{"id":"F2007L00100","name":"AD/A320/197 - Landing Gear Gravity Free Fall Control Mechanism","slug":"ad-a320-197-landing-gear-gravity-free-fall-control-mechanism","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":68172,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2007L00100-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","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/A320/197 | Landing Gear Gravity FreeFall Control Mechanism | 2/2007 |\n| ----------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | Airbus Industrie A319 series aircraft manufacturer serial numbers (MSN) 578 through 625 inclusive; andA321-100 series aircraft MSN 385 through 620 inclusive.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |\n| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | Carry out the following actions in accordance with Airbus Industrie All-Operator-Telex (AOT) 32-15 dated 1 July 1997 or later DGAC approved revisions.i) Adjust the landing gear unlocked-stop screw of the free fall control mechanism at 3 turns.ii) Replace the 2 shear pins in the reduction gear box as well as the 2 shear pins in the pulley assembly.iii) Inspect the cut-out valve.Replace it if damaged and with aircraft on jacks, perform a functional test of the normal extension/retraction of the landing gear, and a functional test of the free fall extension system.iv) Perform an operational test of the gear uplock and door uplock mechanical control (aircraft on wheels).Note: French DGAC AD 97-177-101(B) dated 13 Aug 1997 refers. |\n| Compliance:    | Unless already accomplished, within 50 flight hours or one month after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs earlier.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |\n|                | This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 15 February 2007.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |\n| Background:    | An incorrect rigging of the landing gear free fall control mechanism became evident in production.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |\n\n|     | In case of landing gear extension by gravity, this incorrect rigging could damage the cut-out valve and the four shear pins installed on the landing gear free fall control mechanism and could result in non-extension of one or more landing gears. |\n| --- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nJames Coyne  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n5 January 2007","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/A320/197","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/A320/197","content":"## AD/A320/197","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Landing Gear Gravity FreeFall Control Me","sectionType":"part","heading":"Landing Gear Gravity FreeFall Control Mechanism","content":"## Landing Gear Gravity Free  \nFall Control Mechanism","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"2/2007","sectionType":"part","heading":"2/2007","content":"## 2/2007","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD maintains its original narrow scope — addressing a specific manufacturing defect in the landing gear free fall control mechanism of particular Airbus A319 and A321-100 aircraft. The directive has not expanded beyond this original safety purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Single, discrete safety issue with four specific mechanical actions required","Limited applicability — only two aircraft models with defined serial number ranges","Clear compliance deadline (50 flight hours or 1 month)","Single reference document (Airbus AOT 32-15) for technical procedures","No nested exceptions, conditional logic, or extensive cross-referencing","Background and rationale clearly stated in plain language","Minor formatting repetition in source document does not affect substantive complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive mandates inspection and repair of the landing‑gear gravity free‑fall control mechanism on certain Airbus A319 (S/N 578–625) and A321‑100 (S/N 385–620) aircraft. Operators must correct the mechanism (adjust settings, replace shear pins, inspect/replace the cut‑out valve and carry out gear tests) within 50 flight hours or one month after 15 Feb 2007.\n\nIt addresses a manufacturing error that could prevent emergency gear extension and risk runway collapse."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive targets aircraft with specific manufacturer serial numbers and prescribes corrective maintenance and tests to address incorrect rigging identified in production. There is no indication in the text that this AD expands beyond that original remedial purpose; it prescribes the listed mechanical adjustments, replacements, inspections and tests within the stated compliance window (Applicability, Requirement, Compliance, Background)."},"complexity_factors":["Technical maintenance tasks: adjust unlocked‑stop screw, replace 4 shear pins, inspect/replace cut‑out valve (Requirement).","Operational testing requirements: functional tests with aircraft on jacks and operational tests with aircraft on wheels (Requirement).","Dependency on external procedure: actions must follow Airbus AOT 32‑15 or DGAC‑approved revisions (Requirement).","Logistical/safety burden: some tests require aircraft on jacks, which affects scheduling and ground equipment use (Requirement).","Time constraint: short compliance window of 50 flight hours or one month increases urgency and planning pressure (Compliance).","Limited applicability by serial number range concentrates activity on specific airframes but still spans multiple models (Applicability).","Potential parts replacement if inspections find damage, creating variable direct costs and parts sourcing needs (Requirement/Background)."],"plain_english_summary":"Requires adjustment of the landing‑gear free‑fall control mechanism, replacement of four shear pins, inspection (and if needed replacement) of the cut‑out valve, and functional tests of both normal and gravity extension on specified Airbus A319/A320/A321 serial numbers, performed to Airbus AOT 32‑15. The directive responds to incorrect rigging discovered in production that could damage the mechanism and prevent one or more gears extending. Compliance is within 50 flight hours or one month."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-a320-197-landing-gear-gravity-free-fall-control-mechanism","history":"/api/acts/ad-a320-197-landing-gear-gravity-free-fall-control-mechanism/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-a320-197-landing-gear-gravity-free-fall-control-mechanism/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-a320-197-landing-gear-gravity-free-fall-control-mechanism/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-a320-197-landing-gear-gravity-free-fall-control-mechanism/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-a320-197-landing-gear-gravity-free-fall-control-mechanism/documents"}}