Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-23169 · Auto flight
Airbus SAS Airplanes
This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model A330-223, -223F, -243, -243F, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0178, dated August 8, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0178).
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A330-223, -223F, -243, -243F, -321, -322, - 323, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reported occurrences of thrust fluctuation during descent with autothrottle (ATHR) active. This AD requires modifying the pin programming of the flight management guidance envelope computers (FMGECs) to activate the ATHR N1 function. 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 2025-0178.
(1) Where EASA AD 2025-0178 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2025-0178 specifies “The AOT provides instructions which are acceptable to accomplish this modification”, this AD requires replacing that text with “This modification must be done in accordance with the AOT, Airbus Service Bulletin A330-22-3193, Airbus Service Bulletin A330-22-3194, or Airbus Service Bulletin A330-22-3297, as applicable”.
(3) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2025-0178 specifies activating the ATHR N1 function “on that aeroplane”, this AD requires replacing that text with “on that airplane in accordance with the AOT”.
(4) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2025-0178 specifies “paragraph (1) of (2)”, this AD requires replacing that text with “paragraph (1) or (2)”.
(5) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2025-0178.
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 referenced in EASA AD 2025-0178 that 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.
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Frank Carreras, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3539; email: Frank.Carreras@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.
