Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-17380 · Flight controls
Airbus Airplanes
This AD applies to Airbus airplanes, certificated in any category, specified in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD.
(1) Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, -243, -301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes, all manufacturer serial numbers (MSN).
(2) Model A340-211, -212, -213, -311, -312, and -313 airplanes, all MSN.
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-200 and A330-300 series airplanes, and Model A340-200 and A340-300 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of an elevator blocked in the down position due to two independent failures; first, the inability of a servo control to switch to active mode because it was not detected by a flight control computer; and second, an internal hydraulic leak due to the deterioration of an O-ring seal on a solenoid. This AD requires, depending on airplane configuration, modifying three flight control primary computers (FCPCs); modifying two flight control secondary computers (FCSCs); revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to include certain information; replacing certain O-rings; and checking part number and replacing certain O-ring seals if needed. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct O-rings with incorrect part numbers whose deterioration could lead to improper sealing of solenoid valves; and to correct FCPC and FCSC software to allow better control of elevator positioning; both conditions, if not corrected, could lead to the loss of elevator control on takeoff, and potentially reduce the controllability of the airplane.
You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done.
For all Airbus Model A330-200 series airplanes, except those on which Airbus modifications 53969 or 54833 have been embodied in production: At the later of the times specified in paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD, replace the O-ring seals installed on the two solenoid valves of each servo control using new O-ring seals, in accordance with Airbus All Operators Telex (AOT) A330-27A3129, Revision 01, dated July 16, 2004.
(1) Before the accumulation of 3,000 flight cycles by the servo control since first installation on an airplane, or 3,000 flight cycles since the installation of the solenoid valve on the servo control.
(2) Within 700 flight hours after the effective date of this AD.
For all Airbus Model A330-200 series airplanes, except those on which Airbus modifications 53969 or 54833 have been embodied in production: As of the effective date of this AD, before the installation of an elevator servo control on an Airbus Model A330-200 airplane, replace the O-ring seals installed on the two spare servo control solenoid valves using new O-ring seals, in accordance with Airbus AOT A330-27A3129, Revision 01, dated July 16, 2004.
For Model A330-200 series airplanes which have been modified as specified in Airbus AOT A330-27A3129, dated June 24, 2004, but which have not been modified as specified in Airbus AOT A330-27A3129, Revision 01, dated July 16, 2004; except those airplanes on which Airbus modifications 53969 or 54833 have been embodied in production: Within 15 days after the effective date of this AD, check the part number (P/N) of the seals installed on the solenoid valve of the servo control of the elevator in the damping position. If the seals installed have P/N MS28775-XXX or a part number that cannot be identified, before further flight, replace the seals with new seals using a part number listed in paragraph (i)(1), (i)(2), or (i)(3) of this AD, in accordance with Airbus AOT A330-27A3129, Revision 01, dated July 16, 2004.
(1) Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) 27-34-51-1 item 130: NAS1611-011 or NAS1611-011A.
(2) IPC 27-34-51-1 item 140: NAS1611-012 or NAS1611-012A.
(3) IPC 27-34-51-1 item 150: NAS1611-013 or NAS1611-013A.
For Model A330-200, A330-300, A340-200, and A340-300 series airplanes equipped with elevator servo controls P/N SC4800-2/-4/-7/-8 or SC4800-7/-8 modified into P/N SC4800-7A/-9, as specified in Airbus Service Bulletin A340-27-4083 or Airbus Service Bulletin A330-27-3076: Within 1,400 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, replace the O-ring seals installed on the two solenoid valves of each elevator servo control in damping position (except for Model A330-200 series airplanes which have to comply with paragraph (g) of this AD), and in active position, using a new O-ring seal P/N NAS1611-XXX or P/N NAS1611-XXXA, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-27A3131, Revision 01, dated March 3, 2005 (for Model A330 airplanes); or Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A340-27A4130, Revision 01, dated March 3, 2005 (for Model A340 airplanes).
For the spare elevator servo controls P/N SC4800-2/-4/-7/-8 or SC4800-7/-8 modified into P/N SC4800-7A/-9, as specified in Airbus Service Bulletin A340-27-4083 or Airbus Service Bulletin A330-27-3076: Before the installation of a spare elevator servo control on an airplane, replace the O-ring seals installed on the two spare servo control solenoid valves using a new O-ring seal P/N NAS1611-XXX or P/N NAS1611-XXXA, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-27A3131, Revision 01, dated March 3, 2005 (for Model A330 airplanes); or Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A340-27A4130, Revision 01, dated March 3, 2005 (for Model A340 airplanes).
For all Airbus Model A330-200 and A330-300 series airplanes, except those on which both Airbus modifications 53468 and 55697 have been embodied in production; and for all Airbus Model A340-200 and A340-300 series airplanes, except those on which both modifications 55879 and 55697 have been embodied in production: Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, modify the three FCPCs, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable service bulletin identified in paragraph (l)(1) or (l)(2) of this AD.
(1) Airbus Service Bulletin A330-27-3144, Revision 01, dated July 16, 2009; or Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-27-3148, Revision 01, dated October 9, 2008 (for Model A330 airplanes).
(2) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A340-27-4144, dated October 19, 2009; or Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A340-27-4148, dated June 13, 2008 (for Model A340 airplanes).
For all Airbus Model A330-200 and A330-300 series airplanes, except those on which both Airbus modifications 53468 and 55697 have been embodied in production; and for all Airbus Model A340-200 and A340-300 series airplanes, except those on which both modifications 55879 and 55697 have been embodied in production: Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, modify both FCSCs, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable service bulletin identified in paragraph (m)(1) or (m)(2) of this AD.
(1) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-27-3146, Revision 01, dated September 3, 2008; or Airbus Service Bulletin A330-27-3145, dated December 16, 2008 (for Model A330 airplanes).
(2) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A340-27-4146, June 1, 2007; or Airbus Service Bulletin A340-27-4145, dated December 16, 2008 (for Model A340 airplanes).
Before further flight, after doing the applicable actions required by both paragraphs (l) and (m) of this AD, remove the procedure specified in Figure 1 to paragraph (n) of this AD from the airplane flight manual, if inserted, in accordance with the instructions contained in Airbus Temporary Revision TR4, Issue 1.0, “TR 4.02.00/25 Issue 2—Undetected Elevator Control Loss in Case of Dual Failure,” dated November 26, 2009, to the Airbus A330/A340 Airplane Flight Manual; and Airbus Temporary Revision TR22, Issue 1.0, “TR 4.02.00/40 Issue 2—Undetected Elevator Control Loss in Case of Dual Failure,” dated November 26, 2009, to the Airbus A330/A340 Airplane Flight Manual.
Accomplishing the actions specified in paragraphs (o)(1) through (o)(4) of this AD, as applicable, is acceptable for compliance with the modification required by paragraph (l) of this AD.
(1) For airplanes identified in Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-27-3176, Revision 02, dated April 24, 2012: Modification or replacement of the three FCPCs with software standard P11A/M20A on FCPC 2K2 hardware, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-27-3176, Revision 02, dated April 24, 2012 (for Model A330 airplanes).
(2) For airplanes identified Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-27-3177, dated December 21, 2011: Modification or replacement of the three FCPCs with software standard P12A/M21A on FCPC 2K1 hardware, and with software standard M21A on FCPC 2K0 hardware, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A330-27-3177, dated December 21, 2011 (for Model A330 airplanes).
(3) For airplanes identified in Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A340-27-4174, dated November 21, 2011: Modification or replacement of the three FCPCs with software standard L22A on FCPC 2K1 hardware, and with software standard L22A on FCPC 2K0 hardware, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A340-27-4174, dated November 21, 2011 (for Model A340 airplanes).
(4) For airplanes identified in Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A340-27-4162, Revision 01, dated September 17, 2012: Modification or replacement of the three FCPCs with software standard L21A on FCPC 2K2 hardware in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin A340-27-4162, Revision 01, dated September 17, 2012 (for Model A340 airplanes).
