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 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/A320/158 Flight Controls - Spoiler Actuators 10/2004
Applicability: AIRBUS A318, A319, A320 and A321 aircraft, fitted with GOODRICH spoiler actuators part number (PN) 31077-050, -060, -070, -110 or -112.
Requirement: 1. Identify the spoiler actuator PN for:
- position No 2, 3, 4, 5 for A318 and A319,
- position No 2 for A320,
- position No 2, 3 and 4 for A321;
and if necessary, apply the corrective actions in accordance with the instructions of the AIRBUS Service Bulletin (SB) A320-27-1158 or later revisions approved by the French DGAC.
2. Identify the spoiler actuator PN for:
- position No 1 for A318 and A319,
- position No 1 and 3 for A320 not incorporating AIRBUS modification 26335 and on which SB A320-27-1115 has not been accomplished,
- position No 1, 3, 4 and 5 for A320 incorporating AIRBUS modification 26335 or on which SB A320-27-1115 is accomplished,
- position No 1 and 5 for A321;
and if necessary, apply the corrective actions in accordance with the instructions of SB A320-27-1159 or later revisions approved by the French DGAC.
Note: DGAC AD F-2004-122 refers.
Compliance: For Requirement 1: Unless already accomplished, before July 31, 2005.
For Requirement 2. Unless already accomplished, before January 31, 2007. This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 30 September 2004.
Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes
AD/A320/158 (continued)
Background: Following an in-flight loss of blue hydraulic system, maintenance staff identified on an A320 that right hand Spoiler Actuator No 3 had suffered a body separation.
Analysis has shown that the piston rod bearing was broken. Dimensional analysis of the piston rod bearing seal groove radii has shown that all radii were smaller than the drawing specification. This malformation of the corner radii could result in a reduction in the fatigue life of the component.
The root cause of this defect is due to an incorrect manufacturing process. A spoiler piston rod bearing breakage experienced during aircraft operation can lead to the associated hydraulic system loss and spoiler extension to the zero hinge moment in flight. The spoiler extension generates bank angle and consequently modify the A/C trajectory. The critical consequences are identified for the final approach phase, the magnitude dependant upon the position of the failed spoiler.
Bernard Malcolm Hole
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 30 July 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 8 September 2004.
Overview
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/158, issued in 2004 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), addresses a critical safety issue concerning Airbus Industrie A318, A319, A320, and A321 aircraft equipped with certain Goodrich spoiler actuators. This AD was introduced to mitigate the risk of in-flight loss of hydraulic systems due to a defect in the spoiler actuators' piston rod bearings. The defect, arising from an incorrect manufacturing process, could lead to bearing breakage, resulting in potential spoiler malfunction and subsequent hazardous flight conditions. The directive mandates specific corrective actions for identified spoiler actuator part numbers, requiring compliance by certain deadlines to ensure airworthiness and safety in accordance with the instructions set out in the AD.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive AD/A320/158 applies specifically to Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321 aircraft equipped with certain GOODRICH spoiler actuators identified by specific part numbers. The directive is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and mandates corrective actions to address identified unsafe conditions related to spoiler actuators. The specified corrective actions must be performed in accordance with instructions from the AIRBUS Service Bulletins A320-27-1158 or A320-27-1159, as applicable, approved by the French DGAC. The directive delineates particular spoiler actuator positions for each aircraft model that require inspection and potential corrective action, with distinct timelines for compliance. This legislative instrument extends to the entire Commonwealth of Australia and affects all aircraft operators and maintenance personnel responsible for the maintenance of the specified Airbus aircraft models. The AD does not exclude any aircraft based on the geographic location within Australia, ensuring a uniform approach to addressing the identified safety concerns. The directive does not explicitly mention any exemptions or exclusions beyond the specified applicability criteria, thereby encompassing all relevant aircraft within its scope.
Key Provisions
The main sections of the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/158 are the applicability, requirement, and compliance sections. The applicability section specifies that the AD applies to Airbus A318, A319, A320 and A321 aircraft fitted with specific GOODRICH spoiler actuators. The requirement section mandates identifying the spoiler actuator part numbers for specified positions on each aircraft model and applying corrective actions as per the AIRBUS Service Bulletins (SB) A320-27-1158 or A320-27-1159. The compliance section sets deadlines for completing the actions: before July 31, 2005, for Requirement 1, and before January 31, 2007, for Requirement 2.
The AD imposes obligations on the aircraft owners and operators to identify the specific spoiler actuator part numbers for their aircraft and to apply the necessary corrective actions as per the AIRBUS Service Bulletins. These actions are required to address a defect in the spoiler actuators that could lead to a loss of the blue hydraulic system and subsequent aircraft trajectory modifications. Failure to comply with the AD would result in non-compliance with the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.
The AD does not explicitly mention any offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance. However, non-compliance with an AD can result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), including the potential for grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. The precise penalties for non-compliance with ADs are governed by the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and associated regulations, which may include fines and other enforcement measures.