AD 2021-14-08 Prompted By Reports Of An Increasing Number Of Operational Disruptions Due To Airspeed Discrepancies

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A319-151N, A319-153N, A319-171N, A320-251N, A320-252N, A320-253N, A320-271N, A320-272N, A320-273N, A321-251N, A321-251NX, A321-252N, A321-252NX, A321-253N, A321-253NX, A321-271N, A321-271NX, A321-272N and A321-272NX airplanes.

This AD was prompted by reports of an increasing number of operational disruptions due to airspeed discrepancies. This AD requires revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to include a procedure to reinforce the airspeed check during the take-off phase and provide instructions to abort take-off in certain cases, 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. This AD becomes effective July 1, 2021.

Supplementary Information: EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2021-0150, dated June 21, 2021; corrected June 25, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0150) (also referred to as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for all Airbus SAS Model A319-151N, A319-153N, A319-171N, A320-251N, A320-252N, A320-253N, A320-271N, A320-272N, A320-273N, A321-251N, A321-251NX, A321-252N, A321-252NX, A321-253N, A321-253NX, A321-271N, A321-271NX, A321-272N and A321-272NX airplanes.

EASA and Airbus issued various communication documents (respectively EASA Safety Information Bulletin (SIB) 2020-14, Airbus Operators Information Transmission (OIT) 999.0048/20, Airbus Operational Training Transmission (OTT) 999.0025/21, and Airbus Flight Operations Transmission (FOT) 999.0020/21) to remind operators to apply appropriate procedures for returning airplanes to service from short term or long term storage/parking, including procedures to inspect the pitot static system. However, an increasing number of operational disruptions have been reported, due to contaminated air data system, caused by lack of application of appropriate maintenance procedures for returning airplanes to service.

This AD was prompted by reports of an increasing number of operational disruptions due to airspeed discrepancies after airplanes have been parked or stored (a large number of airplanes have been parked or stored due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Consistent erroneous airspeed indications (which stands for 2 or 3 pitot probes delivering erroneous speed information within the same speed range) may adversely affect airplane response, in particular during the rotation phase. The FAA is issuing this AD to address airspeed discrepancies, which could lead to an unstable flight path after take-off, possibly resulting in reduced control of the airplane. See the MCAI for additional background information.

FMI: www.regulations.gov