FAA Issues Airworthiness Directive for All Airbus A320 Family Airplanes, Horizontal Stabilizer

FAA

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes.

This AD was prompted by reports that certain trimmable horizontal stabilizer actuators (THSA) were found with corrosion that affected the ballscrew lower
splines between the tie-bar and screw-jack.

This AD requires repetitive inspections of the THSA; ballscrew integrity tests, if necessary; and replacement of affected THSAs.

We are issuing this AD to detect and correct corrosion in the ballscrew lower splines, which, if the ballscrew ruptured, could lead to transmission of THSA torque loads from the ballscrew to the tie-bar, prompting THSA blowback, and possible loss of control of the airplane.

This AD becomes effective October 9, 2013.