AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/148 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (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/A320/148
Amdt 1
Pitot Probes 12/2003
Applicability: Model A319, A320 and A321 series aeroplanes, all serial numbers (S/N) fitted with Thales Avionics pitot probes part number (P/N) C16195AA with a S/N lower than 4760.
Note 1: Thales Avionics was previously known as "Sextant" or "Sextant Avionique".
Requirement: Unless already accomplished inspect and repair the pitot probes in Accordance with the instructions of Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin (SB) A320-34-1263 dated 26 November 2002 or Revision 1 dated 25 June 2003.
Pitot probes that have been previously repaired in accordance with the Thales Avionics SB C16195A-34-002 dated 17 October 2002 are compliant with this Directive and no further action is necessary.
Note 2: DGAC AD 2002-586(B) R1 refers.
Compliance: Remains unchanged as ‘Within 700 hours’ time in service after the effective date of the original issue of this Directive’.
This Amendment becomes effective on 27 November 2003.
Background: The Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile of France has advised that an operator reported airspeed discrepancy events on an A320 aircraft, investigations revealed that the discrepancies were caused by a manufacturing defect at the drain holes. The manufacturing defect contributed to the accumulation of external pollution which, combined with severe weather conditions, obstructed the air intake of the pitot probes, leading to bad total pressure Pt detection and therefore erroneous CAS/MACH parameters delivered by the ADR.
Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes
AD/A320/148 Amdt 1 (continued)
The original issue of this Directive required cleaning (repair) of the pitot probes in accordance with Thales SB, this amendment introduces a reference to an Airbus Industrie SB as an alternate method of repair.
The original issue of this Directive became effective on 20 March 2003.
14 October 2003
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 5 November 2003.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/148 Amendment 1 in 2003 to address the safety issue arising from a manufacturing defect in the pitot probes of Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes. This legislation was enacted to ensure the safe operation of these aircraft by mandating specific actions to correct the unsafe condition identified. The AD applies to all serial numbers of the mentioned aircraft models fitted with Thales Avionics pitot probes part number C16195AA with a serial number lower than 4760. The primary objective of this AD is to rectify the manufacturing defect that could lead to airspeed discrepancies due to the accumulation of external pollution and obstruction of the pitot probes' air intake. The requirement is to inspect and repair the pitot probes in accordance with the instructions provided by Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-34-1263 dated 26 November 2002 or Revision 1 dated 25 June 2003. The compliance period remains unchanged at within 700 hours of time in service after the original issue of the Directive. This AD was issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998).
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/148 applies to Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes with specific serial numbers of Thales Avionics pitot probes part number C16195AA, specifically those with a serial number lower than 4760. The AD is issued under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulations and is effective across the Commonwealth of Australia. The purpose of this directive is to address airspeed discrepancies caused by a manufacturing defect in the pitot probes that can lead to erroneous readings under certain conditions. The directive requires operators to inspect and repair the affected pitot probes in accordance with specified service bulletins from Airbus Industrie or Thales Avionics. The compliance timeframe is set at 700 hours of time in service after the original issue date of the directive. The AD allows for flexibility in repair methods, referencing both Thales Avionics SB C16195A-34-002 and Airbus Industrie SB A320-34-1263 as acceptable repair instructions. This directive does not specify any exclusions or exemptions, applying uniformly to all qualifying aircraft within the stated parameters.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/148 Amendment 1 specify the applicability, requirement, and compliance details. The applicability section (paragraph 1) identifies that the directive applies to Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes with Thales Avionics pitot probes part number C16195AA and serial numbers (S/N) lower than 4760. The requirement section (paragraph 2) mandates the inspection and repair of the pitot probes in accordance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin (SB) A320-34-1263 dated 26 November 2002 or Revision 1 dated 25 June 2003. Notably, probes previously repaired according to Thales Avionics SB C16195A-34-002 dated 17 October 2002 do not require further action. The compliance section (paragraph 3) sets the compliance timeline as within 700 hours of time in service after the original issue date of the directive, 20 March 2003, and this amendment takes effect from 27 November 2003.
The AD imposes specific obligations on the operators and maintainers of the affected aircraft. They must ensure that the pitot probes are inspected and repaired according to the specified service bulletins to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. These requirements are critical to address the identified manufacturing defect and prevent the accumulation of external pollution, which could obstruct the air intake and lead to erroneous readings of airspeed and other critical parameters. By adhering to the AD, operators and maintainers can ensure the safe operation of the affected aircraft and comply with regulatory standards.
Failure to comply with the AD may result in serious safety implications and potential legal consequences. The AD does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, but failure to address the specified safety issues could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy. This could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which could include grounding the aircraft until the required repairs are completed. Additionally, operators and maintainers could face legal action if non-compliance results in an aviation incident or accident. The severity of the consequences underscores the importance of adhering to the directive’s requirements.