Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-22956 · Flight controls
Airbus SAS Airplanes
This AD applies to all Airbus SAS Model airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (6) of this AD.
(1) Airbus SAS Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes.
(2) Airbus SAS Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -151N, -153N, -171N, and -173N airplanes.
(3) Airbus SAS Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes.
(4) Airbus SAS Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -253NY, -271NX, and -272NX airplanes.
(5) Airbus SAS Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, -243, -223F, -243F, -301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, -343, -841, and -941 airplanes.
(6) Airbus SAS Model A340-211, -212, -213, -311, -312, -313, -541, and -642 airplanes.
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes; Model A330-200, -200 Freighter, -300, -800, and -900 series airplanes; and Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of trimmable horizontal stabilizer actuators (THSAs) being delivered to operators having erroneous information (accumulated life) in the authorized release certificate. This AD requires contacting Collins Aerospace for amended authorized release certificates for the affected parts and replacing the affected parts if necessary, and prohibits the installation of affected parts, 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, EASA AD 2024-0247, dated December 18, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0247).
(1) Where EASA AD 2024-0247 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where EASA AD 2024-0247 defines a serviceable part as “A THSA eligible for installation in accordance with Airbus instructions,” this AD requires replacing that text with “A THSA eligible for installation.”
(3) Where EASA AD 2024-0247 defines “the VSIL,” for this AD, operators must use Collins Aerospace Vendor Service Information Letter FA3T1-27-04, dated August 6, 2024.
(4) This AD requires replacing Note 1 of EASA AD 2024-0247 with “If no approved instructions are provided within the compliance time of paragraph (1) of this AD, paragraph (2) of this AD must be accomplished before further flight. The affected part is eligible to be considered a serviceable part based on the content of the Collins Aerospace approved instructions, once received and accomplished, as required in paragraph (1) of this AD.”
(5) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2024-0247.
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety 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 manager of the Continued Operational Safety Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (j) of this AD and email to: AMOC@faa.gov. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
(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, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety 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.
For more information about this AD, contact Timothy Dowling, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone 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.
