EASA AD No.: 2013-0107

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EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AD No.: 2013-0107

Date: 17 May 2013

Note: This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued by EASA, acting in accordance with Regulation 

(EC) No 216/2008 on behalf of the European Community, its Member States and of the 

European third countries that participate in the activities of EASA under Article 66 of that 

Regulation.

This AD is issued in accordance with EU 748/2012, Part 21.A.3B. In accordance with EC 2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.301, the 

continuing airworthiness of an aircraft shall be ensured by accomplishing any applicable ADs. Consequently, no person may operate 

an aircraft to which an AD applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that AD, unless otherwise specified by the Agency 

[EC 2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.303] or agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry [EC 216/2008, Article 14(4) exemption].

Design Approval Holder’s Name:

AIRBUS

Type/Model designation(s):

A340 aeroplanes

TCDS Number: EASA.A.015

Foreign AD: Not applicable

Supersedure: None

ATA 27 Auto Flight / Flight Controls – Flight Control Primary Computer 

(FCPC) – Modification / Replacement

Manufacturer(s): Airbus

Applicability: Airbus A340-541, A340-542, A340-642 and A340-643 aeroplanes, all

manufacturer serial numbers.

Reason: An A330 aeroplane experienced a sudden nose down movement while in 

cruise. This event was preceded by an automatic autopilot disconnection, which

triggered the “NAV IR1 FAULT” Electronic Centralised Aircraft Monitor (ECAM) 

Caution. Investigation results highlighted that at the time of the event, the Air 

Data Reference 1 (ADR) part of ADIRU1 was providing erroneous and 

temporary wrong parameters in a random manner. This abnormal behaviour of 

the ADR1 led to several consequences such as unjustified stall and over speed 

warnings, loss of attitude information on Captain Primary Flight Display (PFD) 

and several ECAM warnings. Among the abnormal parameters, the provided

Angle of Attack (AoA) value was such that the flight control computers 

commanded the sudden nose down movement. 

Further investigation results concluded that this event was caused by erroneous 

and undetected AoA values (spikes) generated by the ADIRU1.

This condition, if not corrected, could lead to further similar occurrences, 

possibly resulting in loss of control of the aeroplane.

To address this potential unsafe condition and as an interim solution, EASA 

issued Emergency AD 2009-0012-E to require implementation of an Aircraft 

Flight Manual (AFM) operational procedure, to isolate both the Inertial

Reference (IR) and ADR in case a faulty IR is detected.

Since that AD was issued, a final fix solution was developed, consisting of new
EASA AD No.: 2013-0107

TE.CAP.00110-003 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. 2/2

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FCPC software standards, which prevents the potential unsafe condition and 

cancels the AFM operational procedure required by EASA AD 2009-0012-E.

Consequently, EASA issued AD 2011-0199R1 to require this software standard 

upgrade of the three FCPCs by either modification or replacement, for A330 

and A340-200/-300 aeroplanes.

Due to similar design, Airbus A340-500/-600 aeroplanes are also impacted by 

this issue, and Airbus developed Service Bulletin (SB) A340-27-5051 which 

gives instructions for a software standard upgrade of the three FCPCs,

irrespective of ADIRU manufacturer.

For the reasons described above, this AD requires a software standard upgrade 

of the three FCPCs for A340-500/-600 aeroplanes, which cancels the 

operational procedure imposed by EASA AD 2009-0012-E.

Effective Date: 31 May 2013

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance

Time(s):

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously:

(1) Within 10 months after the effective date of this AD, modify or replace the 

three FCPCs to integrate software standard W12 on FCPC 2K2 hardware

in accordance with the instructions of Airbus SB A340-27-5051.

(2) After modification of an aeroplane as required by paragraph (1) of this AD, 

the operational procedures as imposed by EASA AD 2009-0012-E are no 

longer required for that aeroplane.

(3) After modification of an aeroplane as required by paragraph (1) of this AD, 

do not install an FCPC on that aeroplane, unless the FCPC is 2K2 

hardware with integrating software standard W12.

Ref. Publications: Airbus SB A340-27-5051 original issue dated 16 July 2012.

The use of later approved revisions of this document is acceptable for 

compliance with the requirements of this AD.

Remarks: 1. If requested and appropriately substantiated, EASA can approve 

Alternative Methods of Compliance for this AD.

2. This AD was posted on 28 November 2012 as PAD 12-155 for consultation 

until 26 December 2012, and re-published on 29 April 2013 as PAD 12-

155R1 for additional consultation until 13 May 2013. No comments were 

received during the consultation period for PAD 12-155R1. The Comment 

Response Document related to PAD 12-155 can be found at 

http://ad.easa.europa.eu.

3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the Safety Information 

Section, Executive Directorate, EASA. E-mail: ADs@easa.europa.eu.

4. For any question concerning the technical content of the requirements in 

this AD, please contact: AIRBUS – Airworthiness Office – EIAL; E-mail: 

airworthiness.A330-A340@airbus.com.