OHDS LOOP INOP Fault message

ATA: 36-22 FIN: Ref: 36.22.00.030

A/C Type: A319 A/C Serie: A319-100N Potential Operational First Issue 06-JUN-
A320 A320-200N Impact: Reliability Date: 2016
A321 A321-200N Line
Maintenance
Part Key Last 29-SEP-
Number: Information: Publication 2017
Date:
Supplier: Solution Maintenance
Benefit: Cost
Operational
Reliability
Linked Linked
Articles: Documentation:
Linked Status: Closed
FAIR-ISP:

Engineering Support
Fault Code/ECAM Warning: ENG1 PYLON LOOP INOP First Issue Date: 06-JUN-2016
ENG2 PYLON LOOP INOP
L WING LOOP A INOP
 L WING LOOP B INOP
R WING LOOP A INOP
R WING LOOP B INOP
APU LOOP INOP
Model: Last Publication Date: 29-SEP-2017
Manufacturer:
Status: Closed

Applicability:

A320fam neo

Reference / Documentation:

AMM 36-22-00-100-802-A (CFM) & 36-22-00-100-803-A (PW)

Cleaning and Application of Electrical Insulating Compound to the Overheat
Detection System (OHDS) Connectors

Description

Several cases of ATA3622 LOOP INOP class 2 fault messages have been reported
In-Service on A320neo fleet.

The faults may occur In-Flight and On-Ground, affecting Pylon and Wing OHDS
loops, and are not confirmed / isolated due to intermittency when triggering, then
System BITE Test is clearing the fault.

Consequence

Once the first faults are triggered, action on aircraft is required either for
troubleshooting to temporary clear the fault or replacing parts to fix the issue.

Consequences on dual loop detection architecture (Loops A & B):

 One LOOP INOP  loss of redundancy, no cockpit effect
o Class 2 fault message correlated to AIR BLEED maintenance status

 Both LOOPs (A&B) INOP  loss of detection = NOGO item

o Class 1 fault message correlated to LEAK or to LEAK DET FAULT ECAM
warning

Note: APU Loop being installed as single loop, then one fault would lead to loss of
detection and consequently NOGO item.

Investigation Status

The electrical continuity of the OverHeat Detection sensing elements is constantly

monitored by the BMC. The centre wire resistance is measured to ensure its
integrity, and a “LOOP INOP” fault is triggered in case the resistance exceeds
certain specified values (equivalent to an open circuit).

These “LOOP INOP” occurrences on A320 neo A/C are suspected to result from
oxidation/corrosion of the OHDS mating cable connectors leading to high centre
wire resistance. The phenomenon is accelerated depending on humidity and
temperature conditions.
Note: on A320neo the OHDS loops are continuously monitored, hence the system
more sensitive to any change of OHDS loop status both on ground and in flight.

The Root Cause investigation confirmed the corrosion of mating cables connectors
as the main contributor to LOOP INOP fault messages.

Mitigation / Interim Plan

Short term action:

 Perform BITE Test to clear the Fault Message and to support continuous
aircraft operation.

Medium Term action:

 Cleaning of mating cable connectors (+ optional application of electrical
insulation compound) to temporary restore the electrical continuity and
detection function → New AMM task AirN@v Aug16/revision ref 36-22-00-
100-802-A (CFM) & 36-22-00-100-803-A (PW).

Note: re-connecting / re-tightening the accused connectors has proven beneficial

to temporary clear the “LOOP INOP” condition for few legs.

As additional mitigation, the Wetting Current procedure has been incorporated in

the AMM revision of May 2017:
 AMM TASK 36-22-00-200-802-A Wetting Current Procedure, for A320neo
fleet powered with PW engines
 AMM TASK 36-22-00-200-803-A Wetting Current Procedure, for A320neo
fleet powered with CFM engines
This technique is already validated in other Airbus Programs, to help palliating
similar issues of electrical discontinuity in the mating cable connectors.

Maintenance Information

Refer to Mitigation / Interim Plan

Repercussions on A/C Operations

Single LOOP INOP  loss of redundancy, no cockpit effect

 Class 2 fault message correlated to AIR BLEED maintenance status
Both LOOP (A&B) INOP  loss of detection = NOGO item
 Class 1 fault message correlated to LEAK DET FAULT ECAM warning on
ground if both engines are OFF
 Class 1 fault message correlated to LEAK warning on ground with engines
running and in flight

Note: single fault on APU Loop will lead to NOGO item

Permanent Solution

Software and hardware improvements have been launched based on A350 & A380
In-Service experience and lessons learnt:

 The OHDS loop monitoring logics are refined in a new BMC software
standard (S4.2).
Associated SB 36-1070 has been released in February 2017 and production
A/C have been delivered fitted with BMC S4.2 from March 2017.

 The new mating cables developed by Kidde vendor and inherited from A380
and A350 programs are introduced on A320neo family.
 Main changes consist in:
 Change to the finish of the connector pins and shell and insert
assemblies to improve electrical conductivity and reduce contact surface
and force to minimize micro-fretting and oxidation effects
 Finish change from passivation layer to gold plating, intended to
increase the robustness of the connector to the center wire resistance
 Wire strain relief modified to better retain the wire. Crimp sleeve design
changed to retain the shield bushing, also changed dimensionally and
material PTFE to Glass Filled PTFE

4 dedicated SB cover the introduction in retrofit of the new mating cables in

each overheat detection area:
 SB 36-1071 applicable to the APU loop has been released in August
2017
 SB 36-1072 applicable to the pylon loops fitted on CFM A/C has been
released in August 2017
 SB 36-1073 applicable to the pylon loops fitted on PW A/C has been
released in August 2017
 SB 36-1074 applicable to the wing loops has been released in
September 2017

For production A/C, these new mating cables have been incorporated in the
APU loop from May 2017 (POE MSN 7600) and in the wing loops from
beginning of September 2017 (POE MSN 7839).

Regarding the pylon loops, CFM A/C have been incorporated with
these new mating cables from mid-Sept 2017 (POE: MSN 7854) and
PW A/C from April 2018 (POE MSN 8186).

Please refer to ISI 00.00.00224 for the resolution planning.

Survey for the Engineering Support section

Retrofits Monitoring
Retrofit Information Letter: YES First Issue Date: 23-FEB-2017
Last Publication Date: 24-AUG-2017

Status: Closed

AIRBUS Monitored Retrofit has ended.

Standard commercial conditions from SB/VSB now apply.
Please contact AIRBUS Warranty Manager or AIRBUS Customer Support Director for further support.
For a complete list of monitored retrofits applicable to your fleet, please contact
monitored.retrofit@airbus.com.

Survey for the Retrofits Monitoring section

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