COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes
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 39.1 (1) of CAR 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.
AD/A320/115 Flight Crew Seats 3/2001
Applicability: All model A319, A320 and A321 aircraft equipped with powered cockpit seats manufactured by Sogerma with:
- Part Number (P/N) TAAI2-13PE00-01, TAAI2-13PE01-01, TAAI2-33PE00-01,
TAAI2-33PE01-01 for Captain seats, and
- P/N TAAI2-13CE00-01, TAAI2-13CE01-01, TAAI2-33CE00-01, TAAI2-
33CE01-01 for First Officer seats.
and fitted with P/N 4136290003 Labinal actuator.
Note 1: The involved seats have a serial number below S/N 657.
Note 2: Such equipped seats are identified by a label close to the identification plate with “Seat equipped with “Labinal” actuator” printed on it and without any P/N indication.
Requirement: Remove P/N 4136290003 Labinal actuators and replace them by P/N 4136290004 or 4136290005 Labinal actuators or P/N 6147-6 Aviac actuators in accordance with Sogerma Service Bulletin TAAI2-25-402, Revision 1.
Note: DGAC AD 2000-524(B) refers.
Compliance: Within six months from 22 March 2001.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 22 March 2001.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Background: Operators reported some uncommanded horizontal movement of cockpit seat adjustment during flight. Investigation revealed that these events were due to a broken Labinal actuator electrical brake. If left uncorrected, this failure can lead to untimely seat movement or loss of the seat’s brake function; and consequent loss of pilot control.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 6 February 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 21 February 2001.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the authority of the Australian Parliament, have been amended to address specific safety concerns identified in Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 series aeroplanes. The Airworthiness Directive issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 aims to mitigate the risk of uncommanded horizontal movement of cockpit seats during flight, a problem that has been traced to a failure in the Labinal actuator electrical brake. The directive mandates the replacement of specific actuators in affected aircraft within a stipulated timeframe to ensure compliance with safety standards. This action is critical to prevent potential loss of pilot control, thereby enhancing overall flight safety.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/115 issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies specifically to all Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aircraft that are equipped with powered cockpit seats manufactured by Sogerma. These seats are identified by certain part numbers and serial numbers, as specified in the applicability section of the AD. The directive mandates that any affected aircraft must have their Labinal actuators replaced within six months of the AD's effective date, 22 March 2001, to rectify an issue that could cause uncommanded horizontal movement of the cockpit seats during flight due to a broken electrical brake. The AD extends its reach across all operators of the specified aircraft models within the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring compliance with safety standards through CASA's regulatory framework. Subordinate instruments or further instructions may be issued to detail the implementation and compliance verification processes.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, establish the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. This legislation requires certain actions to be taken to ensure the safety of aircraft and their occupants. Under section 39.1(1), CASA issues Airworthiness Directives (AD) to address safety issues that may compromise the airworthiness of aircraft. One such AD, AD/A320/115, pertains to Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes and mandates corrective actions for powered cockpit seats manufactured by Sogerma and fitted with specific Labinal actuators.
The AD applies to all A319, A320, and A321 aircraft equipped with powered cockpit seats manufactured by Sogerma with particular part numbers (TAAI2-13PE00-01, TAAI2-13PE01-01, TAAI2-33PE00-01, TAAI2-33PE01-01 for Captain seats and TAAI2-13CE00-01, TAAI2-13CE01-01, TAAI2-33CE00-01, TAAI2-33CE01-01 for First Officer seats) and fitted with P/N 4136290003 Labinal actuators. These seats are identifiable by a label indicating "Seat equipped with 'Labinal' actuator" without any part number indication. The AD requires these actuators to be removed and replaced with either P/N 4136290004 or 4136290005 Labinal actuators or P/N 6147-6 Aviac actuators, in accordance with Sogerma Service Bulletin TAAI2-25-402, Revision 1.
Operators and owners of the affected aircraft must comply with this directive by replacing the specified actuators within six months from the effective date of the AD, which is 22 March 2001. Failure to comply with the AD within the specified timeframe may result in the aircraft being considered unairworthy, leading to potential grounding and further regulatory action. The directive aims to prevent uncommanded horizontal movement of cockpit seats during flight, which can result from a broken Labinal actuator electrical brake. Such movement can compromise pilot control, posing a significant safety risk.
Non-compliance with the AD could lead to serious safety concerns and regulatory repercussions. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 enforce strict penalties for violations, which may include fines and legal action. The severity of the penalties can depend on the extent of the non-compliance and the potential risk to flight safety. CASA has the authority to take enforcement actions against operators and manufacturers who fail to adhere to the AD, ensuring the continued safety of civil aviation.