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 revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/99 Amdt 1 and issues the following 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/A320/99
Amdt 2
Rudder Pedals 3/2001
Applicability: All Model A319, A320 or A321 aircraft without Airbus Industrie Modification 28909 installed at production or Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin (SB) A320-27-1130 or SB A320-27-1130 Revision 1 in-service.
Requirement: Modify the AP-Mode engagement/disengagement lever in accordance with Airbus Industrie SB A320-27-1130 or SB A320-27-1130 Revision 1.
Note: DGAC AD 2000-372-151(B) refers.
Compliance: Before 30 June 2002, unless already accomplished.
This amendment becomes effective on 22 March 2001.
Background: The manufacturer received several reports of cases of stiff rudder pedals which could reduce aircraft control during approach and landing phases, with a risk of the aircraft leaving the runway. The rudder pedal stiffness was found to be due to artificial feel being in autopilot mode while the autopilot is disengaged; caused by jamming of the artificial feel AP-Mode disengagement lever.
Amendment 1 introduced another modification as new cases of stiff rudder pedals were reported after embodiment of the previously required modification.
Amendment 2 is issued to introduce Revision 1 of the Requirement document which clarifies the Accomplishment Instructions.
The original issue of this Directive became effective on 17 June 1999.
Amendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 2 November 2000.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 2 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), were enacted to regulate civil aviation activities in Australia, ensuring the highest standards of safety and efficiency in the aviation sector. The specific legislation addressed here pertains to Airworthiness Directives (AD) for Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes. This AD, specifically AD/A320/99 Amendment 2, was introduced to tackle the problem of stiff rudder pedals, which posed a risk to aircraft control during critical phases like approach and landing. The policy objective of this amendment is to mandate modifications to the AP-Mode engagement/disengagement lever to eliminate the jamming issue causing the stiff rudder pedals. This directive ensures compliance with safety standards and mitigates the risk of accidents associated with compromised rudder control.
Scope and Application
This legislative instrument applies specifically to all Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes that do not have Airbus Industrie Modification 28909 installed at production or Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin (SB) A320-27-1130 or SB A320-27-1130 Revision 1 in-service. The instrument, which falls under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and mandates actions to address an identified unsafe condition related to the rudder pedals' artificial feel being in autopilot mode while the autopilot is disengaged, potentially leading to stiff rudder pedals during critical phases of flight such as approach and landing. The directive is in effect across the Commonwealth of Australia and requires the specified modification to be completed before 30 June 2002 unless already accomplished. The directive clarifies the instructions for accomplishing the required modification as set out in Airbus Industrie SB A320-27-1130 or SB A320-27-1130 Revision 1. The application of this directive extends to ensuring compliance with international standards referenced, such as DGAC AD 2000-372-151(B).
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 105, detail specific Airworthiness Directives (AD) necessary for ensuring the safety of certain aircraft types. In this instance, AD/A320/99 Amdt 2 pertains specifically to Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes (subreg. 39.1(1)). The directive mandates that specific actions be taken to address the safety issue identified with the rudder pedals on these aircraft models, which can become stiff during certain phases of flight, potentially compromising control and safety during critical phases such as approach and landing.
The applicability of this directive (section 3) extends to all A319, A320, and A321 aircraft that do not have Airbus Industrie Modification 28909 installed at production or Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin (SB) A320-27-1130 or SB A320-27-1130 Revision 1 implemented in-service. The requirement (section 4) specifies that the AP-Mode engagement/disengagement lever must be modified in accordance with Airbus Industrie SB A320-27-1130 or SB A320-27-1130 Revision 1. This requirement is intended to prevent jamming of the artificial feel AP-Mode disengagement lever, which was identified as the cause of the stiff rudder pedals. The compliance section (section 5) mandates that this modification must be completed before 30 June 2002 unless it has already been accomplished. The amendment itself became effective on 22 March 2001.
The obligations imposed by this AD are clear and specific: affected aircraft must have the AP-Mode engagement/disengagement lever modified as per the specified service bulletins. Failure to comply with this directive could result in serious safety risks, including potential loss of control during critical flight phases. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce compliance and may take action against non-compliant aircraft operators. The potential consequences for non-compliance could include grounding of the aircraft until the required modifications are made, which could have significant operational and financial impacts on the operators.
Breaching the requirements of this AD could have serious ramifications, both in terms of potential safety risks and legal consequences. CASA can impose penalties for non-compliance, which may include fines and other enforcement actions. The specific penalties are not detailed in the AD itself but would be in line with the regulatory framework governing civil aviation safety in Australia. The overarching goal of this directive is to ensure that all affected aircraft meet the necessary safety standards to prevent accidents and enhance overall aviation safety.