AD/A320/225 Elevator Servo-Control Rod Eye-End (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/A320/225 | Elevator Servo-Control Rod Eye-End | 11/2008 |
Applicability: | AIRBUS (formerly AIRBUS INDUSTRIE) A318-111, A318-112, A318-121, |
Requirement: | 1. Inspect both left hand (LH) and right hand (RH) inboard elevator servo-control rod eye-ends in accordance with the instructions of AIRBUS All Operators Telex (AOT) A320-27A1186. 2. In case of any findings, contact AIRBUS and accomplish the relevant corrective actions in accordance with the instructions of AOT A320-27A1186. 3. Report the results of the inspections and any findings, including no findings, to AIRBUS. 4. Do not install an elevator servo-control rod eye-end on any aircraft, unless it has been inspected in accordance with the instructions of AOT A320-27A1186. The use of later approved revisions of AOT A320-27A1186 is acceptable for compliance with the requirements of this AD. Note: EASA AD 2008-0149 dated 5 August 2008 refers. |
Compliance: | Required as indicated, unless previously accomplished, although not before accumulation of 10,000 Flight Cycles (FC) since aircraft first flight. For Requirement 1: For aircraft which have accumulated 10,000 FC or more since first flight at the effective date of this AD: - Within 1,500 FC or 200 days, whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD; and then - Within 3,000 FC or 400 days, whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD |
| For aircraft which have accumulated less than 10,000 FC since first flight at the effective date of this AD: - Within 1,500 FC or 200 days from reaching the threshold of 10,000 FC, whichever occurs first; and then - Within 3,000 FC or 400 days from reaching the threshold of 10,000 FC, whichever occurs first. For Requirement 2: Before further flight after the effective date of this AD. For Requirement 3: Within 40 days after accomplishment of each inspection as required by this AD. For Requirement 4: From the effective date of this AD. | |
| This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 23 October 2008. | |
Background: | One case of elevator servo-control disconnection has been experienced on an aircraft of the A320 family. Failure occurred at the servo-control rod eye-end. Further to this finding, additional inspections have revealed cracking at the same location on a number of other servo-control rod eye-ends. In one case, both actuators of the same elevator surface were affected. The root cause of the cracking has not yet been determined and tests are ongoing. It is anticipated that further actions will be required. A dual servo-control disconnection on the same elevator could result in an uncontrolled surface, the elevator surface being neither actuated nor damped, which could lead to reduced control of the aircraft. For the reason described above, this AD requires a one-time inspection of the elevator servo-control rod eye-ends and, in case of findings, the accomplishment of corrective actions. |
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority
25 August 2008
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