Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A318-100 Series Airplanes; Model A319-100 Series Airplanes; Model A320-111 Airplanes; Model A320-200 Series Airplanes; Model A321-100 Series Airplanes; and Model A321-200 Series Airplanes

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A318-100 series airplanes; Model A319-100 series airplanes; Model A320-111 airplanes; Model A320-200 series airplanes; Model A321-100 series airplanes; and Model A321-200 series airplanes. This AD requires replacing the water drain valves in the forward and aft cargo doors with new valves. This AD results from a report indicating that, during a test of the fire extinguishing system, air leakage through the water drain valves in the forward and aft cargo doors reduced the concentration of fire extinguishing agent to below the level required to suppress a fire. We are issuing this AD to prevent air leakage through the water drain valves, which, in the event of a fire in the forward or aft cargo compartment, could result in an insufficient concentration of fire extinguishing agent and consequent inability of the fire extinguishing system to suppress the fire.