EASA AD No.: 2012-0264-E

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EASA EMERGENCY AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AD No.: 2012-0264-E

Date: 17 December 2012

Note: This Emergency 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):

A318, A319, A320 and A321 aeroplanes

TCDS Number: EASA.A.064

Foreign AD: Not applicable

Supersedure: None

ATA –

Airplane Flight Manual – Blocked Angle of Attack Sensor –

Operational Procedure

Manufacturer(s): Airbus (formerly Airbus Industrie)

Applicability: Airbus A318-111, A318-112, A318-121, A318-122, A319-111, A319-112,

A319-113, A319-114, A319-115, A319-131, A319-132, A319-133, A320-111, 

A320-211, A320-212, A320-214, A320-215, A320-216, A320-231, A320-232, 

A320-233, A321-111, A321-112, A321-131, A321-211, A321-212, A321-213, 

A321-231 and A321-232 aeroplanes, all manufacturer serial numbers, if Airbus 

modification (mod.) 153213 or 153214 has been embodied in production, or 

Airbus Service Bulletin (SB) A320-34-1521 has been embodied in service.

Reason: An A330 aeroplane, equipped with Angle of Attack (AoA) sensors with conic 

plates installed, recently experienced blockage of all sensors during climb,

leading to autopilot disconnection and activation of the alpha protection (Alpha 

Prot) when Mach number was increased.

Based on the results of the subsequent analysis, it is suspected that these 

conic plates may have contributed to the event. Investigations are on-going to 

determine what caused the blockage of these AoA sensors.

Blockage of two or three AoA sensors at the same angle may cause the Alpha 

Prot of the normal law to activate. Under normal flight conditions (in normal 

law), if the Alpha Prot activates and Mach number increases, the flight control 

laws order a pitch down of the aeroplane that the flight crew may not be able to 

counteract with a side stick deflection, even in the full backward position.

This condition, if not corrected, could result in reduced control of the aeroplane.

EASA issued Emergency AD 2012-0258-E to address this potential unsafe 
EASA AD No.: 2012-0264-E

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condition on Airbus A330 and A340 aeroplanes.

AoA conic plates of similar design are also installed on A320 family aeroplanes, 

and installation of these AoA sensor conic plates was required by EASA AD 

2012-0236, making reference to Airbus SB A320-34-1521 for in-service 

modification. This requirement has now been removed with revision 1 of that 

AD.

To address this condition on A320 family aeroplanes, Airbus developed an

“AOA Blocked” emergency procedure, published as a temporary revision (TR) 

of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM), to ensure that flight crews, in case of AoA 

sensors blockage, apply the applicable emergency procedure.

For the reasons described above, this Emergency AD requires insertion into the 

AFM of the Airbus TR.

This AD is considered to be an interim measure and further AD action may 

follow.

Effective Date: 22 December 2012

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s):

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously:

(1) Before next flight after the effective date of this AD, amend the applicable 

AFM to incorporate Airbus AFM A320 TR286 “AOA Blocked”, issue 1.0,

inform all flight crews and thereafter operate the aeroplane accordingly.

(2) After modification of an aeroplane by replacing AoA sensor conic plates 

with AoA sensor flat plates in accordance with Airbus approved aeroplane 

modification instructions, the operational procedure as required by 

paragraph (1) of this AD is no longer applicable and shall be removed from 

the AFM of that aeroplane. Contact Airbus to obtain the necessary 

approved modification instructions.

Ref. Publications: Airbus AFM A320 TR286 “AOA Blocked” issue 1.0 dated 17 December 2012.

Note: A copy of this document is attached to the record of this AD in the EASA 

AD publication tool.

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. The results of the safety assessment have indicated the need for 

immediate publication and notification, without the full public consultation 

process.

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 – EIAS;

Fax +33 5 61 93 44 51; E-mail: account.airworth-eas@airbus.com.