AD 2011-13-11

You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done.

At the time specified in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD, as applicable: Do a general visual inspection of the operation of the MLG door opening sequence to determine if a defective actuator is installed by doing all the applicable actions, including replacing the door actuator, as applicable, specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1309, Revision 01, dated June 19, 2006. Do all applicable replacements before further flight. Repeat the inspection thereafter at intervals not to exceed 900 flight cycles. Accomplishing the actions before April 27, 2007 (the effective date of AD 2007-06-18) in accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1309, dated March 7, 2006, is acceptable for compliance with the corresponding requirements in this paragraph. Doing the inspection required by paragraph (l) of this AD terminates the requirements of this paragraph.

(1) For airplanes on which a record of the total number of flight cycles on the MLG door actuator is available: Before the accumulation of 3,000 total flight cycles on the MLG door actuator, or within 800 flight cycles after April 27, 2007, whichever is later.

(2) For airplanes on which a record of the total number of flight cycles on the MLG door actuator is not available: Within 800 flight cycles after April 27, 2007.

Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection is: “A visual examination of an interior or exterior area, installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within touching distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be necessary to enhance visual access to all exposed surfaces in the inspection area. This level of inspection is made under normally available lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or droplight and may require removal or opening of access panels or doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be required to gain proximity to the area being checked.”

Although the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-32-1309, Revision 01, dated June 19, 2006, specify submitting certain information to the manufacturer and sending defective actuators back to the component manufacturer for investigation, this AD does not include those requirements.

(i) Within 14 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the Emergency Procedure Section of the airplane flight manual (AFM) to incorporate the following information. This may be done by inserting a copy of this AD into the AFM.

“• If ECAM triggers the “L/G GEAR NOT DOWNLOCKED” warning, apply the following procedure:

Recycle landing gear.

• If unsuccessful after 2 min:

Extend landing gear by gravity. Refer to ABN-32 L/G GRAVITY EXTENSION.”

Note 2: When a statement identical to that in paragraph (i) of this AD has been included in the Emergency Procedure Section of the general revisions of the AFM, the general revisions may be inserted into the AFM, and the copy of this AD may be removed from the AFM.

Within 14 days after the effective date of this AD or before the accumulation of 800 total flight cycles, whichever occurs later, check the post flight report (PFR) for centralized fault display system (CFDS) messages triggered within the last 8 days, in accordance with paragraph 4.2.1 of Airbus All Operators Telex (AOT) A320-32A1390, dated February 10, 2011. Repeat the check thereafter at intervals not to exceed 8 days or 5 flight cycles, whichever occurs later. If done in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, the use of an alternative method to check the PFR for CFDS messages (e.g., AIRMAN) is acceptable in lieu of this check if the messages can be conclusively determined from that method.

If, during any check required by paragraph (j) of this AD, a pair of specific CFDS messages specified in paragraph 4.2.1 of Airbus AOT A320-32A1390, dated February 10, 2011, has been triggered by both landing gear control and indication units (LGCIU) for the same flight, before further flight, inspect the door opening sequence of the affected doors of the MLG for discrepancies (i.e., if any condition specified in steps (a) through (d) of paragraph 4.2.2 of Airbus AOT A320-32A1390, dated February 10, 2011, is not met), in accordance with paragraph 4.2.2 of Airbus AOT A320-32A1390, dated February 10, 2011.

At the applicable time specified in paragraph (l)(1) or (l)(2) of this AD: inspect the door opening sequence of the left hand and right hand doors of the MLG for discrepancies (i.e., if any condition specified in steps (a) through (d) of paragraph 4.2.2 of Airbus AOT A320-32A1390, dated February 10, 2011, is not met), in accordance with the instructions of paragraph 4.2.2 of Airbus AOT A320-32A1390, dated February 10, 2011. Repeat the inspection thereafter at intervals not to exceed 425 flight cycles. Doing this inspection terminates the requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD.

(1) For airplanes on which an inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD has been done as of the effective date of this AD: Within 800 flight cycles after doing the most recent inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD, or within 100 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later.

(2) For airplanes on which an inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD has not been done as of the effective date of this AD: Within 800 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD.

If any discrepancy (i.e., if any condition specified in steps (a) through (d) of paragraph 4.2.2 of Airbus AOT A320-32A1390, dated February 10, 2011, is not met) is found during any inspection required by paragraph (k) or (l) of this AD, before further flight, replace the affected MLG door actuator with a new MLG door actuator, in accordance with the instructions of Airbus AOT A320-32A1390, dated February 10, 2011.

(n) Replacement of the MLG door actuator as required by paragraph (m) of this AD is not a terminating action for the repetitive actions required by paragraphs (j) and (l) of this AD.

Note 3: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows:

(1) Paragraph (6) of European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2011-0069, dated April 18, 2011, specifies a compliance time of 800 flight cycles after the effective date for all airplanes for the initial inspection of the door opening sequence. This AD specifies a compliance time of 800 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD for airplanes on which the existing inspections (required by AD 2007-06-18) of the door opening sequence have not been done, and a compliance time of within 800 flight cycles since the most recent inspection or within 100 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, for airplanes on which the existing inspections of the door opening sequence have been done.

(2) EASA AD 2011-0069, dated April 18, 2011, specifies MLG door actuators having part number (P/N) 114122006, P/N 114122007, P/N 114122009, P/N 114122010, P/N 114122011, or P/N 114122012, in its applicability. This AD retains the existing applicability of AD 2007-06-18 of all airplanes because all airplanes have one of the affected part numbers.