EASA AD 2020-0108
Equipment / Furnishings — Emergency Locator Transmitter — Modification
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2020-0108 is an official regulatory document addressing a safety issue on Airbus A300-600 and A310 aeroplanes. It specifically targets Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) with Part Number 01N65900 installed on these aircraft models. The directive mandates modifications to improve protection against electrical current injection that could cause battery fires.
What Changed
This new Airworthiness Directive introduces a mandatory modification requiring the installation of a diode in the circuit connecting the ELT battery to prevent potential battery fires caused by current injection of 28 Volts DC or 115 Volts AC. Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A300-25-6231 to provide the necessary modification instructions. The directive applies to specific manufacturer serial numbers of Airbus A300-600 and A310 aeroplanes.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for aviation safety as it addresses a latent fire risk in ELT lithium batteries that could lead to damage to the aircraft and injury to occupants. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to maintain airworthiness and avoid operational restrictions. Compliance also supports regulatory adherence under EU aviation safety regulations.
What To Do
Operators of affected Airbus A300-600 aeroplanes must complete the ELT modification within 24 months from 28 May 2020 by following Airbus Service Bulletin A300-25-6231. For the Airbus A310 aeroplane with MSN 0591, operators must contact Airbus for approved modification instructions and comply within the same 24-month timeframe. Alternative methods of compliance may be approved upon request and substantiation.
Your fleet's weekly compliance brief
AI-summarized regulatory changes, compliance deadlines, and action items — filtered to your aircraft, every Monday.
AI-generated summary from official EASA source document. Always verify against the original.