Date: 201201
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: A320
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Cockpit/Cabin Communication
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Technician
Reporter qualification: Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Human factors: Troubleshooting; Confusion
Second reporter function: Technician
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Manuals; Human Factors; Chart Or Publication; Aircraft
Primary problem: Manuals

Narrative: Aircraft X; an A320 aircraft; arrived at gate with a log gripe concerning the Cabin Intercommunication DATA System (CIDS). The flight crew verbally informed us that they had a CIDS Director-1 and -2 ECAM fault and an Evacuate Warning that would not silence. Due to previous history of CIDS and Evacuate Warning problems; my Aircraft Electronics Technician (AET) coworker; Technician Y; and myself determined that we would replace CIDS Directors-1 and -2. The new CIDS Directors were ordered referencing Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) 23-73-34 for this aircraft effectivity. The last update of this document was May 2011. During the installation of the CIDS units; it was noted that the Company Part Numbers (CPN) of the old and new [CIDS Director] units were different. The IPC calls for CPN XXX729 for this aircraft effectivity; however; CPN XXX732 CIDS units were found installed. We contacted Maintenance Control for clarification and Maintenance Controller X agreed that this aircraft effectivity should have the CPN XXX729 CIDS units installed per IPC 23-73-34; Page-1f. Per IPC 23-73-34; Page-1; the CPN XXX731 unit is effective only for Aircraft Y; [a different A320 aircraft]. Installation and Test of both CIDS Directors was accomplished per Aircraft Maintenance Manuals (AMM) 23-73-34; with all tests passing and aircraft was then dispatched. A few minutes after the aircraft left ZZZ; my Supervisor; found an Airbus Maintenance Tip (MT) in the AMM. The Maintenance Tip was found to have a Part Number effectivity table that is in conflict with the current IPC. We immediately contacted Maintenance Control; this time speaking with Controller Y; and informed him of the conflicting part number information on these documents. Controller Y concluded that proper procedures were followed and that he would contact the Engineering Group to correct the documents in question. In addition I submitted a report to Engineering about the matter and hope to get a response soon.


Second narrative: Aircraft X; an A320 aircraft; arrived with a logbook write-up of Cabin Intercommunication DATA System (CIDS). The crew reported verbally and the log was updated to (Evacuation Warning sounding and could not reset). The crew also reported and the post flight report showed the CIDS Directors-1 and -2 had failed. The fault could not be duplicated on the ground. It was determined that it would be best to replace both CIDS Directors reference Maintenance Manual (M/M) 23-73-34. The parts were ordered reference Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) 23-73-34 Page-1F; dated (May 2011). The parts arrived and [it] was found that the parts [previously] installed were different.


Synopsis: A Line Technician; Avionics Technician; and a Maintenance Controller report about conflicting information between their Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) and the Airbus Maintenance Manual regarding the correct Cabin Intercommunication DATA System (CIDS) Directors they could use on an A320 aircraft with a CIDS Director ECAM fault and Evacuation Warning that would not silence.