Airbus expects to have a fix available for a pitch-up problem affecting the A321neo by the end of September and says the issue can only happen in rare circumstances.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an Airworthiness Directive on July 17 warning that an analysis Elevator aileron control unit had revealed that the A321neo could pitch up in certain conditions during specific manoeuvers.
It said this condition, if not controlled, could result in reduced control of the aircraft.
Airbus had issued a temporary revision to the flight control manual to provide operational limitations on the plane to address the “potentially unsafe condition”, it said.
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The AD was not a result of an in-service issue with A321neo and Airbus said it identified the issue during on-going development tests.
According to the European manufacturer, the AD is limited to the A321neo and addresses an issue that occurs only in certain remote conditions in combination with specific commands.
This requires a combination of four conditions.
These are a very low altitude in approach (below 100ft), an aircraft with a center of gravity that is at the aft of the plane, a specific landing configuration and the need for the crew to perform a dynamic maneuver such as go-around.
In a veiled reference to problems with the Boeing 737 MAX, Airbus said there were “clear dissimilarities between this scenario and other scenarios currently being discussed which are affecting aircraft other than Airbus Types”.
The manufacturer has made available an immediate solution involving an operational dispatch limitation that relates to the flight envelope where the center of gravity is at the aft part of the aircraft.
It also noted there was no need to modify existing operational and training procedures.
“We have supported the EASA decision to issue an Airworthiness Directive and customers have been informed and we are working with them, implementing the AD,” Airbus told AirlineRatings “The final fix will be available in Q3 2020.”
Airbus said there was also no impact on the payload range of the A321LR.
“Operators will be able to fully load their A321LR’s with payload and fuel and fully comply with the aft center of gravity restriction,’’ it said.
