AD/A320/222 Elevator Aileron Computer Software (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.001(1) of CASR 1998.  The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes

AD/A320/222 Elevator Aileron Computer Software 6/2008 DM

Applicability:	A321 series aircraft, all manufacturers serial numbers, except aircraft that have received Airbus modification 34043 during production or that have embodied either Airbus Service Bulletin (SB) A320-27-1151 dated 9 March 2004 or A320-27-1152 dated 4 June 2004, or later approved revisions, whilst in service.
Requirement:	If not previously accomplished, install Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC) L83 software in accordance with SB A320-27-1151 or L91 software in accordance with SB A320-27-1152.
Later revisions of SB A320-27-1151 or SB A320-27-1152 approved by the French Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC) of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are acceptable for compliance with this Directive.
Note:  DGAC AD F-2004-147 refers.
Compliance:	Within 30 days after the effective date of this Directive.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 30 April 2008.
Background:	The DGAC has advised that an operator has reported two similar events which occurred on two different A321 on the same airport at several hours interval.  In both cases, the pilots encountered some lateral handling difficulties leading to roll oscillations when performing a manual approach in moderate icing conditions for a landing in configuration full flaps “CONF FULL”.  During the subsequent external inspection of both aircraft, ice was found on non de-iced parts of the wing and of the horizontal stabilizer.
New ELAC L83 and L91 software incorporate A321 lateral behaviour improvement to address the unsafe condition, consequently this Directive mandates the installation of ELAC standard L83 or L91 software.

James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

21 April 2008