Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-23223 · Flight controls
Airbus SAS Airplanes
This emergency AD applies to all Airbus SAS airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (3) of this emergency AD, certificated in any category.
(1) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -151N, -153N, -171N, and -173N airplanes.
(2) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes.
(3) Model A321-211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -252N, -253N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271N, -272N, -271NX, and -272NX airplanes.
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A319 and A320 series airplanes; and Model A321-211, - 212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -252N, -253N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, - 271N, -272N, -271NX, and -272NX airplanes. This emergency AD was prompted by an uncommanded and limited pitch down event that occurred on an Airbus A320 airplane, where the autopilot remained engaged with a brief and limited loss of altitude. This emergency AD requires replacement or modification of each affected elevator aileron computer (ELAC). The emergency AD also prohibits the installation of affected parts on certain airplane configurations. The FAA previously sent an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these airplanes. The FAA is issuing this emergency AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Comply with this emergency AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.
Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this emergency AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Emergency AD 2025-0268-E, dated November 28, 2025 (EASA Emergency AD 2025-0268-E).
(1) Where EASA Emergency AD 2025-0268-E refers to its effective date, this emergency AD requires using the effective date of this emergency AD.
(2) Where EASA Emergency AD 2025-0268-E specifies a compliance time of before next flight after the effective date of this AD, this emergency AD requires a compliance time of before further flight after the effective date of this emergency AD.
(3) Where EASA Emergency AD 2025-0268-E defines Group 1 airplanes as those having an affected ELAC installed and being in one of the configurations defined in the AOT, this emergency AD defines Group 1 airplanes as those having an affected ELAC installed and being in one of the configurations defined in paragraph 1 of Airbus Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) A27N022-25, Revision 01, dated November 28, 2025.
(4) Where EASA Emergency AD 2025-0268-E specifies a ferry flight is permitted, this emergency AD allows special flight permits to be issued in accordance with 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the airplane without passengers and in non-ETOPS operations to a location where the airplane can be modified (if the operator elects to do so), for no more than 3 flight cycles.
The following provisions also apply to this emergency AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this emergency 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 emergency 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 emergency 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 the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (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 paragraphs (i)(2) of this emergency AD, if any material referenced in Emergency AD 2025-0268-E 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 emergency 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 emergency AD, contact Brian Knaup, Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 817-222-5390; email: OperationalSafety@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.
