EASA AD No.

: 2021-0002R1

Airworthiness Directive
AD No.: 2021-0002R1
Issued: 16 February 2022
Note: This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued by EASA, acting in accordance with Regulation
(EU) 2018/1139 on behalf of the European Union, its Member States and of the European third
countries that participate in the activities of EASA under Article 129 of that Regulation.

This AD is issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) 748/2012, Part 21.A.3B. In accordance with Regulation (EU) 1321/2014 Annex I, Part M.A.301, the
continuing airworthiness of an aircraft shall be ensured by accomplishing any applicable ADs. Consequently, no person may operate an aircraft to which
an AD applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that AD, unless otherwise specified by the Agency [Regulation (EU) 1321/2014 Annex I,
Part M.A.303] or agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry [Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, Article 71 exemption].

Design Approval Holder’s Name: Type/Model designation(s):

AIRBUS A318, A319, A320 and A321 aeroplanes

Effective Date: Revision 1: 23 February 2022

Original issue: 13 January 2021
TCDS Number(s): EASA.A.064
Foreign AD: Not applicable
Revision: This AD revises EASA AD 2021-0002 dated 06 January 2021.

ATA 55 – Stabilizers – Rudder – Inspection

Manufacturer(s):
Airbus, formerly Airbus Industrie

Applicability:
Airbus A318-111, A318-112, A318-121, A318-122, A319-111, A319-112, A319-113, A319-114,
A319-115, A319-131, A319-132, A319-133, A319-151N, A319-153N, A319-171N, A320-211,
A320-212, A320-214, A320-215, A320-216, A320-231, A320-232, A320-233, A320-251N, A320-252N,
A320-253N, A320-271N, A320-272N, A320-273N, A321-111, A321-112, A321-131, A321-211,
A321-212, A321-213, A321-231, A321-232, A321-251N, A321-252N, A321-253N, A321-271N,
A321-272N, A321-251NX, A321-252NX, A321-253NX, A321-271NX and A321-272NX aeroplanes, all
manufacturer serial numbers.

Definitions:
For the purpose of this AD, the following definitions apply:

The AOT: Airbus Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) A55N003-20.

The SB: Airbus Service Bulletin (SB) A320-55-1052 at original issue, Revision 01 and Revision 02 or
SB A320-55-1059 at original issue, as applicable.

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Affected part: Any rudder which has been modified in accordance with the instructions of the SB,
and re-identified with a Part Number (P/N) as listed in Appendix 1 of this AD, except those which
have passed (no defects found) a Special Detailed Inspection (SDI) in accordance with the
instructions of the AOT, as defined in this AD, or have been repaired in accordance with the
instructions for permanent repair of the AOT.

Serviceable part: Any rudder, eligible for installation, which is not an affected part. This includes
rudders which have been modified in accordance with the instructions of Airbus SB A320-55-1052
Revision 03 or later, or Airbus SB A320-55-1059 Revision 01 or later, as applicable.

Groups: Group 1 aeroplanes are those that have an affected part installed. Aeroplanes on which the
SB has been embodied are Group 1.
Group 2 aeroplanes are those that do not have an affected part installed. An aeroplane on which
Airbus modification 156859 has been embodied in production is Group 2, provided it is determined
that no affected part is installed on that aeroplane.

Reason:
Disbonding has been reported following accomplishment of tap tests on affected parts, close to the
lightning protection plate on rudder modified as per the SB. Investigation results determined that
the instructions provided in the SB may lead to inadequate curing of the affected part after
modification.

This condition, if not detected and corrected, could affect the structural integrity of the affected
parts.

To address this unsafe condition, Airbus published the AOT to provide inspection and repair
instructions, and EASA issued AD 2021-0002 to require a general visual inspection (GVI) and an SDI
of affected parts and, depending on findings, accomplishment of a repair; that AD also prohibits
modification of any rudder into an affected part and (re)installation of affected parts.

Since that AD was issued, Airbus issued SB A320-55-1052 Revision 03 and SB A320-55-1059 Revision
01, providing improved instructions to modify a rudder. This AD is revised accordingly, to include
clarifications.

Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s):

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously:

Inspection:
(1) For Group 1 aeroplanes: Within 50 flight cycles (FC) or 3 months, whichever occurs first after
13 January 2021 [the effective date of the original issue of this AD], accomplish a GVI of the
affected part in accordance with the instructions of the AOT.

(2) If, during the GVI as required by paragraph (1) of this AD, no defects, as described in the AOT,
are identified on an affected part, within 200 FC or 3 months, whichever occurs first after
13 January 2021 [the effective date of the original issue of this AD], accomplish an SDI of that
affected part in accordance with the instructions of section 4.2.3.2 of the AOT.

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(3) If, during the GVI as required by paragraph (1) of this AD, any defect, as described in the AOT, is
identified on an affected part, before next flight, accomplish an SDI of that affected part in
accordance with the instructions of section 4.2.3.2 of the AOT.

(4) As an alternative to the SDI as required by paragraph (2) or (3) of this AD, as applicable, within
the compliance time as required by paragraph (2) or (3) of this AD, as applicable, accomplish an
SDI of the affected part in accordance with the instructions of section 4.2.4.2 of the AOT.

(5) If, during the SDI as required by paragraph (4) of this AD, no defects, as described in the AOT,
are identified, within 1 200 FC, but not before having accumulated 1 000 FC after
accomplishment of that SDI, accomplish a new SDI of that rudder in accordance with the
instructions of section 4.2.4.3 of the AOT.

Corrective Action(s):
(6) If, during any SDI as required by paragraph (2), (3), (4) or (5) of this AD, as applicable, any defect
is found, accomplish the applicable corrective actions in accordance with the instructions and
within the compliance time as identified in the AOT.

Part(s) Installation:
(7) From 13 January 2021 [the effective date of the original issue of this AD], it is allowed to install
on any aeroplane a rudder, provided it is a serviceable part, as defined in this AD.

Rudder Modification Prohibition:

(8) From 13 January 2021 [the effective date of the original issue of this AD], do not modify any
rudder in accordance with the instructions of the SB, as defined in this AD.

Ref. Publications:
Airbus AOT A55N003-20 original issue dated 15 December 2020.

The use of later approved revisions of the above-mentioned document is acceptable for compliance
with the requirements of this AD.

Airbus SB A320-55-1052 original issue dated 28 July 2017, or Revision 01 dated 15 January 2018, or
Revision 02 dated 11 July 2019, or Revision 03 dated 19 November 2021.

Airbus SB A320-55-1059 original issue dated 08 March 2018, or Revision 01 dated 10 December
2021.

Remarks:
1. If requested and appropriately substantiated, EASA can approve Alternative Methods of
Compliance for this AD.

2. Based on the required actions and the compliance time, EASA have decided to issue a Final AD
with Request for Comments, postponing the public consultation process until after publication.

3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the EASA Safety Information Section,
Certification Directorate. E-mail: [email protected].

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4. Information about any failures, malfunctions, defects or other occurrences, which may be
similar to the unsafe condition addressed by this AD, and which may occur, or have occurred on
a product, part or appliance not affected by this AD, can be reported to the EU aviation safety
reporting system. This may include reporting on the same or similar components, other than
those covered by the design to which this AD applies, if the same unsafe condition can exist or
may develop on an aircraft with those components installed. Such components may be
installed under an FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA), Supplemental Type Certificate
(STC) or other modification.

5. For any question concerning the technical content of the requirements in this AD, please
contact: AIRBUS – Airworthiness Office – IIAS; E-mail: [email protected].

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Appendix 1

Table 1 – Affected Parts

Part Number
Aircraft Type
(see Note 1 of this AD)
D554-71002-002-00
D554-71002-004-00
D554-71002-006-00
D554-71004-002-00
D554-71004-004-00
D554-71004-006-00
D554-71004-008-00
A319, A320, A321
D554-71004-010-00
D554-71004-012-00
D554-71004-014-00
D554-71004-016-00
D554-71006-100-00
D554-71006-102-00
D554-71006-104-00
D554-71003-002-00
D554-71003-004-00
D554-71003-006-00
D554-71003-008-00
D554-71003-010-00 A318
D554-71003-012-00
D554-71003-014-00
D554-71005-006-00
D554-71005-008-00

Note 1: Part Numbers may or may not include dash(es) as listed in Table 1 of this AD.

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