A 320 Family General Update

16-19 October 2007
Presented by
PALOMEQUE Michel
FLIGHT SAFETY DIRECTOR
A320 Chief Engineer Advisor
A320 FAM Program
A320 Family
- General update
14th Flight Safety Conference

List of items
• EATON fuel pumps

• Magnetic variation tables- ADIRS
• Electrical power supply
• TCAS – Vertical Speed Indication
• Vertical Acceleration monitoring at T/O - Northrop Grumman ADIRS
• Landing with NLG at 90° - EMM BSCU
• Lateral runway excursion – Classic BSCU
• Dual bleed loss
• Airspeed discrepancy
© AIRBUS FRANCE S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document.
• Back Up Speed Indication
14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 2

EATON FUEL PUMPS
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
•
Circuit breaker for a wing tank fuel pump tripped during flight
Strip down of fuel pump revealed:

Screw detached
Due to insufficient torque
Migrated between stator & rotor
Loss of Flame trap
Detachment of screw due to manufacturing fault.

EATON FUEL PUMPS
Corrective
CorrectiveAction
Action
INITIAL BATCH identified:
Red OEB 178 issued to give
recommendation during refuelling
 Modifies –005 standard fuel
pumps to PN –05R standard
Mod 367734/ SB 28-1153 issued to
clear red OEB’s . MANDATORY
REMAINING BATCH IDENTIFIED
 Second Red OEB 180 issued

Modifies
remaining –002 and
-005 fuel pumps to PN –0nR
standard
Mod 37508/ Additional SB 28-1159
issued to clear red OEB’s.
MANDATORY
List of items

• Dual bleed loss

Magnetic variation tables - ADIRU
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Magnetic Variation around the Earth:
A320 aircraft can potentially have obsolete Magnetic Variation tables
(updated every 5 years)
Consequences of erroneous magnetic variation tables
heading error and track error
• Effect in rollout phases when using magnetic track
Risk of lateral deviation from runway centerline
LIMITATION:
Automatic landing and automatic rollout are forbidden

in airports where magnetic heading error is > 3°
Impact on operational documentation :

The list of airports where autoland and auto rollout are not
allowed is published in AFM and FCOM
Magnetic variation tables - ADIRU
Corrective
CorrectiveAction
Action
Honeywell
Northrop-Grumman (ex Litton)
P/N A320
10 MCU – AC07 30652
P/N A320 SB 34-1231
4 MCU – 313 - Latest P/N, with
latest magnetic 4 MCU – AC11 30941
SB 34-1249
4 MCU – 314 31070 variation tables SB 34-1341
SB 34-1245
(2005 optimized SB 34-1358
4 MCU – 315 31742
SB 34-1330
for 2010) 4 MCU – AD11 30942
SB 341240
4 MCU – 316 35517 4 MCU – AD12 -
SB 34-1350
4 MCU – AE20 -
4 MCU – AE21 31105

• Improvement: SB 34-1319
SB 34-1332
A380 ADIRU type installed on SB 34-1341
A320/A330/A340 4 MCU – AE22 31106

SB 34-1227
Planned for certification end 2007 / SB 34-1232
beginning 2008 for HWL and 2009 for 4 MCU – AE23 35793
SB 34-1356
NG.
List of items

• Dual bleed loss

Electrical improvements
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
• Loss of electrical power supply due to:
On-side electrical power supply failure
And no manual transfer from AC ESS Busbar to AC 2 Busbar
via the ALTN procedure
• Consequences can be multiple :

Loss of several displays
Loss of stand-by instruments lighting
Loss of communication

Improvement
3. onthe
Improvement of theCockpit
Cockpit Lighting
Lighting System
System
Corrective
CorrectiveAction
Action
Select the Dome Light to DIM or BRT
throughout flight.
•Interim solution: OEB 185/2 Dome Light may be selected OFF if during
final approach and landing if deemed necessary.
• Permanent solution:
CAPT flood light located above standby instruments power from the HOT BUS in case of
electrical loss.
Cancels OEB 185/2.
Objective: To ensure that the flight crew will be able to read the standby instrument indications
Mod 37329 &37330/ SB A320-33-1057 - MANDATORY

Improvement on the Radio
Communication System
Corrective
CorrectiveAction
Action
• Introduction of DC 1 Busbar power supply of the Digital
Audio Management Unit-AMU in addition to DC ESS
Busbar.
Objective: To ensure Digital AMU availability in case of loss

of DC ESS Busbar.
Mod 37782/ SB A320-23-1333

Improvement
5. of the
Improvement of theElectrical
Electrical Distribution
Distribution System
System
Corrective
CorrectiveAction
Action
• Automatic switching of AC ESS Busbar
AC ESS Busbar normally supplied by AC1 Busbar.
If AC1 Busbar is lost, pilot has to manually select AC ESS
feed push button to Alternate – supplied through AC2
Busbar.
• Introduction of AC ESS Busbar automatic switching to AC 2 Busbar, 3
seconds after the AC1 Busbar is lost.
Objective: To limit the loss of ESS Busbars to 3 seconds and to the

reduce Flight Crew workload and stress
Mod 37317 / SB A320-24-1120

Improvement on the Electronic
Instruments Systems
Corrective
CorrectiveAction
Action
• DMC3 transfer wiring improvement for DFDR recording
accuracy in case of AC1 & DC ESS Busbar loss.
Objective: To better analyse in-service events
Mod 37730/ SB A320-24-1120


List of items

• Dual bleed loss

TCAS – Vertical Speed indication
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
In the frame of TA or RA activation by the TCAS, reports
have been received that in some specific conditions ( sunny
light on the PFD) combined with stress, the Vertical Speed
(V/S) indication could be improved:
Over-reactions
– Excessive load factor
 Cabin discomfort
– Excessive vertical deviation (greater than the expected 300ft)
 Perturbation of traffic, leading to another RA.
Some opposite pilot reactions

– Amongst others in case of “ADJUST VERTICAL SPEED” RA
EIS 2
EIS 1
TCAS – Vertical Speed indication
Improved end-
Corrective
CorrectiveAction
Action course dynamics
Thinner
needle
• This is achieved thru the following points:
White needle instead of red
Enlarged green area
End Course dynamic improved
Leading zero logic
EIS 1 : V60 std Leading zero

–Mod 37009 SB 31-1286 . when
<1000ft/min White needle

–MANDATORY
during RA
EIS 2: S7 std
–Mod 36725 / SB 31-1276
or 31-1271
–MANDATORY
Green area wider than red area
List of items

• Dual bleed loss

Vertical Acceleration monitoring at T/O:
Northrop Grumman ADIRS
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
 Several reports of rejected take off due to the loss of IRS.
– Consequence of an IRS failure
• On PFD: •On ND:
• - Attitude (roll, yaw, pitch) -Heading and Track
• - Flight Path Vector
• - Heading and Track -Ground Speed
• - Vertical Speed -Aircraft position
 Some reports of dual IRS loss during the takeoff phase.

 All cases occurred at around 80-100 kts.
 Most of the occurrences were in a dedicated airport.

Vertical Acceleration monitoring at T/O:
Northrop Grumman ADIRS
Analysis has shown that the failure is due to the vertical
acceleration monitoring resulting from the specific runway
profile.
• ADIRU's rack have resonance around 65 Hz and 140 Hz in
the vertical axis.
• when looking at the temporal acceleration (g) signal in
vertical axis, max level of 6 g is reached.
• for the vertical acceleration, speed is not a major contributor,
whereas obstacle height is.
Corrective
Corrective Action
Action
NORTHROP GRUMMAN (previously LITTON) ADIRU PN 465020-0303-0316
- modification 35517 / SB A320-34-1350 . MANDATORY.

List of items

• Dual bleed loss

LANDING WITH NLG AT 90°- EMM
BSCU
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
• In 2005, an A320 experienced failure of the NLG to retract
following takeoff.
Visual flyby inspection from Tower determined the Nose
Wheels to be turned 90 degrees. The aircraft was diverted
to Los Angeles (LAX) where a safe landing was
accomplished

LANDING WITH NLG AT 90°- EMM
BSCU
Corrective
Corrective Action
Action
• RED OEB (ref 175 & 176)
Reset of BSCU in flight with gear down
– If “shock absorber fault” and “nose wheel steering fault”
– Reset by means of ‘A/SKID & N/W STRG’ switch (not circuit breaker)
Recovers nose wheel steering and centers the wheels

• ‘INSPECTION OF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR UPPER SUPPORT’
Inspection Service Bulletin (ISB)
• Ref A320-32-1310 issued 8th February 2006
– One time check of the landing gear servicing
– Repeatable check condition of the upper support anti-rotation lugs
– Repeatable check condition of the shock absorber cylinder lugs

– Repeat inspection & compliance time
• L4-1 or L4-5 every 6 months or 1800FH (1350FC) whichever first
• L4-8 every 20 months or 6000FH (4500FC) whichever first
BSCU 4.9 is the final fix and allows to remove the OEB
Mod 36853 / SB 32-1335 . MANDATORY.
List of items

• Dual bleed loss

Lateral runway excursion - Classic
BSCU
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
• On 2005, an A320 experienced a lateral runway excursion (left side) at
landing.
Visual inspection of the NLG just after the event revealed the nose
wheels turned to the left with an angle of about 20°.
• A BSCU hardware failure (quartz) is confirmed to be at the origin of
the event.
This failure leads to a MON channel freezing (and consequently,
the MON relays closure), and then to the COM relay closure.
COM + MON channels being frozen with their steering relays
commanded closed, it leads to the steering selector valve being

commanded whereas the steering control loop is unavailable.
This BSCU failure associated to the steering servo valve drift leads
to a slow runaway of NWS

Lateral runway excursion - Classic
BSCU
Corrective
CorrectiveAction
Action
• A specific BSCU software correction has been developed

to monitor this type of hardware failure.
• In case of similar hardware failure, this monitoring will
trigger a BSCU channel fault and will allow an automatic
change over.
BSCU std 10 is the final fix
Mod 36994 / SB 32-1336.

MANDATORY.

List of items

• Dual bleed loss

DUAL BLEED LOSS
to pack 2
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
TLT
One bleed failure in flight TCT
The remaining bleed to supply

the 2 Packs at normal flow
Fan air valve fails to fully open FAV
Regulated temperature increase

PRV
up to 260°C
Loss of remaining bleed

FAN
HP
IP

DUAL BLEED LOSS
Contributors for temperature regulation
malfunction:
 Sense line leakage
 TCT drift
 FAV leakage
 Activation of TLT temperature limitation function
FAV
Corrective
CorrectiveAction
Action
VSB planning for components modification:
FAV: VSB6730F-36-01 for std –F01
TLT VSB 6730-36-03 for std C01

TLT: VSB 341-36-06
TCT TCT: P/N 342B05: Airbus SB March 08
List of items

• Dual bleed loss

AIRSPEED DISCREPANCY
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
• Numerous loss of airspeed or airspeed discrepancies, most of the time during the
takeoff run but also during flight, are reported every month.
This kind of events generally leads to a RTO at high speed.
Most of the time, this occurs in adverse weather condition.
The aircraft is released after a flushing of the sense line & pitot probes.
– Such event could also lead in flight to a Reversion to Alternate Law.
Corrective
CorrectiveAction
Action
•Improved pitot probe has been developed with THALES. These new pitot
probes are more robust in preventing water ingress.
New pitot probes (mod 35894) / SB 34-1354 available
•Particular attention for maintenance (ref: OIT 999.0017/07 "ATA 34 Pitot

probe cleaning"). Specific tool available. Associated kit for both BF Goodrich
and Thales pitot probes reference is 98D34103004001.
List of items

• Dual bleed loss

BACK UP SPEED INDICATION
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Total loss of air data
Target Speed
Enhancement
Enhancement
Provide Back Up Speed &
altitude Scales indication on
PFD based on AoA and Current Speed
geographic altitude
Modification 35871/ SB 34-1397

Associated with the latest std of
computers for :
ADIRU std 314,FWC F4, EIS S7, GPS &
DFDR.

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and
proprietary document.
This document and all information contained herein is the
sole property of AIRBUS S.A.S.. No intellectual property
rights are granted by the delivery of this document or the
disclosure of its content. This document shall not be
reproduced or disclosed to a third party without the express
written consent of AIRBUS S.A.S. This document and its
content shall not be used for any purpose other than that for
which it is supplied.
The statements made herein do not constitute an offer. They
are based on the mentioned assumptions and are expressed
in good faith. Where the supporting grounds for these
statements are not shown, AIRBUS S.A.S. will be pleased to
explain the basis thereof.
AIRBUS, its logo, A300, A310, A318, A319, A320, A321,
A330, A340, A350, A380, A400M are registered trademarks.

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16-19 October 2007

14th Flight Safety Conference

• EATON fuel pumps

• Back Up Speed Indication

14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 2

Strip down of fuel pump revealed:

Detachment of screw due to manufacturing fault.

 Second Red OEB 180 issued

• EATON fuel pumps

• Back Up Speed Indication

14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 5

Automatic landing and automatic rollout are forbidden

Impact on operational documentation :

4 MCU – AE21 31105

A320/A330/A340 4 MCU – AE22 31106

• EATON fuel pumps

• Back Up Speed Indication

14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 8

• Consequences can be multiple :

14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 9

Mod 37329 &37330/ SB A320-33-1057 - MANDATORY

14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 10

Objective: To ensure Digital AMU availability in case of loss

Mod 37782/ SB A320-23-1333

14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 11

Objective: To limit the loss of ESS Busbars to 3 seconds and to the

reduce Flight Crew workload and stress

Mod 37317 / SB A320-24-1120

14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 12

Objective: To better analyse in-service events

Mod 37730/ SB A320-24-1120

14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 13

• EATON fuel pumps

• Back Up Speed Indication

14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 14

Some opposite pilot reactions

EIS 1 : V60 std Leading zero

<1000ft/min White needle

• EATON fuel pumps

• Back Up Speed Indication

14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 17

 Some reports of dual IRS loss during the takeoff phase.

 Most of the occurrences were in a dedicated airport.

14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 18

14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 19

• EATON fuel pumps

• Back Up Speed Indication

14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 20

14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 21

Recovers nose wheel steering and centers the wheels

– Repeatable check condition of the shock absorber cylinder lugs

• EATON fuel pumps

• Back Up Speed Indication

14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 23

commanded closed, it leads to the steering selector valve being

14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 24

• A specific BSCU software correction has been developed

Mod 36994 / SB 32-1336.

14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 25

• EATON fuel pumps

• Back Up Speed Indication

14th Flight Safety Conference 16-19 October 2007 Page 26

The remaining bleed to supply

Regulated temperature increase