Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-18066 · Navigation
Airbus Airplanes
This AD applies to the Airbus airplanes, certificated in any category, identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(6) of this AD.
(1) All Model A330-223F and -243F airplanes.
(2) All Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, and -243 airplanes.
(3) All Model A330-301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes.
(4) All Model A340-211, -212, and -213 airplanes.
(5) All Model A340-311, -312, and -313 airplanes.
(6) All Model A340-541 and A340-642 airplanes.
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter, -200, and -300 series airplanes and Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 series airplanes. This emergency AD was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of these airplanes. This AD requires revising the airplane flight manual to advise the flightcrew of emergency procedures for abnormal Alpha Protection (Alpha Prot). This AD was prompted by a report of Angle of Attack (AoA) probes jamming on an in-service Airbus Model A321 airplane. We are issuing this AD to ensure that the flightcrew has procedures to counteract the pitch down order due to abnormal activation of the Alpha Prot. An abnormal Alpha Prot, if not corrected, could result in loss of control of the airplane.
Within 2 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the AFM to incorporate procedures to address undue activation of Alpha Prot by inserting the text specified in figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD into the Emergency Procedures section of the applicable AFM, to advise the flightcrew of emergency procedures for abnormal Alpha Prot. This may be accomplished by inserting a copy of this AD into the AFM. When a statement identical to the text specified in figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD is included in the general revisions of the AFM, the general revisions may be inserted in the AFM, and the text specified in figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD may be removed.
| • If the Alpha Prot strip (black and amber) completely and permanently hides the VLS strip (amber) in a stabilized wings-level flight path (without an increase in the load factor): |
| Keep on one ADR. |
| Turn off two ADRs. |
| In case of dispatch with one ADR inoperative, switch only one ADR to OFF. |
| CAUTION RISK OF ERRONEOUS DISPLAY OF THE VSW STRIP (RED AND BLACK) AND RISK OF UNDUE STALL WARNING |
| Do not increase speed. |
| Consider using the Flight Path Vector (FPV). |
| Recover affected DU by using associated DMC switching. |
| When at or above safety altitude, level off. |
| • At any time, with a speed above VLS, if the aircraft goes to a continuous nose down pitch rate that cannot be stopped with backward sidestick inputs, immediately: |
| Keep on one ADR. |
| Turn off two ADRs. |
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
Aircraft
