CUSTOMER SERVICES DIRECTORATE

2 ROND POINT EMILE DEWOITINE

31700 BLAGNAC FRANCE
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ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT

SUBJECT: ATA 35 – Inspection of Crew Oxygen Cylinder for missing sub-component

AIRCRAFT TYPE: A318,A319,A320,A321

OUR REF.: A35N012-19 Rev 00 dated 06-MAR-2019

1. AIRCRAFT AFFECTED

All aircraft with Crew Oxygen cylinder P/N 89794077 or P/N 89794015 or P/N 891511-14.

2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTATION

2.1 APPENDIX

Appendix 1: Airbus special procedure “On-Aircraft Pressure Release Procedure for Crew Oxygen
Cylinders with Identified Hand Valve Defect”
Appendix 2: SAFRAN / AVOX Service Bulletin 10015804-35-01 “OXYGEN – CYLINDER – POSSIBLE
MISSING COMPONENT ON OXYGEN VALVE ASSEMBLY”

2.2 REFERENCES

Ref.1: SAFRAN / AVOX Service Bulletin 10015804-35-01 (see Appendix 2)

Ref.2: Airbus AMM Task 35-00-00-860-001-A “Special Precautions When Working on a Gaseous
Oxygen System”

3. REASON

The purpose of this AOT is to advise A320 Family operators about findings on Crew Oxygen Cylinder
Assemblies and to request inspection of Oxygen Cylinders which are in operation and in stock.

3.1 FACTS

Two instances have been reported and confirmed of a cylinder & hand valve with oxygen leakage
from the valve assembly vent hole.
During the tear down analysis of the hand valve assemblies it was revealed that an internal part
(guide) was not assembled onto the stem. The absence of the guide can lead to an oxygen leakage
and creates a situation that increases the probability of significant oxygen leakage through the valve
assembly vent hole that would result in depletion of the oxygen cylinder.
In the two reported cases, after a leak was observed during cylinder opening, a manual closing and
reopening of the cylinder hand valve initiated ignition events internally and created a spark of fire from
a valve assembly vent hole.

This potentially missing guide is P/N 10015804 and may be missing on hand valves of oxygen cylinders
P/N 89794077 (composite) and P/N 89794015 (composite) and P/N 891511-14 (steel) produced during
a certain period in 2018.

3.2 CONSEQUENCES

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If a discrepant cylinder assembly was installed on the aircraft and left in the open position without
immediate failure, there is a possibility that the O-ring / backing ring might displace at a later time due to
environmental effects (vibration and temperature); this might occur on ground or during flight.

A discrepant assembly presents risk to maintenance personnel on ground, as the two known ignition
events demonstrate.

Both of the observed ignitions during opening of the hand valve were preceded by an opening of the
valve where leakage alone was observed, and the valve was then closed. A valve which is opened and
exhibits leakage, may be closed but must not be reopened; it is important to instruct maintenance
personnel to observe this precaution and not reopen a valve from which such a leakage was observed.

3.3 AIM

The aim of this AOT is to recommend a one-time inspection of all potentially affected assemblies
installed on airline aircraft and in spare stocks as described in Ref. 1 SAFRAN / AVOX Service Bulletin.

4. SHORT TERM ACTION

4.1 PLANNING AND MANPOWER

4.1.1 ACCOMPLISHMENT TIMESCALE

Perform a one-time inspection on cylinder(s) hand valve(s) as described in Ref. 1 SAFRAN / AVOX
Service Bulletin before any action on the valve or within 60 Days after the date of issuance of this AOT,
whichever occurs first.

4.1.2 MANPOWER

The estimated time to perform this one-time inspection is 0.3 M/H

In case of finding, the bleeding of an open cylinder via the procedure provided in Appendix 1 will take
between 10 and 20 minutes if cylinder is at nominal pressure (1850 psi). Bleeding time will be lower for
lower cylinder pressures.
Bleeding of a closed cylinder is not necessary.

4.2 DESCRIPTION

Perform a one-time inspection on cylinder(s) hand valve(s) as described in Ref. 1 SAFRAN / AVOX
Service Bulletin in order to detect a discrepant hand valve assembly.
Cylinders to be inspected are all cylinders having a P/N 89794077 or P/N 89794015 or P/N 891511-14
with a Serial Number as listed in the Appendix of Ref. 1 SAFRAN / AVOX Service Bulletin, and in each
of the following situations:
- Cylinder is installed on aircraft
- Cylinder is in stock

Important Note: In case a cylinder is installed on aircraft and must be opened or re-opened after
maintenance activity, it is highly recommended to perform the inspection before opening the cylinder
due to potential ignition risk with spark of fire through the valve vent hole.

4.2.1 ACCESS

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For cylinders installed on aircraft, access to the crew Oxygen cylinder(s) is obtained as follows:
- Put an ACCESS PLATFORM 2M (6 FT) in position at access door 812.
- Open access door 812.

4.2.2 INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS

One-time inspection of cylinders in stock or on wing is done as described in Ref. 1 SAFRAN / AVOX
Service Bulletin.
Inspection consists in basic gap measurement on the cylinder valve.

4.2.3 FINDINGS

Strictly follow the instruction of the vendor SB in order to determine if each inspected cylinder is
“Acceptable” or “Unacceptable”.

In case of “Unacceptable” finding for a cylinder held in stock follow the instruction of the vendor SB.

In case of “Unacceptable” finding for a cylinder installed on aircraft – with valve normally opened – do
not touch or rotate the hand valve and follow the instruction of the vendor SB.
As required by the Ref. 1 SAFRAN / AVOX Service Bulletin the cylinder has to be bled on aircraft.
Please follow the special procedure in AOT Appendix 1 to bleed a cylinder with finding “Unacceptable”.

Caution: During procedure accomplishment ensure that AMM Ref. 2 is strictly followed (“Special
Precautions When Working on a Gaseous Oxygen System”).

4.3 SPARES AND TOOLING

Inspection of cylinders in stock or on wing require an “oxygen clean” pin gauge (or equivalent) with a
diameter of 2 mm (0.079”) as described in Ref. 1 SAFRAN / AVOX Service Bulletin.
One permanent blue marker (or equivalent) is also needed in order to mark inspected valve assemblies
without findings (OK).

In case of finding on aircraft, a cylinder which is removed can only be replaced by the same P/N (no
interchangeability available).

5. FURTHER INFORMATION

5.1 FOLLOW-UP PLAN

Apart from the actions described in this AOT and related Service Bulletin from SAFRAN / AVOX, the
operators shall verify that any oxygen cylinder installed on aircraft in the future with a P/N 89794077 or
P/N 89794015 or P/N 891511-14 and with a Serial Number as listed in the Appendix of Ref. 1 SAFRAN
/ AVOX Service Bulletin has also been inspected as per this same Service Bulletin Ref. 1.

5.2 IMPACTED DOCUMENTATION

N/A

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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, Section Engineering Support and ATA 35-11.

As per latest reporting policy (Ref to OIT 999.0018/16), all inspection results (with or without findings)
are to be addressed to Airbus Customer Services through the generic e-mail address:
inspection.results@airbus.com.

Best Regards,

Jean-Luc MOUYSSET Jean-Pierre GOMEZ

VICE PRESIDENT ENGINEERING SUPPORT VICE PRESIDENT A320 PROGRAMME
CUSTOMER SERVICES CUSTOMER SERVICES

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