Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-22632 · Landing gear
Airbus SAS Airplanes
This AD applies to the Airbus SAS airplanes, certificated in any category, identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (3) of this AD.
(1) All Model A319-151N, A319-153N, and A319-171N airplanes.
(2) All Model A320-251N, A320-252N, A320-253N, A320-271N, A320-272N, and A320-273N airplanes.
(3) All Model A321-251N, A321-251NX, A321-252N, A321-252NX, A321-253N, A321-253NX, A321-271N, A321-271NX, A321-272N, and A321-272NX airplanes.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-07- 15, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. AD 2022-07-15 required replacing affected braking and steering control units (BSCUs) and revising the operator's existing FAA-approved minimum equipment list (MEL). This AD was prompted by a determination that a type 1 relay combined with an affected BSCU would induce BSCU freezing. This AD removes certain airplanes from the applicability, retains the requirements of AD 2022-07-15, requires an inspection for the relay type installed and replacement of type 1 relays with type 2 relays, limits the installation of affected BSCUs on certain airplanes and prohibits the installation of affected BSCUs for certain other airplanes as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2023-0093R1, dated May 15, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0093R1).
(1) Where EASA AD 2023-0093R1 refers to “10 March 2022 [the effective date of EASA AD 2022-0032 at original issue],” this AD requires using May 2, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-07-15).
(2) Where EASA AD 2023-0093R1 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(3) Where EASA AD 2023-0093R1 defines “the AOT 1” as “Airbus Alert Operators Transmission (AOT 1) A32N025-22,” this AD requires using Airbus Alert Operators Transmission A32N025-22, Rev 00, dated February 24, 2022, including Appendixes 1 through 4, dated February 21, 2022, or Airbus Alert Operators Transmission A32N025-22, Rev 01, dated May 10, 2023, including Appendixes 1 through 3, dated May 2023.
(4) Where paragraphs (2) and (3) of EASA AD 2023-0093R1 specify “in accordance with the instructions of the AOT 1,” replace those words with “in accordance with the `Remove and replace BSCU P/N E21327307' step in paragraph 5.6., `Instructions,' of Airbus Alert Operators Transmission A32N025-22, Rev 00, dated February 24, 2022, including Appendixes 1 through 4, dated February 21, 2022, or of Airbus Alert Operators Transmission A32N025-22, Rev 01, dated May 10, 2023, including Appendixes 1 through 3, dated May 2023.” No other actions in Airbus Alert Operators Transmission A32N030-23, Rev 00, dated February 27, 2023, including Appendixes 1 and 2, dated February 21, 2023 (referenced in EASA AD 2023-0093R1 and not incorporated by reference in this AD), or Airbus Alert Operators Transmission A32N025-22, Rev 01, dated May 10, 2023, including Appendixes 1 through 3, dated May 2023, are required for compliance for the replacement.
(5) Where paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2023-0093R1 requires operators to “implement the instructions of the MMEL [master minimum equipment list] update,” this AD requires replacing those words with “implement the operator's existing FAA-approved minimum equipment list (MEL) with the provisions specified in `The MMEL update' as identified in EASA AD 2023-0093R1.”
(6) Where paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2023-0093R1 specifies to “inform all flight crews, and, thereafter, operate the airplane accordingly,” this AD does not require those actions as those actions are already required by existing FAA operating regulations.
(7) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2023-0093R1.
Although certain service information specified in EASA AD 2023-0093R1 specifies to report certain information and send affected parts to the manufacturer, this AD does not require those actions.
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, International Validation Branch FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or responsible Flight Standards Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (k) of this AD. Information may be emailed to 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov.
(i) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office. (ii) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2022-07-15 are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of EASA AD 2023-0093R1 that are required by paragraph (g) of this AD.
(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus SAS's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.
(3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except as required by paragraph (j)(2) of this AD, if any service information contains paragraphs that are labeled as RC, the instructions in RC paragraphs, including subparagraphs under an RC paragraph, must be done to comply with this AD; any paragraphs, including subparagraphs under those paragraphs, that are not identified as RC are recommended. The instructions in paragraphs, including subparagraphs under those paragraphs, not identified as RC may be deviated from using accepted methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the instructions identified as RC can be done and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy condition. Any substitutions or changes to instructions identified as RC require approval of an AMOC.
For more information about this AD, contact Timothy Dowling, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 206-231-3667; email Timothy.P.Dowling@faa.gov.
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.
