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.

Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes

AD/A320/131 Flight Control - ELAC Computer 13/2001

Applicability: All Model A319 and A320 aircraft, all serial numbers equipped with the following Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC) L80 standard:

Part Number (P/N) 3945122505 installed by Airbus Industrie modification No 27276 in production or Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin (SB) A320-27-1121 in service, or

P/N 3945123505 installed by Airbus Industrie modification No 27845 in production or Thales Avionics SB 394512-27-017, or

P/N 3945128101 installed by Airbus Industrie modification No 26910 in production.

Aircraft having embodied Airbus Industrie modification 31395 (Install ELAC Standard L81 in accordance with Airbus Industrie SB A320-27-1135) are not affected by this Airworthiness Directive.

Requirement: Replace all ELAC L80 standard computers with ELAC L81 standard computers in accordance with SB A320-27-1135.

Note: DGAC AD 2001-508(B) refers.

Compliance: Before 31 December 2002.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 27 December 2001.

Background:  This Directive supplements AD/A320/119 Amdt 1, which was issued following an incident during final approach. Investigation revealed that under specific conditions (strong gusts, turbulence) possible malfunction of the ELAC logic (alpha protection law) could activate alpha protection law during final approach and severely reduce nose-up side stick orders.

Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes

AD/A320/131 (continued)

This Directive introduces an ELAC with a later logic standard.

Eugene Paul Holzapfel

Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 15 November 2001

The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 5 December 2001.