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.
Overview
The Airworthiness Directive AD/A320/131, issued in 2001 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), addresses an identified safety issue related to the Elevator Aileron Computers (ELAC) in Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes. The directive was enacted in response to an incident where, under certain conditions such as strong gusts or turbulence, the ELAC logic could malfunction, potentially activating the alpha protection law during final approach and reducing the nose-up side stick orders. This issue posed a significant risk to flight safety, prompting the CASA to mandate the replacement of all ELAC L80 standard computers with ELAC L81 standard computers. The directive aims to ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft by implementing this corrective action before 31 December 2002. This Airworthiness Directive was issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 and was designed to mitigate the risk of unsafe conditions during flight, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 requires all Model A319 and A320 aircraft, equipped with specific Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC) L80 standards installed by Airbus Industrie, to replace their ELAC L80 standard computers with ELAC L81 standard computers. This applies to aircraft with part numbers 3945122505, 3945123505, and 3945128101, installed via various modifications or service bulletins. However, aircraft having Airbus Industrie modification 31395, which already includes the ELAC Standard L81, are exempt from this directive. The directive mandates the replacement to be completed in accordance with Service Bulletin A320-27-1135 and requires compliance before 31 December 2002. This directive, which supplements a previous amendment, was issued to address potential malfunctions of the ELAC logic that could lead to unsafe conditions during final approach under specific weather conditions. The directive became effective on 27 December 2001 and was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 5 December 2001.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/131, issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998), applies to all Airbus Industrie A319 and A320 aircraft that are equipped with certain Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC) L80 standards. Specifically, it targets aircraft with Part Number (P/N) 3945122505 installed by Airbus Industrie modification No 27276, P/N 3945123505 installed by modification No 27845, or P/N 3945128101 installed by modification No 26910. The directive mandates that these aircraft must replace their existing ELAC L80 standard computers with ELAC L81 standard computers, in accordance with Service Bulletin (SB) A320-27-1135. Aircraft already upgraded to Airbus Industrie modification 31395 are exempt from this directive.
This AD imposes specific obligations on aircraft operators and maintenance personnel to ensure compliance. Operators must identify if their aircraft falls under the applicability section and, if so, must schedule the replacement of the ELAC L80 computers with ELAC L81 computers. This replacement must be carried out following the detailed instructions provided in SB A320-27-1135. Maintenance personnel must ensure that the replacement is performed correctly and that the aircraft is thoroughly checked post-replacement to confirm that it meets airworthiness standards. Failure to comply with these obligations can result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, thereby preventing it from operating until the required modifications are completed.
Breach of this Airworthiness Directive carries potential civil and criminal consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) can impose fines and other penalties on operators who fail to comply with the AD. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, an operator who does not comply with an AD can be fined up to $210,000 for a corporation and $42,000 for an individual. Additionally, if the failure to comply results in an aviation accident, the operator could face more severe criminal penalties, including imprisonment. It is crucial for all stakeholders to adhere to the directive to ensure the continued safety of the aircraft and its passengers.