{"id":"F2006B01916","name":"AD/A320/25 Amdt 2 - Elevator Servo Controls","slug":"ad-a320-25-amdt-2-elevator-servo-controls","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":41138,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B01916-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/A320/25 Amdt 2 - Elevator Servo Controls","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nAirbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/A320/25\n\nAmdt 2\n\n  \n\nElevator Servo Controls 2/94 DM\n\nApplicability: All Airbus A320 series aircraft.\n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of DGAC AD 91-272-023(B)R2.\n\nNote: Airbus Industrie SB A320-27-1043 R1, SB A320-27-1048 and SB A320-55-1015 R1 refer.\n\nCompliance: Unless previously accomplished, as specified in the Requirement Document.\n\nBackground: Repetitive elevator deflection checks and elevator actuator inspections are introduced to prevent in flight elevator vibration. The previous amendment was raised to extend the inspection time of the elevator actuator spherical bearings once modified while this amendment amplifies inspection of the actuator fittings and includes credit for compliance with Airbus Industrie SB A320-27-1043 initial issue.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. Compared with the earlier amendment that extended the inspection interval for elevator actuator spherical bearings once modified, this amendment broadens inspection attention to actuator fittings (amplifies inspection of actuator fittings) and adds explicit credit for compliance with the initial issue of Airbus Industrie SB A320-27-1043. Operators must therefore account for the amplified inspection scope and for the possibility that prior compliance with that SB satisfies part of the AD (\"Background\", \"Note\")."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-reference to external technical directive (DGAC AD 91-272-023(B)R2) rather than reproducing technical steps (\"Requirement\").","Reference to multiple manufacturer service bulletins for implementation and for credit (SB A320-27-1043, SB A320-27-1048, SB A320-55-1015) (\"Note\").","Repetitive inspection regime (recurrent elevator deflection checks and actuator inspections) increases operational scheduling complexity (\"Background\").","Amendment history: previous amendment altered inspection intervals for spherical bearings; this amendment changes inspection scope for actuator fittings and adds credit, requiring operators to reconcile multiple amendment states (\"Background\").","Applicability to the entire A320 family (broad fleet coverage) increases the number of affected operators and the administrative scale (\"Applicability\").","Compliance timing is conditional on prior accomplishment and directed to a separate Requirement Document, requiring record checks and document alignment (\"Compliance\")."],"plain_english_summary":"What this instrument does (mechanically)\n\n- This airworthiness directive (AD) applies to all Airbus A319/A320/A321 series aeroplanes (\"All Airbus A320 series aircraft\") and requires operators to carry out the technical actions set out in DGAC AD 91-272-023(B)R2 (\"Requirement\").\n- The concrete tasks named in the AD are repetitive elevator deflection checks and inspections of elevator actuators (\"Background\").\n- The amendment increases the scope of inspections of the actuator fittings and recognises credit for operators who have already complied with the initial issue of Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-27-1043 (\"Background\" and \"Note\").\n- Compliance is mandatory unless the required actions have already been done; timing and specifics are as set out in the Requirement Document (\"Compliance\").\n\nWho is affected\n\n- Owners and operators of the entire Airbus A320 family must follow the directive because it applies to all A320 series aircraft (\"Applicability\").\n- The technical content to be followed is provided by an external directive (DGAC AD 91-272-023(B)R2) and referenced Airbus service bulletins (\"Requirement\" and \"Note\").\n\nWhy it matters (stated purpose and practical effects)\n\n- The stated purpose is to prevent in‑flight elevator vibration by introducing repetitive deflection checks and actuator inspections (\"Background\").\n- Practically, operators must budget time, parts and maintenance resources to perform these repeated checks and inspections, and organise aircraft availability around those tasks (implied by the requirement for repetitive checks and inspections and by the compliance statement).\n\nWho pays, who decides, and what changes in behaviour\n\n- Operators/owners pay for and arrange the inspections and any corrective work because the AD imposes the actions on the aircraft (\"Applicability\", \"Requirement\", \"Compliance\").\n- The Civil Aviation Safety Authority issued the AD, but the technical requirements to be executed are set out in DGAC AD 91-272-023(B)R2 and linked Airbus service bulletins (\"Requirement\" and \"Note\").\n- Operators must add recurring inspection tasks into their maintenance programmes, and some operators who already implemented the initial Airbus service bulletin may record this as satisfying part of the AD (credit for prior compliance) (\"Background\").\n\nTrade-offs, incentives, and implementation points to watch (mechanisms, not judgments)\n\n- Cost and downtime: Repetitive checks and actuator inspections require labour, possible parts replacement, and aircraft out‑of‑service time. The AD requires those activities but does not set funding or scheduling mechanisms (derived from the nature of the required maintenance actions and the Compliance clause).\n- Credit for prior compliance: The amendment reduces duplication for operators who implemented Airbus SB A320-27-1043 initial issue by expressly giving credit; that changes the marginal cost for those operators compared with operators who have not done the SB (\"Background\", \"Note\").\n- Cross‑document compliance: The AD references a DGAC directive and Airbus service bulletins; compliance therefore requires consulting multiple documents (Requirement, Note). This raises implementation complexity because the AD does not reproduce the technical steps—it directs operators to another document (\"Requirement\").\n- Amendment history and inspection intervals: A prior amendment changed the inspection interval for spherical bearings once modified; this amendment instead amplifies actuator fitting inspections and adds credit for the SB initial issue. Operators must check their records to determine which amendment and which inspection timing apply to their aircraft (\"Background\").\n\nConcrete implementation risks and administrative discretion\n\n- Operators must interpret which prior work qualifies for credit and must follow the referenced DGAC AD for technical content. That creates administrative tasks for operators and their maintenance providers to verify eligibility for credit and to map the DGAC/Airbus requirements into their maintenance schedules (\"Requirement\", \"Note\", \"Background\").\n- The AD itself prescribes that action be taken “as specified in the Requirement Document” (\"Compliance\"), so the detailed technical discretion sits with the referenced DGAC AD and Airbus SBs rather than being set out in full in this AD (\"Requirement\", \"Note\")."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment stays within the original scope of elevator servo control safety. The changes are incremental adjustments to inspection intervals and credit provisions, not an expansion into new aircraft systems or operational areas."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose directive (approximately 150 words)","Only 4 defined/referenced documents (the DGAC AD and 3 Airbus SBs)","Single applicability clause with no exceptions or conditions","Simple compliance structure: 'do what the French directive says'","No nested definitions, cross-references to other legislation, or conditional logic","Background section provides clear rationale without legal complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** (a mandatory safety order) issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority for **Airbus A320 series aircraft** (including A319, A320, and A321 models).\n\n**What it does:**\n- Requires airlines and aircraft operators to perform **repetitive inspections and checks** on the elevator servo controls (the hydraulic systems that move the tail elevators up and down)\n- Specifically targets **elevator actuator spherical bearings** and **actuator fittings** — mechanical parts that can wear out or fail\n\n**Why it matters:**\n- Prevents dangerous **in-flight elevator vibration** — shaking of the control surfaces that could affect aircraft handling or safety\n- The directive has been updated twice (this is \"Amendment 2\") to:\n  - Extend inspection intervals for bearings that have been modified\n  - Add more detailed inspection of actuator fittings\n  - Give operators credit if they've already complied with an earlier Airbus service bulletin\n\n**Who must comply:**\n- All operators of Airbus A320 family aircraft in Australia\n- Compliance is mandatory unless the work has already been done as specified in the original French aviation authority directive (DGAC AD 91-272-023(B)R2)\n\n**Key documents referenced:**\n- French DGAC Airworthiness Directive 91-272-023(B)R2 (the technical source)\n- Airbus Service Bulletins A320-27-1043, A320-27-1048, and A320-55-1015"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-a320-25-amdt-2-elevator-servo-controls","history":"/api/acts/ad-a320-25-amdt-2-elevator-servo-controls/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-a320-25-amdt-2-elevator-servo-controls/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-a320-25-amdt-2-elevator-servo-controls/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-a320-25-amdt-2-elevator-servo-controls/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-a320-25-amdt-2-elevator-servo-controls/documents"}}