on an

aeroplane, to aeroplane electrical system during parking or storage periods (for A330 and A340
aeroplanes) or parking periods (for A318, A319, A320, A321 and A380 aeroplanes) since the last
battery charge at constant current in approved battery shop, as defined in the applicable AOT,
except when:

– the on-wing battery preservation procedures as defined in the applicable AOT have been applied,
or

– the battery has been disconnected, physically removed from the aeroplane and then
subsequently installed and connected following a shop visit as defined in the applicable AOT.

Groups: Group 1 aeroplanes are those which have an affected part installed, which has more than 4
reconnection cycles.
Group 2 aeroplanes are those which have an affected part installed, which has 4 or less
reconnection cycles; or have a serviceable part installed.

Reason:
Results of the investigation by Airbus and the manufacturer of Ni-Cd batteries have determined that
repetitive disconnection and reconnection of batteries during aeroplane parking or storage (as
detailed in the applicable Aircraft Maintenance Manual) may lead to reduction of capacity of those
batteries.

This condition, if not corrected, could lead to reduced battery endurance performance, possibly
resulting in failure to supply the minimum essential electrical power during abnormal or emergency
conditions.

To address this potential unsafe condition, Airbus issued the applicable AOT to provide
maintenance instructions to restore an aeroplane to an airworthy condition and to provide
recommendations for battery preservation.

For the reasons described above, and in order to meet the intent of the AOT, this AD requires
replacement of certain affected parts with serviceable parts and provides conditions for return to

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service of affected parts installed on aeroplanes currently (or to be) parked or stored. This AD also
introduces maintenance procedures as an alternative to battery replacement required by this AD.

Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s):

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously:

Table 1 – Affected Part

Aeroplane Type(s) P/N
A318, A319, A320 and A321 2758 or 416526
A330 and A340 4059, 405CH or 505CH
A380 505CH2

Replacement:
(1) For Group 1 aeroplanes:
Within the compliance time defined in Table 2 of this AD and thereafter before each release to
service of an aeroplane after parking or storage, as applicable (see also Notes 1 and 2 of this
AD), replace each affected part with a serviceable part in accordance with the instructions of
the applicable AOT.

Table 2 – Battery Replacement

Aeroplane Type(s) Compliance Time
(after the effective date of this AD)
A318, A319, A320 and A321 Within 4 months
A330 and A340 Within 6 months
A380 Within 6 months

Note 1: After replacement of a battery on an aeroplane as required by paragraph (1) of this AD, the
aeroplane becomes Group 2 aeroplane. A Group 2 aeroplane on which the preservation procedures,
as detailed in the applicable AOT, are not accomplished becomes a Group 1 aeroplane after
application of more than 4 reconnection cycles (see Definitions of this AD). A Group 2 aeroplane on
which preservation procedures, as detailed in the applicable AOT, continue to be accomplished,
remains a Group 2 aeroplane.

Note 2: For Group 1 and Group 2 aeroplanes, the use of off-wing or on-wing battery preservation
procedures (including battery shop visits, as applicable), as detailed in the applicable AOT, prevents
(further) reduction of the capacity of an affected part.

Alternative Method – Preservation:

(2) For Group 2 (see Note 1 of this AD) aeroplanes: From the effective of this AD, provided that the
preservation procedures (off-wing or on-wing, as applicable) are accomplished on an aeroplane
in accordance with the instructions of the applicable AOT, no replacements of affected parts in
accordance with the requirements of paragraph (1) of this AD are required (anymore) for that
aeroplane.

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Ref. Publications:
Airbus AOT A24N006-20 original issue dated 09 September 2020, or Revision 1 dated 12 October
2020.

Airbus AOT A24L007-20 original issue dated 23 September 2020.

Airbus AOT A24R009-20 original issue dated 23 September 2020.

The use of later approved revisions of the above-mentioned documents is acceptable for
compliance with the requirements of this AD.

Remarks:
1. If requested and appropriately substantiated, EASA can approve Alternative Methods of
Compliance for this AD.

2. This AD was posted on 12 October 2020 as PAD 20-164 for consultation until 26 October 2020.
The Comment Response Document can be found in the EASA Safety Publications Tool, in the
compressed (zipped) file attached to the record for this AD.

3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the EASA Programming and Continued
Airworthiness Information Section, Certification Directorate. E-mail: ADs@easa.europa.eu.

4. Information about any failures, malfunctions, defects or other occurrences, which may be
similar to the unsafe condition addressed by this AD, and which may occur, or have occurred on
a product, part or appliance not affected by this AD, can be reported to the EU aviation safety
reporting system. This may include reporting on the same or similar components, other than
those covered by the design to which this AD applies, if the same unsafe condition can exist or
may develop on an aircraft with those components installed. Such components may be
installed under an FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA), Supplemental Type Certificate
(STC) or other modification.

5. For any question concerning the technical content of the requirements in this AD, please
contact: AIRBUS, as specified below:
For A320 family program : Airworthiness Office; E-mail: account.airworth-eas@airbus.com.
For A330 and A340 family program: Airworthiness Office,
E-mail: airworthiness.A330-A340@airbus.com.
For A380 program : Airworthiness Office, E-mail: account.airworth-A380@airbus.com.

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