Aviation
Commercial /
Europe
Airbus A320
EASA requests replacement of defective fuel pumps
Rafael Ramos
4/29/2021
The European Union Aviation Security Agency (EASA) has identified a problem with the Airbus A320 and family aircraft fuel pump. About 100 pieces have the problem pointed out by EASA.
If the problem occurs, some components of the pump may come loose and cause a failure of power isolation in the system. If this happens, the fuel pump can become a potential ignition source, with a risk of fire and even explosion in the tank.
Airbus A320neo
Image: Airbus
Airbus A320neo
Image: Airbus
"This condition, if not corrected, can, in the case of operating a pump while it is not completely immersed in the fuel, create a source of ignition in the fuel tank, possibly resulting in an explosion of the fuel tank and consequent loss of the plane", as per EASA note.
Airplanes of models A318-100 to A321neo manufactured before June 30, 2015 must have the part replaced and the repair must be done immediately by the companies, according to the Airworthiness Directive. The exchange of parts must occur in 10 days or 50 cycles of use of the aircraft.
The Airworthiness Directive of April 27, 2021 can be read in full on the external link below.
It should be noted, however, that under regulation, all commercial airplanes used in regular passenger operations must be equipped with neutral gas generating systems that provide additional protection against fuel vapor ignition problems within the tanks.
The mandatory nature of this equipment originates from the accident that occurred with Flight TWA-800 in the 90s of the last century. In this accident, the ignition of fuel vapors in the central fuselage tanks, caused by micro short circuits in electrical wiring, caused the fuselage to split in two followed by the loss of the aircraft which crashed on the New York coast, in plain sight of the residents. north coast of this city. An image that they will never forget, without a doubt.
Investigations showed that not only the short circuits, caused by the poor insulation of the electrical wiring (the plane was old and the insulation had become deficient with age), but also the accumulation of fuel vapors in the central tanks above the stoichiometric proportion. required for combustion contributed to the fatal explosion.
After extensive investigation, the aeronautical regulations (SFAR 88) started to require the incorporation of systems that filled the interior of the fuel tanks with neutral gases (in this case nitrogen) to neutralize the risks.
In this way, EASA's present concern with electrical problems inside the tanks, always commendable because aircraft safety DOESN'T PLAY, should not frighten people, not only because the deadlines for incorporating inspections or modifications comply with management criteria. of risks, but also because, due to the vast experience of aircraft builders and regulators, aircraft already have efficient defense systems against undesirable ignition of their fuel tanks.
Unfortunately, about 230 people had to pay with their lives for us to have this level of security today (In memoriam).
As final curiosities, (1) an aircraft the size of the A320 or 737NG carries a maximum fuel capacity close to 20 tons and (2) the EWIS program (Electrical Wiring Interconetion System) that provides a series of actions against the aging of electrical wiring in aircraft, it was strongly driven and was implemented in part thanks to investigations of the TWA 800 and Swissair 111, an MD-11 that crashed into the ocean near Halifax, Canada, due to an electrical fire on board, with no survivors.
Hyperlinks:
https://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/2...
Rafael Ramos
Aviation enthusiast from an early age, he had his first contacts with the area developing that good old habit of spending dozens of hours in front of the screens of Micrsoft Flight Simulator and other simulators. With a solid background in various technological areas, including engineering and chemistry, Rafael has rejoined aviation as editor and author of articles and materials on our portal, providing invaluable help to the dynamics and expansion of the website and the aeronautical community, bringing us the news and updates so indispensable for us to remain current in our area of operation.
   
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