{"id":"F2005L03540","name":"AD/A320/186 - Pilot and Co-pilot Powered Seats","slug":"ad-a320-186-pilot-and-co-pilot-powered-seats","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":39037,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005L03540-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Ser","sectionType":"division","heading":"Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/A320/186 | Pilot and Co-pilot Powered Seats | 13/2005 |\n| ----------- | -------------------------------- | ------- |\n\n```html\n

Applicability:

All A318, A319, A320 and A321 series aeroplanes equipped with EADS Sogerma Services powered cockpit seats with part numbers (P/N) as follows:

Pilot seats P/N

TAAI1-03PE00-01
TAAI1-03PE00-02
TAAI1-03PE01-01
TAAI1-03PE01-02

TAAI1-03PE02-01
TAAI1-03PE02-02
TAAI1-03PE03-01
TAAI1-03PE03-02

TAAI2-33PE00-01
TAAI2-33PE01-01
TAAI3-03PE00-01
TAAI3-03PE01-01

Co-pilot seats P/N

TAAI1-03CE00-01
TAAI1-03CE00-02
TAAI1-03CE01-01
TAAI1-03CE01-02

TAAI1-03CE02-01
TAAI1-03CE02-02
TAAI1-03CE03-01
TAAI1-03CE03-02

TAAI2-33CE00-01
TAAI2-33CE01-01
TAAI3-03CE00-01
TAAI3-03CE01-01

Spares kits P/N

TAAI2-426000-03

TAAI2-426000-04

This Directive is not applicable to aircraft equipped with powered cockpit seats P/N TAAI3-03PE00-01, TAAI3-03PE01-01, TAAI3-03CE00-01 or TAAI3-03CE01-01, serial number (S/N) 792 or higher, on which the actuator has not been replaced since delivery.

Requirement:

1. Identify the cockpit seats actuator P/N installed on the seats and accomplish any necessary corrective action in accordance with instructions of Sogerma Service Bulletin (SB) TAAI1-25-617. No further action is required for the pilot and co-pilot seats on which the accomplishment of the SB TAAI1-25-617 can be identified.

2. Cockpit seats actuators P/N 4136290004 and P/N 4136290005 with S/Ns below 5080 must be removed from service.

3. Spare seats actuators PN 4136290004 and PN 4136290005 with S/Ns below 5080 shall not be re-installed on an aircraft.

\n```\n\n| | 4. SOGERMA Spare Kits P/N TAAI2-426000-03 and P/N TAAI2-426000-04 must be returned to SOGERMA. |\n| ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| | Note: DGAC AD F-2005-164 (EASA Approval 2005-6252) refers. |\n| Compliance: | For Requirement 1 and 2 - No later than 31 May 2010. |\n| | For Requirement 3 - After 31 May 2010. |\n| | For Requirement 4 - No later than 31 May 2010. |\n| | This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 22 December 2005. |\n| Background: | The Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile of France has advised that during the overhaul of seats, repair stations have found severe wear of the gear at rotor shaft end on certain actuators. This wear could affect the kinematics of the seat control system and lead to uncommanded pilot seat horizontal movements which could impact on control of the aircraft during take-off and landing. |\n| | Analysis has revealed that the hardness characteristics of the rotor shaft of the actuator were not in compliance with the specification. Substantial numbers of actuators are believed to be affected this production issue and the aim of this Directive is to identify them and to remove them from service. |\n\n![](image.001.png) \nJames Coyne \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n10 November 2005","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/A320/186","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/A320/186","content":"## AD/A320/186","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Pilot and Co-pilot Powered Seats","sectionType":"part","heading":"Pilot and Co-pilot Powered Seats","content":"## Pilot and Co-pilot Powered Seats","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"13/2005","sectionType":"part","heading":"13/2005","content":"## 13/2005","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD stays within its original safety‑targeted purpose: identify and remove actuators produced out of specification (rotor‑shaft hardness issue) that can cause uncommanded pilot seat movement. It does not broaden responsibilities beyond inspection, removal/replacement and return of specified spare kits, and it includes a narrow exception for certain seat serial numbers. There is no apparent material expansion of scope beyond the stated objective of removing the defective actuators from service."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument with four discrete mandatory actions (Requirements 1–4)","List of many seat part numbers (pilot, co‑pilot, and spare kit P/Ns) in the applicability section","Two different actuator part numbers (P/N 4136290004 and 4136290005) with a single serial‑number threshold (S/Ns below 5080)","One narrow applicability exception based on seat P/Ns and seat serial number (TAAI3‑series seats with S/N 792 or higher) where actuator replacement history matters","Cross‑references to an external Sogerma Service Bulletin (TAAI1‑25‑617) for corrective procedures","Reference to an external foreign AD (DGAC/EASA) for background/validation","Multiple compliance timing points (Requirements 1,2,4 by 31 May 2010; Requirement 3 after 31 May 2010)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)\n\n- Applies to: all Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 aircraft fitted with certain EADS Sogerma powered cockpit (pilot and co‑pilot) seats listed by part number (see \"Applicability\"). There is a narrow exception for some TAAI3‑series seats with serial number (S/N) 792 or higher where the actuator has never been replaced.\n\n- Main actions required:\n - Requirement 1: Identify the actuator part number installed on the pilot and co‑pilot powered seats and perform any corrective work specified in Sogerma Service Bulletin (SB) TAAI1‑25‑617. If the SB can be shown to have already been done on a seat, no further action is needed for that seat.\n - Requirement 2: Remove from service any seat actuators with P/N 4136290004 or 4136290005 whose serial numbers are below 5080.\n - Requirement 3: Do not reinstall spare actuators of P/N 4136290004 or 4136290005 with S/Ns below 5080 after the specified date.\n - Requirement 4: Return Sogerma spare kits with P/N TAAI2‑426000‑03 and TAAI2‑426000‑04 to Sogerma.\n\n- Timing: Requirements 1, 2 and 4 had compliance deadlines of no later than 31 May 2010; Requirement 3 is to apply after 31 May 2010. The directive became effective 22 December 2005.\n\n**Why it was introduced (stated safety problem)\n\n- The French aviation authority (DGAC) reported that during seat overhauls some actuators showed severe wear at the gear/rotor‑shaft end. That wear can change seat kinematics and may allow uncommanded horizontal movement of the pilot seat. Uncommanded seat movement during take‑off or landing could affect control of the aeroplane. Analysis attributed the problem to rotor‑shaft hardness not meeting specification. The AD’s operational goal is to identify affected actuators and remove them from service.\n\n**Who it affects and who pays\n\n- Primary burden: aircraft operators/airlines that own or operate affected A318–A321 aeroplanes. They must inspect records, identify actuator P/Ns and S/Ns, perform or confirm completion of the Sogerma SB, remove and replace affected actuators, and return specified spare kits to Sogerma.\n- Secondary burden: maintenance/repair organisations that carry out the inspections, SB work and part removals. They must track serial numbers and manage logistics for returns and replacements.\n- Likely direct costs: labour for inspection and SB work, cost of replacement actuators (if not supplied free), aircraft downtime while work is carried out, and logistics costs to return spare kits.\n\n**Who decides and what changes in behaviour\n\n- Operators decide how and when to schedule the inspections and actuator replacements (subject to the AD deadlines). Maintenance organisations implement the SB instructions. Sogerma (the seat manufacturer) provides the SB and receives returned spare kits.\n- Behavioural change: record checks and physical inspections will be prioritised; suspect actuators will be removed from service and not reused; spare inventory management will change (returns to manufacturer, possible temporary shortages of spares).\n\n**Trade‑offs, implementation risks and compliance burden\n\n- Trade‑offs: safety mitigation versus cost and aircraft downtime. Operators must choose timing that minimises operational disruption while meeting mandatory compliance dates.\n- Implementation risks: difficulty locating accurate serial‑number records, misidentification of actuators, limited availability of replacement actuators or approved repairs, and logistical delays returning spare kits to Sogerma.\n- Compliance burden: tracing part numbers and serial numbers across fleet and spare stock, performing the SB or corrective action, removing and replacing parts, and documenting compliance for regulators.\n\n**Market and commercial effects to note (mechanics, not judgement)\n\n- Supply and replacement: Sogerma is the source of the SB and the recipient of returned spare kits; if Sogerma charges for replacement parts or repairs, operators bear that cost. The directive concentrates replacement demand with Sogerma and authorised repair shops.\n- Competitive effects: the AD directs work to Sogerma procedures and therefore benefits the manufacturer and authorised service providers that can perform the SB or supply parts. Independent maintenance shops will still perform the work if certified and using the SB instructions.\n\n**Cross‑references and authorities cited\n\n- The AD references Sogerma Service Bulletin TAAI1‑25‑617 for the corrective actions and notes the DGAC AD F‑2005‑164 (EASA Approval 2005‑6252).\n\n**Net practical effect\n\n- Operators of affected A318–A321 aircraft must identify and, where necessary, remove and replace certain actuators showing a production defect (rotor‑shaft hardness/out‑of‑spec). The objective is to eliminate actuators at risk of causing uncommanded pilot seat movement. Operationally, the measure imposes inspection, removal/replacement and return‑of‑spares obligations and associated costs and downtime.**"},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard airworthiness directive addressing a specific safety-critical defect in aircraft equipment. The scope remains tightly focused on the identified actuator wear issue in Sogerma cockpit seats. No evidence of scope creep beyond the original safety purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple nested applicability criteria: applies to specific aircraft series AND specific seat part numbers AND specific actuator part numbers AND specific serial number ranges","Exception to applicability: explicitly excludes certain seat serial numbers (S/N 792 or higher) if actuators haven't been replaced","Cross-reference to external technical document: Sogerma Service Bulletin TAAI1-25-617 (not reproduced in directive)","Four distinct requirements with different compliance dates","Mix of part numbers (P/N) and serial numbers (S/N) creates identification burden for operators","Reference to foreign aviation authority (DGAC France) and EASA approval number"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive mandates operators of Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 aircraft fitted with specific EADS Sogerma powered pilot/co‑pilot seats to inspect actuator part numbers, remove from service actuators PN 4136290004 or 4136290005 with serials below 5080, and return specified spare kits. Faulty, unhardened gears can allow unexpected seat movement during critical phases; banned spares must not be reinstalled after 31 May 2010 to prevent loss of control."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-a320-186-pilot-and-co-pilot-powered-seats","history":"/api/acts/ad-a320-186-pilot-and-co-pilot-powered-seats/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-a320-186-pilot-and-co-pilot-powered-seats/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-a320-186-pilot-and-co-pilot-powered-seats/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-a320-186-pilot-and-co-pilot-powered-seats/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-a320-186-pilot-and-co-pilot-powered-seats/documents"}}