W DOC AIRBUS | AMM A320F

Aircraft Grounding (Earthing) for the Maintenance Operations

TASK 12-34-24-869-002-A
Aircraft Grounding (Earthing) for the Maintenance Operations

WARNING: DO NOT WEAR A HEADSET OR TOUCH CABLES/LINES CONNECTED TO THE AIRCRAFT, DURING BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS. LIGHTNING IS DANGEROUS.
CAUTION: DO NOT GROUND (EARTH) THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH THE JACKS. THIS IS BECAUSE IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS NO ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY BETWEEN THE JACK AND THE AIRCRAFT PAD (THERE CAN BE PROTECTIVE MATERIAL, DIRT ETC.). THUS, IF YOU USE JACKS WITH ELECTRICAL POWER, YOU MUST GROUND (EARTH) THEM.
1. Reason for the Job
For electrical continuity between the aircraft and the earth during the maintenance operations.
During maintenance, it is mandatory to ground (earth) the aircraft when you do maintenance tasks with equipment that is externally supplied from a domestic or industrial network. This includes:
  • Electrical power tools
  • Electrical power sources
  • Electrical lights
  • Electrical instruments.
During maintenance, it is not necessary to ground (earth) the aircraft when you do maintenance tasks with equipment that is supplied with electrical power from:
  • The aircraft electrical system (Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), engine or battery) or
  • An external power source (Ground Power Unit (GPU)) or
  • Battery.
NOTE: Airbus recommends that you always do the grounding (earthing) of the aircraft during maintenance operations. This is because there are many maintenance operations at the same time (with or without equipment that is externally supplied from external power sources) in a hangar.
2. Job Set-up Information
 A. Fixtures, Tools, Test and Support Equipment
REFERENCE
QTY
DESIGNATION
No specific
AR
CABLE - GROUNDING (EARTHING)
 B. Work Zones and Access Panels
ZONE/ACCESS
ZONE DESCRIPTION
822
 C. Referenced Information
REFERENCE
DESIGNATION
TASK 52-41-00-010-002-A
Open the Avionics Compartment Doors for Access
TASK 52-41-00-410-002-A
Close the Avionics Compartment Doors after Access
F Location of the Grounding (Earthing) Point on the Avionics Compartment Door-Frame (on Frame 14)
F Location of the Grounding (Earthing) Point on the NLG
F Location of the Grounding (Earthing) Point on the MLG
F Grounding (Earthing) Point on the Engine Air Intake (if installed) ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
3. Job Set-up
Subtask 12-34-24-869-061-A
A. Grounding (Earthing) of the Aircraft and Workstand(s)
   (1) You must ground (earth) the workstand(s).
   (2) If equipment is connected to a domestic or industrial electrical network:
  • It is mandatory to do the grounding (earthing) of the aircraft before you start the maintenance operations.
    Refer to paragraph 4.A. Connection of the Grounding (Earthing) Cables.
Subtask 12-34-24-010-051-A
B. Get Access
F Location of the Grounding (Earthing) Point on the Avionics Compartment Door-Frame (on Frame 14)
   (1) If the aircraft is on jacks for retraction and extension checks or for the removal/installation of the landing gear, open access door 822 (Ref. AMM TASK 52-41-00-010-002).
4. Procedure
Subtask 12-34-24-869-056-A ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
A. Connection of the Grounding (Earthing) Cables
F Location of the Grounding (Earthing) Point on the NLG ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
F Location of the Grounding (Earthing) Point on the MLG ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
F Location of the Grounding (Earthing) Point on the Avionics Compartment Door-Frame (on Frame 14) ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
WARNING: ALWAYS CONNECT THE GROUNDING (EARTHING) CABLE TO THE PARKING GROUND (EARTH) POINT BEFORE YOU CONNECT IT TO THE AIRCRAFT. DO NOT ATTACH THE CABLE TO THE AIRCRAFT FIRST (THERE IS A RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK).
CAUTION: ATTACH THE GROUNDING (EARTHING) CABLE ONLY TO THE SPECIFIED GROUNDING (EARTHING) POINTS ON THE AIRCRAFT.
   (1) Grounding (Earthing) Cable
     (a) Airbus recommends that you get a grounding (earthing) cable that has a section of 22 mm2 (0.034 in.2) or more.
     (b) If the aircraft is on its wheels:
       1 Connect the parking or the hangar CABLE - GROUNDING (EARTHING) to the aircraft grounding (earthing) point:
  • On one of the Main Landing Gear (MLG) legs or
  • On the Nose Landing Gear (NLG) leg.
     (c) If the aircraft is on jacks for retraction and extension checks or for the removal/installation of the landing gear:
       1 Connect the parking or the hangar CABLE - GROUNDING (EARTHING) to the aircraft grounding (earthing) point:
  • On the wing upper surface (if installed) or
  • In the hole on the lateral right door-frame of the avionics compartment (on FR14).
     (d) Make sure that the total electrical resistance of the grounding (earthing) cable is not more than 500 milliohms between:
  • The parking grounding (earthing) point and the selected aircraft grounding (earthing) point.
     (e) Make sure that the resistance is not more than 10 milliohms between:
  • The end connector of the grounding (earthing) cable and the nearest adjacent metal part of the selected aircraft grounding (earthing) point.
     (f) For the workstand(s):
  • Connect the parking or the hangar CABLE - GROUNDING (EARTHING) to the workstand(s).
Subtask 12-34-24-869-056-B ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
A. Connection of the Grounding (Earthing) Cables
F Location of the Grounding (Earthing) Point on the NLG ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
F Location of the Grounding (Earthing) Point on the MLG ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
F Grounding (Earthing) Point on the Engine Air Intake (if installed) ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
F Location of the Grounding (Earthing) Point on the Avionics Compartment Door-Frame (on Frame 14) ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
WARNING: ALWAYS CONNECT THE GROUNDING (EARTHING) CABLE TO THE PARKING GROUND (EARTH) POINT BEFORE YOU CONNECT IT TO THE AIRCRAFT. DO NOT ATTACH THE CABLE TO THE AIRCRAFT FIRST (THERE IS A RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK).
CAUTION: ATTACH THE GROUNDING (EARTHING) CABLE ONLY TO THE SPECIFIED GROUNDING (EARTHING) POINTS ON THE AIRCRAFT.
   (1) Grounding (Earthing) Cable
     (a) Airbus recommends that you get a grounding (earthing) cable that has a section of 22 mm2 (0.034 in.2) or more.
     (b) If the aircraft is on its wheels:
       1 Connect the parking or the hangar CABLE - GROUNDING (EARTHING) to the aircraft grounding (earthing) point:
  • On one of the Main Landing Gear (MLG) legs or
  • On the Nose Landing Gear (NLG) leg.
     (c) If the aircraft is on jacks for retraction and extension checks or for the removal/installation of the landing gear:
       1 Connect the parking or the hangar CABLE - GROUNDING (EARTHING) to the aircraft grounding (earthing) point:
  • On the wing upper surface (if installed) or
  • Adjacent to the high pressure connector (if installed) or
  • The engines air inlet (if installed) or
  • In the hole on the lateral right door-frame of the avionics compartment (on FR14).
     (d) Make sure that the total electrical resistance of the grounding (earthing) cable is not more than 500 milliohms between:
  • The parking grounding (earthing) point and the selected aircraft grounding (earthing) point.
     (e) Make sure that the resistance is not more than 10 milliohms between:
  • The end connector of the grounding (earthing) cable and the nearest adjacent metal part of the selected aircraft grounding (earthing) point.
     (f) For the workstand(s):
  • Connect the parking or the hangar CABLE - GROUNDING (EARTHING) to the workstand(s).
5. Close-up
Subtask 12-34-24-942-052-A
A. Disconnection of the Grounding (Earthing) Cables
   (1) After the maintenance operation, disconnect all the grounding (earthing) cables.
Subtask 12-34-24-410-052-A
B. Close Access
   (1) Close access door 822 (Ref. AMM TASK 52-41-00-410-002).
[Rev.10 from 2021] 2026.03.31 22:58:20 UTC
"Aviabrain" 2025