EASA AD No.: 2011-0069 

EASA Form 110 Page 1/3 

EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2011-0069 

Date: 18 April 2011 

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 EC 1702/2003, Part 21A.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]. 

Type 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 : This AD supersedes EASA AD 2006-0112R1 dated 17 October 2008. 

ATA 32 Landing Gear – Main Landing Gear (MLG) Door Actuator – 

Monitoring / Inspection 

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 models, all manufacturer serial numbers, 

if equipped with the MLG door actuators having Part Number (P/N) 

114122006, P/N 114122007, P/N 114122009, P/N 114122010, P/N 

114122011 or P/N 114122012. 

Reason: Some operators reported slow operation of the MLG door opening/closing 

sequence, leading to the generation of ECAM warnings during the landing 

gear retraction or extension sequence. 

Investigations showed that the damping ring and associated retaining ring of 

the MLG door actuator deteriorate. The resultant debris increases the friction 

inside the actuator which can be sufficiently high to restrict opening of the 

MLG door by gravity, during operation of the landing gear alternate (free-fall) 

extension system. 

This condition, if not corrected, could prevent the full extension and/or downlocking of the MLG, possibly resulting in MLG collapse during landing or rollout and consequent damage to the aeroplane and injury to occupants. 

EASA AD 2006-0112R1 was issued to require repetitive inspections of the 

opening sequence of the MLG door in order to identify the defective actuators, 

and to introduce as an optional terminating action Airbus production 
EASA AD No.: 2011-0069 

EASA Form 110 Page 2/3 

Modification 38274 and associated Service Bulletin (SB) A320-32-1338, which 

incorporate an improved retaining ring, located on the piston rod's extension 

end, and a new piston rod with machined shoulder to accommodate the 

thicker section of the modified retaining ring. 

 After in-service introduction of the new MLG door actuator, P/N 114122012, 

several operators reported failures of internal parts of the MLG door actuator. 

Investigations confirmed that these failures could result in slow extension of 

the actuator rod, delaying the MLG Door operation, or possibly stopping just 

before the end of the stroke, preventing the door to reach the fully open 

position. 

This new AD, which supersedes EASA AD 2006-0112R1, requires an 

amendment of the applicable Airplane Flight Manual (AFM), repetitive checks 

of specific Centralized Fault Display System (CFDS) messages, repetitive 

inspections of the opening sequence of the MLG door actuator and, 

depending on findings, corrective action(s). 

Effective Date: 02 May 2011 

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s): 

Required as indicated, unless already accomplished: 

Operational procedure

Note: This operational procedure has been introduced in the global AFM 

revision approved by EASA on 04 April 2011. 

(1) Within 14 days after the effective date of this AD, amend the applicable 

AFM to incorporate the following operational procedure, and operate the 

aeroplane accordingly : 

 • If ECAM triggers the “L/G GEAR NOT DOWNLOCKED” warning, apply 

the following procedure: 

 Recycle landing gear. 

●If unsuccessful after 2 min: 

 Extend landing gear by gravity. Refer to ABN-32 L/G GRAVITY 

EXTENSION. 

 Inserting a copy of this AD into the AFM is an acceptable method to 

comply with the requirement of paragraph (1) of this AD. 

Post Flight Report (PFR) Monitoring

(2) Within 14 days after the effective date of this AD, or before the 

accumulation of 800 flight cycles (FC) since the aeroplane first flight, 

whichever occurs later, monitor the Post Flight Report (PFR) to check the 

CFDS messages triggered during the last 8 calendar days, in accordance 

with the instructions of paragraph 4.2.1 of Airbus All Operator Telex 

(AOT) A320-32A1390. 

(3) Thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 8 calendar days or 5 FC, whichever 

occurs later, check the CFDS messages recorded during each interval, in 

accordance with the instructions of paragraph 4.2.1 of Airbus AOT A320-

32A1390. 

(4) If, during any of the PFR monitoring checks as required by paragraphs (2) 

and (3) of this AD, a pair of the specific CFDS messages as listed in 

paragraph 4.2.1 of Airbus AOT A320-32A1390 has been triggered by 

both Landing Gear Control and Indication Units (LGCIU) for the same 

flight, before next flight, inspect the door opening sequence of the 

affected doors of the MLG in accordance with the instructions of 

paragraph 4.2.2 of Airbus AOT A320-32A1390. 

(5) The use of an alternative method to check the list of CFDS messages 

(such as AIRMAN) is acceptable in lieu of the PFR monitoring required by 

paragraphs (2) and (3) of this AD, provided that this alternative method 
EASA AD No.: 2011-0069 

EASA Form 110 Page 3/3 

has been approved by the National Authority of the State of Registry of 

the aeroplane and that the list of the CFDS messages can be 

conclusively identified from that check. 

MLG Door Actuators Opening Sequence Inspection

(6) Within 800 FC after the effective date of this AD and thereafter at 

intervals not to exceed 425 FC, inspect the door opening sequence of the 

LH and RH doors of the MLG in accordance with the instructions of 

paragraph 4.2.2 of Airbus AOT A320-32A1390. 

(7) If, during any inspection as required by paragraphs (4) or (6) of this AD, 

as applicable, any discrepancy is found, before next flight, replace the 

affected MLG door actuator in accordance with the instructions of Airbus 

AOT A320-32A1390. 

(8) Replacement of the MLG door actuator as required by paragraph (7) of 

this AD does not constitute terminating action for the repetitive PFR 

monitoring as required by paragraph (3) of this AD, nor for the repetitive 

inspections as required by paragraph (6) of this AD. 

Ref. Publications: Airbus All Operator Telex A320-32A1390 original issue. 

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 required actions and the risk allowance have granted the issuance of 

a Final AD with Request for Comments, postponing the public 

consultation process after publication. 

3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the Airworthiness 

Directives, Safety Management & Research Section, Certification 

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 – EAS, 

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