OPERATOR INFORMATION TELEX - OPERATOR INFORMATION TELEX

TO: ALL OPERATORS

SUBJECT : ATA 34 - AIRSPEED DISCREPANCY WITH THALES PITOT PROBES

OUR REF.: SE 999.0068/02/VHR DATED 18JULY2002

CLASSIFICATION: MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDATION

EFFECTIVITY:

- A319/A320/A321: PN C16195AA / MOD 25998 / SB A320-34-1127

- A330/A340: PN C16195AA / MOD45638 / SB A340-34-4079 AND

A330-34-3071

- A310/A300-600: PN C16254AA / MOD 12223 / SB A310-34-2154

AND A300-34-6141

REFERENCED DOCUMENTS :

-REF 1 (FOR WIDE BODY) : AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

2001-265(B) DATED 27 JUNE 2001

-REF 2 (FOR SINGLE AISLES) : AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

2001-362(B) DATED 08 AUGUST 2001

-REF 3 (FOR LONG RANGE) : AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

2001-354(B) DATED 08 AUGUST 2001

1- PURPOSE

THE AIM OF THIS OIT IS TO INFORM THE OPERATORS THAT SEVERAL

SINGLE AISLE OPERATORS HAVE REPORTED AIRSPEED DISCREPANCY
ON AIRCRAFT FITTED WITH THALES PITOT PROBES PN C16195AA.

2- CAUSES/CONSEQUENCE

THE TROUBLE SHOOTING CARRIED OUT HAVE HIGHLIGHTED WATER IN

THE PITOT TUBE AND/OR IN THE LINE BETWEEN AIR DATA MODULE
(ADM) AND PITOT PROBE. THE CONSEQUENCE IS AN INCORRECT TOTAL
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT LEADING TO AN INCORRECT AIRSPEED
COMPUTATION.

3- INVESTIGATION

INVESTIGATIONS CARRIED OUT SHOW THAT BURRS CAN REMAIN IN

THE PITOT PROBE AFTER DRILLING OF THE DRAIN HOLES.
AS A CONSEQUENCE THE BURRS COULD ASSIST THE ACCUMULATION OF
EXTERNAL POLLUTION AND CONSEQUENTLY COULD BLOCK THE DRAIN
HOLES. SUCH A DRAIN HOLES BLOCKAGE CAN EXPLAIN THE WATER
FOUND IN THE PITOT TUBE. THIS ISSUE CAN AFFECT ALL AIRBUS
AIRCRAFT FITTED WITH THALES PITOT PROBES (REFER TO ABOVE
EFFECTIVITY).
ACCORDING TO THALES SERVICE INFORMATION LETTER (SIL REF:
THAV/SIL-1058), IN PRODUCTION THE PITOT PROBE DRAIN HOLES
HAVE BEEN CLEANED FROM THE FOLLOWING SERIAL NUMBER (S/N):
- PN C16195AA (SINGLE AISLE AND LONG RANGE) FROM S/N 4760
AND SUBSEQUENT
- PN C16254AA (WIDE BODY) FROM S/N 660 AND SUBSEQUENT

NOTE : THESE STANDARDS OF EQUIPMENT HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED TO

COMPLY WITH AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES LISTED IN REF 1, 2 AND
3 OF REFERENCED DOCUMENT PARAGRAPH.
CONCERNING THE WATER FOUND IN THE LINE BETWEEN ADM AND
PITOT PROBE THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE STILL ON GOING. TFU
34.10.00.028 WILL BE ISSUED TO COVER THIS MATTER.

4- MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDATION

- AN INSPECTION SERVICE BULLETIN (ONE FOR EACH PROGRAM)

WILL BE ISSUED IN OCTOBER 2002 TO PROVIDE THE OPERATORS
WITH A PROCEDURE TO CLEAN THE SUBJECT PITOT PROBES (BURRS
REMOVAL). FOR THE TIME BEING THE SUBJECT PROCEDURE IS
COVERED BY AIRBUS SIL 34-086.
- PLEASE REFER TO AIRBUS SIL 34-084 FOR ADDITIONAL
MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDATIONS ASSOCIATED TO ERRATIC
AIRSPEED INDICATION.

5- FOLLOW-UP

A FOLLOW-UP OF THIS OIT WILL BE DONE THROUGH TFU

34.10.00.028 EXPECTED BY THE END OF JULY 2002.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TECHNICAL CONTENT OF THIS OIT ARE TO BE

ADDRESSED TO MR. X. BARRIOLA, DEPT. SE-E43, PHONE +33/(0)5
62 11 81 08, FAX +33/(0)5 61 93 44 25.
BEST REGARDS
P. GLAPA
VICE PRESIDENT, SYSTEMS AND POWERPLANT
ENGINEERING SERVICES
CUSTOMER SERVICES DIRECTORATE