AD NUMBER: 2011-19-01

MANUFACTURER: Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 Series Airplanes
SUBJECT: AD Number 2011-19-01
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

SUMMARY: This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

In service experience has shown a number of events of pin to socket arcing at the Integrated Drive Generator (IDG) feeder cable pylon/nacelle interface connector. The fretting corrosion phenomenon was identified to be the root cause of the pin to socket arcing. Investigation has identified a non-optimised electrical harness installation as a contributing factor to this phenomenon that could lead to electrical arcs with possible electrical flickering.

[S]ome operators reported cases of Display Unit (DU) flickering, despite the fact that the engines installed did not belong to the affected batch, and that these aeroplanes had been modified to incorporate one of ... two terminating actions. [S]ome intermittent electrical power supply interruptions may not be detectable by the electrical power monitoring system, thereby preventing an automatic disconnection of the failed generator.

The unsafe condition is transient loss of certain systems, which could result in the reduced ability of the flightcrew to cope with adverse flight conditions.

DATES: This AD becomes effective September 28, 2011.

FMI: http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAD.nsf/0/5D10EB2D7066453A8625790A004F1380?OpenDocument