Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-23108 · Flight controls
Airbus SAS Airplanes
This AD applies to all Airbus SAS airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this AD, certificated in any category.
(1) Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes.
(2) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -151N, -153N, and -171N airplanes.
(3) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes.
(4) Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -251NX, -252N, -252NX, -253N, -253NX, -253NY, -271N, -271NX, -272N, and -272NX airplanes.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-06- 18, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A318 series airplanes; A319 series airplanes; A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes; and A321 series airplanes. AD 2020-06-18 required replacement of affected trimmable horizontal stabilizer actuators (THSAs) with serviceable THSAs. Since the FAA issued AD 2020-06-18, a new Airbus airplane model (A321-253NY) has been certified, on which affected parts could be installed in service. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2020-06-18, revises the applicability to include Model A321-253NY airplanes, and prohibits the installation of affected parts. 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 2024-0203, dated October 22, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0203).
(1) Where EASA AD 2024-0203 refers to “02 April 2020 [the effective date of EASA AD 2020-0073]”, this AD requires using “April 2, 2020 (the effective date of AD 2020-26-18)”.
(2) Where EASA AD 2024-0203 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(3) Where EASA AD 2024-0203 defines a serviceable part as “Any THSA, eligible for installation in accordance with Airbus instructions, which is not an affected part” this AD requires replacing that text with “Any THSA, eligible for installation, that is not an affected part”.
(4) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2024-0203.
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.
(3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except as required by paragraph (i)(2) of this AD, if any material contains procedures or tests that are identified as RC, those procedures and tests must be done to comply with this AD; any procedures or tests that are not identified as RC are recommended. Those procedures and tests that are 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 procedures and tests identified as RC can be done and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy condition. Any substitutions or changes to procedures or tests identified as RC require approval of an AMOC.
For more information about this AD, contact Timothy Dowling, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 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.
