AD/A320/231 Flap Track No.1 Pendulum Assembly (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/A320/231 Flap Track No.1 Pendulum Assembly 4/2009

Applicability:

Model A318-111, -112, -121 and -122 aircraft, all serial numbers.

Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132 and -133 aircraft, all serial numbers.

Model A320-111, -211, -212, -214, -215, -216, -231, -232 and -233 aircraft, all serial numbers.

Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231 and 232 aircraft, all serial numbers.

Requirement:

Action in accordance with the requirements of EASA AD 2009-0025, Corrected
11 February 2009.

Compliance:

As specified in the Requirement document, with a revised effective date of
9 April 2009.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 9 April 2009.

Background:

During a routine inspection on an A321 aircraft, the operator discovered that a bearing of the flap track No. 1 pendulum assembly had migrated out of position.  An investigation has revealed that the pendulum bearing migration was probably due to the methods used during an in-service replacement of the bearing during maintenance.  This Directive requires a one-time inspection of the affected flap track No.1 pendulum assembly, and if bearing migration is evident, replacement of the affected flap track pendulum assembly.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

24 February 2009